(Part 01)
It was the time of the biannual St Johns Church getaway when a kind heart was reawakened.
St John’s Church in Purplemere was an evangelical church and the getaway was organized for the members of the congregation to examine and develop their faith and each such event normally had a theme, and the one in 2017 was no exception and was named "Footsteps" as in walking in the footsteps of Christ and it was all about the individual and collective spiritual journey or journeys.
It was a week-long residential event which provided seminars, workshops, meditation, prayer and worship.
In addition to the spiritual itinerary there was also a host of fun activities, with something for everyone.
The 2017 event was held in Clayton in the Finchbottom Vale which nestles comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north, those who are lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns.
The Vale was once a great wetland that centuries earlier stretched from Mornington in the East to Childean in the west and from Shallowfield in the south to Purplemere in the north.
But over the many centuries the vast majority had been drained for agriculture, a feat achieved largely by the efforts of famous Mornington Mills, of which only three had survived to the present day and even those were no longer functional and were in various states of repair.
There were only three small bodies of water left in the Vale now one in Mornington, one in Childean and third of course was Purplemere.
Throughout its history the Finchbottom Vale was largely dependent on agriculture and so it remained into the 21st century and the village of Clayton was no different.
It was a small village in the North East corner of the Finchbottom Vale, with a large nucleus of substantial dwellings and a greater number of more humble homes and of the those inhabitants who needed to work for a living the largest employer in the area was the Clayton Manor Hotel.
And it was at Clayton Manor, with its conference facilities, and old country manor, which housed meeting rooms and the more select accommodations, fine dining and bars, which played host to “Footsteps”.
To the north of the Vale, in the lee of Pepperstock Hills, lay the modest town of Purplemere and on the western side of the town was the residential area known as Hill Side, and in one of its many quiet roads, called Oakham Crescent was Appleyard House the home of Keith Hartley.
Keith was also attending the week away after having reluctantly caved in to pressure from members of the congregation.
And the reason for his reluctance was the fact that he had lost his wife Glenda since the last getaway and as a result he hadn’t participated much in church life over the previous year, but although he wouldn’t admit it to those pressurising him, he knew in his heart of hearts that it was time.
(Part 02)
Keith Hartley was in his mid-forties, a tall and upright man with greying and receding hair and he checked into the Clayton Manor Hotel late on Friday afternoon and was met with embraces from everyone he met and to be perfectly honest he was rather overwhelmed by it.
Having lost his wife Glenda since the last getaway he had as a result not participated much in church life over the previous year and his friends had missed him.
In fact after finally caving into the pressure from friends to attend he planned to use the week away to attempt to reconnect with God after his bereavement.
He found the first evening rather exhausting, with all the hand shaking and hugging and constant questioning and Saturday morning was almost as bad though he was flattered that so many people cared about him.
After breakfast the morning was full of seminars which kept him busy however later after lunch there was a free period when people could either relax or participate in one of the many activities that the hotel boasted.
Keith knew precisely what he wanted to do with his free time and he was on his way to the plush residents lounge in the old manor house where he thought he would use his two hours of free time to enjoy a pint or two of Guinness in the residents bar while he read a few chapters of his book.
As he walked purposefully down the gloomy mahogany panelled corridors he passed numerous likewise panelled doors that led to modern furnished meeting rooms, leather chaired reading rooms and comfortable bars while some room doors were unmarked and were of a more mysterious use.
His route also took him through the occasional intersection where another corridor running from the front steps to the rear terrace crossed his path.
It was along one of these intersecting corridors from which he heard the plaintive sound of a sobbing girl.
His first instinct, he would have been ashamed to admit, was to ignore it and hurry on to the bar and a welcoming pint of the black stuff.
He even got a yard beyond the intersection, but he was not that man, he never had been, so he stopped and turned back because he was kind hearted so naturally in the end he could not ignore her.
He took a deep breath and walked along the corridor to investigate the source of the uncontrollable sobbing.
When he had tracked down the precise area the sobbing had emanated from he discovered a girl was pressed into the corner of a recessed doorway.
He didn’t recognise her, he just saw a small wailing creature with her shoulders shaking in unison with the heart-breaking noise she was making.
He placed a hand on one of her shaking shoulders and said
“What on earth is the matter? Are you ok?”
Her immediate response to his gentle enquiry was for her to turn around abruptly which was when he first realised who the girl was, and her complete and utter embarrassment was clearly apparent.
When the crying girl turned he was surprised to see it was Louise Burrell, a particularly close friend of his deceased wife and by extension of him as well.
(Part 03)
Louise Burrell was a friend of his, though she had not been such a close friend of his as much as she was of his wife because she was 9 years his junior.
He had known her for quite a few years however as she had sat on numerous committees with his wife Glenda.
He had however got to know her better during his wife’s illness, and to his mind she had been an absolute godsend to him when Glenda passed and was an absolute rock in the months that followed the funeral.
She was such a strong young woman, confident and together so he couldn’t imagine what could have happened to have reduced her to such a wretched state.
As he had not participated much in church life over the last year he subsequently had not seen much of her.
He had always really liked her, she was funny and quirky and she always had a smile on her face and was always full of beans.
Which is why it was such a surprise for him to find her crying her heart out.
He had never once seen her down in all the years’ he’d known her and she was universally loved.
It had always amazed him how she had remained single, she was such an attractive brunette with a pretty face, a nice figure and a bubbly personality, but he had never once seen her with a man.
He had supposed at one time that she might be gay as she shared a flat with a large mono browed woman called Deidre.
But then he heard that Deidre was engaged to a man from a neighbouring church so that squashed that theory.
Her second response to his discovering her crying was to apologize to him.
“I’m sorry” she sobbed and tried to push passed him “I’m so sorry”
“Don’t be silly Louise” Keith said and blocked her exit “Tell me what’s wrong”
Louise looked up at him through tear filled green eyes and then buried her face in his chest and she sobbed her heart out for a full five minutes and Keith just held her and made all the appropriate sympathetic noises he thought she would expect to hear.
His head was filled with scenarios that may have brought her to the state that he found her in.
For example had she been attacked? Had there been an accident? Had someone died? His imagination ran wild with possibilities.
When she had calmed down a little she lifted her head up from his chest and said through the deep sobs
“I’ve got….your shirt….wet”
“That’s ok” he assured her
“And snotty” Louise added
“That’s ok too” he said with a chuckle and fished a hanky from his pocket so she could dry her eyes and blow her nose.
Further along that corridor there was a small lounge filled with an assortment of leather chairs and comfy sofas, at the back of the building that looked onto, but could not be accessed from, the terrace.
Which meant it was more private and therefore there was less chance someone would be witness should she break down again.
“Let’s go in there” he said “and you can tell me what’s wrong”
“It’s ok” she said wiping her eyes “I’ll be fine now”
“Nonsense” he said in his best avuncular tone “you’re far from ok”
“Really” she insisted but she could not disguise the catch in her throat, he just gave her a knowing look and so she conceded.
(Part 04)
They sat in the small lounge on a big leather sofa in silence for about 5 minutes while Louise composed herself before she took a deep breath and began
“I’m fine when there’s lots going on and it’s all busy, busy, busy” she said
“But “free time” when everyone goes off with their families or partners, well that’s when it hits me”
“What does?” he asked
“Loneliness” she replied and her eyes filled with tears again.
“I’m just so lonely”
“I didn’t know” he admitted, and he was no stranger to loneliness himself in the 18 months since his wife died, but he had come to terms with it, more or less anyway.
He was surprised that Louise hadn’t, after all she was such a great organizer, a natural organiser in fact, which is why the Church events were always such a great success.
But ironically it seemed as if she organised everything so well that she had forgot to organise herself a life.
“But you have so many friends, and everyone loves you” he said “You must know that?”
She nodded
“I know and I could easily tag along and not one of them would mind” she said “and quite often I do”
She paused and then added
“But that’s not the same as having someone”
“So is it always like this for you?” he asked
“Yes” she admitted “but I normally do it in my room”
“But this time you didn’t make it” Keith said
“My room is so bloody far away” she said
“I’d blame the organiser” he said and she laughed
“But I thought I was sufficiently hidden away” she concluded
“Well this won’t do” he said “this won’t do at all”
“What do you mean?” she asked
“This is only the first “free time” of the week, I’m not having you running off to your room for a cry two or three times a day while everyone else is having fun”
“But” she interrupted
“You and I are going to sign up for every event we can cram in so you won’t have time to be lonely and you’ll be too exhausted to cry”
“You don’t have to do that” she said
“Nonsense” he said “you will be helping me out”
“How?” She asked
“Well I’m a lonely widower after all”
“But”
“But nothing, you will be preventing me from just “tagging along”” Keith said and brooked no further protest
“We can be company for each other”
“Ok, ok” she submitted
“Right then, how about a walk” said the kind hearted avuncular
“Fine” she said without enthusiasm
So that was how they began the quest, with the kind hearted and caring avuncular, helping the reluctant lonely young woman in order to leave her no time for loneliness and subsequently no time for tears.
Every free session or lull in activities, he took control and filled every moment with every activity imaginable, or at least every activity that the organizer arranged, so if it was on the list Keith signed them up for it and despite her protests they did it.
(Part 05)
The first afternoon most of the group activities had already started so they just walked around the grounds in an uncomfortable silence, Louise just wanted to go to her room but Keith knew she would just break down again if he let her.
So they carried on walking, with her tolerating his well-meaning interference and he tolerated the angry silence until they reached the climbing wall.
“Do you fancy a climb?” Keith asked “or the tree walk”
“What I fancy is going back to my room” she replied angrily
Keith thought for a moment and then suggested a contest
“Ok I’ll make a deal with you” he said
“What deal?” Louise replied suspiciously
“If you can beat me to the top of the climbing wall” he said “I’ll leave you alone and you can go to your room”
“As simple as that?” she said suspiciously
“Yes as simple as that” Keith confirmed
“You’re on” Louise agreed but what he failed to tell her was that he was no stranger to a climbing wall, but even taking that into consideration he didn’t beat her by much having not taken into account her hitherto unappreciated competitive streak.
After beating her by a whisker on the climbing wall she seemed to have burnt off some of her hostility towards his interference as she suggested they do the tree walk.
Despite harbouring the suspicion that she only suggested it so she could shove him off, he agreed and she seemed to be in a much brighter frame of mind.
That evening there was a busy schedule of events, however he was concerned she might regress the next day.
Sunday had more free time than any other day so he thought he might use her competitive nature to his advantage, so when they got back to the Hotel he said
“Tennis or Golf tomorrow?”
“Oh I think I can manage from now on, thank you Keith” she replied
“Oh ok” he said “I understand”
“You understand what?” Louise asked suspiciously
“Well having lost to the old man on the climbing wall” he said “I can understand why you don’t want to lose to me at anything else”
“What utter conceit” she exclaimed
“I’m sorry if I’ve got the wrong end of the stick” Keith said innocently
“Well “old man”” Louise said defiantly “let’s make it Tennis and Golf tomorrow”
Before Keith could respond Louise had gone through the door to the lobby so he walked slowly towards his own room with a wry smile on his face.
Well come the next day he had to go and find her and thought she may have had a change of heart but she was already waiting for him at the pro shop.
“Good afternoon Louise” he said
She was standing scorecards in hand, with a determined look on her face.
“Hello” she replied in a tone suggesting they get straight on with it and the wry smile returned to his face when he saw how fired up she was.
He had sowed the wind, he was now about to reap the whirlwind.
(Part 06)
Because she had elected to play Golf and Tennis on the same day they only had time for nine holes.
But after three holes the wry smile had gone from his face and he was wondering if he had bitten off more than he could chew as she was destroying him.
At the end of the nine holes her victory was comprehensive.
“Now we’re even” she said
“Well played Louise” Keith said “let’s have a drink”
“Oh no” She answered “Tennis now”
“Oh shit” he thought “she’s got her dander up now”
“Ok” he said out loud “Tennis first, then a drink”
He could tell by the look on her face that she would do to him on the Tennis court what she’d done on the links.
As luck would have it there was only one court left and the Vicar, Donald Cox and his wife Hannah, had been waiting to play all afternoon.
So Louise reluctantly agreed to play mixed doubles instead in a less adversarial match.
After dinner Louise had threatened to take the contest to the games room, but when he suggested that he could do with an early night he was pleased to see a look of relief spread across her face.
As he slipped beneath the covers he reflected on what he had set out to achieve and he could certainly vouch for the fact there was no time to be lonely and by the end of that day he was certainly too exhausted to cry, he hoped the same for Louise.
The next day Louise’s competitive edge had returned though her aggressive edge had been somewhat tempered, but she completely dominated him on the Croquet lawn.
After which she showed her more compassionate side when she allowed him to level the contest playing Crazy Golf.
On Monday evening, having had a less gruelling day, they did manage a couple of games of Pool and a couple of drinks before fatigue set in, and by the end of the evening Louise was 3-2 up.
“I’ll give you a chance with something less energetic tomorrow”
Louise said “Something more befitting to a man of advanced years”
“What do you suggest?” Keith asked “Child”
“Archery and Shooting” she replied
“Oh taking pity on me are you” he asked
“Something like that” she replied and kissed his cheek “Goodnight”
On Tuesday morning Louise was hovering outside the restaurant as Keith arrived.
“Hello Keith” she said
“Hi Louise” he replied “Have you eaten already?”
“No, no” she replied “I just got here”
“Well perhaps we could eat together” Keith suggested
“If you like” she replied indifferently, so they went into breakfast together.
Unusually after breakfast they remained together for the worship and both discussion sessions, normally she would go and sit with her friends and him with his, but on that day they sat together.
(Part 07)
After the Tuesday morning sessions were over they went off to their respective rooms to change before lunch, but agreed to meet at the top of the stairs and have lunch together.
Louise was waiting for him again when Keith started up the stairs and when he looked up he could see her pacing back and forth and because Keith was late it looked to all the world like she was angry so when he got there he said
“I’m sorry Louise, I couldn’t decide what to wear for today, tweeds or Lincoln green”
“That’s ok” she said with a laugh “Although I’d like to see you in tights”
“Really?” Keith said and Louise blushed, and then turned and walked briskly into the restaurant.
The restaurant was a self-service buffet affair, so they queued up and
Louise was very chatty and animated throughout, even during lunch as they both ate a very palatable Mushroom Stroganoff.
“So are you going to be gentle with me today?” he asked as they finished their desert.
“I’m always gentle” she replied and blushed again then to change the subject, she added quickly
“You should do ok today”
“You mean in events more suitable for a man of my advanced years” he said and chuckled
“Something like that” she replied and giggled
As Louise predicted Keith beat her at both the target disciplines so he now held the advantage but he suspected she wasn’t really trying as if she had lost her competitive streak.
So he suggested that they fit in a round of Forest Laser quest.
Louise was at first reluctant but she was easily persuaded in the end and then Keith let her win to square the contest at 4 each.
As they walked back to the Hotel Louise said
“I think we should call it quits now”
“What? No more activities?” Keith asked
“Oh no” she said with alarm “I didn’t mean that”
“What then?” he said
“No more contest” she replied
“Ok” Keith said “I agree”
On Wednesday the weather took a distinct turn for the worst, in fact the rain was lashing down, so after a long and painfully dull seminar on dealing with mental health issues, they looked outside and shared a look which said
“I am not going out there” so they had to amuse themselves inside which they did firstly in the Gym and then swimming in the pool.
By Wednesday evening however the rain did clear away so they went for a walk around the grounds again and discussed their plan for the next day.
In stark contrast to the previous day, Thursday was a glorious day so after their meetings they spent the afternoon on the river punting, which led to them both falling in, although on separate occasions and they laughed like children as they squelched all the way back to the Hotel.
That evening as he relaxed in the bath before dinner he thought a lot about the week in which he’d begun the quest in the kind hearted spirit of the avuncular.
There was a very positive side effect for him, spending the week as he did in endless activity and that was that he had not had the time to miss his wife, however the down side was that he’d fallen in love with Louise and he had absolutely no idea what to do about it.
(Part 08)
On Friday morning there were no activities planned and the final program of the “Footsteps” events was a session worship and a wrap up meeting.
Things would conclude by midday and they would be checking out after lunch.
So at the start of the final day Keith and Louise planned to have breakfast together again.
When Keith arrived Louise was once again waiting outside the restaurant for him and when Keith started up the stairs and he looked up he could see her pacing back and forth but because he wasn’t late for once he knew he wasn’t in trouble a fact that was confirmed when he was greeted with a broad smile when she turned around and saw him.
Louise wasn’t as chatty as she normally was, in fact her silence was reminiscent of the long silent walk they took together the previous Saturday.
He wasn’t altogether sure why she was so quiet, he hadn’t been late so he knew it wasn’t that, it wasn’t a bad mood because her smile of greeting had been radiant so he was at a loss to explain it.
So as she put down her knife and fork he asked
“Well did I succeed?”
“With what?” she replied
“Banishing the loneliness” he said
“In a way” she answered enigmatically
“Oh?”
She sighed and in a rather gruff mannered response she said
“You have filled every spare moment with companionable fun and I’ve really enjoyed every minute of it”
“But?” he asked sensing there was one
“But we go home today” she retorted
“And you think that you’ll have too much time on your hands once you leave here, Is that it?”
“No” she shouted at him “that isn’t it at all you silly man”
And with that she got up from the table and before leaving, added
“You haven’t got a bloody clue”
“Oh shit” he thought to himself as she blundered out of the dining room “What have I done?”
He quickly got up from the table to follow her, spilling his coffee in the process, and headed for the door but a table of 12 stood up to leave just as he was approaching so that by the time he got outside she was already at the bottom of the stairs.
“I have got a clue” he shouted from the balcony and everyone stopped and turned around to look.
