'A Waddler'

Bates's first published story, appearing in the Manchester Guardian, 'whose perceptive literary editor Allan Monkhouse ran a back-page short story of about 1000 words every day of the week in that then great newspaper' (The Blossoming World, p. 24), is a village sketch with colorful dialogue.

A man, criticised for his gait by his wife, is complimented on carrying his grief so well after her death: "I admire the way you walked there — so straight and steady." He, 'waddling more than ever, in his joy went home.'

One of three early stories not selected for Bates's first collection (Day's End and Other Stories).

In the Manchester Guardian (March 2, 1926), Singapore Free Press, (April 9, 1926). and the ebook edition of The Wild Cherry Tree (Bloomsbury, 2016).