Burning Desires Part Three

Frank's rented house was a small end terraced property at the entrance to a small park.  The place was partially furnished but he had bought a bed, a television set and comfortable chair.  his pictures of Mohamed Ali and Spike were nailed up on either side of the fireplace. He sat in front of the gas fire and relaxed.  The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the mantle shelf.  His newly purchased Bull Terrier pup slept under his feet.  He thought about Jean. He would always miss her.  His earliest memory of her was as a child.  They were on a seaside beach somewhere, building sandcastles.  He remembered her absorbed in what she was doing, her dress tucked into her knickers, her legs burned brown by the sun, the soft warm wind flicking her hair.  He had loved her then and he loved her now...but he could never find the words so...c'est la vie.  He had the evening paper and two cans of lager. Later there was a football match on the teli.  After the hectic events of the last few days, a period of peace and quiet would be good.

'Hiya!  We've come to see you.'  He heard the door slam and the voices of Mark Carol and Susan. 'Hey it's alright isn't it.'  They were discussing the merits of the place as they spilled into the living room.  Frank groaned 'Hiya,' he responded wearily.

'Aren't you glad to see us?' Mark asked, surprised at his father's demeanour as he flung himself down in a chair.

Carol said, 'Hello Dad.'

Frank was surprised. Her tone was friendly.

Susan was taken with his new home and went off to explore. Frank heard her upstairs. She returned and as Carol was sat in the only other chair, she sat on a pouffe facing him.  Her closeness disconcerted Frank. She had wild eyes that searched his face, flicking her gaze from one pupil to the other, all the while chewing furiously.  Her face wore a permanent manic grin.  This is the mother of my grandchild he thought.

Mark said, 'Have you and Mum split up Dad?'

Frank nodded.

'Why?'  Mark asked, he was clearly bewildered.

'Because Mum was having an affair,' Carol said

'How do you know?'  Mark asked.

Still scanning Frank's face, still chewing frantically, Susan said, 'Girls always know.'

'Jesus Christ,' Mark said.'  Then a thought struck him.      'Oh no,    He isn't black is he?'

They all looked expectantly at Frank.  'No,' Frank said and that's the end of it.  I don't want to discuss it anymore.'

Mark said, 'Well I'm finished with her.  She wasn't part of our family.  She preferred her posh friends.'

'Don't go calling your mother, it's  not all her fault,' Frank responded.

'She has gone though.  She will start another relationship with another family,' Carol pointed out.

'You will go away too,' Mark cut in, 'on your fancy college course studying your performing arts.'

'Don't you ever want to do something a bit different. Something more ornate Mark?'  Carol asked, 'instead of just plastering blank walls all the time.'

'Ornate,' Mark frowned.

Still staring at Frank, Susan said, 'He won't understand ornate.  She means fancy Mark.  Will you learn juggling on your performing arts course,' she went on, addressing Carol.

'I have no idea,' Carol replied

'Only it would come in handy for entertaining the baby,' Susan explained.

Carol glared at Mark who looked embarrassed.

Then from behind Franks feet the puppy appeared.  Mark and Carol fell to their knees with cries of delight.  Susan stopped smiling, 'She thought of her baby, But then she had dealt with dogs before She smiled again, 'What are you calling it?' she asked Frank.

'Royston,' Frank replied.  He added by way of explanation, 'It's the breeders name.'

Susan's grin widened and her eyebrows arched even higher. She asked, 'Are you insisting on Royston or can we call him Roy?'

Suddenly Frank understood Susan.  She was not mad or stupid.  She was a smart kid with an impish sense of humour.  He liked her.  He said, 'Do you ever stop chewing?'

Susan shook her head, 'Can't.'

'Why?'

'I'm going to be a good Mum and stop smoking.  I used to smoke ten a day, now I'm down to three. In a couple of weeks I will stop smoking for good.  But I must not stop chewing.'

'Sounds a crazy way to do it.' Frank laughed.

'It works for me,' Susan replied. It shows me how much money I'm wasting.'  She went on, 'We want you to stop smoking too.'

Frank laughed, 'Too late for me I'm afraid.'

Susan said,  'You  can do it if you give it your best shot.  We don't want anything happening to you now you are about to become a grandfather and guess what, me and Mark are getting married so you will be a kind of Dad to me.'

'Where's your own Dad?' Frank asked.

'He went to work on an oil rig when I was eight.  I watched him until he was out of sight.  I knew he wasn't coming back. I've had a couple of uncles since.'