“Really?” she barked “I don’t think you do, because YOU think I will go to pieces if you’re not there to hold my hand”
“No” he replied as he descended the stairs
“Because I know that I’ll go to pieces without you to hold mine”
“What?” she asked hesitantly
“I wasn’t lying when I said “everybody” loved you” he said “Everybody loves you”
“Huh?” she uttered as he reached the bottom of the stairs
“But in particular, I love you” he continued “and I need you in my life”
There were tears welling up in her eyes as he said it and then she ran to him and hugged him and then they kissed and were totally oblivious to the spontaneous applause and cheers that erupted around them.
Friday, 21 April 2017
Thursday, 20 April 2017
Mornington-By-Mere – (50) Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It
(Part 01)
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale.
Twenty one year old David Murray lived at number 3, The Close, in Mornington-By-Mere with his parents and older sister Megan.
He was tall, a few inches over six foot, with Caucasian features, coffee coloured skin and short brown curly hair courtesy of his father Phil, who was white and was a child of the Finchbottom Vale and his black mother Lully who was from Jamaica.
He was a kind and generous person with a heart as big as a house.
He worked up at Mornington Field at the second hand book repository, Paige Turners, but on a sunny Friday at the beginning of September he had the day off and was pondering what to do.
He had the house to himself for the day so he could have just slobbed around but as it was such a beautiful day he thought he should get out in the sunshine.
He was still pondering exactly what to do when there was a knock on the French window, but he looked he couldn’t see anyone at first but on closer perusal he could see it was Victoria Crockford.
She was wearing knee length blue shorts, tight like leggings and a kind of short floral summer dress, scooped down at the front, fitted at the waist and just about long enough to cover her bum.
“Hello” he said opening the door and looking around
“Where’s your buddy?”
Her “buddy” was Sarah Younger, they were best friend since kindergarten and they had been inseparable from then on, it was a perfect friendship as they complimented each other.
Although there were similarities, they were both beauties for a start, their likes and dislikes, their sense of humour, but really as individuals they couldn’t be more different.
Victoria was a strawberry blonde, pale skinned and had no fear whereas Sarah was dark skinned and would tremble in shadows.
Victoria was an extrovert, precocious, a real Lolita, very confident, self-assured, and pretty and she knew it, though not in a cocky way.
Sarah on the other hand, though also very pretty, was unsure of it.
She was shy and socially awkward and lacked self-confidence but being with Victoria made Sarah feel more confident, daring to do things she would never do alone, she lived her life on Victoria’s coat tails and without her friend she floundered.
“She’s in Corfu” Victoria replied
“So what brings you here?” he asked
“We have the builders in at home and mum doesn’t want me alone in the house with the rough workmen in case I get tainted or have my innocence blemished”
“And she sent you to me?” he asked hopefully
“Not exactly” she replied “I chose you because I knew you had the day off”
“How did you know that?” he asked
Victoria made it her business to know everything about David Murray because she was in love with him.
“Your Mum mentioned it” she lied
“Do you mind me taking refuge here?”
“No problem” he said “But I’m actually going out in a bit”
“Oh” she said disappointedly
“But you could come with me” David offered
“Cool” she exclaimed
(Part 02)
Seventeen year old Victoria Crockford lived at number 5, The Close, in the picturesque village of Mornington-By-Mere with her parents and three siblings.
She was small girl, a smidge over five foot, with delicate features and long strawberry blonde hair and a large heart and that heart was full to overflowing with love.
And most of that love was directed at David Murray the gorgeous curly haired, dark skinned boy two doors away at number 3, where he lived with his parents Phil and Lully and his sister Megan.
David was not oblivious to the young girl next door but one, far from it, he thought she was lovely, he always had, but he thought it was a non-starter, not because she was way out of his league or anything like that, even though she was stunningly attractive, because he was an equally good looking man.
The problem for him was the four year age gap, or more precisely the likely reaction from their parents, after all she was not yet 18 whereas he was four years older and that had to make a difference especially to her parents.
So when she knocked on his door seeking refuge from the builders at her own house, her appearance prompted mixed feelings, he was overwhelmingly pleased to see her, and it was an opportunity to spend some time with her without her friend in tow, and she looked really lovely, but she looked so lovely that she represented a temptation he may not be able to resist.
“You’ll be lost while Sarah’s away,” he said
“You could keep her entertained,” she thought to herself “Please”
“Yes I will” she replied then as if to change the subject she asked
“Could I have a drink?”
“Of course help yourself” he replied, “You know where the glasses are”
The glasses were in the top cupboard and being only five foot tall she had to stand on tiptoe to reach them and the act of stretching up her arm, raised the hem of her skirt to expose the curves of her perfect little cheeks in her skin tight shorts.
When she had retrieved a glass she turned and glanced at him
“He was staring at my bum” she thought to herself and smiled,
David blushed when he realized he had been caught in the act and thought that was a good time to leave.
“Make yourself some toast or something” he said “I need to jump in the shower”
He had a lovely hot shower in the en suite in his parents room, as that was more powerful than the family bathroom, although a cold shower would have been more appropriate because of the inappropriate thoughts racing through his brain.
Once out of the shower he realized he didn’t have a bath towel, so he wrapped what he had around his waist and walked off across the landing to get a bath towel from the airing cupboard, which was just inside the door of the family bathroom.
He opened the bathroom door, stepped through and opened the airing cupboard and took out a large fluffy bath towel off the top shelf and closed the door again, which was when he realized Victoria was sat on the toilet with her shorts and pants around her knees.
(Part 03)
He opened the bathroom door, stepped through and opened the airing cupboard and took out a large fluffy bath towel off the top shelf and closed the door which was when he realized Victoria was sat on the toilet with her shorts and pants around her knees.
“I'm so sorry Vic” he said in a fluster “I just didn’t think”
“I am so, so sorry”
Then he hurried out of the door and back to the sanctuary of his room where he could hide his embarrassment.
After drying himself thoroughly he got dressed for the day and went back down stairs and walked back into the kitchen to find Victoria sitting at the table.
“I really am sorry hon” he said “I didn’t know you were in there”
“its ok” she said understandingly “I’m not cross, it’s not like you haven’t seen everything I’ve got already”
“When did I see you before?” he asked
“Sharpington beach 2003” she replied
“That doesn’t count, you were only three”
He pointed out and they both laughed
“Nonetheless you are forgiven” she said “So where are you taking me?”
“Sharpington beach sounds good” he said and they both laughed again
“How would we get there?” she asked knowing he didn’t drive.
There was a bus which ran from Shallowfield to Sharpington via Mornington and every village in between which took over two hours and because of the time of day it was hardly worth going.
“Good point” he said “We can go there another day”
“Ok” she said rather pleased that they had a future date even though David didn’t call it a date “That’s a date”
“That doesn’t solve the problem of where should go today” he pointed out
“Well where were you going to go before I knocked on your door?” Victoria asked
“Well I was going to ride over to Shallowfield, have lunch and the cycle back”
“Well let’s do that then” she said “I’ll go and get my bike and I’ll meet you outside”
“Are you sure? It’s a long ride” he said
“Are you suggesting I’m too weak and feeble to ride to Shallowfield?” she asked indignantly, drawing herself up to her full five foot and a smidge.
“Not at all” he said “but we can pedal slowly if that helps”
Victoria punched him playfully on the arm and laughed before she slipped out through the French doors.
By the time David emerged from the side of the house pushing his bike she was already waiting outside.
They set off from the Close and got on to the well-worn path that followed the southern bank of the River Brooke which flowed to Mornington from Shallowfield.
They cycled at a sensible pace and as it was such a glorious late summer day that they sat in the beer of the Woodman’s Axe and arrived about ten minutes before the lunch rush began.
They enjoyed a very pleasant lunch, and they chatted all the while about everything and anything except for the one subject they both wanted to discuss which was “them”.
Neither of them wanted to curtail their impromptu outing but after two hours David reluctantly said
“I think we should make a move”
It was bitter sweet for David because he loved being with Victoria but he didn’t think there was any future in it.
“Ok” she agreed reluctantly
(Part 04)
David and Victoria left the Woodman’s Axe pushing their bikes and walked in the direction of the River Brooke.
When they reached the River they carried their bikes down the steps to the bank and when they reached the bottom Victoria said
“Thanks for lunch”
“Your welcome”
“And the lovely company” she added and reached up and kissed him and David made no attempt to rebuff her for at least three minutes until he suddenly pushed her away
“I don’t think we should be doing that” he said
“Why not?”
“Because your mum wouldn’t like it” David said as he mounted his bike
“I don’t want you to kiss my mum” she said “I want you to snog me”
“We mustn’t do it again” he said and cycled off
Victoria quickly got after him and when she was right on his back wheel she shouted
“But I liked it, I liked it a lot”
“So did I” he shouted back
“Then why can’t we do it again?” she yelled
“Because of the age gap” he yelled back and then started to pull away
They cycled along at top speed and Victoria never fully caught him but David never managed to open up a gap either.
When they were in sight of St Winifred’s Church spire Victoria had managed to get within a half a bike length of him, but then disaster struck when her chain snapped and she was suddenly airborne
“Ahhh” she screamed as she left the river bank and plunged into the river.
David glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the splash and pulled hard on the brakes.
He jumped off his bike and as he ran back along the path he could see her thrashing about and could hear her yells and as he reached the spot where she went in he jumped in without hesitation and swam towards her.
She was splashing around and appeared unable to swim.
He was breathing hard from the riding as he closed the distance between them and as she struggled to stay afloat the water splashed all around her.
He swam as fast as he could and managed to reach her in time.
But that proved to be only half the problem as reaching his initial goal only brought fresh problems, the first was having to avoid her flailing arms and the second was getting her to the bank.
He got a good hold on her, but she was fully clothed so she was heavy, so it was with some difficulty that he swam her to the bank.
But as soon as they reached the bank it was apparent that she could swim as she wriggled free of his hold and pushed him against the bank and kissed him.
It was several minutes however before he berated her for faking her impending death.
“I thought you were drowning” he said crossly
David pulled himself up the bank with ease and then reached down and pull the featherweight Victoria from the river and then did the same with her bike.
“I told you no more kissing” he said
“You were enjoying it” she said
“That’s not the point” David said
“What exactly is the point David” she snapped “You like me and I like you and we both like the kissing, so please enlighten me as to the problem”
“You’re 17 and I’m 21 that’s the problem”
“I don’t care about that” she said
“But your parents will” he replied
(Part 05)
David and Victoria walked in silence from the river to the Close, save for the squelching of their saturated footwear.
When they got within a few yards of Victoria’s house her mum pulled up in her car.
“Hello Mrs. Crockford” he said warmly
“Hello David, thank you for looking after Victoria” she said and on closer inspection of her daughter she added “I think”
“My chain snapped and I fell in the river” Victoria replied to her unasked question “But David came to my rescue”
“Well done David” Mrs. Crockford said
“Victoria makes it sound more dramatic than it was” David said “anyway I had better go”
“Ok bye” Victoria said flatly
“Bye David and thanks again” Mrs. C said
“Mum, would you mind if I went out with David?” Victoria asked
“Well you’ve been out with him today dear” she replied
“No I mean go “out” with him” Victoria retorted
“I know what going out means dear” her mum said with a wry smile
“So?” Victoria persisted
“Why would I mind?” she asked
“Because he’s older than me” Victoria replied
“Your dad is older than me” she pointed out
“So you don’t mind then?”
“Is he a good man?” Jean Crockford asked
“Yes”
“And you like him?” asked her mum
“Yes”
“And he likes you?” she queried
“Yes” Victoria replied
“Then go and get him” her mum said
“Thanks mum” Victoria said and kissed her
“However I have one piece of parental advice to give you”
“What’s that mum?”
“I think you should go and get changed first” she asked as her daughter stood dripping on the carpet.
“Otherwise he won’t want to go out with you”
Victoria had a quick shower and then spent half an hour making herself presentable before she left the house in pursuit of her goal.
David had already had his second shower of the day and was sitting on the patio drinking coffee when he heard the side gate open and he looked in that direction to see who would appear and when he saw Victoria appear it took his breath away, she was no longer dressed as a teen in shorts and a dress top with converse on her feet, Victoria was dressed as a woman, in a fitted green dress, that hugged her young curves, and high heel shoes that took her to the dizzy height of five foot four.
“Hello” he said unable to take his eyes off her
“Hi, I was looking for your mum” she said coolly
“She’s not here” he replied
“What about your dad?”
“He’s still at work” David responded
“Ok what about Megan then” Victoria said
“She’s not here either”
“Oh goody that means we can snog then” she said and she plonked herself on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to kiss him
“No snogging” he insisted and evaded her lips
“Go on you know you want to” she said
“I never said I didn’t want to” David corrected her
“Then what’s stopping you?” she asked
“You know very well what’s stopping me” he replied
“My mum?” she said
“Yes your mum”
“Well I just asked my mum if she minded me going out with you” She said
“And?”
“And she said go and get him” Victoria replied
“Really?”
“Really”
“Give me a kiss then” he said
“No I don’t think I can be bothered now” she retorted
“We’ll see about that” he said and began kissing her neck and by the time his lips reached her ear she exclaimed
“Ok I give in” she squealed and then they had the first kiss as a couple.
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale.
Twenty one year old David Murray lived at number 3, The Close, in Mornington-By-Mere with his parents and older sister Megan.
He was tall, a few inches over six foot, with Caucasian features, coffee coloured skin and short brown curly hair courtesy of his father Phil, who was white and was a child of the Finchbottom Vale and his black mother Lully who was from Jamaica.
He was a kind and generous person with a heart as big as a house.
He worked up at Mornington Field at the second hand book repository, Paige Turners, but on a sunny Friday at the beginning of September he had the day off and was pondering what to do.
He had the house to himself for the day so he could have just slobbed around but as it was such a beautiful day he thought he should get out in the sunshine.
He was still pondering exactly what to do when there was a knock on the French window, but he looked he couldn’t see anyone at first but on closer perusal he could see it was Victoria Crockford.
She was wearing knee length blue shorts, tight like leggings and a kind of short floral summer dress, scooped down at the front, fitted at the waist and just about long enough to cover her bum.
“Hello” he said opening the door and looking around
“Where’s your buddy?”
Her “buddy” was Sarah Younger, they were best friend since kindergarten and they had been inseparable from then on, it was a perfect friendship as they complimented each other.
Although there were similarities, they were both beauties for a start, their likes and dislikes, their sense of humour, but really as individuals they couldn’t be more different.
Victoria was a strawberry blonde, pale skinned and had no fear whereas Sarah was dark skinned and would tremble in shadows.
Victoria was an extrovert, precocious, a real Lolita, very confident, self-assured, and pretty and she knew it, though not in a cocky way.
Sarah on the other hand, though also very pretty, was unsure of it.
She was shy and socially awkward and lacked self-confidence but being with Victoria made Sarah feel more confident, daring to do things she would never do alone, she lived her life on Victoria’s coat tails and without her friend she floundered.
“She’s in Corfu” Victoria replied
“So what brings you here?” he asked
“We have the builders in at home and mum doesn’t want me alone in the house with the rough workmen in case I get tainted or have my innocence blemished”
“And she sent you to me?” he asked hopefully
“Not exactly” she replied “I chose you because I knew you had the day off”
“How did you know that?” he asked
Victoria made it her business to know everything about David Murray because she was in love with him.
“Your Mum mentioned it” she lied
“Do you mind me taking refuge here?”
“No problem” he said “But I’m actually going out in a bit”
“Oh” she said disappointedly
“But you could come with me” David offered
“Cool” she exclaimed
(Part 02)
Seventeen year old Victoria Crockford lived at number 5, The Close, in the picturesque village of Mornington-By-Mere with her parents and three siblings.
She was small girl, a smidge over five foot, with delicate features and long strawberry blonde hair and a large heart and that heart was full to overflowing with love.
And most of that love was directed at David Murray the gorgeous curly haired, dark skinned boy two doors away at number 3, where he lived with his parents Phil and Lully and his sister Megan.
David was not oblivious to the young girl next door but one, far from it, he thought she was lovely, he always had, but he thought it was a non-starter, not because she was way out of his league or anything like that, even though she was stunningly attractive, because he was an equally good looking man.
The problem for him was the four year age gap, or more precisely the likely reaction from their parents, after all she was not yet 18 whereas he was four years older and that had to make a difference especially to her parents.
So when she knocked on his door seeking refuge from the builders at her own house, her appearance prompted mixed feelings, he was overwhelmingly pleased to see her, and it was an opportunity to spend some time with her without her friend in tow, and she looked really lovely, but she looked so lovely that she represented a temptation he may not be able to resist.
“You’ll be lost while Sarah’s away,” he said
“You could keep her entertained,” she thought to herself “Please”
“Yes I will” she replied then as if to change the subject she asked
“Could I have a drink?”
“Of course help yourself” he replied, “You know where the glasses are”
The glasses were in the top cupboard and being only five foot tall she had to stand on tiptoe to reach them and the act of stretching up her arm, raised the hem of her skirt to expose the curves of her perfect little cheeks in her skin tight shorts.
When she had retrieved a glass she turned and glanced at him
“He was staring at my bum” she thought to herself and smiled,
David blushed when he realized he had been caught in the act and thought that was a good time to leave.
“Make yourself some toast or something” he said “I need to jump in the shower”
He had a lovely hot shower in the en suite in his parents room, as that was more powerful than the family bathroom, although a cold shower would have been more appropriate because of the inappropriate thoughts racing through his brain.
Once out of the shower he realized he didn’t have a bath towel, so he wrapped what he had around his waist and walked off across the landing to get a bath towel from the airing cupboard, which was just inside the door of the family bathroom.
He opened the bathroom door, stepped through and opened the airing cupboard and took out a large fluffy bath towel off the top shelf and closed the door again, which was when he realized Victoria was sat on the toilet with her shorts and pants around her knees.
