division by benjamin timothy dyer

8/17/2019 Division By Benjamin Timothy Dyer

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DIVISION: BENJAMIN TIMOTHY DYER 1

DIVISION

CHAPTER 1: THE CHASE.

Time, he needed time to think, but as she shouted out for him to leave, her father was

heading out of the back door.

“Call the dogs Henry, call the dogs; set them on him!”

Jason found his feet felt heavy has his cobbled boots thumped heavily upon the damp

lawn. “Think man think, which way?” The trouble was the moonlight had disappeared and all

was left was dark shadows until the moon could find its light again when a passing cloud

went on its way.

A yellow flash was seen followed by the noise of the realization Carrie’s father was

hunting him down like some damned prized trophy.

“Okay Jason, take a left and you’ll be over the fence in no time.” He mumbled to himself

as his heart pounded in his ears the need for haste. Then from out of the darkness came the

hounds cutting off the way out.

The dogs barked even more as they closed on the scent of a desperate man. They could see

him far better now as he double backed round a greenhouse and ran back towards the house.

They picked up the chase.

Jason had little choice but to back round and as the moon found the light another figure

stood with rifle raised, a classic hunting rifle, single shot and deadly.

From the distance a young lady screamed out to her father, “Don’t hurt Jason daddy,

don’t!”

“I should have chased you off sooner you scoundrel!” The man barked.

“Mister Claybourne please, you wouldn’t shoot an innocent man. I came to…”

The rifle went off sounding like an echo as it did and in an instant Jason knew it wasn’t

good for him. He felt a burning sensation in his head and a kind of blindness over one eye.

He staggered back a little.

“Teach you to trespass upon my property lad. Now run before I think better and kill you.”

“Don’t be, ah! Don’t be so sure…you haven’t sir.” Jason shouted at Mister Claybourne as

he ran away.


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“Daddy…no!”

Claybourne looked at his daughter. “You harlot! How dare you dishonour our family

name like that; especially with a commoner, a man of the earth!” He grabbed hold of her armfeeling her trying to protest. “It’s no good fighting your fate; you will be sent to London and

you will be under lock and key until your day comes.”

“But Jason…”

“Higgins, Higgins!”

The man came scurrying across the lawn. “Yes my Lord.”

“Call the police, I want that scoundrel jailed.”

“At once sir, I shall inform the local constabulary of the situation.”

The road home for Jason felt strangely blurred and a very light headed kind of walk. He

touched his head, it was bleeding badly.

“Don’t pass…out now.” In the distance he could hear above the buzzing in his ears the

local police in their car ringing away on their route to Lord Claybourne’s residence. He

cursed himself for that lack of judgment on going up and as he stumbled once more finding

the reassuring arms of a bush he smiled at this all and knew it was worth it, just to see

Carrie’s beautiful features once again.

The gate to his place beckoned him in and as he stumbled up to the door the world was

going dreadfully dark.

Inside Claybourne chaos ensued as father shouted at all about him in a blind fit of rage.

“I want the police to track him down, he’s going to prison and that is where he will live

out the rest of his life!”

“Father you must listen to me!” Carrie shouted as her heart raced and felt as if it was

going to explode from her chest.

“Listen to you…a harlot, a woman who deceives her own father.”

“Blood my lord, there has been found blood just past the grounds.”

Lord Claybourne frowned as he was disturbed from his line of thought. “What Henry,

what are you talking about?”

Henry took a deep breath. “The grounds man found fresh blood on the gate and beyond;

must have winged the poor gentleman.”


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Claybourne barked at the man. “Poor? He will be poor once he is in jail!” He looked at his

watch, “Where’s that damn constable?”

Henry gracefully glided up to Carrie’s side. “Don’t worry my lady, I have sent Butterfieldoff to contact Doctor Bates. We all know your friend will be heading home.”

“Thank you Henry.” Carrie swallowed back tears.

“Pardon me miss, you are allowed to cry.”

She shook her head as she glared at her father coming back; “Not here, not to him, I shall

not give him the satisfaction of breaking me.”

“A wise choice my lady, a very wise choice.”

“Henry! Call the police station once again.”

Henry nodded and was just about to go his business when he distinctly heard the bell from

an approaching car. “No need, the police have arrived.”

Claybourne stared hard at his daughter. “And you, you will pack. Tomorrow you must be

away.”

As he walked away Carrie had the nerve to shout back at him. “I am to be packed off like

you did mother.”

Claybourne spun fast round and glared back at his daughter. “Your mother was never a

prostitute.”

Jack Jones puffed on one of the few pleasures he had in this life; his pipe, a glass of

whiskey as he sat reading a book about a hound upon the moors. Suddenly the door flew open

making him jump a little.

“Damn it Jas, you almost made me drop me pipe in fright. So, where have you been? I bet

you went off down tut pub spending your weeks wages.” He placed his book down and rested

his eyes whilst adding another reminder. “Don’t want you being sick on the floor, use me bed

pan and empty it out in morn’in.”

Jason couldn’t reply, his mind spun and his heart was racing, it was all a bad dream he

said to himself, or was it out loud as the black took the light and the floor took his body.

“What are you twittering on about?” Jack replied to the garbled sounding man. “Whisky is

a man’s drink laddo and not a mere boys. Dreams, you won’t be hav’in, just nightmares this

eve.” Then as stood up walking round the chair he’d been sat in he saw a dark red mark upon

the wooden floor, it was spreading out slowly.


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“Oh my lord, what have you been into?” Jack raced over and upon seeing his son’s pale

face and a large bloody red hole in his skull he knew all wasn’t right.

Just as Jack heard nothing breaking the silence, all except the mantle clock ticking awayoblivious to the confusion and chaos here, a knock came from the door. He hesitated just a

little caught in the indecision of it all; he decided to go for the door.

“Hello Jack, I got a call saying that your son had been caught in…one can only describe it

as an incident over at Claybourne Manor.”

Jack stared hard as his head spun, all dizzy from the rush of blood to the head…the head,

his son. “Ah yes, he’s collapsed… on the floor.”

Bates had seen many wounds and injuries in his time. The great war had been a bloody

affair and serving as a field surgeon he had had to patch loads of soldiers up. The flashbacks

often hit him thick and fast, especially in the early hours of the morning; still a swift gin and

tonic usually sent him off.

“Floor? In which room?”

“Just through in lounge, his head is messy, I was just…” Jack froze when he saw the

doctor freeze. “Anything the matter?”

The vision of the way the man was laid out made him freeze. Not the usual manner in

which you found a patient, more like a corpse gunned down in a field. The bombs exploded

and gunfire rained down upon him as he moved closer to another dead man, all pale and stiff.

Then as he knelt down the visions of the past fell away and Bates could see Jack’s son was

alive and not in a soldiers uniform.

“Ah, nothing the matter. He’s alive… been shot in the head above the left eye. I really

don’t know how he is living, but he is.” Bates looked up at Jack. “Though Mister Jones, I

cannot say for how long, the wound looks bad and head wounds are very awful.”

Jack froze and stared at his boy, the only son and close relative he had left; “What can I

do?”

“First thing is; I’ll need to call an ambulance, may I use your phone?”

Jack shook his head, “Don’t have one, never been able to afford expensive things like

that.”

“Okay, you can drive can’t you?”

“Yeah, drove transport during last war.”

“Take my car and hurry down to my surgery; call them there.”


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“What are you going to do doc?”

Bates knew Jack was in shock and so took a deep breath. “While you are away, I am going

to make our patient ready for the long journey to hospital.” He watched as the old boy juststood there so he had to be firm. “Damn it man, move it! Your son’s life depends upon your

swiftness in this matter.”

With that wake-up call ringing in Jack’s head, he took the keys and fired up the car and

was off to the village.

It seemed like an eternity for Doctor Bates as he looked at the wound and dressed it up. He

checked every so often the man’s pulse and the regularity of his breathing and all seemed to

be well and turned out even better when he had taken a swift shot of whiskey. Then as he

looked round at the gentle sleeping giant of a man he found a few flashbacks...

“Hawkins, how bad is it? Is it as bad as they say?”

Hawkins a young captain grinned; “Oh don’t worry too much we’ll have them licked you

can bet on my lucky lady for that.”

Bates took a look at the man’s lady and she was a pretty picture. “Your wife to be then?”