Mark asked, 'Are you glad we are getting married Dad?'

Frank smiled at his son, 'I am Mark, really pleased.'  Mark flushed with pride.

Susan said, 'We will need your help.'

O.K,' Frank said, ‘I can do a bit of baby sitting.'

Miraculously Susan stopped chewing.  'Baby sitting!  No, my mother can do all that.  She can't wait.'

'You will like her Dad,' Mark said.  'She's a Treki.  She goes on all those Star Trek Conventions as Lieutenant Uruhu.'

Frank frowned, 'Wasn't she black?'

Susan laughed delightedly, 'That's my Mum, she doesn't do detail.'

'She blacks up and everything.  She looks just like her,' Mark said.

'That's terrible,' Carol protested, 'blacking up insults black people.'

'I can't see why,' Susan snapped back.  'There are plenty of black Captain Kirks around.'

'Frank passed his hand over his eyes wearily. 'Just what is it you want from me,' he asked.

'I want to come and work with you like a sort of apprentice,' Susan said.

Frank laughed.  'No,' he replied, 'you are pregnant for a start.'

,'I'm only a bit pregnant. I'm not scared of ladders and I just love painting and decorating, ask Mark.'

'She is good Dad,' Mark confirmed.  'She's always decorating our place.  I come home sometimes and think I'm in the wrong flat.'

'I am going to come and work with you,' Susan said decisively, 'It is something I've always wanted to do.'

Frank went to protest but Susan cut him short.  'Come on Mark, we had better be going.'

As they were leaving Carol said, 'Congratulations on your coming marriage Mark.' She kissed Mark and then kissed Susan.  'Congratulations Susan.'

'You can cut that out for a start,' Mark told his sister.

'Oh shut up Mark,' Susan laughed,  'you don't understand.'

When Mark and Susan were gone, Frank sat alone with Carol.  'Fancy a brew Dad?'  she asked.

Frank nodded apprehensively and Carol left the room and soon returned with two cups of tea.

'You seem in a good mood Carol,' Frank hazarded.

Carol smiled, 'I've some brilliant news Dad.  I've got a bursary for my studies.'

'I'm glad to hear it,' Frank said.

Carol was animated, 'Don't ask me how I got it.  I had been turned down by two Colleges and nearly didn't go for the interview because it was the most prestigious college of them all, and yet, for some reason I have got it.'  She went on enthusiastically, 'I will be studying down in London but I will need somewhere to stay When I'm home.  Can I stay with you Dad?'  Frank stared at his daughter in disbelief. He did not understand this bursary business but if it transformed his daughter into this happy young woman he was all for it.  He said, 'But surely you would be better off at home with your mother in your beautiful bedroom where you have everything to hand.  This place is pretty ramshackle and besides won't your mother be hurt if you move in with me?'

'No,' Carol said, 'she will want to have her new man there.  I would hate it.  I will sleep in the chair tonight and we can get my things and a new bed tomorrow.'

'You are staying here tonight,?'

Carol nodded.

'O.K if that's what you want,' Frank replied. 'I will just take the dog for a walk.'

'I will come with you,' Carol replied. 'We can explore the park. It's a nice night.'  She knelt to put the lead on the pup who resisted play fighting, growling and biting her hand.  'Behave yourself Royston,' She laughed.

Frank watched, amazed at the change in his daughter.

 

Jean waited in Hartley Park for Frank to arrive. She had rung him suggesting they meet and this was the rendezvous he had wanted.  Some men might have suggested a restaurant but not Frank.  She wondered if he would make an effort, put on a suit perhaps but no, she saw his ladders passing the tops of a screen of rhododendron bushes and the car hove into sight.  Frank got out replete with overalls and cap.

They were awkward with each other as they discussed the divorce arrangements.  Finally Jean asked, 'How's your rented house?'

'O.K.'

'Have you seen the kids?'

'Yes.'

'What have you told them?'

'Just that we are getting divorced and he isn't black.  Carol seems to have known you were seeing someone.'

'She would,' Jean said.  'Where is she by the way?'

'Living with me.'

'What!'  Jean was shocked.

Frank nodded, smiling broadly.  'She's got this bursary thing.  You wouldn't believe what a difference it has made to her.  We have got our daughter back.'

'I'm not surprised,' Jean said.  'You  don't understand Frank, this will change her life. Please congratulate her for me.'

'Mark and Susan are getting married,' Frank said.

'Jean frowned,' The thought of that witless girl having care of a baby frightens me.'

