Michael Malone - Weebly

could leave his curate behind to sit by those sick beds
so antithetic to Highwick's untroubled disposition.
Jonathan felt that he could deal with illness, with
tragedy, even with death. It was the life in between that
was giving him trouble.
The Tea Shoppe kept irregular hours. This morning
it was closed when Sammy Smalter helped Judith Haig
out of his car. She had decided to go in to speak with
Chin Henry and was relieved not to have to. Luke
Packer, sitting on the curb with a book, stood up to
wave at the embarrassed pharmacist, who had, in fact,
completely forgotten about his new employee. Together
they watched Mrs. Haig walk up the street to her post
office. "She seems like a nice lady," said Luke.
"Yes," said Smalter. "I've always thought so. Well,
to work, Luke, such as it is. My apologies for keeping
you waiting. Too bad Prudence isn't around; we could
go get a cup of coffee."
"Shouldn't we open the pharmacy?"
"Might as well, I suppose."
Luke thought that while Mr. Smalter might be