Hawkins grinned even more, “An artists impression of my ideal woman; fine curves a

plenty and a fine housewife. We’ll have children like rabbits and a big house with fields.”

Then his smile dropped a little, “Not a mud infested rat hole.” Before it reappeared again in

the form of a joke; “Just want to take a look at the muddy swimming pool out there, hasn’t

been cleaned for weeks.”

“Poor man, can’t do much sunbathing with all those Hun’s hogging the poolside.” Bates

finished on another wounded man and tapped him on the good shoulder. “Now take care of

that, and keep it away from the damp.”

Hawkins waited for his man to leave. “No chance of that, our digs are swimming in

mildew, rations are low and so is moral. I don’t think a lot of us will come back tomorrow,

not against those machine guns; awful things, like lambs to the slaughter.”

“What have we got?”

“We can pound them as they pound us with shells, though when it comes to close up

fighting, we don’t stand a chance, not unless we can take out those guns.”

“Can’t a team go in undercover at night and have a go?”

Hawkins laughed, “That has already been put to the General, but he says a slow walk over


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enemy lines will scare them into a retreat.” His hands shook at the thought. “Don’t have a

cigarette do you?”

“I have loads, you know that, can’t abide those things and what they must do to the humanbody.”

“Don’t worry dear boy, tomorrow I’ll have lead to contend with, but I intend to give some

back; give old jerry as bad a time as we are having.”

“That’s the spirit!” Bates felt he had to try and keep moral as high as he could and added

another thing. “Here, take them all and share them around, give the lads something to do;

might stop the old nerves and thoughts about tomorrow.” Then as he placed an old looking

big wooden box onto the table he asked; “When tomorrow?”

“Ah, about the time the cock crows. As soon as we can see who we are shooting at, we

will go over the top.” Then as he picked up the big box full of cigarettes and matches he

added. “Thanks for these, my lads will love them and you. Just make sure you do me one

more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Take care of Anne for me; keep her safe until I get back.”

Bates found the picture of Hawkins personal ideal of a woman and picked the card up

from the table.

“And if I don’t come back, go and find her and marry her for me. You are my best friend

and I’d like him to have the best of women.”

He found himself feeling a lump coming into his throat, though showing emotion was not

a done thing. “Don’t talk like that, I’ll keep her safe until you come back through that door.”

“Thanks.” Hawkins was just about to leave when he was called back.

“You are my best friend in this war and afterwards Hawk.” The man just nodded as he

took his gift and left.

Bates sat there and stared hard at the lady and realized that an artist’s impression of an

ideal woman would never be true to life. In his mind, as soon as you married a fine young

filly, she soon became a larger than life round woman who would bully you about, giving you

little peace of mind. Unless of course you married a rich girl or a movie star…

“How wrong you were Bates!” The doctor shouted out as his memory maze dissipated to

find another drink beckoning to steady the nerves.

“Bates, Bates!” Shaftsbury shouted into the man’s left ear. “Get up man, it’s been a


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bloody massacre. We are on the retreat, thousands perished out there, thousands in one hour!”

Bates awoke with a start. “What are we doing?”

“Got the call to go over about a few hours back, we heard nothing then the reports camein. Our men walked up to the line and were butchered. Survivors are heading in as we speak,

though our superiors want us to withdraw.”

The chaos of the evacuation was chaotic and a mad panic as the spike helmets of the

enemy could be seen, along with the reach of the repositioned guns were beating hell out of

their former barracks. Bates helped many that day to evacuate and saw many more blown up

or shot where they stood. He remembered one of the officers shouting out; “Hold the line!”

before being engulfed in a shell explosion.

He never saw his friend again by the name of Hawkins, a casualty, one of many who’s

name would be remembered but his body never recovered. All Doctor Bates had was that

picture of his friend’s ideal loved one. The man was twenty two when he went over the top.

The bell from the ambulance finally jerked his mind from the past as he rushed over to

check his patient. Pulling out a tin of mints he helped himself to a few to rid the smell of the

drink.

“Time is wasting away gentlemen; we need him over to Saint Mary’s as fast as you can.”

Jack looked about him picking up a few things essential for the journey. Then he spied the

bottle.

“Okay mister Jones we better hurry.”

Jack took a look at the doc, “Aye, but I will drive your car.”

“No, I can drive and follow the ambulance.”

He raised the glass and took a look at its crystal shape. “I would prefer it if you kept an

eye on my son and was prepared to talk to one of the doctors at the hospital about my boy’s

condition.”

Bates took the hint and sighed before whispering, “I am not drunk, just a glass or two to

steady my nerves.”

“And what about my son’s health?”

“I am a fully trained surgeon; I will handle your son and do all I can to keep him alive.”

Jack knew about the man’s past and all he had seen. “Okay doctor Bates, I trust you with

my son’s life; just do what you can without a drink eh?”


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Bates nodded, “Understood, now let’s go.”

The ride to the hospital was a long bumpy one and Jack had to keep his mind on followingthe ambulance and not allowing his mind to wander in memories of a young boy whom he

had to father from a very early age. Mrs Jones was a woman with a fiery disposition, yet the

battles of words he and she had were the fire to ignite a love. This love survived the past war

and after he had returned to the cottage she had bore him a son with piercing blue eyes and jet

black hair. The horrors of war were not for Jack, as he didn’t see much of it working for the

war office. The closest he came to it was sifting through reports of dead loved ones and other

nastiness that he read about in local paper. But nothing prepared him for his wife’s departure

from this world.

He had noticed over the past few years a strange look upon her face, they had moved

from city to countryside to reside in a peaceful village of Low Bridge. Jack had worked hard

and with the savings he had got them a lovely small cottage in which he still resides. His wife

went to work for the Claybourne’s and soon felt unease. Jack himself didn’t worry about that

as he was often employed to do carpentry his main career there. The Claybourne’s

recommendations aided him in getting other work.

One particular day he came back home and his son was crying; there was a strange silence

to the rest of the cottage.

“Where’s mummy Jason, where is your mother?” The small lad shook his head. Jack

followed his instincts and went into the back garden and there at the end was a small gate

which led out to the fields yonder. But in between the fields there was the banks that led

down to the railway track. He ran down the bank and as he looked down the left and then

right he could see her running away. Why would she be doing this? Was a question he would

always ask himself as he ran after her. Then before he could do so he observed a speeding

train heading her way. Their was little he could do as she saw him, smiled and let the train as

it was trying desperate to stop, hit her.

A passing car tooted him as he swerved onto the right side of the road and back behind the

ambulance as it pulled into the hospital.

“Don’t worry mister, you son is in safe hands.” One of the stretcher men said as he and his

colleague took Jack’s son into the hospital.

“This the head case?” questioned a rather young looking doctor as he walked briskly to


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take a look.

Bates un-rapped the bandage as the stretcher crew slowed for the new doctor. “Haven’t

seen one of these since the war.”“Yes, a clear shot to the skull, I’d wager bone fragments are inside along with the bullet.”

He looked at the stretcher bearers. “Take him down to theatre while I prep.”

Jack didn’t like the sound of this. “I thought you were working on my boy?”

Doctor Bates smiled, “I’ll be supervising. Anyway this young man is one of the best in his

field. I’ll get one of the nurses to make sure you are cared for while I look after your son.”

Jack cracked a little, “Don’t want to lose him like my wife!”

Bates nodded, “We will do all we can Jack, that’s a promise.”

“Excuse me sir, are you Jason Jones father?”

Jack looked up from his chair and saw a policeman addressing him.

“Yes he’d be my boy.”

“Do you know where he is? I need to speak to him.”

Jack looked the man straight in the eye, “It’s obvious isn’t it lad, he’s in here, been shot.”

“I do, but in which ward is he?”

“He’s in surgery, a bullet to the skull, now if you’d leave me be and my son for now.”

“I can’t do that sir; he’s under suspicion of trespassing on private grounds.”

“Just arrest him and leave the boy until we know he is going to pull through. He is a

perpetrator in all of this. He has worked for me in the past and knows where I keep the family

silver.”

Jack stood. “Lord Claybourne a pleasure sir.”

Claybourne looked at the man and continued on his superior sounding tone. “Spare me the

pleasantries. You sent your son on an errand to steal my silver.”

“Why would me son want to plunder your family silver?”