(Part 03)
He opened the bathroom door, stepped through and opened the airing cupboard and took out a large fluffy bath towel off the top shelf and closed the door which was when he realized Victoria was sat on the toilet with her shorts and pants around her knees.
“I'm so sorry Vic” he said in a fluster “I just didn’t think”
“I am so, so sorry”
Then he hurried out of the door and back to the sanctuary of his room where he could hide his embarrassment.
After drying himself thoroughly he got dressed for the day and went back down stairs and walked back into the kitchen to find Victoria sitting at the table.
“I really am sorry hon” he said “I didn’t know you were in there”
“its ok” she said understandingly “I’m not cross, it’s not like you haven’t seen everything I’ve got already”
“When did I see you before?” he asked
“Sharpington beach 2003” she replied
“That doesn’t count, you were only three”
He pointed out and they both laughed
“Nonetheless you are forgiven” she said “So where are you taking me?”
“Sharpington beach sounds good” he said and they both laughed again
“How would we get there?” she asked knowing he didn’t drive.
There was a bus which ran from Shallowfield to Sharpington via Mornington and every village in between which took over two hours and because of the time of day it was hardly worth going.
“Good point” he said “We can go there another day”
“Ok” she said rather pleased that they had a future date even though David didn’t call it a date “That’s a date”
“That doesn’t solve the problem of where should go today” he pointed out
“Well where were you going to go before I knocked on your door?” Victoria asked
“Well I was going to ride over to Shallowfield, have lunch and the cycle back”
“Well let’s do that then” she said “I’ll go and get my bike and I’ll meet you outside”
“Are you sure? It’s a long ride” he said
“Are you suggesting I’m too weak and feeble to ride to Shallowfield?” she asked indignantly, drawing herself up to her full five foot and a smidge.
“Not at all” he said “but we can pedal slowly if that helps”
Victoria punched him playfully on the arm and laughed before she slipped out through the French doors.
By the time David emerged from the side of the house pushing his bike she was already waiting outside.
They set off from the Close and got on to the well-worn path that followed the southern bank of the River Brooke which flowed to Mornington from Shallowfield.
They cycled at a sensible pace and as it was such a glorious late summer day that they sat in the beer of the Woodman’s Axe and arrived about ten minutes before the lunch rush began.
They enjoyed a very pleasant lunch, and they chatted all the while about everything and anything except for the one subject they both wanted to discuss which was “them”.
Neither of them wanted to curtail their impromptu outing but after two hours David reluctantly said
“I think we should make a move”
It was bitter sweet for David because he loved being with Victoria but he didn’t think there was any future in it.
“Ok” she agreed reluctantly
(Part 04)
David and Victoria left the Woodman’s Axe pushing their bikes and walked in the direction of the River Brooke.
When they reached the River they carried their bikes down the steps to the bank and when they reached the bottom Victoria said
“Thanks for lunch”
“Your welcome”
“And the lovely company” she added and reached up and kissed him and David made no attempt to rebuff her for at least three minutes until he suddenly pushed her away
“I don’t think we should be doing that” he said
“Why not?”
“Because your mum wouldn’t like it” David said as he mounted his bike
“I don’t want you to kiss my mum” she said “I want you to snog me”
“We mustn’t do it again” he said and cycled off
Victoria quickly got after him and when she was right on his back wheel she shouted
“But I liked it, I liked it a lot”
“So did I” he shouted back
“Then why can’t we do it again?” she yelled
“Because of the age gap” he yelled back and then started to pull away
They cycled along at top speed and Victoria never fully caught him but David never managed to open up a gap either.
When they were in sight of St Winifred’s Church spire Victoria had managed to get within a half a bike length of him, but then disaster struck when her chain snapped and she was suddenly airborne
“Ahhh” she screamed as she left the river bank and plunged into the river.
David glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the splash and pulled hard on the brakes.
He jumped off his bike and as he ran back along the path he could see her thrashing about and could hear her yells and as he reached the spot where she went in he jumped in without hesitation and swam towards her.
She was splashing around and appeared unable to swim.
He was breathing hard from the riding as he closed the distance between them and as she struggled to stay afloat the water splashed all around her.
He swam as fast as he could and managed to reach her in time.
But that proved to be only half the problem as reaching his initial goal only brought fresh problems, the first was having to avoid her flailing arms and the second was getting her to the bank.
He got a good hold on her, but she was fully clothed so she was heavy, so it was with some difficulty that he swam her to the bank.
But as soon as they reached the bank it was apparent that she could swim as she wriggled free of his hold and pushed him against the bank and kissed him.
It was several minutes however before he berated her for faking her impending death.
“I thought you were drowning” he said crossly
David pulled himself up the bank with ease and then reached down and pull the featherweight Victoria from the river and then did the same with her bike.
“I told you no more kissing” he said
“You were enjoying it” she said
“That’s not the point” David said
“What exactly is the point David” she snapped “You like me and I like you and we both like the kissing, so please enlighten me as to the problem”
“You’re 17 and I’m 21 that’s the problem”
“I don’t care about that” she said
“But your parents will” he replied
(Part 05)
David and Victoria walked in silence from the river to the Close, save for the squelching of their saturated footwear.
When they got within a few yards of Victoria’s house her mum pulled up in her car.
“Hello Mrs. Crockford” he said warmly
“Hello David, thank you for looking after Victoria” she said and on closer inspection of her daughter she added “I think”
“My chain snapped and I fell in the river” Victoria replied to her unasked question “But David came to my rescue”
“Well done David” Mrs. Crockford said
“Victoria makes it sound more dramatic than it was” David said “anyway I had better go”
“Ok bye” Victoria said flatly
“Bye David and thanks again” Mrs. C said
“Mum, would you mind if I went out with David?” Victoria asked
“Well you’ve been out with him today dear” she replied
“No I mean go “out” with him” Victoria retorted
“I know what going out means dear” her mum said with a wry smile
“So?” Victoria persisted
“Why would I mind?” she asked
“Because he’s older than me” Victoria replied
“Your dad is older than me” she pointed out
“So you don’t mind then?”
“Is he a good man?” Jean Crockford asked
“Yes”
“And you like him?” asked her mum
“Yes”
“And he likes you?” she queried
“Yes” Victoria replied
“Then go and get him” her mum said
“Thanks mum” Victoria said and kissed her
“However I have one piece of parental advice to give you”
“What’s that mum?”
“I think you should go and get changed first” she asked as her daughter stood dripping on the carpet.
“Otherwise he won’t want to go out with you”
Victoria had a quick shower and then spent half an hour making herself presentable before she left the house in pursuit of her goal.
David had already had his second shower of the day and was sitting on the patio drinking coffee when he heard the side gate open and he looked in that direction to see who would appear and when he saw Victoria appear it took his breath away, she was no longer dressed as a teen in shorts and a dress top with converse on her feet, Victoria was dressed as a woman, in a fitted green dress, that hugged her young curves, and high heel shoes that took her to the dizzy height of five foot four.
“Hello” he said unable to take his eyes off her
“Hi, I was looking for your mum” she said coolly
“She’s not here” he replied
“What about your dad?”
“He’s still at work” David responded
“Ok what about Megan then” Victoria said
“She’s not here either”
“Oh goody that means we can snog then” she said and she plonked herself on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to kiss him
“No snogging” he insisted and evaded her lips
“Go on you know you want to” she said
“I never said I didn’t want to” David corrected her
“Then what’s stopping you?” she asked
“You know very well what’s stopping me” he replied
“My mum?” she said
“Yes your mum”
“Well I just asked my mum if she minded me going out with you” She said
“And?”
“And she said go and get him” Victoria replied
“Really?”
“Really”
“Give me a kiss then” he said
“No I don’t think I can be bothered now” she retorted
“We’ll see about that” he said and began kissing her neck and by the time his lips reached her ear she exclaimed
“Ok I give in” she squealed and then they had the first kiss as a couple.
Mornington-By-Mere – (49) The Whitsun Picnic
(Part 01)
Eric Vineyard’s Uncle George ran a clock restoration business which moved from Purplemere to Mornington Field.
“Time and Time Again”, as it was now called, was the latest manifestation of the family business that had been at the same premises in Purplemere for over a hundred years and the Vineyards had been in Purplemere since before the Civil War, almost as long as the St Georges had been at Mornington Manor.
But things were changing in the county and the only place left in Downshire that had any respect or deference to tradition was Mornington and that was thanks to the St George family so when the opportunity presented itself he didn’t give it a second thought.
When the Old RAF Base became defunct and the land returned to the stewardship of the Mornington Estate plans were set in motion to convert the old Ministry of Defence buildings into commercial or residential properties.
Time and Time Again moved into the former and the Vineyard Family moved into one of the latter, namely number 17 Military Row on the 18th of December 2014.
And at the end of the following January “Time and Time Again”, moved into what used to be the old West Guard House.
Eric Vineyard was 26 years old, tall, lean and olive skinned with thick black curly hair, and was really not happy when his mother Rebecca made the decision to move to the country.
He was a townie and he seriously considered giving up his job working with his Uncle and staying in Purplemere, but then he was racked with guilt about letting his mum down, so he decided he would give it a try.
He loved his job and he soon found that he loved Mornington as well.
The Whitsun Picnic was held every year in the grounds of the Mornington Manor on the edge of the Mere and the picnic was well attended by the villagers and it was a real family affair with all the generations represented.
Young boys with dirty knees and footballs at their feet, giggling girls with pigtails and plats, teenage boys awkwardly trying to interact, teenage girls learning to be women, old men trying to remember how to be young, old women like mutton dressed as lamb.
In fact every age group was represented and the different social groups mixed effortlessly.
Being new to the area it was the first Whitsun picnic that the Vineyards had been to and they were determined to enjoy it.
Eric walked into the Mornington Estate with his mother Rebecca his younger siblings, Donna and Edward, and as they walked towards the picnic area, situated between the Mere and Manor Wood and Eric was admiring some of the attractive girls in attendance.
A girl in a figure hugging red dress, and he admired it as the fabric hugged her young curves and her straight honey coloured hair caressed her neck as she walked ahead of him until she stopped to talk with a friend.
His attention was then drawn to the friend who had a curious hair style with her brown hair worn short on one side and long on one, and she had a silk scarf around her throat which he assumed was probable covering a love bite as it was a warm day, it was certainly too warm for a scarf.
His eyes were then drawn to an absolute stunner in a floral dress and flat shoes who was peering at him from beneath her straw covered fringe.
They were then overtaken by two middle aged women who clearly didn’t understand the picnic dress code, one was wearing a smart jacket and a pleated skirt and the other had on a Red sparkling dress with long lace sleeves but as attractive as the assembled ladies were they didn’t hold his attention long, because none of them “rang his bell” and he doubted he would see anyone in Mornington that would.
But that all changed when he and his family settled on a blanket.
(Part 02)
As soon as the Vineyards sat down Eric was struck by the look of the girl with no bra who walked up and sat down on the neighbouring picnic blanket.
And it wasn’t just that she was braless beneath her blue vest top.
Nor was it just that she was beautiful, and she was very definitely that, with a seductive smile, and fine soft brown hair with flyaway strands which were turned gold by the summer sun.
It wasn’t even her short floral skirt and the remarkable legs that descended from it.
The combination of all of those attributes certainly blew him away but it was the way in which she looked at him and then averted her gaze with a coy smile and a blush, when he caught her, that was what made her so very alluring.
Eric found out from his mother, Rebecca, that the girl was called Stephanie Richardson, and she lived and worked at the Corner House Guest House and that she was 23 years old, and most importantly of all that she was unattached.
After the food was consumed and everything was cleared away all the children went off to play and small groups formed among the adults.
And Eric noticed Stephanie, the braless beauty wandered off alone into the woods.
It was the hottest part of the afternoon and apart from anything else Steph was hoping to find a little cool respite beneath the dense canopy and she was not disappointed.
A few minutes had passed before Eric realised she had gone and after surveying the picnic area and not being able to see her he panicked and muttered under his breath.
Rebecca saw his discomfort she smiled and said
“She’s gone to cool off in Manor Wood”
A moment or two later Eric ambled off in the same direction Stephanie had taken.
He followed the well-worn path into the wood and he found they were cool and refreshing but he couldn’t see Stephanie anywhere.
But then it occurred to him that he didn’t actually know what he was going to say to her even if he did find her, he had never been very good with that kind of thing.
So he stopped and turned around and began walking back the way he came but then he stopped again and said out loud
“For God’s sake you’ll just have to wing it”
Despite the fact that Eric had never winged anything in his life he turned around again and resumed his original course.
After venturing thirty yards deeper into the wood he could hear someone cursing and muttering in the near distance but couldn’t at that point see the source of the cursing as well as hear it.
So he walked closer towards the sound and when he found the cause of the commotion he also found Stephanie, he knew it was her even though she had her back to him because of what she was wearing, a blue vest top and a short floral skirt and of course he recognised the remarkable legs that descended from her skirt.
Stephanie was on the edge of a clearing and the reason for the cursing and the muttering appeared to be because she had unfortunately got herself snagged on some brambles and was struggling to release herself.
“Anything I can help you with?” he offered
“Oh” she exclaimed as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Yes please”
(Part 03)
Stephanie was on the edge of a clearing and the reason for the cursing and the muttering appeared to be because she had unfortunately got herself snagged on some brambles and was struggling to release herself.
“Anything I can help you with?” he offered
“Oh” she exclaimed as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Yes please”
“Right, where exactly are you hooked?” he asked as he got closer
“There’s one on my skirt and another on my top” she said
“Every time I free myself from one I get hooked on another”
It was a fairly large clearing with a fallen oak to one side but she had managed to catch herself on the only hazard in the clearing.
“What possessed you to get so close to the brambles?” he asked
“Well its quite thick undergrowth and I was looking for some privacy” she replied
“Privacy?” he asked
“Yes”
“Privacy for wha….?” He began but then the penny dropped as he realised that she was looking for somewhere away from prying eyes because she needed to pee.
“Ok got that now” he said and began tackling her impediments
The one on her skirt had caught on the hem and had lifted it upwards exposing the full length of her thigh and Eric feasted his eyes on it, which didn’t go unnoticed, Stephanie was flattered at first but she suddenly became self-conscious under his gaze, almost at the precise moment that he realised what he was doing.
“Sorry” he said and blushed and quickly released the hem of her skirt.
With her modesty restored Eric turned his attention to the remaining snag which was on the side of her vest top just behind her left shoulder and was well embedded in the lace trim of her neckline which he tackled as he stood behind her.
It was a bit of a fiddle and it took him a minute or so to get the thorn out without ruining her top.
“Ok, got it” he said and held the thorny stem upwards
“Now step backwards slowly”
Stephanie complied and when she was out of reach of any other stems he released the one he was holding and stepped backwards as well but because Steph was wearing flip flops her foot came adrift of her footwear and she stumbled.
Fortunately Eric was on hand and he reached out one of his long limbs and scooped her up in his arms and the moment they were face to face her mouth sought out his and she rewarded him for his chivalry and kissed him, but it was not merely a thank you kiss it was much more passionate than that and it was just as she imagined it would be when she couldn’t take her eyes off him at the picnic.
When the kiss was over Stephanie smiled at him coyly and said
“I’m sorry, but I have to go”
“What? No don’t go yet” he implored her
“But I have to “go”” she repeated and shuffled her weight from foot to foot.
“Ah ok you have to “go”” he said and she nodded her head
“I will see you later then” he said and Steph gave him a quick peck and ran off
“Stay away from the brambles” he called after her
“I hope she comes back” he thought to himself as he exited the wood and sat back down on the blanket in the space he had vacated and then he glanced around to see where the rest of his family were.
But he hadn’t spotted them during the five minutes that elapsed before Stephanie reappeared into the sunlight from the woods and quickly crossed the field and sat down, but not where she sat during the picnic, but on his blanket, opposite him and after they exchanged a smile she took hold of his hand and he kissed her.
Eric Vineyard’s Uncle George ran a clock restoration business which moved from Purplemere to Mornington Field.
“Time and Time Again”, as it was now called, was the latest manifestation of the family business that had been at the same premises in Purplemere for over a hundred years and the Vineyards had been in Purplemere since before the Civil War, almost as long as the St Georges had been at Mornington Manor.
But things were changing in the county and the only place left in Downshire that had any respect or deference to tradition was Mornington and that was thanks to the St George family so when the opportunity presented itself he didn’t give it a second thought.
When the Old RAF Base became defunct and the land returned to the stewardship of the Mornington Estate plans were set in motion to convert the old Ministry of Defence buildings into commercial or residential properties.
Time and Time Again moved into the former and the Vineyard Family moved into one of the latter, namely number 17 Military Row on the 18th of December 2014.
And at the end of the following January “Time and Time Again”, moved into what used to be the old West Guard House.
Eric Vineyard was 26 years old, tall, lean and olive skinned with thick black curly hair, and was really not happy when his mother Rebecca made the decision to move to the country.
He was a townie and he seriously considered giving up his job working with his Uncle and staying in Purplemere, but then he was racked with guilt about letting his mum down, so he decided he would give it a try.
He loved his job and he soon found that he loved Mornington as well.
The Whitsun Picnic was held every year in the grounds of the Mornington Manor on the edge of the Mere and the picnic was well attended by the villagers and it was a real family affair with all the generations represented.
Young boys with dirty knees and footballs at their feet, giggling girls with pigtails and plats, teenage boys awkwardly trying to interact, teenage girls learning to be women, old men trying to remember how to be young, old women like mutton dressed as lamb.
In fact every age group was represented and the different social groups mixed effortlessly.
Being new to the area it was the first Whitsun picnic that the Vineyards had been to and they were determined to enjoy it.
Eric walked into the Mornington Estate with his mother Rebecca his younger siblings, Donna and Edward, and as they walked towards the picnic area, situated between the Mere and Manor Wood and Eric was admiring some of the attractive girls in attendance.
