Questions - A Gaby Fanfic
Part 23
"Wha…Oh, god… Shit, shit, shit!” Jules stiffened, before quickly untangling herself and heading for the bathroom. Leaving me to wonder what just happened. Okay, I had a good idea what happened, but this was my sister, shit, shit, shit! seemed to sum it up rather well
“I. Drew, I'm sorry, I was thinking of someone else," A rather flushed Jules, apologised when she returned. “Maybe I ought to go back to my own room.” Jules mumbled as she turned through the door. Shit, no! My brain screamed at me, I was already missing her before she had crossed the threshold.
“J, Jules” I managed to croak out as I struggled with the duvet and that stupid nightie. Jules was just turning when I hit the floor face first with a resounding thump! I lay still for a while as I tried to figure out what hurt. Apart from a stinging sensation around the eyes, I'd got away lightly and was considering extracting myself when Jules timidly asked if I was all right. I couldn't answer right away with my face still buried in something soft; whatever it was, it had saved me from a more serious injury.
“Drew, speak to me Drew. Shit, not again, not now. Drew?” Jules was getting more frantic by the second, as she started pulling at the duvet.
“Ooomph.” I finally got out as my mouth cleared; I was eye to eye with ‘Snuggles', to whom I breathed a sincere thank you. “I'm alright Jules.” I coughed, trying to speak and breathe at the same time.
“Drew, don't do that to me.” Jules slowed her efforts at untangling me. “If you're not hurt why are you crying?” she asked quietly as she sat on the floor next to me.
“I'm not.”
“Are too” Jules replied running a finger gently down my face, holding it up for inspection.
“Your eyes would leak with a face full of Snuggles too.” I protested, I don't think she believed me though, as they picked that moment to positively deluge.
“Are you sure you're not hurt?” Jules asked as she produced a hankie from somewhere.
I was blinking like crazy, trying to clear the tears but it just made it worse. Jules was peering at me intently. “Come on, bathroom, you might have some of Snuggles in there.”
After bouncing off the door on the way, Jules plonked me down on the loo, before peering at my eyes.
The glare of the bathroom light wasn't helping, as my natural aversion to fingers in my eyes sent my head back.
"Stay still, Drew. Or you'll end up with my finger in your eye."
"Exactly," I muttered, as her talons pulled and pushed at my eyelids.
“Gotcha!" Jules, announced, after an excruciating few minutes of probing. "Look up towards the cabinet. No! Don't move your head, just look towards it." Easier said than done, I thought; I was struggling to get my eyes to do anything but squint. I felt a sharp sting, which caused another deluge, Jules held the wet flannel to my eye.
“Got it!” Jules was holding up her finger for inspection. Whatever it was it was small, I couldn't make anything out through the tears.
“Got what?”
“An eyelash,” Jules was still holding her finger up, “Better now?” she asked.
I nodded as I held the wet cloth to my eye; the stinging was easing so I risked a look. How is it that both eyes water when the boulder is only in one eye?
“Looks a bit long for an eyelash, you sure?” Jules peered at my eyes before answering.
“Yup, definitely, a perfect match.” Jules sighed, “Do you realise how annoying that is? My brother has longer lashes than I do.”
“If you can find a way, you're welcome to them.” I sniffed, “it's not like I want them is it?” Jules took the flannel and wiped my eyes gently before giving me a hug.
“Six o'clock. Six o'clock.” I kept repeating as I nursed my mug of tea at the kitchen table; so much for a lie in.
“Give over mithering, Drew, it isn't helping.” Jules must have been thinking the same way; she just left the whinging to me. “Have you thought about what you're wearing for the parade?”
“Depends on the weather, if it's wet, then we're walking; if it's dry, then its cycle kit.”
“Drew! You can't, it's a church thing. Even on the bike it should be sort of tidy or formal.” Jules was right, but I just hadn't thought about it. “Anyway you'll be hanging around, so the skins won't cut it, will they?”
“Shit, I suppose it's the track suit then, but that's not much warmer than the skins.”
“Depends what you wear under it,” Jules giggled, “Some woolly tights will do it.”