“Because you are in need of money to see you into your old age. Your son is a hopeless

carpenter and will need all the money he can get to help his sad useless life out of a hole. It’s

not the first time is it?”

“How dare you speak of my boy like that!” Jack spat; “He hasn’t got a criminal mind, he’s

much like his mother was, he loves people too much.”

“Is that why your wife committed suicide?”


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Jack snapped and went for the taller man and was only stopped by the sergeant steeping in

to separate the two, “Now pack it in right now, otherwise I’ll have both of you in jail for

brawling in a public place.”“Just do your job and arrest this maggot.”

Jack straightened up his jacket as he addressed the sergeant; “I’ll keep my hands off of the

lord here. But hear me out; Jason went over to meet with Miss Carrie, they love each other

you see. That is why he went and that is why he was shot, so Claybourne here could be rid of

my boy as well.” He cocked Claybourne a sideways look; “Trespassing and theft, is that all

you could come up with. Miss Carrie will tell you the truth. ”

“I’m sorry old man, Carrie didn’t witness the incident as she was packing for London.

Though I have three independent witnesses that saw your son entering my building and

another three seeing him flee with silverware in his jacket.”

“That’s a lie and you know it!”

“Did your son come back to your home?”

The police man gave Claybourne a frown. “I believe I should be the one doing the

questioning here sir.”

Claybourne looked at the oaf, “Then do so my man, while this is fresh in Jones’ mind.”

“Mister Jones did…”

“Yes he came home to me and collapsed onto the floor.”

“Was he wearing a dark duffle type jacket when he came in?”

Jack thought through this and found the answer in his minds eye; “No sergeant, he didn’t.”

“You see no jacket.”

“This doesn’t prove anything.”

Just as words like this shouldn’t be said a few policemen appeared. The sergeant walked

over and a jacket was held up to the light. The man walked back as Claybourne grinned.

“Looks like the jacket to me old Jack.”

“Sir, can you identify the duffle coat?”

“Aye, it’s me boys.”

“This was found by the railway line. Inside as you can see is a collection of silver artefacts

that Lord Claybourne had listed as missing.”

Jack levelled eyes at the grinning rich man. “You set this up to make it look as if my boy

stole those items. This is the only way you can cover up the fact that you tried to kill my


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son.”

“My dear fellow, just own up; he’s been caught red handed, your boy is going to jail.”

“Not if he dies from your rifle shot to the head, then we will be looking at a differentscenario; murder.”

“I’d doubt you would be able to have that charge stand in court. A burglar on my property

and shot whilst defending myself. My gamesman was perfectly in his rights to defend my

property.”

“You pulled that trigger Claybourne, why you!” Jack went for the man again and found

the wrong arm of the law.

“I’m sorry mister Jones I will have to arrest you for aggravated assault in a public place.”

“But my boy, I need to be with my boy.”

Claybourne raised a hand to stop the sergeant from taking the poor chump away. “I will

not be pressing charges officer. Let him go, I will be on my way now and will not be adding

to the friction in…” He looked about him; “A public place. Just let the man be with his son,

while he is still with the living.”

Jack wanted to land Gerald Claybourne with a right hook but was held firmly by the

policeman and one of his colleagues. “Now do as the man says sir, otherwise I will be

obligated to take you down town.”

Jack stopped struggling as Claybourne left the building. “He’s the guilty one around here,

not me, not me boy.”

“I will be stationing one of my men here to make sure the man I wish to talk to will not

leave the building.”

“How can he leave the building? He’s in surgery for a gunshot wound to the head!”

The sergeant ignored the outburst; “I’ll be back in morning, don’t run off now.”

Carrie had finished packing her cases and in tears as her maid helped her into her night

clothes.

“Don’t worry my lady, he will be okay.”

As soon as the maid left, Carrie sat down at her writing desk and penned a note to her

love. Then after a short while she heard voices down below. Opening her door ajar she

listened in.

“My daughter, is she in her room?”


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CHAPTER 2: MORNING BLUES.

Henry took Miss Claybourne along to the station and found it to be void of life as the

police were combing the track yonder for more silver.

“I’m sorry Miss Claybourne but I will have to take you into the town, the train isn’t

running this far up.”

Carrie nodded; “I was hoping we could go into town as I wish to drop off this letter to the

hospital.”

Henry took a look at the sealed letter. “Of course, we may just have time before the train

comes in.”

Jack awoke to clear the blurred vision from his eyes. He thought he had fallen asleep in

front of the fire again, but the stiff back and a numb backside issued his brain a quick fire up

to see he was in the hospital.

“Mister Jones sir.”

Jack rubbed his face realising he had a serious stubble problem going on here; “Sorry, I

must look awful.”

“Understandable sir; I have been given a letter to hand to Master Jones, how is he?”

“Too early to tell I’m afraid.” Bates came out to the small party. “That’s the trouble with

guess work. He’s in a coma Jack, we tried to get at the bullet but it’s in there, though the skull

fragments we got out.” He looked at the two flicking from one man’s face to the other; “To

be honest it’s a miracle he’s still alive. How long for, we just cannot say. Apparently my

colleague thinks he’s been lucky, the bullet from what he can tell missed all the areas the

brain needs to function. Though until he comes out of the coma, there’s no way of telling

precisely.”

Henry sighed; “I wish it was better news, at least it is not the worst news one may have

received.”

Jack took another look at Claybourne’s hand; “You have a letter for Jason?”

“Yes as instructed by Miss Claybourne to hand it to you or your son.” He handed it over

before distancing himself. “I must depart; you have my up most wishes your son gets fully


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well.”

“Just one more thing.”

“Yes sir!”“Was my son stealing?”

Henry looked awkward at being asked this question, though honesty when not pressed by

being threatened by the loss of his position was always paramount in his life. He moved his

lips to indicate the following words without the sound; ‘no’.”

In Jason’s clouded mind, visions came out like ghosts through the mist, no heavy fog.

They came at him from all directions from Carrie to his father to finally a rifle raised and a

slow bullet moving the fogs apart to bury its angry self into the forehead. Everything stopped

and as he stared the fog cleared to a fine sunny morning.

Up before the cock crowed and the sun yet waiting to shine Jason Jones rose and took in

this fresh spring morning. The mist held a kind of ice cold element to it as it threatened to

make him cough. The mist also threatened to start freezing onto his hair. He didn’t mind, he

had jobs to do before breakfast. Muck out the pigs and make sure the chickens were fed just

after the rooster named Hamish had announced daylight to all around here. Not that there was

many who lived at this end of the village. The place was small and most knew each other and

were friendly apart from the odd few, those being the gentry and one stern fellow by the

name of Gerald Claybourne. There was always something about that man which sent a shiver

down Jason’s back.

Maybe it was to do with the fact of the stories that surrounded him. A German wealthy

businessman who had escaped from his motherland at the end of the war? Maybe he kept

himself to himself and all at arms length. Then again, Jason would feel like that if he felt a

few anti-German citizens living in the camp. Jason didn’t blame anyone. Wars were always

being fought and it was like his dad always said; ‘it takes two to create a merry dance my

son’.

The pigs were as usual only interested in food and he obliged them by pouring a load of

slop into their trough while he went about them giving their living quarters a good clean. He

thought about how all knew each others business in the place and no secret could be hidden,

unless like Claybourne you had the money or prestige to do so. Why did that man keep


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coming to the foreground in his mind today?

“Hey son, are you going to clean that pigs den all day?”

“Sorry dad, just stirring things round in my mind.”“Why don’t you get washed and stir your porridge instead.” As Jack walked back inside

he chuckled to himself; “Youngsters, always thinking too much.”

Jason took off his boots outside and walked in to the kitchen come dining room. “What

have we got on today dad?”

“Some minor work.” He replied with half a mouth full of milky oats.

“Enough to see us through do you think?”

“Ah, you know how it is here. Folks don’t have much money to be bothered in spreading

it about on window frames, fascias and all that. Couple of fences need putt’in back up and a

few panels made up. Money to keep the pigs fed in slop.”

Jason laughed as his dad pulled a comical face that he always did when joking about

money. He had to give it to his old man, that when it came to money matters he had always

seen them right.

“Ah a bit of gossip from Mrs Mellows I heard yesterday.”

“You should know better than to gossip with Mrs Mellows, just cause she runs the post

office don’t give her the right to talk about all and sundry.”