A girl in a figure hugging red dress, and he admired it as the fabric hugged her young curves and her straight honey coloured hair caressed her neck as she walked ahead of him until she stopped to talk with a friend.
His attention was then drawn to the friend who had a curious hair style with her brown hair worn short on one side and long on one, and she had a silk scarf around her throat which he assumed was probable covering a love bite as it was a warm day, it was certainly too warm for a scarf.
His eyes were then drawn to an absolute stunner in a floral dress and flat shoes who was peering at him from beneath her straw covered fringe.
They were then overtaken by two middle aged women who clearly didn’t understand the picnic dress code, one was wearing a smart jacket and a pleated skirt and the other had on a Red sparkling dress with long lace sleeves but as attractive as the assembled ladies were they didn’t hold his attention long, because none of them “rang his bell” and he doubted he would see anyone in Mornington that would.
But that all changed when he and his family settled on a blanket.
(Part 02)
As soon as the Vineyards sat down Eric was struck by the look of the girl with no bra who walked up and sat down on the neighbouring picnic blanket.
And it wasn’t just that she was braless beneath her blue vest top.
Nor was it just that she was beautiful, and she was very definitely that, with a seductive smile, and fine soft brown hair with flyaway strands which were turned gold by the summer sun.
It wasn’t even her short floral skirt and the remarkable legs that descended from it.
The combination of all of those attributes certainly blew him away but it was the way in which she looked at him and then averted her gaze with a coy smile and a blush, when he caught her, that was what made her so very alluring.
Eric found out from his mother, Rebecca, that the girl was called Stephanie Richardson, and she lived and worked at the Corner House Guest House and that she was 23 years old, and most importantly of all that she was unattached.
After the food was consumed and everything was cleared away all the children went off to play and small groups formed among the adults.
And Eric noticed Stephanie, the braless beauty wandered off alone into the woods.
It was the hottest part of the afternoon and apart from anything else Steph was hoping to find a little cool respite beneath the dense canopy and she was not disappointed.
A few minutes had passed before Eric realised she had gone and after surveying the picnic area and not being able to see her he panicked and muttered under his breath.
Rebecca saw his discomfort she smiled and said
“She’s gone to cool off in Manor Wood”
A moment or two later Eric ambled off in the same direction Stephanie had taken.
He followed the well-worn path into the wood and he found they were cool and refreshing but he couldn’t see Stephanie anywhere.
But then it occurred to him that he didn’t actually know what he was going to say to her even if he did find her, he had never been very good with that kind of thing.
So he stopped and turned around and began walking back the way he came but then he stopped again and said out loud
“For God’s sake you’ll just have to wing it”
Despite the fact that Eric had never winged anything in his life he turned around again and resumed his original course.
After venturing thirty yards deeper into the wood he could hear someone cursing and muttering in the near distance but couldn’t at that point see the source of the cursing as well as hear it.
So he walked closer towards the sound and when he found the cause of the commotion he also found Stephanie, he knew it was her even though she had her back to him because of what she was wearing, a blue vest top and a short floral skirt and of course he recognised the remarkable legs that descended from her skirt.
Stephanie was on the edge of a clearing and the reason for the cursing and the muttering appeared to be because she had unfortunately got herself snagged on some brambles and was struggling to release herself.
“Anything I can help you with?” he offered
“Oh” she exclaimed as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Yes please”
(Part 03)
Stephanie was on the edge of a clearing and the reason for the cursing and the muttering appeared to be because she had unfortunately got herself snagged on some brambles and was struggling to release herself.
“Anything I can help you with?” he offered
“Oh” she exclaimed as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Yes please”
“Right, where exactly are you hooked?” he asked as he got closer
“There’s one on my skirt and another on my top” she said
“Every time I free myself from one I get hooked on another”
It was a fairly large clearing with a fallen oak to one side but she had managed to catch herself on the only hazard in the clearing.
“What possessed you to get so close to the brambles?” he asked
“Well its quite thick undergrowth and I was looking for some privacy” she replied
“Privacy?” he asked
“Yes”
“Privacy for wha….?” He began but then the penny dropped as he realised that she was looking for somewhere away from prying eyes because she needed to pee.
“Ok got that now” he said and began tackling her impediments
The one on her skirt had caught on the hem and had lifted it upwards exposing the full length of her thigh and Eric feasted his eyes on it, which didn’t go unnoticed, Stephanie was flattered at first but she suddenly became self-conscious under his gaze, almost at the precise moment that he realised what he was doing.
“Sorry” he said and blushed and quickly released the hem of her skirt.
With her modesty restored Eric turned his attention to the remaining snag which was on the side of her vest top just behind her left shoulder and was well embedded in the lace trim of her neckline which he tackled as he stood behind her.
It was a bit of a fiddle and it took him a minute or so to get the thorn out without ruining her top.
“Ok, got it” he said and held the thorny stem upwards
“Now step backwards slowly”
Stephanie complied and when she was out of reach of any other stems he released the one he was holding and stepped backwards as well but because Steph was wearing flip flops her foot came adrift of her footwear and she stumbled.
Fortunately Eric was on hand and he reached out one of his long limbs and scooped her up in his arms and the moment they were face to face her mouth sought out his and she rewarded him for his chivalry and kissed him, but it was not merely a thank you kiss it was much more passionate than that and it was just as she imagined it would be when she couldn’t take her eyes off him at the picnic.
When the kiss was over Stephanie smiled at him coyly and said
“I’m sorry, but I have to go”
“What? No don’t go yet” he implored her
“But I have to “go”” she repeated and shuffled her weight from foot to foot.
“Ah ok you have to “go”” he said and she nodded her head
“I will see you later then” he said and Steph gave him a quick peck and ran off
“Stay away from the brambles” he called after her
“I hope she comes back” he thought to himself as he exited the wood and sat back down on the blanket in the space he had vacated and then he glanced around to see where the rest of his family were.
But he hadn’t spotted them during the five minutes that elapsed before Stephanie reappeared into the sunlight from the woods and quickly crossed the field and sat down, but not where she sat during the picnic, but on his blanket, opposite him and after they exchanged a smile she took hold of his hand and he kissed her.
Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Mornington-By-Mere – (48) The Boy Next Door
(Part 01)
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and Andy Pike lived at number 10 Brewery Cottages with his parents.
After finishing at University Andy landed a job on Mornington Field working for Topliss Engineering.
The Mornington Estate had exercised its option to purchase Mornington Field back from the MOD at the end of the lease and along with it they also acquired all the buildings and infrastructure on the airfield itself as well as 29 houses in the village formally used as quarters for military personnel.
All the buildings on the Base had been converted into a mixture of commercial and residential units and Topliss Engineering were the first company to take up residence.
He could easily have got a job in a bigger company in one of the big towns in the county or even further afield but Andy was a big fish in a small pond kind of guy for two reasons mainly one was because he loved Mornington but more importantly than that, he loved Sarah Younger and she lived nextdor at number 11.
Andy had loved her since 2006 when she was 7 years old and he was 13, but it was a protective brotherly kind of love between them up until the Christmas before last when 16 year old Sarah kissed him under the mistletoe and in that kiss he lost his heart.
But although he loved her he knew in his heart that nothing would ever come of it because they were chalk and cheese, she was petite and beautiful and he was neither short nor tall or fat nor thin, he was mister average, average height, average weight and average looking in fact were it not for his shock of ginger hair and steel blue eyes he would be totally anonymous.
Even if he were never to win the heart of a beautiful girl like Sarah, Mornington still had everything that he could ask for.
A good job working for a generous and innovative employer, a happy family life with his parents and living in a kind and caring community.
There were also all the amenities you could want
Dentist, doctors, chemist, post office and general store, School, a Police presence, bakers, butchers green grocers, pub and church, a Lord of the Manor, woodland, farm land, wildlife, countryside a river and a mere.
Near enough civilization if you need anything but far enough away to feel at peace.
(Part 02)
Sarah Younger was a pretty young girl with black curly hair who was barely five feet tall, dark skinned and was fast approaching her eighteenth birthday.
She was not a fresh faced English rose like her best friend Victoria, Sarah’s skin was the colour of burnt caramel.
She and Victoria were best friend since kindergarten and they had been inseparable from then on, it was a perfect friendship as they complimented each other.
Although there were similarities, they were both beauties for a start, their likes and dislikes, their sense of humour, but really as individuals they couldn’t be more different.
Victoria was a strawberry blonde, pale skinned and had no fear whereas Sarah was dark skinned and would tremble in shadows.
Victoria was an extrovert, precocious, a real Lolita, very confident, self-assured, and pretty and she knew it, though not in a cocky way.
Sarah on the other hand, though also very pretty, was unsure of it.
She was shy and socially awkward and lacked self-confidence but being with Victoria made Sarah feel more confident, daring to do things she would never do alone, she lived her life on Victoria’s coat tails and without her friend she floundered.
Sarah had lived in the village her whole life and was off to University in September and she wasn’t precisely sure what she wanted to do when she graduated, other than be in Andy Pike’s life.
Andy Pike was the next door neighbour and Sarah had had a crush on him since she was 12 years old.
He was six years older than her but in Sarah’s eyes he was fit, in every sense of the word.
It wasn’t unusual for a young girl to have a crush on an older man in fact it happens more often than not.
But most crushes didn’t come to any more than that, crushes, and the likelihood was that Sarah’s would go the same way as most of the others.
She had dithered about all summer because of her shyness and lack of gumption and therefore had made no inroads with Andy whatsoever and she only had eight days in which to get her man before she went on holiday to Corfu with her family, because she was only going to be back for one day and then she would leave for Abbottsford for her first year at Uni.
She had to do something, Victoria couldn’t help her, she had her cap set at someone else in the village and even with all her confidence she hadn’t got her man.
She was just going have to do it alone, and even if she crashed and burned she would at least know that it was settled and she was going away so there would be no lingering embarrassment.
However having made the decision to act, she then had to decide how, where and when.
She couldn’t just go and knock on the door, she wouldn’t know what to say, and he was unlikely to knock on hers, so she decided she would just have to bump into him by accident and take it from there, armed with a few suggested conversation openers supplied by Victoria.
(Part 03)
Sarah had been rudderless for the last few months of the summer and had lost focus, distracted by thoughts of Andy and her need of him.
She had always dreamed that he would be her first steady boyfriend, but that was all it ever was, but that dream had become increasingly vivid throughout the summer, so she had to act.
Despite the fact that she lacked the self-confidence to take her crush a step further she knew she had to try.
So Sarah had resolved to take action to get Andy Pike in her life but she didn’t know how to go about it.
She couldn’t just go and knock on the door, she wouldn’t know what to say, and he was unlikely to knock on hers, so she decided she would just have to bump into him by accident and take it from there armed with a few suggested conversation openers supplied by Victoria.
She had even had lessons in flirting from her best friend and she diligently practiced in the mirror in her bedroom with the lines that Victoria had suggested and rehearsed the flirting techniques that her friend had shown her, and alone in her room she used both to great effect but as soon as she saw Andy she knew her mouth would dry up and her knees would go weak.
Of course the whole exercise would have been much more successful had Sarah noticed the way Andy looked at her, and was able to read the signs, then she would have known that he fancied her too, but she didn’t know that if he had known how she felt he would acted on his desires, but alas they both doubted, and he hadn’t acted as she now planned to do.
The omens were good and the timing was perfect, Sarah was on the verge of leaving for Corfu and then University and the Pike’s were in Sharpington for the week and Andy was at home alone.
So she convinced herself that today was the day because they were off on holiday the next week so there would be no chance of any post rejection embarrassment or awkwardness so when she went to bed on Tuesday night she was determined the next day was D-Day.
She awoke on Wednesday morning with a great spirit of optimism but when she threw back the curtains and she saw it was pouring down of rain, her spirits were dampened.
Worse than that it rained solidly for the rest of the week so all she could do was keep practicing in her bedroom.
While she was flirting with her own reflexion in the mirror Andy was rueing the bad weather himself because the fine sunny days were the only ones that he got to see her and he knew that her holiday was fast approaching and then Abbottsford University and she would be away for months at a time.
The rain finally abated late on Friday afternoon but it was too late for her to do anything, but the forecast was for a warm and sunny Saturday so she was going to go on the offensive on D-Day plus 3.
(Part 04)
When she woke up on Saturday Morning (D-Day plus 3) with the sun streaming through her bedroom window Sarah was in great spirits.
“Todays the day” she said and leapt out of bed because she was going to take her chance on that fine sunny day.
Her mum and dad had gone to Abbottsford to do some last minute holiday shopping but Sarah declined their invitation for her to join them and gave her mum a list of things she needed instead, because she had other fish to fry.
Sarah decided on bold action and put on a bikini, in fact it was the briefest one she owned and it left nothing to the imagination, the bottoms didn’t even cover her bum cheeks.
Well she wasn’t feeling that bold so she changed into one that did leave something for Andy’s imagination.
When she was appropriately dressed she looked out of her bedroom window, which afforded her a great view into the Pike’s back garden.
Andy would normally spend Saturday morning in the back garden of number 10 Brewery Cottages cleaning his pride and joy, his Triumph Bonneville.
Unfortunately on that Saturday he had to go into work in order to complete an urgent order, so when she looked out he was nowhere to be seen.
She rushed downstairs and ran out into the garden and looked back up to the house and all the windows were shut and there was no sign of life, so she returned to the house and sulked.
Sarah checked the Pike’s garden every fifteen minutes and every time she was disappointed.
So at 11.30 when she returned to the house she went to the fridge and poured herself a large glass of wine.
Had Andy had any inkling of what Sarah wanted, he would not have volunteered to work that morning.
Andy had loved her since 2006 when she was 7 years old and he was 13, but it was a protective brotherly kind of love between them up until the Christmas before last when 16 year old Sarah kissed him under the mistletoe and in that kiss he lost his heart.
But although he loved her he believed in his heart that nothing would ever come of it because they were chalk and cheese, she was petite and beautiful and he was neither short nor tall or fat nor thin, he was mister average, average height, average weight and average looking in fact were it not for his shock of ginger hair and steel blue eyes he would be totally anonymous.
He never imagined for a second that she was attracted to him in the same way he was to her.
The kiss beneath the mistletoe on the Christmas before last, although toe curlingly nice, was after all as a result of too much Christmas spirit in the form several glasses of Prosecco.
What he didn’t know was that her over indulgence of the grape, merely enabled her to do what she had always dreamed of doing.
Because she would never have had the courage to do it if she were sober.
(Part 05)
As she sat on the patio drinking a glass of wine she began to feel a little light headed.
It was nearly one o’clock and she hadn’t eaten all day as she was on her second glass of Pinot and she wasn’t used to drinking.
The last time she had been tiddly was the Christmas before last when she kissed Andy beneath the mistletoe which was the result of too much Christmas spirit in the form several glasses of Prosecco.
She behaved totally out of character due to her over indulgence of the grape, she took the initiative and kissed him, and it was electrifyingly good, and she loved it even if she ended up throwing up an hour later.
The alcohol had enabled her to do what she had always dreamed of doing, because she would never have had the courage to do it if she were sober.
She was reliving that brief but electrifying kiss as she sat on the patio, when she heard a noise in the garden next door.
She stood up immediately and went a bit wobbly, so she put the glass down on the table and said
“I think I’ve had enough bravery”
And with that she headed down the garden.
She entered quietly through the back gate and crept up behind him while he was cleaning his motorbike.
“Hello handsome” she said cheekily and startled him
“Oh” he exclaimed “you made me jump”
“You look very busy” Sarah said
“Yes, yes lots to do” he replied nervously as his eyes consumed her beautiful figure.
“It’s a shame having to work on such a lovely day” she said coyly
“I’m sure there are more fun things to do” she added as she stroked the hairs on his forearm
“Oh um er well erm” he stammered and then she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.
Andy was enjoying the kiss as much as she was but after a minute he suddenly stopped
“No don’t stop” she said
“I think we have to” he said
“But it was nice, and you thought so too” she said
“That’s why we have to stop” Andy said forcefully
“I don’t understand” she said with tears filling her eyes
“Well at least now I know” she said as she rushed out of the gate.
It was still a glorious day and Andy berated himself for upsetting her, which was not his intention, he just didn’t want to take advantage of her while she was tipsy.
Andy Pike reached over the top of the gate and lifted the latch and quietly opened the gate.
He could see Sarah immediately as he walked into the garden, she was on the patio lying face down on a sun lounger in her bikini and her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed.
He walked up to the Patio unnoticed and said
“Hi Sarah”
And she turned and looked over her shoulder.
“Andy” she said with surprise and he knelt down on the patio and said
“I’m sorry”
Sarah rolled over and sat up to face him
“Does this mean you do want me” she asked wiping the tears off her cheeks
“I’ve always wanted you” he replied and she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him
“Why did you stop me kissing you then?” she asked without releasing her grip
“Because I want to kiss you when you’re sober” he replied
“I’ll be sober tomorrow” she said eagerly
“I’m busy tomorrow” he replied
“Oh” she said forlornly
“I have to pick mum and dad up from Sharpington tomorrow”
He reassured her
“But we could go to the Sharpington Day Parade on Monday”
“Really?” she asked excitedly “like a date”
“No not like a date” he said
“Oh” she said and looked crestfallen
“I mean an actual date” he said and she beamed a radiant smile but then she asked with a frown
“Could we just have a bit of a tiddly kiss?”
“Oh yes” he said and he kissed her and this time neither of them brought it to a premature close and everything in the Younger’s garden was lovely.
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and Andy Pike lived at number 10 Brewery Cottages with his parents.
After finishing at University Andy landed a job on Mornington Field working for Topliss Engineering.
The Mornington Estate had exercised its option to purchase Mornington Field back from the MOD at the end of the lease and along with it they also acquired all the buildings and infrastructure on the airfield itself as well as 29 houses in the village formally used as quarters for military personnel.
