Mr Fingerton’s Eyes - Chapter 9

 

Mr Fingerton’s Eyes

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 9

 

 The First Date

 

As a schoolteacher , it was not just a job but a vocation for Mr Fingerton who taught with a holistic approach , always considering how he could guide and direct his students , helping them to grow strong in their characters as well as to  teach them how to read and write , multiply , divide , add and subtract . Now and then a good teacher might receive some kind acknowledgment for who they are and what they do .

Mr Fingerton felt that he had received that from one of the nurses on the  day the school was visited by the clinic . Ever since then he couldn’t stop thinking of her not just because she understood what he was trying to do . Another reason he kept thinking about her was  because she  gave him her business card .

This prompted him to give her a call and try to make a date with her . This was really difficult for him because he had never done that kind of thing before .  He wrote down a few lines and 

rehearsed them  over and over before calling her . Then when he plucked up the courage, he gave her a call .

He stumbled through his words. 

“Hello Miss  Margaret . It’s me Mr Fingerton . You might remember  me .“

Immediately she responded ,

“ Didn’t I give you, my card . Why wouldn’t remember you . Thank you remembering  me and for giving me a call . How are you ?“

“ Oh well I’m busy as usual with school but I have some free time and was wondering if you would like to see a movie on Saturday ?”

Immediately she responded .

“Ok sure . What time on Saturday ?” 

she said and he responded. 

“The show starts at 8pm .

Maybe we could meet outside the cinema or I can pick you up . Whatever suits you . “

She relied ,

“I live in unit 13 at Killarney Close Apartments in College Street , 

Trinity Dale . Who don’t you arrive a few hours early and I’ll cook some dinner for us before the movie . Which movie are we going see ?”

“ The Others “

“Wow that’s incredible . I’ve been wanting to see that movie “

She said and he responded , 

“Ok that’s great . I’ll call to your place about 5pm “

“Perfect . See you then “

She said and  ended the call just  as he was about to say. 

“I’ll see you then .“

He just sat there almost shaking and wondering how in earth he was ever able to do that but happy that he did . Half of him expected for her to tell him.

she was too busy or she had something else to do that day .

But instead, he had the result that he had hoped for and now for the first time on his life , he had a date with a lady . His heart was beating fondly and his mind was dreaming of new places and the possibilities of romance in his life .

Mr Fingerton  was always looking for the right person to share his life with . It was never that easy because of the special gift he had of seeing visions and never really understanding why no one else could see the things he did as well . He always remained on the fringe of life and kept to himself a lot . His Mother was his best friend and when it came to it, she was actually his  best and only  friend really . 

When Saturday came Mr Fingerton awoke with excitement about the day ahead and his first date . He sat daydreaming as he ate  breakfast and even though he was nervous he was eager for the day  to begin . All his life he had hoped to meet someone now it had happened . He told his mother and she seemed protectively pleased about his first date . He thought it might be a good idea to buy her a gift for their first date and asked his mother’s advice on what to buy , but instead  of telling him what gift he should buy her he told him things not to buy .

“Don’t buy her flowers because they’ll just die , don’t buy her jewellery because you don’t know her well enough yet , don’t buy her chocolates in case she’s on a diet or allergic to it , don’t buy her clothes and you don’t really know what fashion she would wear , don’t buy her shoes , you don’t know her size. “

Mr Fingerton said ,

“Well, what can I buy her Mammy”.

She replied .

“ Just buy her a thank you card and write her a little message. “

“Ok . I’ll be back shortly . I’ll go have a look for a  card in the shop”.

He said and in the same breath was making his way to the door .

He got into the car and headed along the road towards the shopping centre .  He had never felt this way before , Jittery and jumpy  , tingly and fumble with butteries in his stomach .

Then he saw a group of foot soldiers with weapons in their arms . In single file they came  marching along the side of the road before disappearing . This appearance reminded him of his Father who had lost his life in the world war .

Then he saw some nurses dressed in old uniforms walking together along the sidewalk .

They were there and gone in a brief moment of time .

He made his way into the car park of the shopping centre yo look for a card in the gift shop .  

He browsed through every thank you card there was reading the message that was there . Some even had a  fragrance of flowers others had images of life and symbols life and love . He was looking for that special. card that summed up how he felt and what he wanted to say . His first date with a lady and as much as possible he wanted it to portray trust and understanding , hope and warmth with expectations for a future , thankfulness and happiness , all together on one card .

He searched and searched  . Some cards played music ; other cards had expandable inserts with flower bouquets that opened up . Eventually he just picked a card that said . Thank you with space for him to write in his own words what he wanted to say  . He returned home with his card and wrote a simple message for Margaret  on the card and got dressed for his date . When he arrived outside her unit, he noticed a lady standing there. She was impeccably dressed in fashions of times  gone past . As he  approached  her, she vanished out of sight .

He rang the doorbell and Margaret popped the door and invited him inside . He nervously handed her the thank you card . She opened it and read his words .

“Thank you for what you did and said . I appreciate your company and the time you took to cook dinner . “

He noticed the dinner table was already set . 

“Nice to see you again . Take a seat . I have dinner ready .“

She proceeded to get the food from the pots on the stove .

After dinner they went to the cinema . He felt comfortable being with her and she seemed happy to be with him. . As they stood in line waiting to buy tickets for the show , he noticed some children in prams with parents alongside , appearing and disappearing . Like ghosts of time in a passing parade inside a packed movie theatre . Eventually they both were seated in front of the big screen and the movie started.  After the show finished , they both left the theatre and returned to the car . On the way back to her unit , 

Mr Fingerton and Margaret talked a lot about the movie . They both enjoyed the story about how a group of  time Travellers often came to visit the earth and how they were able to change the course of events while they are here among us . 

When they arrived at her unit she thanked him for the night out .

“Can I see you again ?

He asked .

“ I’d like that . Maybe next Saturday same time . Just come over and I’ll have dinner ready “

He was so happy and on the brink off tears he drove home to tell his mother how the night went .

 

End of Chapter 9

 

Link to chapter 10

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/mr-fingerton%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98eyes-chapter-10

 

Mr Fingerton’s Eyes 

A Novel

By Paul McCann