“Ah, she means well. All and sundry weren’t on tut list; Claybourne was.”

“Aye, so?”

“More like Claybourne’s daughter.”

“Aye I know her, Carrie.”

“Come on, don’t pull straight face with me son. You two were childhood friends, can’t not

mean nowt to you.”

Jason smiled as he recalled the time they met. It was a hot summer’s day. He often liked to

go running about in the local spinney. He had a few friends more older than he was. They

used to get fed up with him and wanted to do other things.

This one fine day he was running about in spinney when he saw the usual body of water.

Okay so it wasn’t the cleanest large puddle about. But it was cool and shielded from the sun.

Taking his clothes off he went skinny dipping. He was as happy as a sand boy when from

her advantage point a girl called out to him.


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“What a funny looking frog!”

He spun round looking for the source of the disturbance; “Who said that?”

“A frog that speaks; must be a boy frog.”He found the source, “That’s stupid, no such thing.”

“A man called Charles Darwin said it’s possible.”

“Who is he? Does he live round here?”

“No silly!” The thin long blond haired girl replied as she made her way down to the waters

edge. “He’s a writer of sorts, a well educated man.”

“I don’t know about him.”

“Heard of evolution?”

“What?”

“Means we change, we constantly change, from insects in this water to fully grow men

and women.”

Jason frowned; “I just want to be a man. I want to fight in wars and die a hero. Then God

will remember me and lift me up.”

Carrie took her boots off while he was playing a game of shooting things with an

imaginary gun. “I want to be a nurse, look after the wounded like Florence Nightingale.”

“Who?”

“You don’t know much do you?”

“I know how to carve wood and make things like picture frames.”

She eyed him up and down. “My father wishes the services of a man who can work

wonders with wood. Who are you?”

“I am Jason Jones, son of Jack Jones carpenter extraordinaire.”

She laughed as she shook one of his wet and smelly hands; “I am Carrie Clayboure of

Claybourne manor.”

“Gerald Clayboure is your father?”

“Yeap! That’s my dad.”

“Is it true he lived in Germany during the last war?”

“Yes, he’s half-German, half-English. He wanted to live here and so managed to leave just

at the end of the war with my mother.”

“She’s English though?”

“No, she is German and so in a way I am though born here of course.” She tilted her head


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sideways as she asked; “How about you?”

“My father was born in Newcastle and moved to London to make his fortune, so he says.

He met mum sometime and they married; both British to the core, so my dad says.”“I don’t remember your mum, is she about?”

“No, died when I was three.”

“How come? Old age?”

“No, she was hit by a train as she ran along the track.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t remember much of that. What about your mum, she’s not about is she?”

“No, she went away, apparently with a doctor and later died in hospital.”

Jason saw the look of sorrow, “How old were you?”

“Father says I was only a year or so old.”

He made the water ripple a little as his thoughts rippled making him come to a conclusion.

“We are like brother and sister.”

“How come?” She pulled a puzzled look which screwed up her face.

“We both lost our mums and both have our dads, we are alike. So we can be brother and

sister.”

“Okay, I’m your younger sister, though more intelligent and refined than you.”

“So refined that you won’t take a dip in my pond?” Jason challenged.

She thought this dare through. “No, but Father will kill me if I come home dirty.”

“Can’t be my sister if you are scared of getting told off.”

“If I do this, you will have to do something for me.”

“Just name it!”

Carrie thought it through, “No, later I will tell you, now turn around while I undress.”

Jason did as he was told until he was notified by the splashing of water that his new friend

and sister was in. There they played in the murky water for what seamed ages, until the

games were foiled by an angry looking man.

“My dear lord! Carrie your father will give you a hiding, especially playing in water with

a strange boy.”

“It’s okay Henry, he is my brother.”

A frown washed over Henry’s face as he took this new development in. “Oh yes! And

who might you be young master?”


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Jason stood to attention and saluted the man; “I am Jason Jones son of Jack Jones the

carpenter sir!”

“No need to salute me boy; though Miss Carrie you must come with me, it’s way pastyour teatime.”

Carrie swam over to her watch, “Oh my! Four o’clock father will kill me!”

“Not so, just get quickly dressed and we shall endeavour to keep this from your father.”

Henry looked over at master Jones; “Now be a gentleman and allow this young lady to

dress.” Then he mumbled; “Never was allowed to do any of this type of thing when I was a

boy.”

As Carrie got dressed she caught Jason looking and stuck her tongue out at him and he did

the same as Henry turned round.

“I should give you a clip round the ear boy, though I wish not to get my clothes dirty. I

will give you one at a later date. Now come my dear, time is of the essence here.”

Jason watched them walk off and decided the time was for him to go and get back as his

father might be disturbed as to his lateness.

“Why are you late my boy?” Jack asked as his son came wandering.

“What time is it Da?”

“Half-past four and half an hour late for your tea.” He laughed as he smelt his son; “I

suppose you were out in that spinney again, swimming about day dreaming in the water.”

“I was and I met Carrie Claybourne my sister!”

Jack lost his smile; “You met Carrie Claybourne, who was with her?”

“No one; we went swimming together in the spinney.”

Jack pulled his son closer, “Now listen to me Jas; don’t go round telling anyone here that

you went swimming with Carrie Claybourne.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say that common folk like you and I shouldn’t be seen swimming with

daughters of gentry. It’s not proper and would only create problems for your new found

sister.”

When you were a child you either questioned further, ignored the advice or took it to heart

and stood by your parent. Jason chose his father’s words to be true even at the grand age of

nine.


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“Now I just hope that young Carrie has a good person to cover up what you both have

been doing.”

“A strange looking man servant I believe. He wanted to clip me around the ear but didn’twant to get dirty.”

Jack clipped his son round the ear for good measure and observed the look of shock from

the boy. “That’s the one that gentleman should have giv’in you my boy.”

Jason felt the sting on the back of ear subside as he recalled what Carrie had said; “Da,

what happened to Carries mother?”

Jack winced as the memories came flooding back; “Best not talk about that son. I’ll tell

you when you are old enough to understand. Let’s just say, she was taken to a special hospital

and died there.”

“Henry! Where is my daughter?” A voice echoed out from the dinning room.

Henry in turn skidded to a halt on the highly polished wooden floor. Checking Carrie was

out of sight from the partially opened door, he ushered her away with her personal maid.

Walking gracefully to the door, where his master was reclining by an empty fireplace with a

half-read newspaper at hand; he made his defence of the young girl.

“I’m sorry Sir. Miss Carrie was distracted by the calls of nature and I found her observing

a number of insects in a pond.”

Gerald lifted his eyes from his paper and took a look at his manservant; “Pond you say?

What kind of pond?”

“One in the local spinney sir.”

“And what happened?”

“When I found her I called to her and she was so startled she…”

“She what?”

“Fell in sir.”

Claybourne dropped his paper and saw Henry scurry over to pick it up for him.

“Please don’t be angry at me Sir! If I could go back in time and change the way I called

out, I’m sure I could have spared her the fall into smelly filthy water.”

“Was the water deep man?”

“No sir, only a few feet deep; nothing to cause concern apart from ruining that pretty

white dress Miss Claybourne was wearing.” He put on his best remorseful face as he carried


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on; “I really am deeply sorry for ruining the dress and tea.”

“The dress will come out of your wages, as for my daughter; she will be barred from

venturing out of the grounds unless you are present with her.” He looked at this snivellingservant; “Do I make myself clear?”

“Very Sir, as clear as crystal water…um.” He swallowed hard at the bad use of words

here.

“Just you do. Now get my daughter ready for tea as fast as possible please.”

“Already on it mister Claybourne sir.”

“One more thing Henry, woodsman Mellows informs me that a boy often frequents those

woods, did you see him?”

“That would be the carpenter’s son Jason Jones.”

“A carpenter eh?” Gerald thought this through; “Okay Henry, go about your business.”

As Jason ate his porridge he thought about that question which was avoided.

“Dad.”

“Jason.”

“I was just wondering as I am older; what happened to Claybourne’s wife?”

Jack’s face seemed to age a little as he pulled a painful look; “Do I have to tell you about

that sad time?”

“You did say you would tell me when I’m older; I’m older. Eleven years older to be

exact.”

Jack shook his head; “Is there anything you never allow to be forgotten? I think you

should be a scientist with that noggin of yours.” Jack put down his cup of tea. “Very well, the

story is that Mrs Claybourne after giving birth to Carrie lost interest in her own child.”