Eventually, I ended up with two outfits. The wet was easy, ‘school uniform'. The dry was the tracksuit over my cycle shorts with white sweatshirt instead of the thin maillot; a pair of Juliet's black ribbed tights added an extra layer, with Maddy's gilet over the top. The bright colour of my helmet and the wrap-around shades I wore to keep the wind off my eyes completed the ‘hi-vis' outfit. I could put the track top on when I got to the cenotaph.
Changeable the forecast said; big help that. I ended up scanning the ‘Teletext' pages, but they all said much the same. “Rain is a definite maybe” laughed Jules.
“Yeah, but it's not just the rain is it. If the road is wet, Fred and Maddy will get a black stripe on their backs; the mudguards are next to useless.” Unlike a road bike, these were little more than deflectors under the saddle. Even the cross bike had a larger guard, it clipped on, to deal with the mud, but it wouldn't fit on the tandem. In a race it didn't matter, this ride we were expected to arrive tidy, not a sweaty wreck.
“So, it's wait and see?” I nodded, I was almost wishing it would rain, then I wouldn't have to make a decision; it would be made for me.
At nine o'clock, I was still not sure as I stared out of the window, still in my bathrobe. It was light, just, but still murky. If the sun could burn through the mist it would be fine. On the other hand, the fact that there was a mist meant no wind, so whatever we had now, it would stay calm.
A thumping on the door was quickly followed by a carthorse running up the stairs. “Come on Drew, you're not even dressed” Maddy cried as she burst in. "And I suppose there's a good reason for wearing shades?" Maddy reached for the specs before I could stop her. "Oooh, Drew, not again."
"It was something in my eye," I told her; not that I was going to tell her how something got in my eye.
"Yeah, right, and Big Macs are healthy eating. I wonder if mum would let me sleep over; you seem to sleep all right with me." Jules seemed to be having a coughing fit, while I grinned at the thought - Aunty C was never going to let that happen. Maddy smirked, thinking she'd shocked Jules, while my grin turned into a giggle - If she only knew.
"See? You're laughing already." Maddy smiled, as she hugged me.
“Maddy?” She was wearing her new parka, “Did you ride here?” I asked, as I turned her, to check her back.
“No, I pushed and scooted, it's a bit foggy and there are no lights on your mum's bike. Why, Drew?”
“Because if you had, your new coat would need cleaning.” I chuckled as Maddy craned her neck trying to look in the little mirror. “Or are the roads dry?”
“Oh, I see what you mean. Why don't you fit mudguards?”
“They slow you down.” I shrugged “How are the roads?”
“A few puddles, but not bad. So, why aren't you dressed?”
“‘Cause, I still haven't decided if we're riding or not. If it's wet it'll be no fun for Fred, no matter what she says.”
Juliet must have had her practical head on as she suggested I'd wear the bike outfit, but pack a change of clothes, so I could make the decision at Freddie's.
“Come on, Drew, shake a leg.” Maddy giggled as she held out the tights. Five minutes later I was folding my trousers, ready to join my jacket, shirt and tie in my sports bag.
“No, take the new ones Drew, and pack your boots, not the shoes.”
“And you'd better put this in Drew” added Jules, handing me a wrap-around denim skirt. “For Maddy.” she added when she saw my expression.
“Oh, yeah. We won't have much time to go back will we, sorry.” Jules rolled her eyes
We started off pushing the bikes to Freddie's, but that didn't last long, Maddy started by using her bike as a scooter at the first corner, while I soon got fed up of walking on my cleats. So I mounted up; scooting a tandem wasn't really an option. If I took it slow, the wheels wouldn't throw too much spray as I was further away from it in the pilot seat. Anyway the sports bag would take the worst of it; I wore it on my back, like a rucksack.
Fred was all bundled up ready for us when we arrived. “Is it arreet Drew? The weather, I mean. Please say it is; I've been looking forward to this all week.”
“Anie-Frid, slow down, give them a chance to get in.” Mrs T shooed Fred into the living room, “Drew, can you give me a hand with the tea?” It didn't sound like a question. “I was hoping …” She trailed off.
“That it would be raining?” I finished for her. “I was thinking the same thing but I didn't want to disappoint her.”