'She isn't witless,' Frank replied.  'She is a grand kid really.  She will be the making of our Mark.'

'Neither of them are answering my calls,' Jean observed.

'I will tell them to answer your calls,' Frank replied.

A drunk down and out wandered past, unshaven, dishevelled, his bobble hat pushed to the back of his head.  They watched him walk unsteadily out onto the grass and stand staring at a tree.  Majestically he stretched out his arm and pointing with his index finger he traced the trunk of the tree up to the lower branches, then higher to the very tips of the top leaves and higher still into the sky.  Finally his arm described a glorious arc and he fell over backwards and lay flat on his back.

Why is my life such a farce, Jean wondered.  She said, 'I'm sorry about this Frank.  I have behaved very badly.  I hope you meet somebody really nice, you deserve to.'

'No more relationships for me,' Frank replied.

'But what will you do?'

He grinned, 'I'll just have to take advantage of all those offers decorators are supposed to get from bored housewives.'

Jean said, 'You have taken it very well.'

Frank shrugged, 'I suppose I always new it might come to this.'  He went on, 'Hey up, look who's here.'

Jean followed his gaze and groaned.  Norman Seabrook was jogging towards them, pale agitated and sweating profusely.

'What's up?' Frank asked.

'Thank god I've found you two,' Norman gasped.  'It's this damned pacemaker.  I haven't slept for three nights and I've just been thrown off a bus for singing dancing feet.  I just can't keep my feet still.'

Jean said, 'You  always where a bit bi-polar.'  Addressing Frank she said, 'I'd better be getting back to work.  I'll take  him with me, get him seen to.  The house is up for sale for two hundred and twenty thousand and my solicitor is  Greenhalls.'

'Right,' Frank replied.  They hesitated,  then embraced clumsily.

'Norman started to apologise, 'I'm sorry for the way I spoke the other day Frank.'

Jean cuffed him round the head saying, 'Get in the bloody car Norm.'  As she loaded him in she saw Frank go over to the prostrate drunk and offer his hand.  From his prone position the drunk elegantly raised his arm and allowed Frank to pull him to his feet.  Jean watched the two men embrace and then part.  The two cars sped away and the park was left in silence.

 

Tilsden Mechanics Hall was the venue for the Area Health Authorities big charity quiz contest.  The   master of ceremonies for the occasion was a star presenter on regional television, Colin Gascoigne.  The hall was crowded with spectators.  Jean was breathless with excitement.  One of the Paraplegic Bus Babies could not make it and Robert Woodward the new manager of the Paraplegic Unit, had offered to step in.  Robert's wife had recently died of cancer and he had moved to Tilsden to make a fresh start.  He was a tall good natured man, competent and popular with his staff.  Jean had met him on a couple of occasions and was seriously taken with him.  This would not be a fling like her affair with Nigel.  She wanted to ask him out but did not want to appear pushy.

She sought the advice of her long time friend Helen, an older woman.  In a saner world Helen had been the domestic on the ward where Jean had been a student.  She had kept the place spotlessly clean.  These days the job was done by a poorly paid and trained migrant worker.  Helen now worked in the hospital restaurant.  They had remained firm friends and Jean usually consulted the older woman on delicate matters.

'I really like him Helen but his wife only died a few months ago and he might be offended.  What do you think?'

The older woman's advice had been unequivocal, 'Go now love, if they are left on their own for longer than six months they learn to cope.'

The quiz was exciting and in the end only two teams were left in and they had dead heated, The Paraplegic Bus Babies and the Renal Unit Retards.  Colin Gascoigne explained the situation.

'The Paraplegic Bus Babies have forty eight points and the Renal Unit Retards have Forty eight points..Ladies and gentlemen we have to go for a tiebreaker.    So for one thousand two hundred pounds, fingers on buzzers and here we go.  This person Launched their career in Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky.   Was it Aretha Franklin, Lois Armstrong or Mo-'

Jean hit her buzzer, 'Mohamed Ali!!'

Colin Gascoigne looked incredulously at his answer paper.  'Mohamed Ali is the right answer.  The Paraplegic Bus Babies have won One thousand two hundred pounds.'  Everybody cheered and congratulated each other.

'Where on earth did you get that answer from?'  Robert Woodward asked during the melee.

'My ex husband is a Mohamed Ali fanatic,'

'That's interesting,' Woodward smiled

Jean looked up at him and wrinkled her nose in a way she new men found attractive.  'Nah, not really.'

They both laughed and everybody went off to celebrate.

The End