The Inside Stories

By Valerie Sheppard

My short stories are mostly based on my lifes experiences and the places I have visited as well as the people that I am lucky to have shared part of my life with. There is something here for young and old alike to enjoy, whether on your travels or just snuggled up on the settee in front of the fire. You can even read a bedtime story to your children from these sweet and simple tales.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Apr 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524632960

Valerie Sheppard

Val Sheppard is a a well-know artist in Littlehampton, West Sussex, UK, but at the age of sixty-four, she decided to attend Chichester Collage Outreach Centre for adult education to study computer technology and creative writing. She enjoyed writing short stories and poems. Now at the age of seventy-nine, she have become an author and hopes she can entice you to enjoy reading her books. There is something for both young and old alike to enjoy on your travels or just snuggled up on the settee in front of the fire or to read a bedtime story or poem to your children.

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AuthorHouse™ UK Ltd.

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403 USA

www.authorhouse.co.uk

Phone: [phone]

© 2016 Valerie Sheppard. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/28/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-3297-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-3296-0 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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I w

ould like to dedicate my first book to my best friend, Margret Dell, who sadly passed away last year at the grand age of 90 years old. Margret taught me to drive and swim. She enhanced my life; we spent many happy years traveling to see family and friends. We owned a beach hut on Littlehampton seafront. We spent lovely days relaxing and going for a swim. I will always remember the golden moments we spent together.

CONTENTS

My Mother, Phyllis, Was a Shropshire Lass

A Pyramid in a Golden Sunset

A Venetian Honeymoon

Brontosaurus Found Deep in the Jungle

Destroying the Forest to Build a Town

Memories of my Childhood

Miss Shakespeare

My Mistake

Storytelling from Pictures by the French Cartoonist Sempe

The Artist’s Model

My Painting of the West Pier, Brighton

Three Little Birds

Penelope

The Inside Story

The Little Green Gate

The Pen Friend

The Itinerary of Places to Visit in London

Other Places to Visit

The Rectory’s Green Gate

The Red Box

The Wallflower

Visit to Arundel Castle

Running Wild

The Heavy Horse Working the Fields before the Tractor

History from the Deep

MY MOTHER, PHYLLIS, WAS A SHROPSHIRE LASS

My mother was a Shropshire lass She lived on the family farm just outside the village of Edgmond. At the tender age of 14, she was put to work in the kitchen up at the manor house, working for Madam Flomond and her sister, Mildred, who were both apparently very fond of Phyllis.

It wasn’t long before they asked if she could go to London to work as a receptionist for Dr Hinge, who was very well known by the two sisters. Phyllis’s mother and father were not keen on the idea, but eventually they relented. Mildred said that Phyllis was much too clever to spend her time cooking and cleaning. Although she’d been brought up on the farm, Phyllis disliked farm work.

When she was 16 years of age, her father put her on a train at Stafford. With a sad look on his face, he said, Now don’t you forget, my girl, make sure you get off the train at Euston. They’re sending someone to meet you. With that, her father put her case up on the luggage rack and kissed her goodbye. As the whistle blew and the engine gave a shudder, the great train puffed smoke from its smokestack and moved away.

Phyllis shouted, Goodbye, Father! I will write and let you know that I arrived safely!

She then sat down and began to feel quite vulnerable. She had never been away from Shropshire before. She wondered what Dr Hinge was like. She consoled herself

That because she trusted Mildred, she also trusted that Mildred wouldn’t send her to anyone who wasn’t nice

When Phyllis arrived at Euston, she was a little frightened.

What an enormous station, she thought. How

Will I ever find the person who’s meeting me?

The train came to a sudden stop as it bumped into the buffers. Phyllis struggled to get her case down from the luggage rack. She climbed down to the platform and made her way to the entrance. What a relief! She noticed a woman holding up a card with her name: Phyllis Burgess.

Phyllis introduced herself, and the lady said, Hello. My name is Meg. I expect you’re thirsty after that long journey. Let’s have a nice cup of tea, shall we? There’s a café right over there.

Phyllis had never seen so many people, but she began to feel excited as they went inside.

Meg told Phyllis, Sit down there, love, and save me a place while I go to the counter. Soon she returned with a cup of tea and two jam doughnuts. Meg explained that she was the housekeeper for Dr Hinge. You must be feeling a bit frightened, starting a new job so far from home. But have no fear, my little love, you will be happy with us. I have a girl just your age; she will be good company for you.

Thank you for being so kind, Meg, Phyllis replied as she finished her doughnut and cup of tea. I enjoyed that; please let me repay you.

Goodness me, no! We must get a move on. Stan will be here with the car by half past.

As they made their way out of the station, Phyllis asked, Who is Stan?

Meg explained that Stan was Dr Hinge’s chauffeur. She spotted him and called out, Stan, help us with the girl’s suitcase.

Stan quickly ran over and took the heavy suitcase. Good day, young lady.

Phyllis replied, I’ve never been in a posh car before. If only my father could see me now! I’ve never seen so many large shops and buildings.

Stan is my husband, Meg explained as they all climbed into the car. "You will be living with us, just around the corner from the doctor. You will meet him and his wife and their two little boys tomorrow. They sent for you as Nelly is getting on a bit and is in need of some help with all the paperwork and suchlike. When you have learned what a receptionist is all about, Nelly hopes to retire. You will like Nelly; she is very kind. Phyllis, you are a lucky girl. To get such a good job at your age, you