"You didn't seem to mind people looking in there."

As we walked back to the car Carol put her arm around me again. I tensed, she must have felt it.

" I'm sorry Drew I was selfish and took you for granted. But it never occurred to me that you weren't having as much fun as I was. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I wish I could undo this afternoon."

We drove back in silence, Carol's apology had blunted the anger I felt, but I was still on edge, as though I was about to...

"Do you need the loo Gaby?"

"No I'm Ok thanks"

3:30 and still 15 miles to go. The evening rush was on the grid waiting for the green light. It was going to be close.

I wanted to be home and changed before Maddy got back.

"Drew you need to pick up your tracksuit for tonight."

I must have looked panic struck. 'cause that's how I felt.

"But I'll be seen." There were always more people around at this time, not just other school kids, the whole neighbourhood seemed to come alive at the same time.

"Gaby it's dark. I'll park as close as I can, you grab your own tracksuit and trainers for this evening and we go. Where's the problem?"

"Yeah I suppose; Ok."

"Right, I can't get any closer Gaby, off you go. Hurry."

This was ridiculous, creeping up to my own front door.

I grabbed my tracksuit and trainers from the closet. It's getting a bit full in there, Full of Gaby's clothes, and dashed back to the car after checking the locks.

Thankfully the house was in darkness when we got there.

"Go wash your hair Gaby; unless......"

" I'm going."

"I'll be up in a minute to get Maddy's tracksuit."

I stripped, grabbed the solvent and headed for the shower.

"Don't be long Drew. I've put your clothes out for you." Carol called through the door.

I must have been more keyed up than I thought, for when I stepped out of the shower I felt very tired.

The forms had left red marks on my chest that would show wearing the sports singlet I usually wore so I pulled on my black T instead.

I found I was holding the banister as I made my way down the stair and was glad to reach the bottom.

Carol was fixing tea but she stopped when I entered and helped dry my hair.

"Thanks for today Drew, I know it was hard on you and I really appreciate it."

"You know I won't be able to lie to Maddy, what are you going to tell her?"

"There's no need to tell her anything, we just went shopping right?"

"Maddy will work it out. If she asks me I'll have to tell her, you know that."

"Maybe Maddy wont ask; Oh and you'd better put this in your pocket, you left it in Maddy's tracksuit."

"Shit!" The pendant I meant to leave that home.

I went into the living room and collapsed on the sofa.

I woke to find Maddy wafting a bacon sarnie under my nose.

"I thought you'd like a quick snack, your Dad will be here soon and you slept through tea. Why so sleepy Drew?"

"Drew overdid it with the shopping today, he has been ill remember."

"Oh I just thought you might have been somewhere besides Asda. Like shopping for presents maybe?"

"Maddy that's not fair, you know the rules, stop fishing."

"If we did go shopping for presents I'd have asked Drew not to say anything wouldn't I? So pack it in Miss Matta Hari."

"Who?" I asked.

"Matta Hari, she was a spy" said Carol.

"A sexy spy." Added Maddy wiggling her brows.

"Well if I had seen you shopping for prezzies would I have seen Gaby?"

"Wha..?"

Mad disappeared to the kitchen and returned with a wet wipe, she ran it over my brows and eyes. And held it up.

"It takes more than a shower to get this stuff off Drew."

Damn busted. Dad tooting the horn outside saved me further embarrassment, or so I thought.

"Besides, my tracksuit was warm from the tumble dryer and I was sure it was clean when I left this morning."

We grabbed our coats. And headed for the car. Piling into the back, Jules was in the front with Dad.

It was one of those journeys that took the same time whether you walked or drove, due to the route you had to take in the car.

10 minutes later Mad was nudging me awake.

"You Ok. Drew? You're a bit washed out." Asked Dad.

"I'm just tired Dad, I feel fine."

"Come on then let's get inside."

Jules got her sports bag out of the boot and we all trooped inside and made our way to the main hall.

The posters along the corridor distracted me, the larger ones were pretty general things like the "Sports Council". But the smaller ones were advertising the facilities of this and other centres in the area. Others were for the various 'Interest Groups' Football Rugby Tennis Swimming Badminton; one idiot was even trying to start a 'Shinty' team.

One poster that caught my eye said 'Join the SAS', it turned out to be 'Sheffield Archery Society'.

"A long way from Sheffield aren't we?" Asked Maddy

"Not really." A voice said from behind me, I turned and saw a small elderly woman, well she was older than Gran, and I was taller.

She looked very prim and proper in her green blazer and white pleated skirt a cameo brooch at the collar of her blouse and her white hair a mass of curls.

"It's a big club nearly 300 members, we meet at all the centres around Sheffield. If you'd like to try it were in the main hall."

"I thought the badminton was in there." Chirped Maddy

"Yes I think we are sharing the hall tonight."

"Er Isn't that a little dangerous?" I asked.

"No not at all. Come along you'll see for yourselves."

It was only then that I saw she was pulling what looked like a golf trolley loaded with oversize guitar cases and smaller boxes.

"Can we give you a hand with some of this?" I asked, well we were going to the same way.

"Oh that is kind of you, thank you; I'm Dorothy Jenkins by the way but everyone calls me Dot. I'm the County Coach"

"I'm Drew and this is Maddy, are you here every week?" I steadied the trolley as Maddy took the loose boxes off.

"Oh no, I'm much too busy, well that is the club is here, but I try and get to all the clubs in the area, it takes about six weeks of evenings to get around them and there are the school visits during the day. So I'm kept pretty busy."

"We tried a longbow at York during the summer but I couldn't pull it very far, I don't think I'd be very good at it."

