The Rainstand on Dovecot Lane

Story arc and endingYears ago Jean cut leather offcuts with Una while they sheltered under a shop umbrella. Last week they did it again to make puppet boots for a customer’s grandchild. Now the women absent-mindedly tap their old work rhythm on either side of the glass and the boots step off the shelf. When a crowd gathers, Jean retreats. Those first few minutes of uncomplicated fun feel disloyal to the man she lost. Una brings the boots to Jean’s kitchen, where they make one rude little dance purely for themselves. A week later Jean makes a Thursday play-hour sign and stamps it with a small red boot.

Emotional payoffJean gets to be a little ridiculous with the one woman who remembers her before she was somebody’s wife.

Story focusSecond Chance

Length30,000 words planned

Story arc and endingMel wants to display her work while Una wants the children to steer it. Their tabletop carousel seizes when Una adds a second motion to its horses. Jean persuades them to build a trial pony together in the rain, with a joint small hands can mend and one clean stroke of a hoof. At the fair the makers tap while the children turn the platform by hand. A painted ear chips. Instead of packing up, Mel sits beside a young rider and repaints it purple at his request. She takes her own original pony down from its case, appoints the children keepers of the ride and stays to play.

Emotional payoffPlay leaves evidence that somebody loved a thing. Mel tolerates the first scratch and laughs by the third.

Story focusOpposites Life Goals

Length55,000 words planned

Story arc and endingEllen wants an entire flock ready for the chapel tea. Jean and Una’s demonstrations keep turning into performances by the two old friends. Ellen folds a single long string of paper swifts with her father beneath one umbrella. His stiff thumb gives their birds a lopsided wingbeat which she tries to smooth out. When a shower interrupts the tea, she hangs the uneven flock indoors. Father and daughter tap on the pew, and the birds stretch one wing after another as the guests carry them on fine rods. The old man asks for one more bird that points straight down at anybody talking during his nap. His neighbours hold the next folding afternoon at his kitchen table.

Emotional payoffEllen stops being the daughter making a nice day for her father and becomes the apprentice to his peculiar sense of humour.

Story focusFish Out of Water

Length55,000 words planned

Story arc and endingWithout the ferry canteen, the mainland and island families lose their one winter gathering place. Fern and her father make a little paddle boat under the red umbrella, but their work shifts never overlap long enough to keep tapping at the rehearsal. Jean’s plan to host everybody at Una’s shop would leave most of the island out. Fern asks for a Saturday on the dry dock, where both shores can arrive by the scheduled relief launch. Jean sets out three basins. Two other families have built boats under Una’s spare umbrellas. Each pair taps its own little vessel across the water. The audience brings folding chairs, paper flags and plenty of advice about the wind. The crews keep the floating toy races when the full-sized ferry goes back into service. Jean boards for the first ordinary trip with Una.

Emotional payoffJean can make a journey for the company at the other end. The town’s source of pleasure finally travels beyond one shop.

Story focusSingle Parent

Length55,000 words planned