All the buildings on the Base had been converted into a mixture of commercial and residential units and Topliss Engineering were the first company to take up residence.
He could easily have got a job in a bigger company in one of the big towns in the county or even further afield but Andy was a big fish in a small pond kind of guy for two reasons mainly one was because he loved Mornington but more importantly than that, he loved Sarah Younger and she lived nextdor at number 11.
Andy had loved her since 2006 when she was 7 years old and he was 13, but it was a protective brotherly kind of love between them up until the Christmas before last when 16 year old Sarah kissed him under the mistletoe and in that kiss he lost his heart.
But although he loved her he knew in his heart that nothing would ever come of it because they were chalk and cheese, she was petite and beautiful and he was neither short nor tall or fat nor thin, he was mister average, average height, average weight and average looking in fact were it not for his shock of ginger hair and steel blue eyes he would be totally anonymous.
Even if he were never to win the heart of a beautiful girl like Sarah, Mornington still had everything that he could ask for.
A good job working for a generous and innovative employer, a happy family life with his parents and living in a kind and caring community.
There were also all the amenities you could want
Dentist, doctors, chemist, post office and general store, School, a Police presence, bakers, butchers green grocers, pub and church, a Lord of the Manor, woodland, farm land, wildlife, countryside a river and a mere.
Near enough civilization if you need anything but far enough away to feel at peace.
(Part 02)
Sarah Younger was a pretty young girl with black curly hair who was barely five feet tall, dark skinned and was fast approaching her eighteenth birthday.
She was not a fresh faced English rose like her best friend Victoria, Sarah’s skin was the colour of burnt caramel.
She and Victoria were best friend since kindergarten and they had been inseparable from then on, it was a perfect friendship as they complimented each other.
Although there were similarities, they were both beauties for a start, their likes and dislikes, their sense of humour, but really as individuals they couldn’t be more different.
Victoria was a strawberry blonde, pale skinned and had no fear whereas Sarah was dark skinned and would tremble in shadows.
Victoria was an extrovert, precocious, a real Lolita, very confident, self-assured, and pretty and she knew it, though not in a cocky way.
Sarah on the other hand, though also very pretty, was unsure of it.
She was shy and socially awkward and lacked self-confidence but being with Victoria made Sarah feel more confident, daring to do things she would never do alone, she lived her life on Victoria’s coat tails and without her friend she floundered.
Sarah had lived in the village her whole life and was off to University in September and she wasn’t precisely sure what she wanted to do when she graduated, other than be in Andy Pike’s life.
Andy Pike was the next door neighbour and Sarah had had a crush on him since she was 12 years old.
He was six years older than her but in Sarah’s eyes he was fit, in every sense of the word.
It wasn’t unusual for a young girl to have a crush on an older man in fact it happens more often than not.
But most crushes didn’t come to any more than that, crushes, and the likelihood was that Sarah’s would go the same way as most of the others.
She had dithered about all summer because of her shyness and lack of gumption and therefore had made no inroads with Andy whatsoever and she only had eight days in which to get her man before she went on holiday to Corfu with her family, because she was only going to be back for one day and then she would leave for Abbottsford for her first year at Uni.
She had to do something, Victoria couldn’t help her, she had her cap set at someone else in the village and even with all her confidence she hadn’t got her man.
She was just going have to do it alone, and even if she crashed and burned she would at least know that it was settled and she was going away so there would be no lingering embarrassment.
However having made the decision to act, she then had to decide how, where and when.
She couldn’t just go and knock on the door, she wouldn’t know what to say, and he was unlikely to knock on hers, so she decided she would just have to bump into him by accident and take it from there, armed with a few suggested conversation openers supplied by Victoria.
(Part 03)
Sarah had been rudderless for the last few months of the summer and had lost focus, distracted by thoughts of Andy and her need of him.
She had always dreamed that he would be her first steady boyfriend, but that was all it ever was, but that dream had become increasingly vivid throughout the summer, so she had to act.
Despite the fact that she lacked the self-confidence to take her crush a step further she knew she had to try.
So Sarah had resolved to take action to get Andy Pike in her life but she didn’t know how to go about it.
She couldn’t just go and knock on the door, she wouldn’t know what to say, and he was unlikely to knock on hers, so she decided she would just have to bump into him by accident and take it from there armed with a few suggested conversation openers supplied by Victoria.
She had even had lessons in flirting from her best friend and she diligently practiced in the mirror in her bedroom with the lines that Victoria had suggested and rehearsed the flirting techniques that her friend had shown her, and alone in her room she used both to great effect but as soon as she saw Andy she knew her mouth would dry up and her knees would go weak.
Of course the whole exercise would have been much more successful had Sarah noticed the way Andy looked at her, and was able to read the signs, then she would have known that he fancied her too, but she didn’t know that if he had known how she felt he would acted on his desires, but alas they both doubted, and he hadn’t acted as she now planned to do.
The omens were good and the timing was perfect, Sarah was on the verge of leaving for Corfu and then University and the Pike’s were in Sharpington for the week and Andy was at home alone.
So she convinced herself that today was the day because they were off on holiday the next week so there would be no chance of any post rejection embarrassment or awkwardness so when she went to bed on Tuesday night she was determined the next day was D-Day.
She awoke on Wednesday morning with a great spirit of optimism but when she threw back the curtains and she saw it was pouring down of rain, her spirits were dampened.
Worse than that it rained solidly for the rest of the week so all she could do was keep practicing in her bedroom.
While she was flirting with her own reflexion in the mirror Andy was rueing the bad weather himself because the fine sunny days were the only ones that he got to see her and he knew that her holiday was fast approaching and then Abbottsford University and she would be away for months at a time.
The rain finally abated late on Friday afternoon but it was too late for her to do anything, but the forecast was for a warm and sunny Saturday so she was going to go on the offensive on D-Day plus 3.
(Part 04)
When she woke up on Saturday Morning (D-Day plus 3) with the sun streaming through her bedroom window Sarah was in great spirits.
“Todays the day” she said and leapt out of bed because she was going to take her chance on that fine sunny day.
Her mum and dad had gone to Abbottsford to do some last minute holiday shopping but Sarah declined their invitation for her to join them and gave her mum a list of things she needed instead, because she had other fish to fry.
Sarah decided on bold action and put on a bikini, in fact it was the briefest one she owned and it left nothing to the imagination, the bottoms didn’t even cover her bum cheeks.
Well she wasn’t feeling that bold so she changed into one that did leave something for Andy’s imagination.
When she was appropriately dressed she looked out of her bedroom window, which afforded her a great view into the Pike’s back garden.
Andy would normally spend Saturday morning in the back garden of number 10 Brewery Cottages cleaning his pride and joy, his Triumph Bonneville.
Unfortunately on that Saturday he had to go into work in order to complete an urgent order, so when she looked out he was nowhere to be seen.
She rushed downstairs and ran out into the garden and looked back up to the house and all the windows were shut and there was no sign of life, so she returned to the house and sulked.
Sarah checked the Pike’s garden every fifteen minutes and every time she was disappointed.
So at 11.30 when she returned to the house she went to the fridge and poured herself a large glass of wine.
Had Andy had any inkling of what Sarah wanted, he would not have volunteered to work that morning.
Andy had loved her since 2006 when she was 7 years old and he was 13, but it was a protective brotherly kind of love between them up until the Christmas before last when 16 year old Sarah kissed him under the mistletoe and in that kiss he lost his heart.
But although he loved her he believed in his heart that nothing would ever come of it because they were chalk and cheese, she was petite and beautiful and he was neither short nor tall or fat nor thin, he was mister average, average height, average weight and average looking in fact were it not for his shock of ginger hair and steel blue eyes he would be totally anonymous.
He never imagined for a second that she was attracted to him in the same way he was to her.
The kiss beneath the mistletoe on the Christmas before last, although toe curlingly nice, was after all as a result of too much Christmas spirit in the form several glasses of Prosecco.
What he didn’t know was that her over indulgence of the grape, merely enabled her to do what she had always dreamed of doing.
Because she would never have had the courage to do it if she were sober.
(Part 05)
As she sat on the patio drinking a glass of wine she began to feel a little light headed.
It was nearly one o’clock and she hadn’t eaten all day as she was on her second glass of Pinot and she wasn’t used to drinking.
The last time she had been tiddly was the Christmas before last when she kissed Andy beneath the mistletoe which was the result of too much Christmas spirit in the form several glasses of Prosecco.
She behaved totally out of character due to her over indulgence of the grape, she took the initiative and kissed him, and it was electrifyingly good, and she loved it even if she ended up throwing up an hour later.
The alcohol had enabled her to do what she had always dreamed of doing, because she would never have had the courage to do it if she were sober.
She was reliving that brief but electrifying kiss as she sat on the patio, when she heard a noise in the garden next door.
She stood up immediately and went a bit wobbly, so she put the glass down on the table and said
“I think I’ve had enough bravery”
And with that she headed down the garden.
She entered quietly through the back gate and crept up behind him while he was cleaning his motorbike.
“Hello handsome” she said cheekily and startled him
“Oh” he exclaimed “you made me jump”
“You look very busy” Sarah said
“Yes, yes lots to do” he replied nervously as his eyes consumed her beautiful figure.
“It’s a shame having to work on such a lovely day” she said coyly
“I’m sure there are more fun things to do” she added as she stroked the hairs on his forearm
“Oh um er well erm” he stammered and then she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.
Andy was enjoying the kiss as much as she was but after a minute he suddenly stopped
“No don’t stop” she said
“I think we have to” he said
“But it was nice, and you thought so too” she said
“That’s why we have to stop” Andy said forcefully
“I don’t understand” she said with tears filling her eyes
“Well at least now I know” she said as she rushed out of the gate.
It was still a glorious day and Andy berated himself for upsetting her, which was not his intention, he just didn’t want to take advantage of her while she was tipsy.
Andy Pike reached over the top of the gate and lifted the latch and quietly opened the gate.
He could see Sarah immediately as he walked into the garden, she was on the patio lying face down on a sun lounger in her bikini and her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed.
He walked up to the Patio unnoticed and said
“Hi Sarah”
And she turned and looked over her shoulder.
“Andy” she said with surprise and he knelt down on the patio and said
“I’m sorry”
Sarah rolled over and sat up to face him
“Does this mean you do want me” she asked wiping the tears off her cheeks
“I’ve always wanted you” he replied and she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him
“Why did you stop me kissing you then?” she asked without releasing her grip
“Because I want to kiss you when you’re sober” he replied
“I’ll be sober tomorrow” she said eagerly
“I’m busy tomorrow” he replied
“Oh” she said forlornly
“I have to pick mum and dad up from Sharpington tomorrow”
He reassured her
“But we could go to the Sharpington Day Parade on Monday”
“Really?” she asked excitedly “like a date”
“No not like a date” he said
“Oh” she said and looked crestfallen
“I mean an actual date” he said and she beamed a radiant smile but then she asked with a frown
“Could we just have a bit of a tiddly kiss?”
“Oh yes” he said and he kissed her and this time neither of them brought it to a premature close and everything in the Younger’s garden was lovely.
Mornington-By-Mere – (47) Beneath the Weeping Willow Tree
(Part 01)
When the Mornington Estate exercised its option to purchase Mornington Field from the MOD it also acquired all the buildings and infrastructure on the airfield itself as well as 29 houses in the village formally used as quarters for military personnel.
Plans were immediately drawn up to optimize the newly acquired assets the moment the property was formally handed over on the 1st of June 2014.
The guardians of the estate are the St George family and the head of which is Baron Gabriel St George.
His architect Scott Collier was tasked with designing appropriate conversions to maximize the potential returns, and Ray Walker, who dealt with all thing estate maintenance wise was responsible for getting the old Air force housing stock occupied ASAP,
Ray worked tirelessly to that end to have not just the first six houses ready within the month as originally promised, but eight, which were handed over on the 6th of July, two days earlier than forecast.
Gabriel was then able to instruct Lyndon-Sanders Properties of Shallowfield to find tenants.
Priority was to be given to local people or people with ties to the area or those who worked in some capacity for the estate such as agriculture and the brewery.
Other than that they were to be rented out with the only condition being that it had to be the tenant’s primary residence.
Gabriel was always conscious of creating a ghost town of professionals who live and work in Town all week and only return to the village on the weekend.
One such family to benefit from the availability of the new housing in Mornington were the Norman’s, who ran the Post Office, General Store and newsagents, and they were one of the first families to move into Military Row.
The Norman family had been in the Grocery business since Victorian times when they started with a small shop in Abbottsford, a business which quickly expanded and thrived well into the 20th century, but the depression of the thirties hit the business hard and many shops had to close.
The original Abbottsford shop survived the downturn in the great depression but fell victim of the Luftwaffe in 1941.
In the 21st century they had shops in Childean, Shallowfield, the Dulcets and of course Mornington. Each shop being run by a different branch of the family.
The heads of the Norman clan in Mornington, were septuagenarians Gavin and Evelyn, who lived in Bridge Street at School House Cottage with their younger son Owen.
Before the move to number 10 Military Row their older son Gareth and his family lived above and behind the shop, which was quite cramped for a family of five but the new house was much more spacious and the move allowed them to utilize some of the former living space as additional storage as well as providing their oldest child Michelle with a place of her own.
It was a big family and a small business so not all the Normans could rely on it for a living, as a result 24 year old Michelle worked for Bizzie Lizzie’s florists and David who was three years her junior worked for Paige Turners.
But this particular story relates to the youngest member of the family Robbie.
(Part 02)
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village that was under the stewardship of the Mornington Estate headed up by Lord of the Manor Baron Gabriel St George.
The village was well served with all the amenities with a selection of all the normal shops and services to make a difference to people’s lives like Norman’s General Store, Addison’s Bakery, Boddington’s Butcher’s and Legg’s Farm Shop which were all heavily subsidized by the estate in order to survive.
In addition to the shops there was also Veterinarians, Doctors, Dentist & Orthodontic Surgeries which were an important asset to the village and the estate.
However because Mornington was such a small village none of the practices were open full time but the Mornington Estate heavily subsidized all of them as well as the Small Chemist shop, which shared the Doctors premises.
There weren’t enough patients to warrant full time staffing so in order to make appropriate use of the facilities the doctors surgery was made available to other practitioners in the afternoons and evenings, such as chiropractors, hypnotherapists, acupuncturists etc. but villager Claire Pollard, a Chiropodist was the only regular, the others tended to be a bit more sporadic in their attendance.
The Doctors, Dentists, orthodontists and pharmacists were all based elsewhere and provided a skeleton service to the village.
The Doctors presence was maintained by the Dancingdean Health Centre in Shallowfield and one of their number, Locum Doctor Kelly Spearman lived in one of the Military Row houses.
The Dental and Orthodontic staff came from a large specialist practice in Finchbottom, Downshire Denticare.
The Shallowfield, Robert Harvey Pharmacy in Oakwood Road, filled any prescriptions and delivered them to the surgery every day.
The Normans who also ran the general store and post office provided Lily Norman or her son Robbie to staff the chemist shop for its limited opening times.
It was on one of those occasions when Robbie Norman first saw the girl who would change his life forever.
Robbie was almost 20 years old, quiet, unassuming, thoughtful and intelligent and totally unfulfilled.
He loved his family and he loved Mornington but he did not want to spend his entire life in the Grocery trade, like his father and Uncles had, so his heart was not in his work.
Robbie was a well-read young man, in fact his appetite for the written word was quite voracious and he wanted to travel to the places he had read of and experience the cultures that had captured his imagination.
He wanted to see the architecture of the great capitals, visit their art galleries and museums.
But he had no idea how he might achieve it or more precisely he didn’t know how to tell his mother.
It was when Robbie was pondering that particularly irksome problem when the girl walked in.
It was a girl he had known at school, though he had never spoken to her, and that was because she was a Smith and a Norman never spoke to a Smith and vice versa.
But at the precise moment he looked at the five foot nothing, whippet thin, olive skinned Karen Smith with her unruly jet black hair, the family feud paled into insignificance.
(Part 03)
At the precise moment Robbie Norman looked at the five foot nothing, whippet thin, olive skinned Karen Smith with her unruly jet black hair, the family feud paled into insignificance.
She was two years younger than he was and although she was not a stranger to him it had been a few years since the last time, and when he had seen her before she was a spotty schoolgirl with scabby knees.
That girl was as far removed from the vision in front of him as it was possible to get as she entered the pharmacy in tight jeans and a fitted t-shirt.
As Karen Smith walked in she looked up and saw Robbie at the counter and she thought how little he had changed since they were at the village school together.
He was still singularly unremarkable to look at, pale skinned with sandy coloured hair.
He was wearing mushroom coloured shirt and light brown chinos and she thought how apt it was that he looked beige, because that was how she remembered him beige and bland.
As she approached the counter she said without any preamble
“I’m here to pick up a prescription”
She spoke coldly as that was the way she had been raised to speak to a Norman, she had actually been raised not to speak to them at all but if the necessity arose, then any converse had to been spoken coldly.
“I’ll just get it” he said and stepped out the back and Karen said nothing
As he returned Karen looked at the bland figure and thought that the only hint of colour about him were his eyes which were like a Chrystal blue and when she looked at them more closely she found herself gazing into them where she saw a kaleidoscope of colour and she was totally captivated and thoughts of bland and beige melted away as he pulse raced and her stomach fluttered.
In fact she was so mesmerized that she didn’t hear Robbie say
“I’m sorry it’s not in yet”
Nor did she hear him a second time, in fact it was only when he said
“Karen!!”
Quite loudly that she returned to the moment and realized what had happened and she blushed before she mumbled, muttered and burbled her way towards the door.