“Drew, Anie-Frid, suffers in this weather. She puts a brave face on it but I know her too well; the cold and damp is affecting her knees, what most people would feel as a twinge or discomfort, is much worse for her since the accident.” Mrs T said quietly.
“So, you're saying we shouldn't ride?”
“Well, yes and no, she won't admit that she's having trouble; not easily anyway. So I want you to keep an eye on her. I'll have her chair in the car. If I see you signal I'll come over straight away.”
“Won't she be a bit peeved, when she sees the chair?”
“I don't think so, she may be stubborn sometimes, but she does know her limits”. Mrs T, told me as we took the tea into the living room.
“Don't take too long over your tea; remember the road will be closing soon. I'm going to go ahead so I can park nearby. Make sure you lock up Anie-Frid.”
“Alright mum, I wont, I'll see you there.” Fred called as Mrs T left. Turning to me she laughed, “Hey Drew. There's no need to wear the shades in here, it's not that bright.” The ‘Shades' were more safety specs really, but they did look cool though, with their yellow lenses; I thought so anyway. I'd forgotten about them after taking my helmet off. “Can I try them?” She asked, already reaching for them. “Oh! Are you alright Drew?”
“I'm fine, I had something in my eye earlier; it took a while to get it out. It still shows huh?”
“You could say that.”
“At least they're not so red now, just puffy.” Maddy diagnosed. “Hey come on, if we stay here much longer they'll close the road and we'll miss it.”
“What?” I hadn't realised that. I suppose it should have been obvious, but I never gave it a thought, it was the first time I'd tried attending on the bike.
“The Cuckney road will be closed for the parade; we'd better make a move.”
Maddy took the bag from me for the ride, and after I reminded Fred to stay still if we had to slow down, we set off.
Freddie was obviously glad to be back on two wheels, as she started singing “I want to ride my bicycle” as we bowled along. Traffic seemed to be slowing as we neared the village.
"Slowing, Fred, remember to keep still."
"Kay, Drew!" Fred called, I felt her rest her head in the small of my back and stay there as I brought us to a stop at the back of the queue.
A couple of police cars had taken post near the crossroads; a custard slice, and a smaller local patrol car that dad called a panda. The ‘Custard slice' got its nickname from the yellow stripe down the side of the motorway patrol car; but I couldn't fathom where ‘Panda' came from.
We could see Mrs T just clearing the junction and heading up the Cuckney road towards St Pete's as we joined the queue. For a moment I thought we were too late, as the police were dragging barriers and road closed signs around. The marching contingent was formed up ready to move off behind the Salvation Army Band. I could see Mr T, looking very smart, in his dress uniform, pacing around, shepherding the Scouts and Guides into their positions at the rear of the parade. I was behind six cars waiting to clear the cross roads; they in turn, were waiting for the Constable directing traffic to let them through.
Thankfully, he saw us; raising his palm to the first car he waved us through, “Better move it girls” he said as we passed on the outside.
“Thanks Phil!” Freddy shouted.
“Who's Phil?” I asked as I tackled the incline.
“Corporal Osgood, he's a special constable as well as a TA corporal.
“Oh, but, how did he know where we were going? Or who we were for that matter?”
“Probably, because he was the one that stopped the traffic for us last week as well” Freddie laughed.
The rest of the ride was uneventful, Freddie's voice becoming less strident as we neared St. Peter's
The memorial was set back from the road, on a grassed area, outside the main churchyard. It was already crowded, with quite a few people taking advantage of the rise in the churchyard to get a better view.
The memorial itself was an obelisk on a stepped stone plinth enclosed by a low wall, it had the names of the people of the parish that had died, or fallen, as it said above the names. 'Lest we forget' it said at the bottom.
So many names, from such a small village. All over the country, at countless other villages and towns, people were gathering; just like us.
To the right of the memorial stood what must have been the official party. A few chains of office could be seen chatting quietly to Officers of the Navy, Army and Air force, all looking very stiff and formal in their dress uniforms. I spotted Mrs T; she was with a rather distinguished looking man wearing a bowler hat.
"Slowing!" I warned Freddie, again she rested her helmet in the small of my back and stayed there until I brought the monster to a halt.
As we pulled up along side the wheelers on the left of the monument, I could see the reason the traffic had been so light, another traffic car was reducing the road to a single lane allowing room for the main parade on the road.