“She rejected Carrie? How come?”

“It happens sometimes; women reject their child at birth, some mental thing.”

Jason picked up on something about the way he said this; “Though you don’t think it was

a mental thing, do you dad?”

“Mrs Claybourne wasn’t mental, even though she was put away into a mental institute to

live out her last few months before she took an overdose of laudanum mixed with other pain

killers. That sure finished her off.”

“Case over, poor Carrie, never knew her mother.”


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“Neither did you son.”

“I had three years.”

“You should have had more, only…”“Only what?”

Jack shook his head, “I don’t know. Your mother was so full of life and she was

wonderful in every way. Then she just changed from a happy strong woman to a shadow of

her former self.” He rubbed his forehead and felt upset at the end of her life.

Jason left his chair to hug his father; “We won’t talk no more. I’ll get the horse ready.”

“Yeah, best get ready to see what Claybourne wants us for this time.” He stopped feeling

the need to add; “You knew your mother worked for Claybourne first before we were

employed.”

“Never knew that dad. I’ll go and get your things.”

After Jason went out his father felt angry and as he saw the china cup in his hand he

brought it down to shatter on the wooden table. The pieces went everywhere; much like his

heart was shattered that bad day when he lost his wife.

As Jason set up the cart with all he and his dad would need for whatever Claybourne

wanted, he took another trip back to his childhood.

The sun was beating down upon the hot field as he ran across it to the wall, a big wall

designed to keep unwanted visitors out. There was a gate he could have used but the wall was

a challenge he wanted to overcome.

Finally Jason found enough pitted holes in the stone which allowed him to scale it and lay

belly down on the top. A true snipers stance he thought as he peered over this walled garden

and saw the vision of a young beauty. Carrie was there with what looked to be a microscope.

He made his was slowly down the wall to land upon the stones with more noise than

expected.

Carrie looked over at the sudden sound of stones scattering about and gasped at the

intrusion.

“Did I get you done?”

Carrie’s brown eyebrows dropped into a frown; “Done?”

“Done… told off.”

“No, Henry bailed me out. He’s a good manservant.”


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“I could be your manservant and come to your aid like a knight in shining armour.”

“That’s not what a manservant does silly! They look out for me, dress me, clean me and

feed me.”“I can do all that, when I’m older of course.” Then he looked at her microscope. “Only

seen one of these once. A microscope; apparently they show things close up like binoculars

or a telescope.”

“This one has one of your pond friends; legs aplenty and a funny odd looking skin.”

Jason looked at her and asked; “May I?”

“Sure, though I don’t think I would go swimming in there again.”

“Oh, not very nice! Ugly looking thing; neither will I, not at seeing this creature close up.”

Then he took his eyes away from the creature to look at this girl; “Must be very interesting

looking at all of God’s creatures under one of these.”

“I have loads of slides of various insects and plant life. Do you want to see them?”

“May I?”

“Only if you do one thing for me.”

Her eyes were very playful he recalled as he stared back into those dark brown circles;

“Name it!”

“This is what you owe me from the other day.”

“Just name it, and I will do it.” Though in hindsight he should have been more like a

gentlemen should; reserved.

“I want you to… take my father’s pocket watch.”

He stood up from the ground where he had been kneeling to look at the microscope.

“Carrie I can’t, I’ve always been taught not to steel.”

“You’ll just be borrowing it for me. I’ll put it back on the table before he finds out its

missing.”

“What table?”

“The one in the great lounge, he often leaves it there.” She looked at her quivering knight.

“Come on my dear brother and knight.”

Jason found himself being led by this girl to the double patio doors which led to the place

where the watch clearly sat.

“Go on sir knight, take your prize and bring it back to his lady, his princess.”

Jason took a deep breath as he entered the great room. He smelt the smell of money as the


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place reeked of wealth. The floorboards creaked expensive wood as he slowly made his way

towards the small table by this big leather high backed armchair. He froze for a second as he

heard movement from the hallway.“Go on!” Carrie whispered; “You are nearly there.”

Jason turned round and shushed her as he went another one hundred and eighty degrees

back round to begin his final task; the silver ticking pocket watch. He slid up to the back of

the chair and reaching forward he found his left hand touching the cold metal. Then his

fingers found the point in which he could lift it up from off the table. The only trouble was;

his hand couldn’t pick it up from off the small wooden desk.

“A thief I have in my hand, a common thief!” Gerald Claybourne yelled out as he applied

pressure upon the small hand as he yanked the body that came with it towards the wooden

table.

Jason yelped with pain at the sheer strength in that man’s hand.

“What are you doing steeling my things young man? Answer me; otherwise I will give

you a thrashing of your life!”

“I…”

“Father I asked him to do it!”

Claybourne turned to see his girl running over. “It was a dare; don’t hurt him.”

Henry came rushing in at this point after his sensitive ears picked up on the sudden

commotion in the lounge. “Sir! May I be of assistance? Ah it’s Master Jones the carpenter’s

son.”

Claybourne bent the lads hand back; “Carpenter’s son eh?”

“Yes sir.” Jason replied while still in pain.

“And common thief!”

Carrie rushed over to grab hold of her father’s other hand; “Father, I did it! Please don’t

hurt him, I dared him too.” She was starting to cry with her pleading.

“Get me the boy’s father; I want a word with him.” He instructed Henry before addressing

his daughter; “And as for you Carrie, I expect more from my daughter than to associate with

common riff raff. Go to your room and think over you rash actions.” He watched as she

looked at the boy; “I said go to your room!”

Jason was in tears as his hand hurt from the grip; then it was gone.

“I am sorry that my daughter put you up to this. As a lady she should know better; it’s a


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good thing she is going to boarding school after the summer is over.” He looked at the lad;

“Now as for you, a good spell in a work house would get rid of the temptations of silver,

gold…or women’s wicked wishes.” Gerald smiled; “I’m sorry about my rash actions, do youforgive me?”

Jason was so shocked at the sudden change in the man’s demeanour that he just nodded

while wiping his eyes.

“I am particularly fond of this watch. It was given to me by a special loved one and I wish

to keep it. But I’ll let you have a look at it just this once.”

Jason felt his hurt hand reach out and take the fine time piece once more. It had German

writing on the back and the time piece was solid silver. The watch face contained silver cogs

visible on the inside with blue outer ring with the numbers on it. The hands were what looked

to be solid gold. A pocket watch Jason knew was pretty unique.

“Beautiful.”

“And so was she.” A sorrow washed over his face as he took back the watch out of this

boys grubby hands. “Now stay and have some lemonade, then your father will come and we

can discuss this matter along with something else.

When Jack turned up and saw his son he knew all was not well.

“Your son is quite a lad mister Jones. He attempted to take a possession of mine.”

“I’m sorry Sir; I’m surprised he would do such a thing, I have always brought him up to

be honest.”

“That I know as it transpires my daughter put him up to it. Now I am happy for this young

man to be around my daughter as I feel she may help with his education. But I require your

approval.”

Jack frowned; “My approval sir?”

“You are his father, the carpenter are you not?”

“Yes I am.”

“Your wife worked here in the past didn’t she?”

“Yes sir she did.”

“A sad loss, you have my sympathies; a truly remarkable lady.”

“As I understand yours was as well.”

Gerald thought this all through before becoming all business once more; “I need some


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accept he never had real jet black hair. Still the confidence was there along with the youth.

It’s was strange how youth when giving way to middle age changes a man. And as you get

older your confidence takes more of a battering. Still, nice to see it in your son.

The place looked much the same as when Jason used to roam around its halls and gardens;

only the people looked older.

“Nice to see you again Master Jones; oh and of course Mister Jones.”

“Good to see you too Henry; is the Lord of the manor around?”

“Yes; he’s outback sunning himself and Carrie…Miss Claybourne is back with us. A

changed girl, much more like a pretty butterfly.

Jason’s heart raced to see the young lady, his sister.

They were taken round the back a protocol which was unusual as all servant and

tradesmen had to normally wait for the master to see them; somewhere out of sight. Then as

they rounded the side of the building the sun blinded them as Jason observed two people

basking in the sun; outlines only, as the brightness of day obscured their view.

“Mister Jones and Master Jones to see you sir.”