“Sorry erm… miles away… um yes… not ready… back later, definitely… oh yes… bye”
As he watched her leave the pharmacy in an obviously fluster he was surprised and delighted at what had apparently just happened, which was a new experience for him, things like that just didn’t happen to him.
However his delight was tempered by the realization the he not only still had the problem of how to tell his parents he wanted to leave home, family, the shop and Mornington, to travel the world, now he also had to inform them that he was smitten with one of the Smiths and she appeared to be the same with him.
“What just happened?” Karen asked herself in disbelief as she walked towards home “He’s a Norman you idiot, that can’t happen with a Norman”
Karen continued to mutter all the way home and when she reached the gates of Smithfield Farm she said firmly
“Well whatever it was that happened its best that we forget all about it”
(Part 04)
“What just happened?” Karen asked herself in disbelief as she walked towards home after having been discovered gazing soppily into Robbie Norman’s eyes
“He’s a Norman you idiot, that can’t happen with a Norman”
Karen continued to mutter all the way home and when she reached the gates of Smithfield Farm she said firmly
“Well whatever it was that happened its best that we forget all about it”
The significance of her being a Smith and him being a Norman was that their two families were at odds with each other and the feud had been going on for more than a hundred years.
The Smiths were tenants at Smithfield Farm and had been for thirty years before the Norman family arrived in Mornington.
Ezekiel Smith, who was the head of the Smith Clan at the time, had also been interested in taking over the village shop, which had become vacant after the untimely death of the unmarried Patron, but the then Baron, who was not a tolerant man or indeed a friend to the Smiths let the Norman’s take it over for no other reason than his intense dislike of Ezekiel Smith.
Ezekiel Smith was furious at the Barons decision but because of the differences in their stations he was unable to revenge himself on the Lord of the Manor so he appeased he vengeful heart on the newcomers instead.
He deeply resented an outsider like Joshua Norman moving onto his patch and taking, what he believed was his prize.
Joshua Norman was not an intolerant man and did his best to pour oil on troubled waters and tried with all his might to be the peacemaker and make amends with Ezekiel Smith but every olive branch he offered was thrown back in his face, but he kept trying regardless.
When Ezekiel died in 1892 Joshua believed that would be an end to it and he continued to be the peacemaker but the sons were as bad as their father had been.
But Joshua had faith that things would change, until that it is the night that the Smiths gave Joshua’s eldest son George, a savage beating in the yard of the Old Mill Inn and after that night the only use he had for an olive branch was to beat a Smith with it.
That was when the feud began in earnest with a series of tit for tat exchanges and every time some misfortune befell one of the families the other was automatically blamed.
The Smiths even claimed that when their barn caught fire it was a Norman who set it ablaze even though it was struck by lightning.
With Joshua’s death in 1899 any hope of reconciliation died with him, so the new century came along but the old hate carried over as the hatred was nurtured and gilded and passed on to the next generation.
There was a cessation of hostilities during the great war as they both had a common enemy but with the armistice came a return to the old rivalry which continued up until the World War Two and then got worse as food rationing came in and the Grocers lorded it over the farmers.
Attitudes softened by the time the sixties came around and incidents of actual harm to the other disappeared but mistrust and the sense of “them” and “us” continued into another century where the dislike and animosity still held sway.
So after more than a century and a half of feuding Robbie and Karen fully understood the gravity of the situation where a Norman and a Smith viewed one another as anything other than enemies.
(Part 05)
After more than a century and a half of feuding Robbie and Karen fully understood the gravity of the situation where a Norman and a Smith viewed one another as anything other than enemies.
So he was prepared to think of it as a temporary aberration.
That said however Robbie was desperately disappointed when his mum Lily said she would do the afternoon session at the pharmacy, but on reflection thought it was probably for the best.
Karen shared his feelings of apprehension and thought it best not to entertain the idea but when she returned to the pharmacy after lunch and found he wasn’t there, she chose not to go in and resolved to return the following morning.
Karen was normally a bit of a tomboy and most days she was in jeans and a t-shirt but on that particular morning she had decided on something a bit more girlie and wore a pale lemon summer dress because she wanted to make an impression on him.
Not that she hadn’t done that already the day before dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
He was two years older than she was and was a lower form of life, according to her family, and good for only one thing and that thing was definitely not for flirting with or making a good impression on.
Normans were to be despised, distrusted, and ground underfoot, they were not to be admired, adored or cause her heart to skip a beat, but she couldn’t help herself.
She left Smithfield Farm and was muttering to herself all the way along the farm lane.
“What on earth do you think you are doing?”
She asked herself
“It’s madness, complete madness”
She continued her muttered discourse all the way from West Gate Bridge and all the way along the river bank until she reached Church Bridge and climbed the steps up to the road
“Turn around and go back” she said
“I can’t” she replied “I have to get the prescription”
“Get it another day”
“I can’t”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve never looked into someone’s eyes and ….melted before” Karen said and sighed
“Ok I will admit his eyes are gorgeous” she said wistfully
“But it’s a non-starter, firstly he’s a Norman and second he wears beige”
“I know all that, but….. his eyes” she replied and crossed the road.
The first thing Robbie did when he got to the pharmacy was to check to see if Karen Smith had collected her prescription the previous afternoon and he smiled broadly when he saw it was still in the wire basket.
Karen peeked in the window of the pharmacy before she opened the door and she had butterflies in her stomach as her eyes searched for him and she gasped when he appeared, still wearing beige, and she immediately chastised herself
“For god’s sake get a grip”
Then she took a deep breath and walked in and when Robbie saw her in her yellow dress it took his breath away.
“Wow, you look very… summery today” he said
“Thanks” she replied and blushed
“I thought it would be cooler to walk in”
“Well it makes you look hot” he thought but actually said
“Well it’s a nice day for a walk”
“Yes, yes it is” Karen agreed
“I hope it’s still nice later” Robbie added as he handed her the filled prescription
“It’s my afternoon off, I thought I might take a walk myself, down by the Mere”
“Really? Yes it’s nice there” Karen said as she took the medicine from him
“Thank you, I hope you enjoy your walk this afternoon”
“So do I” he said and Karen blushed
(Part 06)
“I think we have a date” Karen said to herself as she left the pharmacy “How did that happen?”
Karen had only had one boyfriend in her life and he had recently dumped her after only three months because he wanted to have sex and she didn’t, because she wasn’t ready, he didn’t care about that and decided to go elsewhere.
Gary had been her first and only boyfriend and she thought she had loved him, but she had no benchmark, but she also thought he was nice and that proved to be untrue.
But she was only 17 and she didn’t really want to settle for nice, she wanted the “hoppy skippy heart” kind of love, which after breaking up with Gary, she doubted it actually existed but then she looked into Robbie Norman’s crystal blue eyes and there it was.
So she rushed home to Smithfield Farm to change.
Robbie was stood inside the pharmacy smiling and scratching his head
“Did we just make a date?” he said to himself “Did we just arrange to meet by the Mere this afternoon?”
Robbie had never had a girlfriend because none of the girls he had met were able to live up to those that he read about.
They were self-obsessed, shallow and vacuous and lacked even the smallest inkling of substance as any of the strong and resolute women he could have lifted from the page.
So he read his books and lost himself in their pages of wonder and certainty until the moment he saw into the heart of a girl he had been raised to hate.
Robbie knew that his family would be furious if they found out he had fallen for a Smith but, the heart wants what the heart wants, and his wanted Karen Smith.
As Karen was normally a bit of a tomboy, it was a miracle that no one at Smithfield Farm noticed that she had shed her normal jeans and t-shirt and was not only wearing a dress, but was wearing the second dress of the day, a white one this time, as she left the farm after lunch and headed towards Manor Wood and the Mere.
Robbie Norman left his home in Military Row and had changed out of his beige and brown work outfit and was wearing blue chino shorts and a white polo shirt.
But as he walked through the woods towards the Mere he began to doubt himself and wondered if he had in fact imagined the whole thing, after all Karen Smith was a very beautiful girl, and she was also a Smith, which probably meant she was just playing along.
But he couldn’t believe that, but just in case she was a no show he had a book in his back pack.
He never understood the hostility between the two families, why should it matter what her great-great-grandfather did to his great-grandfather? That was all ancient history, unfortunately in his family he appeared to be the only voice of reason.
But he was on his way to meet the girl he had known at school, though had never spoken to, because she was a Smith and a Norman never spoke to a Smith and vice versa.
But at the precise moment he stepped onto the Mere side path and he caught sight of the five foot nothing, whippet thin, olive skinned Karen Smith with her unruly jet black hair the family feud paled into insignificance.
(Part 07)
Karen Smith was 17 years old and stood five foot nothing tall, was whippet thin, olive skinned with her unruly jet black hair moving in the soft afternoon breeze and was quizzing herself as to what she thought she was doing wearing her best dress to meet one of the enemy.
She never understood the animosity between the two families, she wasn’t even sure what had caused the feud in the first place, it was something to do with her great-great-grandfather but she didn’t know exactly what and she didn’t really care, it was all ancient history, unfortunately in her family everyone else did care and they would go ballistic if they knew what she was doing.
“Well it doesn’t matter anyway” she said to herself “because he won’t come”
“He’ll be too scared because of the family feud” she convinced herself
But she had only been stood there for three or four minute when she saw Robbie coming her way.
“Oh god he came” she gasped “What am I going to do now?”
She tried to look away but couldn’t, he was medium height and sleight and she still thought he was singularly unremarkable to look at, pale skinned with sandy coloured hair, but the most dreamy crystal blue eyes.
“Hello Karen” he said nervously
“Hi” she replied shyly
Having met by the Mere neither of them knew what to do next, after all they only had one prior relationship between the two of them and an awkward silence ensued.
After a minute or two he said
“Which way were you going to walk?”
“Oh, um just around the lake” she replied so they began to walk anti clockwise around the Mere between the water’s edge and the Manor House.
As they walked the two of them were struggling to converse with each other, as neither of them seemed capable of anything other than monosyllables and they both tried hard to think of something interesting to say.
And it might well have stayed that way had they not had help when they were about hallway around the Mere and they heard a call
“Karen!”
She turned around and saw a figure in the distance who was her friend Emma
“Oh shit” she exclaimed
“What’s the matter?” Robbie asked
“It’s my friend Emma” Karen replied “if she if she sees us together it will be all around the village in a heartbeat”
“Come on then” he said and grabbed her hand “lets run for it”
“KAREN” Emma shouted as they ran off down the path, and then Emma began to run after them.
“Down here” He said and took her down a path leading into Manor Wood but it looked like Emma was gaining on them.
But they reached a small clearing with a large fallen oak
“Up here” he said and scrambled up onto the oak then he reached down and hoisted Karen up as if she was a bundle of matchwood.
After which he went up to the next bough and repeated the operation and then again on the next until they were concealed beneath the foliage and were in the safety of the leafy shade by the time Emma arrived in the clearing.
Emma called Karen’s name a few times more and then she muttered something under her breath before she went back the way she came.
(Part 08)
“Up here” Robbie said and scrambled up onto the fallen oak then he reached down and hoisted Karen up as if she was a bundle of matchwood.
After which he went up to the next bough and repeated the operation and then again on the next until they were concealed beneath the foliage and were in the safety of the leafy shade by the time Emma arrived in the clearing.
Emma called Karen’s name a few times more and then she muttered something under her breath before she went back the way she came.
“That was fun” she said
“Wasn’t it” he agreed
After about five minutes they deemed it was safe to climb down.
Robbie went first and swung down from the large bough fairly effortlessly.
It was a little more problematic for Karen because she was so tiny.
“Slide down on your bum” he said
“What if I fall?” She asked
“I’ll catch you” he said “I promise”
“You’re doing great” Robbie said as he stood with his feet apart, braced to catch her
“Am I nearly there?” she asked
“Oh yes” he replied “Just let gravity do the work now and I’ll catch you”
“Ok” she retorted not at all sure that he would, but she let herself fall and good to his word he caught her in his arms and she instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him and any lingering doubts either of them had about “consorting with the enemy” simply melted away.
It took another half an hour before they were both back on terra firma as Karen demanded another kiss at each stage of the operation and even when they were back down to earth she still wanted another one.
“Come on” he said and took hold of her hand
“I want to take you to my favourite place in Mornington”
“Ok” she said doubtfully but went anyway
They returned to the path around the Mere and returned on their original course until they reached the Weeping Willow that grew on the west side of the lake.
“In here” he said and pushed his way through the foliage
“Is this your favourite place?” she asked
“Yes” he replied proudly
“It’s mine too” she exclaimed and launched herself at him.
On the walk home she met Emma
“That wasn’t very nice” she said indignantly
“What wasn’t?” Karen said
“Running away like that” Emma said “I know you saw me”
“Sorry” Karen said
“Why did you do it then?” she asked
“We wanted to be alone” Karen replied
“What for?” she persisted
“Honestly Emma you are such an innocent” she said
“Why do you think a girl wants to be alone in the woods with a man?”
Emma just shrugged then a look of alarm spread across her face and she said
“You had sex with him in the woods?”
“No I did not” Karen replied indignantly
“We just wanted to be away from prying eyes”
Emma was the same age as Karen almost to the day yet they were years apart in every other respect.
“Who was he anyway?” Emma asked “I couldn’t see”
“No one you know” Karen replied “He’s not from around here”
“Are you going to see him again?”
“Maybe” Karen replied “when he’s comes back to the village again”
Knowing only too well that she would definitely see him again and very, very soon.
(Part 09)
After that first meeting on a hot Saturday afternoon in July the two met in secret all summer long spending their time either up in the boughs of the fallen oak where they shared their first kiss or beneath the weeping willow tree where they shared many more.
Robbie and Karen were like the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, as they both came from feuding kin, so they had to hide their love from everyone.
So the pair met in secret beside the quiet waters of the Mornington Mere where the only sounds were of the faintest breeze disturbing the lofty tree tops and ducks squabbling out on the lake.
But despite the quiet they were always fearful of discovery so they embraced safely hidden from view beneath a weeping willow tree, whose leafy pendulous branches trailed down into the still water, where, stirred by the gentle breeze they dipped in an out of the water Like the toes of a reluctant bather.
When they meet beneath the protective foliage they kiss there in the quiet shade and feel at once renewed and often no words are spoken, their language is of caress and kiss, such tender converse with limitless vocabulary and a gently languid pronunciation, every syllable well employed and when the final paragraph is reached they end with perfect punctuation.
However it’s not just love that they make beneath the weeping willow tree they also make plans for the future when they will escape their warring families and leave Mornington behind them and even leave the shores of Downshire and cross the channel to Europe and the adventures they will share, in places he had read of and had read to her about.
They were working hard and saving money, they had their passports and had rucksacks packed and ready to go, stored safely in a storage locker in Sharpington.
They would meet at the seaside town, once every two weeks and repack their bags and then spend the rest of the time on the beach or in the fun park or a café on the seafront.
The only thing they were waiting for was for the schools to start back in September which marked the end of the holiday peak time which would save them money on travel and accommodations.
They would have to stay in hostels and work their way across Europe towards their various destinations, it would not be easy and would test their mettle and their love, but they were both willing to risk it.
When they had to stir from their love nest among the willow they had to tread separate paths home to re-join the warring tribes and had to adopt the all too familiar adversarial manner.
If they met face to face in the village, the pub, the shop or the pharmacy, no knowing looks could to be exchanged and no casual brushing past each other when for an exquisite moment hand might touch hand.
They had to remain entrenched until they can once again embrace beneath the weeping willow tree and plan their escape.
The secret meetings and clandestine planning lasted into the first week of September and they just had to keep up with the secrecy for one more week, when they were discovered.
As they sat beneath the foliage of the weeping willow tree a face suddenly appeared and said
“What the hell is going on under here?”
The scheming couple looked like a couple of rabbits caught in the headlights by their discoverer.
(Part 10)
The secret meetings and clandestine planning lasted into the first week of September and they just had to keep up with the secrecy for one more week, when they were discovered.
As they sat beneath the foliage of the weeping willow tree a face suddenly appeared and said
“What the hell is going on under here?”
The scheming couple looked like a couple of rabbits caught in the headlights by their discoverer.
Robbie had been seen hurriedly leaving the village via Church Bridge on a grey damp September afternoon by someone who knew he had reason to be over there.
Michelle Norman parked the Bizzie Lizzie’s Florists van in the lane outside St Winifred’s Church and stealthily set off in pursuit of her brother.
Michelle went in the direction he had taken and she soon caught sight of him on the path around the Mere.
“Where the hell are you going boy?” she said to herself and kept pace with him, keeping him in sight but when she reached the western end of the lake he had disappeared and she stopped and scratched her head.
He couldn’t have reached Manor Wood without her seeing him and she had a clear view of a hundred yards of path ahead and there was no way he got around there in the time even if he had broken into a run so she was at a loss as to where he had gone and then the penny dropped the only place he could possibly be was under the Willow, but why?
And as she pushed her head and shoulders through the foliage she saw her brother Robbie kissing Karen Smith which was when she said
“What the hell is going on under here?”
Well it was a stupid question really, it was obvious what was going on, they were snogging.
The two love birds didn’t speak in response though not because they thought that the question was rhetorical but because they were scared, terrified that their secret was out, and so close to their escape date.
“Are you Karen Smith?” Michelle asked
Karen lifted her head and thrust her chin out and replied proudly
“Yes”
“You’re playing with fire Rob” Michelle said
“I don’t care” he replied “I love her”
“You love me” she exclaimed
“You know I do, I’ve told you enough times” Robbie said
“I know but now you’ve told someone else” she explained “that makes it more…. Real”
“And do you love him?” Michelle asked
“With all my heart” she replied
“So what are you going to do about it?” she asked “You can’t hide in the trees forever”
“We know that” Robbie stated
“And I don’t know how you can live in the village either it’s going to cause a shit storm”
“We know that too” Robbie said “That’s why we’re leaving”
“You’re leaving?” Michelle asked “When?”