Fred would have to dismount here, as I couldn't get the tandem into position without risking a fall. I heard the ratcheting as Fred extended the crutches, then:
"Drew, I'm stuck," I felt the tandem quiver as Fred tried to take her weight on the crutches, "I can't get my feet off the rests." Maddy was at her side in a flash after laying her own bike down, but all she could do was steady us. I started looking around for help, Mrs T, was already moving with the chair. Then a familiar voice from behind us:
"Trouble girls?" I looked back, which caused the tandem to shake, to see Timber, moving quickly to steady the bike from the other side. "Put your arm around my neck, we'll soon get you sorted." Fred reluctantly handed the crutch to Maddy and Timber hoisted her effortlessly out of the saddle. "Go forward Drew,"
I eased the bike forward, Mrs T, moved the chair in place and Timber gently settled her in it.
I could see Freddy was about to protest.
"Come on Anie-Frid, I need you to help keep the Colonel occupied; for some reason he thinks he's in charge." She chuckled, "We'll see you later, we're all going 'Oop t' legion' after." Mrs T let her Barnsley origins show before wheeling Freddie away, escorted by Timber.
"Do you think we should, I mean with Timber around?"
"You mean after Clive's little episode? I don't see why not, it's not as if they're going to serve us alcohol is it.
The sound of the Sally Army Band interrupted us, but as I turned to look, I found the view blocked by a large lump of horseflesh. Well, one large lump, and another much smaller. I wondered how they had managed to get here, as I hadn't seen them until now, and then I noticed a man wearing a wax jacket closing the gate into the field on the other side of the road.
It was one of those ‘Aww' moments, when I saw the rider. Hardly older than Tamesin, ‘Cute' just would did not cover it. I've seen those cartoon horses, but here was one right in front of me, all rolly-polly gut and short legs. If I'd been on my saddle, even I would have been able to see over the back of this pony; not a horse, I realised. The other horse, a huge chestnut beast, seemed a little skittish and I was glad to have the pony between us, as the rider seemed to be having trouble.
The man in the wax jacket handed a bundle to the girl on the pony, before helping to settle the chestnut; more wax jackets, it looked like.
“It's okay, ‘Marcus', will settle once the band has passed.” A small but very confident voice informed me. “Stay there, I'm going to move closer.” She did something with her crop and that massive grey belly seemed to roll awfully close as the pony stepped sideways towards me, but thankfully stopped before I had to scramble out of the way; not that I could have with Maddy alongside me. “Poppy knows your there, he's very careful. Aren't you fella?” she added patting the pony's neck. “Give him a pat to show it's all right.” She encouraged.
“Hi Poppy.” I gingerly patted him and found myself staring straight into the biggest eye I had ever seen, the deep black orb blinked at me then disappeared again as Poppy swung his head back with a snort. “You're well named for today aren't you?” I have a sneaking suspicion that the girl did something then, because Poppy gave another snort while nodding his head a few times.
“My names Stacy and you must be Gaby and Maddy; I saw your picture in the paper. Is your friend alright?”
“Anie-Frid? Yes, I think so. Just the cold is affecting her today.” We didn't get a chance for more talk as the band was approaching fast; they might be the Salvation Army but they did a mean rendition of ‘British Grenadier' as they swept past, wheeling away to stand behind the dignitaries to the sound of the bass drum as the main party led by the standard of the Royal British Legion and the Union flag.
“ Paaarraaaaaaaad! Halt!” A loud bellow commanded, there was a mighty thump as around sixty boots crashed down together, followed by a more ragged shuffling as the non-uniformed members missed the timing.
“ Paaarraaaaaaaad! Riiiight. Tarn!” Mr. T Bellowed again. I decided I didn't want him yelling at me and had to suppress a giggle as visions of being blown through a window in a cartoon appeared in my mind.
“ Paaarraaaaaaaad! Riiiight. Dress!” The voice continued,
“Must have had three shredded wheat this morning” Drifted down from Stacy. Both Maddy and I had serious trouble keeping a straight face after that. Thankfully, we were distracted by Paul and Clive, who had been press-ganged into distributing hymn sheets.