Claybourne rested his glass of lemonade down and sat up on the edge of his wooden

recliner.

“Ah here you are! I need to talk to you both as I require some work doing on my old

place.”

“Aye, that would be a pleasure Mister Claybourne sir.” Jack replied as Jason looked over

at a girl all grown up. She ignored them and in a way he felt cheated.

“Good afternoon Miss Claybourne!” Jason added noting his elders giving him a frown. To

his chagrin the now matured Carrie Claybourne just nodded at him in acknowledgement;

nothing more said.

“Now come, I have to show you what I think needs doing.” Claybourne pushed the two

men back the way they came.

“The double main doors are bad; I did advise you to get them replaced a while back sir.”

Jack added with decorum as he observed the rotting underneath and a hollow sound which

indicated the door was rotten inside out.

“Yes exactly. I wish you to make me a new set. Make them regal looking; impress the

visitors and all that.” He looked at Jason who was miles away; “Something wrong lad?”


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He knew he shouldn’t say anything, but he had to; “Just Miss Claybourne seems different

somehow.”

Gerald laughed as he slapped the smelly thug on the back; “Of course she has changed.Something you lack; a fine schooling does that to a person. Carrie has been instructed by the

finest minds of our time and taught how well bread women should act to…”

Jason finished the stalled sentence; “Towards common folk as my dad and I.”

“Exactly; sorry but that is the only way I can put it.”

Jack saw his son was about to object, he stepped in to pour water on the fire; “That’s fine

Mister Claybourne. We can knock you up a pair of sturdy oak doors; that will last you

another century at least.”

Claybourne looked at Jason and the black look he was giving. Choosing to not goad the

man further he responded to the older man.

“That’s fine. I do need some of the windows looking at, my daughter’s room is

particularly bad; sticks all of the time.”

Jack took a step into the house and stopped.

“What is it?” Gerald asked looking worried; “A rotting floorboard?”

Jack grinned; “No sir, I wouldn’t wish to dirty your house with me boots; either would

Jason as he was mucking out pigs this morning.”

Gerald raised his eyebrows as understanding flowed into his conscious; “Then please feel

free to remove them and follow me.” Though on hindsight looking at the men’s socks he

wondered if the boots would have been cleaner.

As Gerald showed them round and was showing Jack the sticky window frame, Jason

looked out of her second window to see the girl, Carrie still reading a book. He admired her

and from this vantage point he could see her fine figure through those light coloured trousers

and flimsy summer top. Then to his shock she looked up and caught him staring back.

Embarrassed he fumbled with the lock on the window pretending to be checking it for

stiffness.

Claybourne noted the exchange of looks from his window being in the same room as the

boy; “Come now and see what else I have for you to do.”

As Jack joined his son he whispered in the boy’s ear; “Got caught staring there. If I was

you I’d keep that object of your affections far away from you. We need this job and I’d hate


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to be kicked out of this job by your actions.”

Jason sighed, his father was right; a good paying job like this one would be very hard to

come across again. The world was winding itself up over Germany once again and if war wasto come out of this; hard times would definitely follow. They needed the money and staring

at old friends who were little more than a ghost of the past was going to do no good here.

“When can you start?”

It felt like they had been here before as Jason’s father answered; “I have nowt on at the

moment; I can start as soon as you wish.”

“Make it tomorrow then!” Gerald replied as he noted his young daughter walk in with a

tray full of lemonade.

“Looks to me as all have had a good meeting” Carrie addressed her father before looking

at Jack and offering; “Lemonade for our guests?”

Jack took a look at his son who was swallowing; not for the fruit of the drink but the fruits

of the woman. She had matured well and not lost any of her stunning looks. She looked much

like that picture doctor Bates had shown him of his friend lost in the past war. Blonde

shoulder length hair, dark eyes and slim.

“Lemonade gents?” Gerald echoed as he saw the effect his daughter was having on them.

“Ah no!”

“But Da?”

“No my son; we have to go and source our timber for those double doors. Now come, get

our boots on and leave Miss Claybourne and Mister Claybourne to relax.”

Jason was going to protest further but with his father already vacating he just excused

himself.

Once down the driveway Jack opened his mouth with a warning; “I tell you now son; keep

yourself away from her. The Claybourne’s are noth’in but trouble. If you cannot obey me as

your father I will have to do this job alone.”

“But da, I was only looking.”

“I was only looking when I ended up marrying you ma; so I know the look of love and

you have it. Now back off and leave the rich to themselves. Take my advice and go down pub

and find yourself an ordinary lass; one who will cook, bare your children and make your

home a nice haven of rest. In turn you will be happy and be able to provide for her simplest


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of needs; not the requirements of a rich lady who’s heart is never content.”

Jason wanted to say other things but in his heart he knew his dad had the experience in

love though how tragic it had turned out to be.“So how come you ain’t gone down pub and found me a new ma?”

Jack laughed; “What makes you think I haven’t tried?”

“Ah, I know you dad, you have never as much looked at a woman let alone have thoughts

of marriage again.”

He allowed Hercules the opportunity to speed up as home was in view by flicking the

reins and using his tongue to make a kind of clicking sound.

“Once was enough; she was love of my life and I’d be lucky if I ever found another as

good and dear to me as your mother was. A true rose and one that didn’t demand all the time

of the gardener if you know what I mean.”

“Aye I know what you mean.” Jason sighed as maybe Carrie was too far above his station

as today’s meeting seemed to indicate.

“Now there’s Mary, a nice girl with a big heart.”

Jason snorted; “And big everything else; She’s at least twenty stone and seems to eat when

she makes mistakes at the grocers.”

“Must make a lot of mistakes then.”

Jason saw his father chuckle and say; “Well there’s plenty more fish in this pond. Quite a

large village you know and the town down yonder has more to offer. Why don’t you take the

bus down town tonight and have a drink on your da?”

“I couldn’t; we need the money.”

“Ah there’s enough in the old pot to treat my son to a pint or two.”

“I couldn’t.”

“Never look a gift horse in the mouth especially coming from me.”

Jason inhaled deeply as he weighed matters up, the breath came out as this; “Okay, we

both go to the local pub and have a drink or two. There you can give me pointers as to who I

should be looking at. All except Mary Oakley okay.”

Jack put his free arm around his son; “Yeah no Mary’s, only the good times of our

friends.”

The public house was only about three quarters of a mile down in the heart of the village.


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The night was a warm one and it was just an enjoyable experience to not have to take a torch

with you and no heavy coats. The summer nights were long and Jason could almost feel the

heat in his mind. Then the memories were lost as he felt like his mind was being suckedbackwards. Memories flooded his minds eye. He found himself staring at a silvery object; it

was the watch as it spun round in front of his eyes. The ticking sound was powerfully strong

in his ears. Then from out of nowhere a man stood in the shadows; a man dressed in a

military uniform. He raised his gun and shot the pocket watch to pieces. The explosion of this

noise made his mind and body shake.

“Doctor he’s having some kind of fit!” The nurse shouted out as a stream of half sleeping

staff woke up to give assistance.

Doctor Philpot shouted; “Strap him down and get something between his teeth. Try not to

let him hurt himself too much if you can.”

It seemed to all intense and purposes that a host of people were sitting or holding the

fitting person down as his body went into spasm after spasm. Finally the man stopped

allowing the doctors to do their job of a damage report.

“Bloody gunshot wound; at least we know he isn’t paralysed. Only hope his brain isn’t

damaged.” Philpot added to his colleague who just shook his head in agreement.

Suddenly the shaking ceased, the fog cleared and Jason was back to that summers evening

walking with his dad. Was he in hell? No this was a heavenly evening.

“Something wrong? Not still brooding over Carrie are we?”

“No, this beautiful evening makes up for all of that. Just take it in! The smell of the fields,

the birds twittering away; this is living!”

Jack took it in by inhaling the smell of summer; “It is that alright. This is what I live for,

the simplicities of life. We have a roof over our heads, each other and a beautiful village in

which to live. What more could a man need?”

Jason came and found the answer; “A good lady you were saying earlier.”

“Aye a good woman for my son. But it’s not of paramount importance that; just good

friends can do the trick.”

Jason grinned as he walked along admiring the evening’s stillness which was in contrast to

the public house. Inside there was a rude song going on and that was enough for Jason to


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wish he wasn’t here.