“In a weeks’ time” he said “can you keep our secret for one more week?”
“I’m not going to tell anyone, that bloody feud is the bane of all our lives” Michelle said and Robbie hugged her
(Part 11)
“You’re leaving?” Michelle asked “When?”
“In a weeks’ time” he said “can you keep our secret for one more week?”
“I’m not going to tell anyone, that bloody feud is the bane of all our lives” Michelle said and Robbie hugged her and then Karen did the same.
After the hugging was dispensed with, Robbie and Karen unburdened themselves with the plans they had made.
Firstly they told her about having their bags packed safely in a storage locker in Sharpington, along with their passports.
Then they went on to say that they would leave home early on Monday the 21st of October, with the remaining bits and pieces they wanted to take with them in a small backpack.
Robbie would catch the first bus from the village at 6.45am and Karen would get on the same bus in Manorside five minutes later and they would sit in different parts of the bus and not converse until the last Mornington passenger had disembarked.
Once they arrived in Sharpington they would go to the cash point to withdraw some cash for the journey, which they would change into Euro’s once they reached the ferry terminal, then after having breakfast on the seafront they would retrieve their luggage and get another bus to Pepperstock Bay.
From there they were booked on the 11am ferry to Dunkirk and freedom.
“Where will you live?” Michelle asked
“We have a list of hostels, Auberges, and farms that have been recommended by fellow adventurers”
“And work?” she asked
“Likewise” he replied
“Well my little adventurers you appear to have everything planned” Michelle said with a smile “What about telling the families?”
“We have written letters which we will post just before we board the ferry” Karen said
“Ok but rather than catch the bus I’ll drive you to Sharpington in the van” Michelle offered “On one condition”
“What’s that?” he asked
“That you promise to keep in touch, send me postcards, regularly” she replied
“Ok deal” Robbie said “but where to? I can’t send them home”
“Send them to the Sharpington shop I can pick them up there”
So early in the darkness of a cold October Monday morning Robbie Norman crept quietly out of the house and into the side door of the Bizzie Lizzie’s Florists van and then Michelle closed the door and got in and drove off up Military Row and through the South Gate to Mornington Field.
She then drove around the industrial units and out towards the West Gate where Karen was waiting in the shadows.
Robbie opened the side door and Karen joined him inside and closed the door behind her.
“Okay?” he asked
“Yes” she replied and they embraced
“How do you feel? Scared or excited”
“A bit of both” she admitted “but no regrets”
Once Karen was safely aboard Michelle drove them to Sharpington and parked the van in a side road and let them out.
“Here” she said handing him an envelope
“What’s this?” he asked
“There’s another list of highly recommended accommodation and some contacts in the flower trade where you can get work” she said “And stamp money”
“But there’s £300 here” he protested
“I expect to receive a lot of postcards”
“Thanks sis” he said and kissed her “For everything”
“That’s ok” she said trying to hold back the tears “now do you have your letters?”
“Yes” Karen piped up
“Well give them to me and I’ll post them tomorrow if I don’t hear from you” she said
“Good idea” Karen said handing over her letter before hugging Michelle.
Michelle cried as she watched her kid brother walking hand in hand with the girl he loved, she didn’t want him to go but she knew it was for the best.
(Part 12)
Michelle cried as she watched her kid brother walking hand in hand with the girl he loved, she didn’t want him to go but she knew it was for the best.
Once they had reached the end of the road they turned and gave Michelle a final wave and then turned left and stopped at the cash point to withdraw the cash for the journey, but when they reached it they realized they didn’t need to as they had the money Michelle had given them, which was more than enough for them to change into euros once they reached the ferry terminal.
So not needing to withdraw cash they went straight to the café on the seafront, where they had been many times before and had a “farewell to Downshire” breakfast.
After breakfast they walked along the seafront to the storage facility and retrieved their luggage and just outside there was a bus stop where they caught the bus to Pepperstock Bay.
They were booked on the 11am ferry to Dunkirk but because Michelle gave them a lift to Sharpington they had more time at the terminal than they had planned so it was a lot less hurried and they even had time to look around the shops before it was time to board.
They stood at the stern rail as the ferry left Pepperstock Bay with their arms around each other and Karen said
“We’re free”
“We are” he agreed “So how do you feel?”
“Like my life has finally begun” she replied
“Good answer” he said “And how do you feel about being stuck with me?”
“Incredibly happy” Karen replied and stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
When it was discovered that Robbie and Karen had disappeared it was not believed at first by anyone that it was anything other than a coincidence that they both left at the same time, after all one of them was a Norman and the other was a Smith.
But as time went on it became apparent that it was to all intents and purposes, an elopement, and this was confirmed when the letters arrived.
The realization that the missing pair were indeed a couple caused a good deal of anger and upset with countless accusations and recriminations being fired back and forth between the feuding families.
It was only when the two mothers, Margaret Smith and Lily Norman sat down together in the bar of the Old Mill Inn and got drunk that the two families started to think of the couples welfare and happiness and not their own petty squabbles.
Considering Karen hated farming and Robbie didn’t like being a grocer they did a lot of farm labouring and shop work along with waiting tables and washing dishes as they worked their way around the capitals of Europe.
And good to his word he sent a postcard from every one of them to Michelle at Bizzie Lizzie’s in Sharpington.
At first Michelle kept the fact she was getting the post cards to herself, but after the incident of her mums public drunkenness, and the softening of the families stances, she showed them to her.
By the time the second anniversary of their elopement came around they had worked their way to Athens and by Christmas they had reached the island of Andros in the Cyclades and once there they were there they never left and when they married the following Easter at the Agia Marina church the Normans and the Smiths were there to witness it.
When the Mornington Estate exercised its option to purchase Mornington Field from the MOD it also acquired all the buildings and infrastructure on the airfield itself as well as 29 houses in the village formally used as quarters for military personnel.
Plans were immediately drawn up to optimize the newly acquired assets the moment the property was formally handed over on the 1st of June 2014.
The guardians of the estate are the St George family and the head of which is Baron Gabriel St George.
His architect Scott Collier was tasked with designing appropriate conversions to maximize the potential returns, and Ray Walker, who dealt with all thing estate maintenance wise was responsible for getting the old Air force housing stock occupied ASAP,
Ray worked tirelessly to that end to have not just the first six houses ready within the month as originally promised, but eight, which were handed over on the 6th of July, two days earlier than forecast.
Gabriel was then able to instruct Lyndon-Sanders Properties of Shallowfield to find tenants.
Priority was to be given to local people or people with ties to the area or those who worked in some capacity for the estate such as agriculture and the brewery.
Other than that they were to be rented out with the only condition being that it had to be the tenant’s primary residence.
Gabriel was always conscious of creating a ghost town of professionals who live and work in Town all week and only return to the village on the weekend.
One such family to benefit from the availability of the new housing in Mornington were the Norman’s, who ran the Post Office, General Store and newsagents, and they were one of the first families to move into Military Row.
The Norman family had been in the Grocery business since Victorian times when they started with a small shop in Abbottsford, a business which quickly expanded and thrived well into the 20th century, but the depression of the thirties hit the business hard and many shops had to close.
The original Abbottsford shop survived the downturn in the great depression but fell victim of the Luftwaffe in 1941.
In the 21st century they had shops in Childean, Shallowfield, the Dulcets and of course Mornington. Each shop being run by a different branch of the family.
The heads of the Norman clan in Mornington, were septuagenarians Gavin and Evelyn, who lived in Bridge Street at School House Cottage with their younger son Owen.
Before the move to number 10 Military Row their older son Gareth and his family lived above and behind the shop, which was quite cramped for a family of five but the new house was much more spacious and the move allowed them to utilize some of the former living space as additional storage as well as providing their oldest child Michelle with a place of her own.
It was a big family and a small business so not all the Normans could rely on it for a living, as a result 24 year old Michelle worked for Bizzie Lizzie’s florists and David who was three years her junior worked for Paige Turners.
But this particular story relates to the youngest member of the family Robbie.
(Part 02)
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village that was under the stewardship of the Mornington Estate headed up by Lord of the Manor Baron Gabriel St George.
The village was well served with all the amenities with a selection of all the normal shops and services to make a difference to people’s lives like Norman’s General Store, Addison’s Bakery, Boddington’s Butcher’s and Legg’s Farm Shop which were all heavily subsidized by the estate in order to survive.
In addition to the shops there was also Veterinarians, Doctors, Dentist & Orthodontic Surgeries which were an important asset to the village and the estate.
However because Mornington was such a small village none of the practices were open full time but the Mornington Estate heavily subsidized all of them as well as the Small Chemist shop, which shared the Doctors premises.
There weren’t enough patients to warrant full time staffing so in order to make appropriate use of the facilities the doctors surgery was made available to other practitioners in the afternoons and evenings, such as chiropractors, hypnotherapists, acupuncturists etc. but villager Claire Pollard, a Chiropodist was the only regular, the others tended to be a bit more sporadic in their attendance.
The Doctors, Dentists, orthodontists and pharmacists were all based elsewhere and provided a skeleton service to the village.
The Doctors presence was maintained by the Dancingdean Health Centre in Shallowfield and one of their number, Locum Doctor Kelly Spearman lived in one of the Military Row houses.
The Dental and Orthodontic staff came from a large specialist practice in Finchbottom, Downshire Denticare.
The Shallowfield, Robert Harvey Pharmacy in Oakwood Road, filled any prescriptions and delivered them to the surgery every day.
The Normans who also ran the general store and post office provided Lily Norman or her son Robbie to staff the chemist shop for its limited opening times.
It was on one of those occasions when Robbie Norman first saw the girl who would change his life forever.
Robbie was almost 20 years old, quiet, unassuming, thoughtful and intelligent and totally unfulfilled.
He loved his family and he loved Mornington but he did not want to spend his entire life in the Grocery trade, like his father and Uncles had, so his heart was not in his work.
Robbie was a well-read young man, in fact his appetite for the written word was quite voracious and he wanted to travel to the places he had read of and experience the cultures that had captured his imagination.
He wanted to see the architecture of the great capitals, visit their art galleries and museums.
But he had no idea how he might achieve it or more precisely he didn’t know how to tell his mother.
It was when Robbie was pondering that particularly irksome problem when the girl walked in.
It was a girl he had known at school, though he had never spoken to her, and that was because she was a Smith and a Norman never spoke to a Smith and vice versa.
But at the precise moment he looked at the five foot nothing, whippet thin, olive skinned Karen Smith with her unruly jet black hair, the family feud paled into insignificance.
(Part 03)
At the precise moment Robbie Norman looked at the five foot nothing, whippet thin, olive skinned Karen Smith with her unruly jet black hair, the family feud paled into insignificance.
She was two years younger than he was and although she was not a stranger to him it had been a few years since the last time, and when he had seen her before she was a spotty schoolgirl with scabby knees.
That girl was as far removed from the vision in front of him as it was possible to get as she entered the pharmacy in tight jeans and a fitted t-shirt.
As Karen Smith walked in she looked up and saw Robbie at the counter and she thought how little he had changed since they were at the village school together.
He was still singularly unremarkable to look at, pale skinned with sandy coloured hair.
He was wearing mushroom coloured shirt and light brown chinos and she thought how apt it was that he looked beige, because that was how she remembered him beige and bland.
As she approached the counter she said without any preamble
“I’m here to pick up a prescription”
She spoke coldly as that was the way she had been raised to speak to a Norman, she had actually been raised not to speak to them at all but if the necessity arose, then any converse had to been spoken coldly.
“I’ll just get it” he said and stepped out the back and Karen said nothing
As he returned Karen looked at the bland figure and thought that the only hint of colour about him were his eyes which were like a Chrystal blue and when she looked at them more closely she found herself gazing into them where she saw a kaleidoscope of colour and she was totally captivated and thoughts of bland and beige melted away as he pulse raced and her stomach fluttered.
In fact she was so mesmerized that she didn’t hear Robbie say
“I’m sorry it’s not in yet”
Nor did she hear him a second time, in fact it was only when he said
“Karen!!”
Quite loudly that she returned to the moment and realized what had happened and she blushed before she mumbled, muttered and burbled her way towards the door.
“Sorry erm… miles away… um yes… not ready… back later, definitely… oh yes… bye”
As he watched her leave the pharmacy in an obviously fluster he was surprised and delighted at what had apparently just happened, which was a new experience for him, things like that just didn’t happen to him.
However his delight was tempered by the realization the he not only still had the problem of how to tell his parents he wanted to leave home, family, the shop and Mornington, to travel the world, now he also had to inform them that he was smitten with one of the Smiths and she appeared to be the same with him.
“What just happened?” Karen asked herself in disbelief as she walked towards home “He’s a Norman you idiot, that can’t happen with a Norman”
Karen continued to mutter all the way home and when she reached the gates of Smithfield Farm she said firmly
“Well whatever it was that happened its best that we forget all about it”
(Part 04)
“What just happened?” Karen asked herself in disbelief as she walked towards home after having been discovered gazing soppily into Robbie Norman’s eyes
“He’s a Norman you idiot, that can’t happen with a Norman”
Karen continued to mutter all the way home and when she reached the gates of Smithfield Farm she said firmly
“Well whatever it was that happened its best that we forget all about it”
The significance of her being a Smith and him being a Norman was that their two families were at odds with each other and the feud had been going on for more than a hundred years.
The Smiths were tenants at Smithfield Farm and had been for thirty years before the Norman family arrived in Mornington.
Ezekiel Smith, who was the head of the Smith Clan at the time, had also been interested in taking over the village shop, which had become vacant after the untimely death of the unmarried Patron, but the then Baron, who was not a tolerant man or indeed a friend to the Smiths let the Norman’s take it over for no other reason than his intense dislike of Ezekiel Smith.
Ezekiel Smith was furious at the Barons decision but because of the differences in their stations he was unable to revenge himself on the Lord of the Manor so he appeased he vengeful heart on the newcomers instead.
He deeply resented an outsider like Joshua Norman moving onto his patch and taking, what he believed was his prize.
Joshua Norman was not an intolerant man and did his best to pour oil on troubled waters and tried with all his might to be the peacemaker and make amends with Ezekiel Smith but every olive branch he offered was thrown back in his face, but he kept trying regardless.
When Ezekiel died in 1892 Joshua believed that would be an end to it and he continued to be the peacemaker but the sons were as bad as their father had been.
But Joshua had faith that things would change, until that it is the night that the Smiths gave Joshua’s eldest son George, a savage beating in the yard of the Old Mill Inn and after that night the only use he had for an olive branch was to beat a Smith with it.
That was when the feud began in earnest with a series of tit for tat exchanges and every time some misfortune befell one of the families the other was automatically blamed.
The Smiths even claimed that when their barn caught fire it was a Norman who set it ablaze even though it was struck by lightning.
With Joshua’s death in 1899 any hope of reconciliation died with him, so the new century came along but the old hate carried over as the hatred was nurtured and gilded and passed on to the next generation.
There was a cessation of hostilities during the great war as they both had a common enemy but with the armistice came a return to the old rivalry which continued up until the World War Two and then got worse as food rationing came in and the Grocers lorded it over the farmers.
Attitudes softened by the time the sixties came around and incidents of actual harm to the other disappeared but mistrust and the sense of “them” and “us” continued into another century where the dislike and animosity still held sway.
So after more than a century and a half of feuding Robbie and Karen fully understood the gravity of the situation where a Norman and a Smith viewed one another as anything other than enemies.
(Part 05)
After more than a century and a half of feuding Robbie and Karen fully understood the gravity of the situation where a Norman and a Smith viewed one another as anything other than enemies.
So he was prepared to think of it as a temporary aberration.
That said however Robbie was desperately disappointed when his mum Lily said she would do the afternoon session at the pharmacy, but on reflection thought it was probably for the best.
Karen shared his feelings of apprehension and thought it best not to entertain the idea but when she returned to the pharmacy after lunch and found he wasn’t there, she chose not to go in and resolved to return the following morning.
Karen was normally a bit of a tomboy and most days she was in jeans and a t-shirt but on that particular morning she had decided on something a bit more girlie and wore a pale lemon summer dress because she wanted to make an impression on him.
Not that she hadn’t done that already the day before dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.
He was two years older than she was and was a lower form of life, according to her family, and good for only one thing and that thing was definitely not for flirting with or making a good impression on.
Normans were to be despised, distrusted, and ground underfoot, they were not to be admired, adored or cause her heart to skip a beat, but she couldn’t help herself.
She left Smithfield Farm and was muttering to herself all the way along the farm lane.
“What on earth do you think you are doing?”
She asked herself
“It’s madness, complete madness”
She continued her muttered discourse all the way from West Gate Bridge and all the way along the river bank until she reached Church Bridge and climbed the steps up to the road
“Turn around and go back” she said
“I can’t” she replied “I have to get the prescription”
“Get it another day”
“I can’t”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve never looked into someone’s eyes and ….melted before” Karen said and sighed
“Ok I will admit his eyes are gorgeous” she said wistfully
“But it’s a non-starter, firstly he’s a Norman and second he wears beige”
“I know all that, but….. his eyes” she replied and crossed the road.
The first thing Robbie did when he got to the pharmacy was to check to see if Karen Smith had collected her prescription the previous afternoon and he smiled broadly when he saw it was still in the wire basket.
Karen peeked in the window of the pharmacy before she opened the door and she had butterflies in her stomach as her eyes searched for him and she gasped when he appeared, still wearing beige, and she immediately chastised herself
“For god’s sake get a grip”
Then she took a deep breath and walked in and when Robbie saw her in her yellow dress it took his breath away.