Mr T. was moving quickly along the line, using a long stick, he would stop now and again and tap it on the ground, and whoever was nearest would move to where he pointed. Satisfied, he marched quickly back and bellowed again.
“ Paaarraaaaaaaad! Eyyyes Front.” The ‘Front' came out as more of a yelp as though he'd stepped on a dog's tail; I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to hold the laughter back for much longer, but no sooner had he turned to face the memorial again, the church clock started its chime and a hush settled that seemed to grew deeper with each strike.
As the chimes continued, the Standard bearers lowered the flags until they were horizontal and with a graceful side motion draped them on the grass just as the bell sounded. The Officers saluted and held it, while the parade stood rigidly at attention.
I couldn't believe how quiet it was; even the crows nesting in the tall trees were quiet. Perhaps it was the damp air that masked the traffic noise or the carpet of gold and ochre leaves that deadened the shuffling feet. The occasional tinkle from the horses harness only served to emphasise the calm that had settled on the gathering, a calm that was broken by the mournful sound of someone playing the ‘Last Post'. I felt a shudder go through me; I think a lot of people felt it, as a few people cleared their throats as the bugle continued. Whoever was playing was very good. I'd never heard it like this before; I could feel goose bumps on my arms as the last notes faded into the damp morning air.
The last note seemed to just hang in the air as the man with the bowler hat, now bareheaded stood at the microphone and spoke in a clear voice that echoed around us.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor, the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning:
We will remember them.”
“We will remember them.” I could feel my chest tighten as we answered and I barely got the last words out. I wasn't the only one either, quite a few of the congregation were clearly affected by the words as handkerchiefs were appearing, some openly weeping as they remembered friends and family who had served their country. I didn't know if any of my family had died that way, but it still affected me none the less. I was doing all right until I caught site of Freddie standing upright next to the bowler hat man; a determined look on her face as she struggled to stand still with just one crutch, and I found myself wiping my eyes and struggling for breath just like the rest.
The bugle again sounded, the bright sounds of the reveille seemed to wake everyone from a trance. The standards were raised smartly and there seemed to be a collective sigh and a lot of throat clearing around me. For the first time I saw the bugle player as she moved, a young girl in Air Cadet uniform smartly marching back to her place in the parade.
“ Paaarraaaaaaaad! Stand At Ease!” And the band started “Abide with me.” The first words a little shaky as everyone found their voices but gathering quickly, as one by one, people moved forward to lay wreaths of poppies, pausing to pay their respects before moving back to their places; the officials first then the other organisations followed by individuals. Soon the base of the memorial was completely covered by the bright red of the poppies.
Things were almost back to normal, but I felt the sting in my eyes as a young boy and his mother stepped forward. The boy was clutching a small cross which he solemnly placed in a gap between the wreaths, pausing before rejoining his mother. It had been in the Chad last month that someone from the town had been killed in Iraq, but not knowing them, like a lot of people I suppose, I hadn't taken much notice.
The vicar stepped forward and said a few words before leading the prayers; to be honest I was too busy trying to make sense of my own emotions to take much notice of what he said. I couldn't believe how much I'd been affected by it, and began to wonder why I'd agreed to come in the first place. I mean, the only church services I had attended were christenings and weddings, and not many of them. So why did I come here? I didn't have to, nobody forced me to. It just seemed right but I couldn't explain it.
The service came to close with the chairman of the Legion, as the bowler hat turned out to be, inviting everyone for a hot drink at the memorial club. The Parade marched off up the hill about fifty metres before performing a tight wheel and returning past the memorial with an ‘Eyes Right as they marched past. The horses tagged on the back, but there was no point in the Wheelers joining them as the difference in speeds would make it difficult to keep station and most began to disappear into the crowd that was now dispersing, some moving down the hill, some to the car park at the rear of the church.
Maddy passed me a tissue as we made our way toward Freddie and her mum. “Okay Drew?”
“I'm fine.” I still felt short of breath, but Mad didn't press it, she was sniffing a bit herself. Thankfully Fred seemed happy to stay in the chair as we walked back in silence. It was only a quarter of a mile to Memorial Lane and didn't take long.
Angela Peters 26.06.05 © 2005
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