The Parting Shot

As retirement loomed Betty needed one thing just for herself for her decades of hard work and dedication

- CATHERINE YOUNG

STEALING?” Ellen spluttered into her coffee and shrieked in disbelief. “You’re joking, aren’t you? Our dear old Betty, a secret thief? Never!”

“I didn’t say she was stealing, exactly,” retorted Miranda, glancing cautiously around the staff canteen just in case Betty had emerged from the shadows. “I just pointed out that she’s been acting a little strange lately.”

“But Betty’s the last person in the world to do anything illegal,” protested Rachel. “Especially now when she’s taking early retirement at the end of term, after 40 years.”

“Exactly! Just imagine, 40 years in this creaky old place!” Miranda gestured up at the grand bronze plaque on the wall above their heads, proclaiming: “The Hollingscroft College, founded 1903”. She sighed thoughtfully. “Four decades of vacuuming and dusting and cleaning up after the likes of us day after day. It’s enough to drive anyone to the crime. Even a little treasure like good old Betty.”

“Actually, now that you to mention it . . .” Rachel’s brow creased into a frown. “Sometimes, when I’ve been supervising the learners late in the evenings, I’ve seen Betty sneaking back into the building when it’s almost empty. In fact, just last night, I spotted her letting herself into the library annex.”

“Aha! And we all know what’s in there!” interrupted Miranda. “The main stock cupboard! There’s a lot of valuable equipment and expensive supplies kept in there. And it’s hardly ever checked, so no one would notice if the odd item went missing.”