“A couple pints of your best me’love and something for yourself!” Jack shouted above the

final chorus of a well known sea shanty.“Eh up! Struck gold have we?”

“Could say that; I’ve been employed by the lord of the manor.”

“What you and your son up there again? What did you do wrong?”

“Ah nothing; it’s what we did right, the finest carpenters in the village.”

“That’s because you are the only carpenters in the village.” Rosie joked as she poured

herself a spirit.

“Why’s your boy got a long face?”

“Isn’t that what the barman said to the horse?”

She slapped him on the arm in a friendly way; “Oh you, Always the joker. Your boy looks

all forlorn.”

“Ah he’s seen Carrie and he hates songs with rude lyrics; he’ll cheer up with a pint of best

inside his stomach.”

“Thanks for the drink and if you’re planning to get stone drunk there’s always room in my

bed for you Jack Jones.”

Jack felt his face blush a little; “Aye Rose I’ll keep your offer in mind.”

He managed not to spill a drop as he made his way back to the place his son sat who

looked a little happier that the song was over.

“Think I pulled with Rosie.”

“Why? What did she say?”

“It’s more of what she offered me.”

Jason frowned and was about to ask when his brain clicked into gear; “Ah; say no more.

You not are you?”

“My son, I may like risky songs but I am a man of morals and of fear of what the village

would make of it all.” He slid a pint over to his lad. “Anyway tonight is your night. I have it

on good information from Joey that his sister will be down later looking as gorgeous as ever.”

“I guess I may be able to spare her a dance.”

Just as he said this old Guppy leaned over and with the smell of intoxication he threw a

spanner in the works; “No she won’t!”

Jack put his glass down; “What do you mean, no she won’t?”


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“Down town she is; there’s a dance on at the town hall. All and sundry there; lads his age,

the boys from the Raf and girls I reckon.”

Jack downed his glass and with a slight burp from the drink he declared; “Let’s get downthere then.” Looking over at the barmaid he apologised; “Sorry my love duty calls!”

“Well don’t ever forget the offer my dear!” She called after him as he stepped out into the

night, though really it was still light.

“Da, where are we going?” Jason asked as he ran out after him.

The man with eyes of fire allowed them to burn brightly in front of his son. “That’s

obvious that is; we are going down to hall and see the ladies.”

“But it’s seven mile down yonder.”

“Aye, and we’ll need to change; put on our Sunday best.”

“So calculations put together we have to go home get changed and walk the seven miles to

town; the show will be over by then.”

“Yeah!” He replied as he looked round to see old Guppy just standing there; “Hey

Guppy!”

“Yeah mate!” He replied as he pulled at his jacket and checked his reflection in the pub

window, then turned round and pulled a toothless grin; “Last time I looked.”

“You still got transport?”

“Aye, an old’en; she’s not much to look at but goes when pushed.”

Jack turned back to his son and gave him a smile; “Great! We have transport to whisk a

male version of Cinderella here to his ball.”

The transport turned out to be a motorbike and sidecar. The thing wasn’t that bad

looking; in fact in hindsight it was kept cleaner than old Guppy who was looking rather worse

for wear. It was most perturbing when he kept swerving across the road and back again.

Jack noted this very early on and shouted; “Do ya want me to drive?”

Guppy shouted back; “I’m not drunk man! Just haven’t rode this beauty for a while; wow

that was close, almost a ditch there!”

“I’m sorry son; it seemed a good idea at the time.”

Jason said little as he was in the little round capsule that had just had a near miss with a

seasoned oak tree.


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The bike huffed itself to a stop just across from the town hall and all got off.

“Coming in old man?” Jack asked Guppy who nodded in the negative.“Ah, me and dancing don’t get; got two left feet. Na, there’s a pub up tut road and that’s

where I’ll be when you have had your fun.”

Jason leaned down to his father’s ear and whispered; “Got two left hands as well with that

so called driv’in.”

Jack sniggered as he bid Guppy a farewell before straightening his Sunday best and took a

short stroll over to the hall.

“Grand hall this; used to come here with your mother once in a while. Ballroom dancing

we did and boy was she good at it.”

“I’m sure she was.” Jason placed his hands inside his pockets as he watched the old glint

in his father’s eyes when he talked about mom. “Are we go’in in?”

“Ah, yes, sure. Just hope it don’t cost too much to enter.”

As it transpired it didn’t. They entered and found the room semi full of smoke and full of

members from the near by R.A.F base. The place buzzed with youth and excitement of

mixing with the opposite sex. Jack remembered the days of his adolescence when he and a

few friends used to buzz the local hall in search of a dance with a dream date. Though he was

more shy than the rest and so ended up propping up the bar with a shandy in hand.

“Bit crowded in here ain’t it?” Jason shouted as he was almost knocked aside by a couple

doing some kind of dance.

“No more than in my day though. Come on I spy with my little eye a pretty girl alone by

the drinks table.”

“Ah no da, I cannot…” He was dragged almost unceremoniously to the place where the

girl stood tapping her feet.

“Go on then; talk to the girl.”

She was very tall and thin wearing a check type dress, heavy black looking shoes and had

white thick looking ankle socks. When she turned she smiled and her face lit up her blue

eyes. Jason felt his dad lean into him giving him a push.

“And who might you be? Not with the boys then?” She eyed him up and down.

“Come on Fay you know who I am.”

“Yes and I can see your dad giving you a push in my direction. You haven’t come here to


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chat me up; you could have done that down pub.”

“Aye.” He inhaled before letting it out through his teeth along with an offer; “Just

wondered if you’d like to dance?”She smiled and battered her eyelids before confessing; “I would but Ferris gets real

jealous when men hang around me.”

“Who’s the lucky guy then?” It is one of those things you say when you feel the very

person slide up to you and the shadow shows you that he ain’t a small chap.

“This person bothering you Fay?”

“Oh no, he just asked me for a dance and…”

Jason was listening to the girl’s explanation when suddenly it took a nasty turn as the lug

grabbed him by the scruff of the neck; “Hey what the?”

“No one picks on my girl and gets away with it!”

Jack had found his son in a bit of a sticky position and this was all his fault; “Come now

man, let the guy go he ain’t pulling your lady friend.” Jack went to place a friendly hand

round the chap but found a flash of a fist and as he fell to the floor he saw the look in his

son’s eyes.

“Uniform or nowt; you don’t hit my father like that!” Jason saw red as his big fist

connected with the lumps jaw and to his surprise the man joined his dad on the floor. Both

men were getting up when the whole place became filled with RAF members.

“Time to take you outside and teach you a lesson pal.” The lump replied as he rubbed his

jaw whilst drawing himself up to his full height.

“He’s a friend of mine Dave; they are both friends of mine!” Fay replied as she stepped in

between the two men.

“My, my; what have we here?” A man all regal looking and young stepped into the circle

which had formed. The man received a salute from the big man.

“Sir! This civilian was accosting me bird. He assaulted me and I was just about to have

words out in the street.”

“Along with your other fellow mechanics I see.”

Dave followed his superior’s eyes as he noted his friends looking for retribution; “Um, not

exactly sir.”

“Rubbish man.” He looked at the tall man with very dark hair and the bluest eyes he had

ever seen apart from on the girl standing by him. “Now what have you to say for yourself?”


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“I was just talking to a fellow friend Fay here. I asked her for a dance; she informed me

she was engaged for the evening and I was just about to take my leave when this man

assaulted my father.”“So you hit him?”

“Yes I did.”

The man kept a straight face until he smiled, turned to the circle and announced; “This is a

night for dancing and enjoying ourselves! Let’s not ruin it; shake hands and leave the past

misunderstandings behind.”

Jason held out a hand and rather reluctantly he thought the other man took it.

“Aye good thing.” Jack replied as he wiped a little blood from a few sore teeth. “Now we

best be going; sorry about that son.”

“Don’t be. It was my fault.”

“You’ll not leaving are you?” The posh sounding man said as he stepped into their exit

path. “Be a shame to waste the champers I have over at the officer’s table as all the others are

dancing or; well, you know what.”

Both Jason and his father looked at each other and gawped like fish out of water until the

silence was broken again.

“Here, take my handkerchief.” He offered the white freshly pressed cotton to the bleeding

mouthed older man; then looked over at the bar. “Excuse me my good fellow, a whiskey if

you please.” He looked back and smiled at them both; “Always good for a sore tooth or two;

so my grandmother always swore by.” He frowned; “Then again she was always drunk.”

