Eulogy Of Doctor Pax

When Doctor Pax was a boy, he played on a tree at the end of his garden. And, when he was alone on that tree, he would pretend he was a hero from his favourite book. The tree often tested his skills; how high he could climb, for how long he could dangle, and how well he landed when he swung to the ground.
Now he was an adult, he could teach the same lessons he learnt as a child. About strength, teamwork and courage. And what better place to learn all those things than Gypsy Copse, an ancient woodland at the edge of his land.
Right at the heart of Gypsy Copse stood a tree which reminded Doctor Pax of his youth. An oak tree. Strong. Broad. Colossal. Above the tree, a canopy of leaves allowed dappled sunlight to touch the forest floor. Today,
At the kitchen sink, Doctor Pax washed his soiled hands and towelled them dry. ‘Has anyone seen Clemmie?’
‘She was with Fish the last time I saw her,' said Pebbles. 'She's not met him yet.'
‘Right you are.’ At first, he searched for Clemmie but she was nowhere to be seen. But then he heard a mad clucking noise. Of course, it was feeding time in the chicken coop, a fenced off area near the greenhouse. At the rustic wooden gate, he stopped, then, leant across and listened.
'Here, take this handful of pellets and spread them around,' offered Fish. The gardener had a red bulbous nose after staying in the sun so long. He had an earthy smudge on his cheek, the same colour as soil, and he was as bald as an egg. On his head, to stop him getting burnt, he wore a cap with his name on the front. Fish.
'Thank you, Mr Fish. Granfer used to keep chickens and they laid eggs every day. Indeed, we had plenty of eggs, even with
Well, my granddad had to ration his food during the last war. Do you remember where you lived?’
‘No, Doctor Pax said I’ve got amnesia. Granfer hated me, and I can’t remember why!’
For a moment, she looked bewildered. But this turned to surprise, and then delight, when she saw Doctor Pax. It took no effort to propel his agile body over the gate in one… giant…leap.
‘Look at me, Doctor Pax. Mr Fish let me feed the chickens’
'So, I gather.’ Since her grin was infectious, he couldn’t stop smiling himself. Until now, he would never have believed a young girl of her age would find so much enjoyment from chickens pecking at her feet. ‘Now, come with me. I want to show you a special place before it gets dark. Dinner in half an hour, Fish?’
‘Okay, boss! I’ll be there.’
After they left Fish, Clemmie chatted non-stop about this and that. Sprigs and meat-pie. Chores. Chalk and Cym. It seemed nonsense to Doctor Pax but not to Clemmie going by the way she gestured with her hands. To be honest, it all went through one ear and out the other.
'Take care with the steps,' he warned, as he stepped through a gap in the wall, tucked away at the side of the cottage. Next, he led her down a moss-covered path, through gap in the hedge, and entered another