Dot chuckled as we walked along.

"That was at the museum, 'Jorvic'?"

"Yes that's the one."

"That was just for the tourists Drew, you don't need a bow that powerful to compete at this sport let alone learn."

"Did people really use bows like that?" asked Maddy.

"Yes they really did. The one you saw was probably a replica but the traditional longbow might have taken 120lbs or more to pull it."

But I think something around 20lb. Would suit you two better." She smiled as she held the door for us to get the trolley through.

As Dot turned I saw the blazer badge "Great Britain" above the five rings of the Olympic symbol.

"Wow, did you really take part."

Dot saw what I was getting at and smiled again.

"Yes Drew, Mexico in 68, and team manager a couple of times since."

Cool, I thought.

Dot became more animated as we walked past the badminton courts. She spoke very deliberately, like an infant school teacher, not talking down to us, but so enthusiastic about her subject she dragged you in as well.

Dot was telling us about the archers in the battle of Cressy when I said.

"You should speak to my Dad he loves all that stuff."

"Oh? I give talks at all the local historical societies. He may have already heard me, once I start I can't stop." She chuckled.

We were heading toward a net that divided the hall in two, an opening at one end allowed us to pass through to a second net.

As we passed through that we could see the archers already in action. Targets were set up along what would have been the back wall if it weren't for yet another net.

The archers were standing about 30 metres from the targets, straddling a white line on the floor. There seemed to be more archers than targets, and more were standing waiting.

Dot explained that two people used each target then stood back and a second pair took their place for their turn.

There was a whistle. And people started to move down to the targets.

"That's called an 'End', it's like an 'Over' in cricket, 6 balls to an over, 6 arrows to an end. In earlier times there would be a target at each end of the field. That's where the term comes from."

Suddenly we were surrounded by people all wanting to say Hi to Dot.

We waved a goodbye and went back to the badminton.

Dad immediately called us over to give Jules a hand warming up

I managed to get through the stretches Ok, but I was stumbling all over the place during a knock about, and was glad when Jules went off to her match.

"How come you're so tired Drew?" Asked Dad as we got to the forms around the court

"He's been shopping with Mum, that can be a pretty demanding experience." Supplied Maddy.

Dad nodded sagelike as we found seats nearby

Juliet's opponent must have wondered what was happening as we added our support to the noise level in the hall.

I'm pretty sure it worked or we upset her opponent, as Jules scraped it 2 to1. She came off the court flatfooted but we mobbed her anyway. While Juliet recovered before the next game Dad suggested we go look at the weight room. Dad was hitting the drink's machine as Mad and me walked ahead into the weight room. Just two others were in there with a trainer, when I heard. "I'm sorry sir, it's ladies night tonight. The girls can stay, I'm sure I can find a programme that will suit them." Oh shoot! Maddy was the first to recover as she said. "I'm not sure I want to use a facility that won't let my coach in, are you registered at Manchester." "Er. No but I have the Council approved certificates." "Ah, so you're approved but not qualified." I added before leaving with Maddy. "Come on Coach I don't think we'll get much help here." Maddy twisted the knife. "Maybe the archery is a better option, at least Mrs Jenkins was friendlier." Said Maddy as we joined Jules at the drink's machine. Dad handed out the cans he'd got earlier. "I'm not sure that Drew should be doing any exercise until the Dr. gives the all clear."

"I think you'll get on like a house on fire with Dot Dad." I chuckled at the sound of that.

"Mrs Jenkins, Dot. Dot Jenkins?"

"Yes Dad didn't you see us helping her with her stuff?"

"No. er did you introduce yourselves to her?"

"No not really, just first names Unc."

"In that case I think you should go back and say Hi properly." Dad chuckled. "And take Juliet with you."

"It's no good trying to be dark and cryptic Dad, you know her already. Right?"

"Dorothy knows your Mum better."

Ok, now that was dark and cryptic.

Mrs Roberts was waving at Jules as we re-entered the hall.

"Looks like you're on again Juliet, you up for it?" asked Dad.

"Not really Dad, that first match was a disaster."

"How can you say that when you won Sis?"

"She was a social player Drew, they only play for fun."

"Er isn't that what you're here for?"

"Oh yeah and I suppose you only ride your bike for fun as well. Like being Northern Champion means absolutely nothing Right?""

"Oh."

"Sorry Drew but that should have been two nil not three to two, I should have walked it."

"Hey don't yell at Drew. Just because you're unfit. You're the one who decided to 'Rest' for six months." Maddy leapt in.

"Woah, Pack It In.... Juliet you really didn't expect to pick up at the same level did you?"

"I. I guess not, but I didn't think I'd be this bad either Dad." "Go on Juliet, Mrs Roberts is waiting. You may lose, but don't let her have a walkover Ok?" Jules forced a grin and walked on court as we returned to the forms. The score of two games to nil might sound like a heavy defeat but it didn't look like that on court. Jules narrowly lost the first set and her opponent sensed her lack of fitness, running Jules all over the court for the second set. She must have been well chuffed by beating Jules but the way we cheered her off the court you'd think the match went the other way. Dad had the towel and water bottle ready for her, while we tried to cheer her up. Even Mrs Roberts came over. "Not bad Juliet, first match and your off the bottom of the 'Ladder'."

"Oh by the way has anyone lost some jewellery, someone found an item earlier, it's been handed over to reception."

I franticly searched my pockets, but I felt that sinking feeling as I realised just what the 'Item' was.

"Shit!" was the only word I could think of as I headed for reception at a run.

Angela Peters 09.05.04 © 2004

Want to Comment? click here to Email me