Again Jack caught his son’s look and knew what he was thinking; this captain or whoever

he was of the higher rank was treating them like long lost friends. He had to carry on with the

comradeship; “I had a relative like that; under the sauce all the time.”

The man gestured for them to sit down; “As all should have in the family; a source of

amusement that helps while away cold evenings by the fire.”

“You don’t sound like a person who has had a poor upbringing if you don’t mind me

saying.”

“No, no, very good upbringing; one of England’s finest, schooling at Eton and all that rot.

To me it was just an excuse to have a bally well good time; life’s too short for studying.” He

fixed them with his pale blue eyes. “Sorry, haven’t introduced oneself. My name is Peterson,

Wolfgang Peterson.”


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glass of champers as he continued; “She took a year away from her father and spent it in

London. My father and mother were overjoyed to have her come over for tea in Highbury.”

“What future plans do you have Wolfie?” Jack asked as he saw his son visibly stiffen.“I plan to do my stint in the RAF and pass with flying colours; I want to move up to plans

of attack and do all those mapping bits and pieces. Though before they pack me off, I plan to

marry the girl; if she’ll have me of course.” He laughed out loud once again. “Do you think I

should grow a tash? Seems to becoming the rage amongst the officers.”

“I wouldn’t it makes you…”

Jason cut in; “Why not? It will help you fit in with the officers and get you a promotion.”

Jack saw the jealousy running through normally his son’s red veins; it was turning green

with envy knowing how women loved a man in uniform.

“Yes why the bally well not.” Wolfgang laughed once again before becoming serious.

“Not a captain as such. I only watch over the mechanics and report back to my boss. Still they

love me as if they love me.”

“What?” Jack frowned over the riddle.

“They love me only when I am around buying drinks and being the proverbial playboy.

Once my back is turned I feel the knives sharpening; if you follow my drift?”

“Quite clear Wolfgang, very clear, I think I understand them.” Jason added with a mock

laugh.

“Not drinking the champers?”

Jason nodded; “No, not for me thanks.”

“Another drink perhaps?” He went to get up and was stopped by his friends coming back.

“Time for us to leave your table; thanks for the whiskey.” Jack expressed gratitude whilst

edging out of the other guy’s way. “Maybe we will see you up at Clayboure; doing some

work there.”

“Okay my friends!” Wolfgang shouted as the noise at the table began to roar as loud as a

hungry lion. “I won’t forget about the gramophone!”

Jason headed out of there and with his dad they hot footed it round to the pub where their

ride was drinking.

This particular public house was full of the same kind of people. An awful lot of military

types along with the locals who frequented this side of town. There was nothing much

happening; all except a game of darts with money being exchanged to the winners from the


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losers and that was that.

“No luck at the dance then?”

Jack looked at Guppy and pulled a pained smiled; “Nowt worth write’in about. A bit of awaste of time for both of us.”

“Should have stayed local I say; more fun at our village hall functions and pub than here.”

“Not enjoying yourself then?”

“Nah, beer’s rubbish and so is the company. Come on let’s head back home.”

The journey back was just as fraught with danger as the way there. The dusk was settling

in and it transpired the bike had no front light and Guppy insisted on going over a field as a

short cut. Both Jack and Jason felt it was longer than the route down road.

“Fancy a hot milk?” Jack asked as he headed for the kitchen. Not a lot had been said since

a certain dark greying blue cloud formed.

“No thanks; I’ll just head on up if that’s okay?”

“Look, I am sorry about tonight.”

“It wasn’t your fault; you always know best da.”

Jack lean’t against the doorpost; “Would you take it from me that I know my best about

that lassie you love.”

“He’s not the right one for her; he’s all flash and no substance.”

Jack grinned feeling his front teeth ache as he did so; “That’s what a city gent and country

gents are; all mouth and no trousers. But the question is; are you any better for Miss Carrie?”

Jason stopped his motions allowing his emotions to take over; “Of course I am; I’m hard

work’in, kind, caring and can be a man ten times over him!”

“Aye, you are hard working and kind but…”

“But?”

“You are not rich; you, sad to say it are born into this house. We are your common men;

not fancy fish in a fancy gold fish bowl; we are your average gold fish in a common pond.

Way out of our league they are son; and if you carry on this foolish course; it will end up in

heartbreak for you and Carrie.”

“What are you suggesting; I just let her marry the wrong man?”

“Who said she was going to marry him? The girl is only eighteen years of age; and who

says she ain’t got a brain of her own. She will eventually marry son and the question is who


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will it be?” He didn’t like doing this but it had to be said; “As it will not be you.”

The tall young man stood there as those words of truth settled into his head. He was poor

and he was out of his depth. But hadn’t something like this happened in the past? Or was italways in tales from books? The trouble was; he loved Carrie from childhood and he could

swear in his heart of hearts that she felt the same for him. But then, a man by the name of

Gerald Claybourne would see to it that it would never be. All flash and no substance he was

and a stuffed shirt he will always be.

“Aye; I know you are right. It’s just hard.”

“Who ever said love would be easy.”

Exactly the point; love was never easy and Jason knew all too well that was the case.

“You are not worth it!” A voice called out into the darkness of his mind.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Who else would I be talking to?” The voice came again; “You are definitely not worth

it.”

Jason found himself walking through the dense black of his mind to find a small light

flickering on and off; much like a candle or gas lamp about to go out.

“Do I know you?”

“Yes and we know you.”

“We?” He asked as the person looked up at him and he could see it was Wolfgang but as

he looked harder it was changing to Claybourne and slowly onto Carrie.

“We know you are not worth it.”

“Worth what?”

“Two things from us in actuality.”

The voice kept changing as well. It was much like watching a merry go round and seeing

the same painted horse come round and round while the ride was running. The question was;

when was this ride going to stop and with what outcome?

“What two things?”

“Questions, questions.”

“Those are all I have; if one does not have the answer.”

“Find the answer; or are you so stupid and low that we have to spell it out to you.”

“Look! I don’t need this from you!” He went for the person sat on the floor staring up at


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him and when he did; the person just disappeared and reappeared a little distance away. They

sat cross legged as if nothing had happened.

“As you are in a temper it will be best to get to the point.”“Aye, I think it would as I am of little education.”

The voices seamed to mingle more now as the answer came; “The first thing is Love; you

are not worthy of it.”

“How come?”

“Ah! Another question in a pool of them.” The vision changed just slightly to a body of

water with questions swimming around like fish.

“Because you won’t let me go and love another.” Carrie’s face appeared.

“Only because he ain’t right for you.”

“How do you know I am not right?”

Because I have seen your like before; much like…”

“Me.” Jason watched the new face of Gerald Clayboure; “That is what you were going to

say.”

“Yes I was going to.”

“That is why you are not worth of love; because you begrudge others of showing this in

their lives.” Carrie said as the head changed to Wolfgang; “That is why you are not worth the

other thing.”

“And what other thing is this?”

“I did try to warn you about this; it’s not mine or Carrie’s fault it came to this.” Wolfgang

carried on as his voice echoed into the darkness at the same time as his face changed slowly.

“What?”

“If only you had allowed the people you claimed to love spread their wings and fly; my

wings Jason.” Carrie came and went into the same void as Wolfgang.

“I am worthy of loving; I am worthy of…”

“You are not worthy of life!” Claybourne spat as he came out of the darkness along with

the gun; “You are never worthy to live!”

Jason tired to move as the hand gun this time opened up and spat its deadly object. He felt

the pain in his head and his body falling through the darkness, He now knew how it felt to

freefall like those boys did at the RAF base from a plane.


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“Oh my giddy aunt!” Jack shouted as one moment his son was fast asleep; then the next he

was moving erratically.

“Okay mister Jones, no need to panic; just a fit.”Jack felt himself voluntary move out of the way as the nursing staff went to work. He was

speechless as he watched helpless as his son writhed about.

“I think you will have to expect this Mister Jones.” One of the doctors replied as he

watched the team deal with this. “Fitting will be part of his life from now on.”

He stood by and with tears in his eyes he mumbled; “I told you that girl would be the

death of you.”


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CHAPTER 3: MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE MIND.

“All I am saying is that she will be your undoing if you get involved lad!”

“Like what? What harm can be done?” Jason spat as he

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