“Wow, you look very… summery today” he said
“Thanks” she replied and blushed
“I thought it would be cooler to walk in”
“Well it makes you look hot” he thought but actually said
“Well it’s a nice day for a walk”
“Yes, yes it is” Karen agreed
“I hope it’s still nice later” Robbie added as he handed her the filled prescription
“It’s my afternoon off, I thought I might take a walk myself, down by the Mere”
“Really? Yes it’s nice there” Karen said as she took the medicine from him
“Thank you, I hope you enjoy your walk this afternoon”
“So do I” he said and Karen blushed
(Part 06)
“I think we have a date” Karen said to herself as she left the pharmacy “How did that happen?”
Karen had only had one boyfriend in her life and he had recently dumped her after only three months because he wanted to have sex and she didn’t, because she wasn’t ready, he didn’t care about that and decided to go elsewhere.
Gary had been her first and only boyfriend and she thought she had loved him, but she had no benchmark, but she also thought he was nice and that proved to be untrue.
But she was only 17 and she didn’t really want to settle for nice, she wanted the “hoppy skippy heart” kind of love, which after breaking up with Gary, she doubted it actually existed but then she looked into Robbie Norman’s crystal blue eyes and there it was.
So she rushed home to Smithfield Farm to change.
Robbie was stood inside the pharmacy smiling and scratching his head
“Did we just make a date?” he said to himself “Did we just arrange to meet by the Mere this afternoon?”
Robbie had never had a girlfriend because none of the girls he had met were able to live up to those that he read about.
They were self-obsessed, shallow and vacuous and lacked even the smallest inkling of substance as any of the strong and resolute women he could have lifted from the page.
So he read his books and lost himself in their pages of wonder and certainty until the moment he saw into the heart of a girl he had been raised to hate.
Robbie knew that his family would be furious if they found out he had fallen for a Smith but, the heart wants what the heart wants, and his wanted Karen Smith.
As Karen was normally a bit of a tomboy, it was a miracle that no one at Smithfield Farm noticed that she had shed her normal jeans and t-shirt and was not only wearing a dress, but was wearing the second dress of the day, a white one this time, as she left the farm after lunch and headed towards Manor Wood and the Mere.
Robbie Norman left his home in Military Row and had changed out of his beige and brown work outfit and was wearing blue chino shorts and a white polo shirt.
But as he walked through the woods towards the Mere he began to doubt himself and wondered if he had in fact imagined the whole thing, after all Karen Smith was a very beautiful girl, and she was also a Smith, which probably meant she was just playing along.
But he couldn’t believe that, but just in case she was a no show he had a book in his back pack.
He never understood the hostility between the two families, why should it matter what her great-great-grandfather did to his great-grandfather? That was all ancient history, unfortunately in his family he appeared to be the only voice of reason.
But he was on his way to meet the girl he had known at school, though had never spoken to, because she was a Smith and a Norman never spoke to a Smith and vice versa.
But at the precise moment he stepped onto the Mere side path and he caught sight of the five foot nothing, whippet thin, olive skinned Karen Smith with her unruly jet black hair the family feud paled into insignificance.
(Part 07)
Karen Smith was 17 years old and stood five foot nothing tall, was whippet thin, olive skinned with her unruly jet black hair moving in the soft afternoon breeze and was quizzing herself as to what she thought she was doing wearing her best dress to meet one of the enemy.
She never understood the animosity between the two families, she wasn’t even sure what had caused the feud in the first place, it was something to do with her great-great-grandfather but she didn’t know exactly what and she didn’t really care, it was all ancient history, unfortunately in her family everyone else did care and they would go ballistic if they knew what she was doing.
“Well it doesn’t matter anyway” she said to herself “because he won’t come”
“He’ll be too scared because of the family feud” she convinced herself
But she had only been stood there for three or four minute when she saw Robbie coming her way.
“Oh god he came” she gasped “What am I going to do now?”
She tried to look away but couldn’t, he was medium height and sleight and she still thought he was singularly unremarkable to look at, pale skinned with sandy coloured hair, but the most dreamy crystal blue eyes.
“Hello Karen” he said nervously
“Hi” she replied shyly
Having met by the Mere neither of them knew what to do next, after all they only had one prior relationship between the two of them and an awkward silence ensued.
After a minute or two he said
“Which way were you going to walk?”
“Oh, um just around the lake” she replied so they began to walk anti clockwise around the Mere between the water’s edge and the Manor House.
As they walked the two of them were struggling to converse with each other, as neither of them seemed capable of anything other than monosyllables and they both tried hard to think of something interesting to say.
And it might well have stayed that way had they not had help when they were about hallway around the Mere and they heard a call
“Karen!”
She turned around and saw a figure in the distance who was her friend Emma
“Oh shit” she exclaimed
“What’s the matter?” Robbie asked
“It’s my friend Emma” Karen replied “if she if she sees us together it will be all around the village in a heartbeat”
“Come on then” he said and grabbed her hand “lets run for it”
“KAREN” Emma shouted as they ran off down the path, and then Emma began to run after them.
“Down here” He said and took her down a path leading into Manor Wood but it looked like Emma was gaining on them.
But they reached a small clearing with a large fallen oak
“Up here” he said and scrambled up onto the oak then he reached down and hoisted Karen up as if she was a bundle of matchwood.
After which he went up to the next bough and repeated the operation and then again on the next until they were concealed beneath the foliage and were in the safety of the leafy shade by the time Emma arrived in the clearing.
Emma called Karen’s name a few times more and then she muttered something under her breath before she went back the way she came.
(Part 08)
“Up here” Robbie said and scrambled up onto the fallen oak then he reached down and hoisted Karen up as if she was a bundle of matchwood.
After which he went up to the next bough and repeated the operation and then again on the next until they were concealed beneath the foliage and were in the safety of the leafy shade by the time Emma arrived in the clearing.
Emma called Karen’s name a few times more and then she muttered something under her breath before she went back the way she came.
“That was fun” she said
“Wasn’t it” he agreed
After about five minutes they deemed it was safe to climb down.
Robbie went first and swung down from the large bough fairly effortlessly.
It was a little more problematic for Karen because she was so tiny.
“Slide down on your bum” he said
“What if I fall?” She asked
“I’ll catch you” he said “I promise”
“You’re doing great” Robbie said as he stood with his feet apart, braced to catch her
“Am I nearly there?” she asked
“Oh yes” he replied “Just let gravity do the work now and I’ll catch you”
“Ok” she retorted not at all sure that he would, but she let herself fall and good to his word he caught her in his arms and she instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him and any lingering doubts either of them had about “consorting with the enemy” simply melted away.
It took another half an hour before they were both back on terra firma as Karen demanded another kiss at each stage of the operation and even when they were back down to earth she still wanted another one.
“Come on” he said and took hold of her hand
“I want to take you to my favourite place in Mornington”
“Ok” she said doubtfully but went anyway
They returned to the path around the Mere and returned on their original course until they reached the Weeping Willow that grew on the west side of the lake.
“In here” he said and pushed his way through the foliage
“Is this your favourite place?” she asked
“Yes” he replied proudly
“It’s mine too” she exclaimed and launched herself at him.
On the walk home she met Emma
“That wasn’t very nice” she said indignantly
“What wasn’t?” Karen said
“Running away like that” Emma said “I know you saw me”
“Sorry” Karen said
“Why did you do it then?” she asked
“We wanted to be alone” Karen replied
“What for?” she persisted
“Honestly Emma you are such an innocent” she said
“Why do you think a girl wants to be alone in the woods with a man?”
Emma just shrugged then a look of alarm spread across her face and she said
“You had sex with him in the woods?”
“No I did not” Karen replied indignantly
“We just wanted to be away from prying eyes”
Emma was the same age as Karen almost to the day yet they were years apart in every other respect.
“Who was he anyway?” Emma asked “I couldn’t see”
“No one you know” Karen replied “He’s not from around here”
“Are you going to see him again?”
“Maybe” Karen replied “when he’s comes back to the village again”
Knowing only too well that she would definitely see him again and very, very soon.
(Part 09)
After that first meeting on a hot Saturday afternoon in July the two met in secret all summer long spending their time either up in the boughs of the fallen oak where they shared their first kiss or beneath the weeping willow tree where they shared many more.
Robbie and Karen were like the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, as they both came from feuding kin, so they had to hide their love from everyone.
So the pair met in secret beside the quiet waters of the Mornington Mere where the only sounds were of the faintest breeze disturbing the lofty tree tops and ducks squabbling out on the lake.
But despite the quiet they were always fearful of discovery so they embraced safely hidden from view beneath a weeping willow tree, whose leafy pendulous branches trailed down into the still water, where, stirred by the gentle breeze they dipped in an out of the water Like the toes of a reluctant bather.
When they meet beneath the protective foliage they kiss there in the quiet shade and feel at once renewed and often no words are spoken, their language is of caress and kiss, such tender converse with limitless vocabulary and a gently languid pronunciation, every syllable well employed and when the final paragraph is reached they end with perfect punctuation.
However it’s not just love that they make beneath the weeping willow tree they also make plans for the future when they will escape their warring families and leave Mornington behind them and even leave the shores of Downshire and cross the channel to Europe and the adventures they will share, in places he had read of and had read to her about.
They were working hard and saving money, they had their passports and had rucksacks packed and ready to go, stored safely in a storage locker in Sharpington.
They would meet at the seaside town, once every two weeks and repack their bags and then spend the rest of the time on the beach or in the fun park or a café on the seafront.
The only thing they were waiting for was for the schools to start back in September which marked the end of the holiday peak time which would save them money on travel and accommodations.
They would have to stay in hostels and work their way across Europe towards their various destinations, it would not be easy and would test their mettle and their love, but they were both willing to risk it.
When they had to stir from their love nest among the willow they had to tread separate paths home to re-join the warring tribes and had to adopt the all too familiar adversarial manner.
If they met face to face in the village, the pub, the shop or the pharmacy, no knowing looks could to be exchanged and no casual brushing past each other when for an exquisite moment hand might touch hand.
They had to remain entrenched until they can once again embrace beneath the weeping willow tree and plan their escape.
The secret meetings and clandestine planning lasted into the first week of September and they just had to keep up with the secrecy for one more week, when they were discovered.
As they sat beneath the foliage of the weeping willow tree a face suddenly appeared and said
“What the hell is going on under here?”
The scheming couple looked like a couple of rabbits caught in the headlights by their discoverer.
(Part 10)
The secret meetings and clandestine planning lasted into the first week of September and they just had to keep up with the secrecy for one more week, when they were discovered.
As they sat beneath the foliage of the weeping willow tree a face suddenly appeared and said
“What the hell is going on under here?”
The scheming couple looked like a couple of rabbits caught in the headlights by their discoverer.
Robbie had been seen hurriedly leaving the village via Church Bridge on a grey damp September afternoon by someone who knew he had reason to be over there.
Michelle Norman parked the Bizzie Lizzie’s Florists van in the lane outside St Winifred’s Church and stealthily set off in pursuit of her brother.
Michelle went in the direction he had taken and she soon caught sight of him on the path around the Mere.
“Where the hell are you going boy?” she said to herself and kept pace with him, keeping him in sight but when she reached the western end of the lake he had disappeared and she stopped and scratched her head.
He couldn’t have reached Manor Wood without her seeing him and she had a clear view of a hundred yards of path ahead and there was no way he got around there in the time even if he had broken into a run so she was at a loss as to where he had gone and then the penny dropped the only place he could possibly be was under the Willow, but why?
And as she pushed her head and shoulders through the foliage she saw her brother Robbie kissing Karen Smith which was when she said
“What the hell is going on under here?”
Well it was a stupid question really, it was obvious what was going on, they were snogging.
The two love birds didn’t speak in response though not because they thought that the question was rhetorical but because they were scared, terrified that their secret was out, and so close to their escape date.
“Are you Karen Smith?” Michelle asked
Karen lifted her head and thrust her chin out and replied proudly
“Yes”
“You’re playing with fire Rob” Michelle said
“I don’t care” he replied “I love her”
“You love me” she exclaimed
“You know I do, I’ve told you enough times” Robbie said
“I know but now you’ve told someone else” she explained “that makes it more…. Real”
“And do you love him?” Michelle asked
“With all my heart” she replied
“So what are you going to do about it?” she asked “You can’t hide in the trees forever”
“We know that” Robbie stated
“And I don’t know how you can live in the village either it’s going to cause a shit storm”
“We know that too” Robbie said “That’s why we’re leaving”
“You’re leaving?” Michelle asked “When?”
“In a weeks’ time” he said “can you keep our secret for one more week?”
“I’m not going to tell anyone, that bloody feud is the bane of all our lives” Michelle said and Robbie hugged her
(Part 11)
“You’re leaving?” Michelle asked “When?”
“In a weeks’ time” he said “can you keep our secret for one more week?”
“I’m not going to tell anyone, that bloody feud is the bane of all our lives” Michelle said and Robbie hugged her and then Karen did the same.
After the hugging was dispensed with, Robbie and Karen unburdened themselves with the plans they had made.
Firstly they told her about having their bags packed safely in a storage locker in Sharpington, along with their passports.
Then they went on to say that they would leave home early on Monday the 21st of October, with the remaining bits and pieces they wanted to take with them in a small backpack.
Robbie would catch the first bus from the village at 6.45am and Karen would get on the same bus in Manorside five minutes later and they would sit in different parts of the bus and not converse until the last Mornington passenger had disembarked.
Once they arrived in Sharpington they would go to the cash point to withdraw some cash for the journey, which they would change into Euro’s once they reached the ferry terminal, then after having breakfast on the seafront they would retrieve their luggage and get another bus to Pepperstock Bay.
From there they were booked on the 11am ferry to Dunkirk and freedom.
“Where will you live?” Michelle asked
“We have a list of hostels, Auberges, and farms that have been recommended by fellow adventurers”
“And work?” she asked
“Likewise” he replied
“Well my little adventurers you appear to have everything planned” Michelle said with a smile “What about telling the families?”
“We have written letters which we will post just before we board the ferry” Karen said
“Ok but rather than catch the bus I’ll drive you to Sharpington in the van” Michelle offered “On one condition”
“What’s that?” he asked
“That you promise to keep in touch, send me postcards, regularly” she replied
“Ok deal” Robbie said “but where to? I can’t send them home”
“Send them to the Sharpington shop I can pick them up there”
So early in the darkness of a cold October Monday morning Robbie Norman crept quietly out of the house and into the side door of the Bizzie Lizzie’s Florists van and then Michelle closed the door and got in and drove off up Military Row and through the South Gate to Mornington Field.
She then drove around the industrial units and out towards the West Gate where Karen was waiting in the shadows.
Robbie opened the side door and Karen joined him inside and closed the door behind her.
“Okay?” he asked
“Yes” she replied and they embraced
“How do you feel? Scared or excited”
“A bit of both” she admitted “but no regrets”
Once Karen was safely aboard Michelle drove them to Sharpington and parked the van in a side road and let them out.
“Here” she said handing him an envelope
“What’s this?” he asked
“There’s another list of highly recommended accommodation and some contacts in the flower trade where you can get work” she said “And stamp money”
“But there’s £300 here” he protested
“I expect to receive a lot of postcards”
“Thanks sis” he said and kissed her “For everything”
“That’s ok” she said trying to hold back the tears “now do you have your letters?”
“Yes” Karen piped up
“Well give them to me and I’ll post them tomorrow if I don’t hear from you” she said
“Good idea” Karen said handing over her letter before hugging Michelle.
Michelle cried as she watched her kid brother walking hand in hand with the girl he loved, she didn’t want him to go but she knew it was for the best.
(Part 12)
Michelle cried as she watched her kid brother walking hand in hand with the girl he loved, she didn’t want him to go but she knew it was for the best.
Once they had reached the end of the road they turned and gave Michelle a final wave and then turned left and stopped at the cash point to withdraw the cash for the journey, but when they reached it they realized they didn’t need to as they had the money Michelle had given them, which was more than enough for them to change into euros once they reached the ferry terminal.
So not needing to withdraw cash they went straight to the café on the seafront, where they had been many times before and had a “farewell to Downshire” breakfast.
After breakfast they walked along the seafront to the storage facility and retrieved their luggage and just outside there was a bus stop where they caught the bus to Pepperstock Bay.
They were booked on the 11am ferry to Dunkirk but because Michelle gave them a lift to Sharpington they had more time at the terminal than they had planned so it was a lot less hurried and they even had time to look around the shops before it was time to board.
They stood at the stern rail as the ferry left Pepperstock Bay with their arms around each other and Karen said
“We’re free”
“We are” he agreed “So how do you feel?”
“Like my life has finally begun” she replied
“Good answer” he said “And how do you feel about being stuck with me?”
“Incredibly happy” Karen replied and stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
When it was discovered that Robbie and Karen had disappeared it was not believed at first by anyone that it was anything other than a coincidence that they both left at the same time, after all one of them was a Norman and the other was a Smith.
But as time went on it became apparent that it was to all intents and purposes, an elopement, and this was confirmed when the letters arrived.
The realization that the missing pair were indeed a couple caused a good deal of anger and upset with countless accusations and recriminations being fired back and forth between the feuding families.
It was only when the two mothers, Margaret Smith and Lily Norman sat down together in the bar of the Old Mill Inn and got drunk that the two families started to think of the couples welfare and happiness and not their own petty squabbles.
Considering Karen hated farming and Robbie didn’t like being a grocer they did a lot of farm labouring and shop work along with waiting tables and washing dishes as they worked their way around the capitals of Europe.
And good to his word he sent a postcard from every one of them to Michelle at Bizzie Lizzie’s in Sharpington.
At first Michelle kept the fact she was getting the post cards to herself, but after the incident of her mums public drunkenness, and the softening of the families stances, she showed them to her.
By the time the second anniversary of their elopement came around they had worked their way to Athens and by Christmas they had reached the island of Andros in the Cyclades and once there they were there they never left and when they married the following Easter at the Agia Marina church the Normans and the Smiths were there to witness it.
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