COLONEL NOAH

OTHER CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 11

Darren was quite enjoying all the notoriety at school. He was the centre of attention, both from the children and the staff. The new headmaster actually spoke to him to ask if it was The Miss Teesdale, ex-head of school, who was involved.

Bunny Baldwin tried to muscle in and jeered at the Colonel's crazy ideas but Darren ignored him completely. Being in the Colonel's company for so long had been a great boost to Darren's self-confidence. It had given him a new perspective and bolstered his fragile teenage views on various subjects. He discovered that he could ask the Colonel questions on almost any subject and be given a thoughtful considered answer instead of being fobbed off by lack of time. He now knew about shaving, dry and wet, electric and cut-throat, about why his parents had so little time for him, a bit about girls and money but most of all how to be more patient and to think before speaking.

Sharon Dailey turned out to be quite an ally and they often had really sensible conversations at break time, and she had the most beautiful brown eyes.

The most wonderful outcome of the meeting at the Colonel's was that his mum and dad were talking to each other again.

Laura and Nicholas Sharp had at last found a way to break the deadlock of their non-communication. They went home and sat down to discuss events at the meeting. They knew that their marriage was very rocky and had been since that disastrous evening when Laura had confronted Nick with his infidelity.

He had come bouncing in to the house much later than usual and Laura had been waiting for him. The sight of her waiting there arms folded and grim-faced was enough to warn him. She had begun at once.

'How long has this been going on? Am I the last to know? Are the office juniors having a giggle behind my back?'

'What are you talking about. How long has what been going on? Why are you standing there like judgement day?'

'I'm standing here waiting for my unfaithful husband to come home and give me an explanation.'

'Unfaithful! I've never been unfaithful.'

'Don't try to deny it. You've been screwing Bob Hoskin's new secretary.'

'Who told you that? It's not true!'

'No one told me. I saw you myself in a hotel lobby, you were both drinking and laughing together. It looked exactly what it was, an affair in a quiet little place where no one would see you.'

Nick gave a great bellow of relieved laughter.

'You have a wonderful imagination that's all I can say. I was simply having a drink with one of my colleagues.'

'And the rest!'

'I tell you it was only a drink. We had gone there because we're having a fellow up for a meeting next week and we wanted to see if the hotel was suitable for him to stay in. Anyway, what were you doing in a hotel lobby at that time of night?'

'I was there for a business meeting and saw you there with that fat girl!'

'Rubbish, that's no place for a business meeting, it's just a dreary little hotel cheap enough for commercial travellers. And she isn't fat, she's just pleasantly round and feminine. Which is more than can be said for some people who are so fashionable they look anorexic.'

'How dare you say I'm anorexic! I'm a perfect size 10! And do you think you're a superb figure of a man. You can hardly see your own feet. At least I try to keep myself in good shape whereas you look past middle age, so don't try to tell me how to look. You wouldn't know a fashionable look from an Eskimo on holiday. I'm going to bed, you can sleep in the spare room.'

With this Laura dashed upstairs and things had stayed very cool every day since.

'Well, what do make of all that? Darren seems to take every word as gospel. He obviously wants to go and be part of the crew. You don't think it is seriously going to happen do you?' were Nick's opening words.

'I honestly don't know what to think. I know that Darren has spent every bit of spare time over there. He really admires the Colonel and you have to admit that we haven't been exactly model parents for quite some time. I can see why he should prefer his company to ours. What if the Colonel is right, as ridiculous as it seems, would you be willing to go?'

'No, I'm not one for the ocean voyage. Don't you remember that trip we took to Ireland when Darren was about five? I was green all the way across on the ferry.'

'That's right so you were, Darren and I were fine and loved being out on the deck while most people were groaning.'

'Does that mean you will go?'

'Can you honestly see me swabbing decks and chatting with Miss Teesdale in the galley, no thanks, I'll stay here and take my chances with the rest.'

'What shall we tell Darren then?'

'I think we should tell him what we have decided and that we feel he would be quite safe with the Colonel, that we trust him to be brave and strong and think of us some times.'

'That's a bit dramatic isn't it?'

'I know, but it's a dramatic situation and Darren will see that we are taking things as seriously as he does.'

'Shall we wait until tomorrow to tell him?'

'No, give him a shout now I know he won't be able to sleep until we've spoken to him.'

Darren came down very quickly and they told him what they had decided to do about it all.

'But I won't see you ever again if you don't come.'

'You must think it all through for yourself, Darren. You are the next generation and your mum and I simply wouldn't fit in. We will tell the Colonel what we have told you. We know you would be looked after and the twins would be there for company. We don't even know what the others have decided. No doubt the Colonel will have another meeting before everything is settled. We just wanted you to know how we felt about things.'

'Are you going to stay together?' Darren simply had to know.

The Sharps looked at each other for a long time.

'We will talk and talk and try to sort something out, won't we Laura?' said his Dad in a quizzical tone.

'Yes, honestly Darren, we'll talk. We've been together too long and worked too hard to let it all go for nothing. We'll keep you in the picture. We are very proud of the way you have helped the Colonel and wouldn't dream of letting you go anywhere if we didn't think you were capable of looking after yourself.'

'Thanks, Mum. I've learned a lot this year. I'm off to bed. See you in the morning.'

'Do you want to talk now or leave it till tomorrow? We could go out for a meal and discuss our future, if we have one.'

'Yes,' sighed Laura, 'it would be lovely to sit and chat and only have to worry about what to eat. Tomorrow will be fine.'

'I hope you're right,' grinned Nick, 'we'll be in a bit of a hurry if it starts to rain!'

The Daileys got down to their discussion straight away. Sharon was all for selling the house and moving in with the Colonel until the rain started.

'It would give you a bit of extra money to give to the Colonel to finish his boat.'

Tom laughed, 'Now just suppose that Darren's parents decide that they want nothing to do with it and don't allow him to go over any more because they think the Colonel is talking nonsense? Will you still want to go? You may want to stay here if Darren's staying.'

'Stop fooling about, Tom, our Sharon must wait and see what we decide to do. Now, do you believe what he says? You've spent a lot of time with him over there.'

'I respect the Colonel a great deal and I'm grateful to him for giving me work but I have to say that I don't think there will be a flood, well not like in the bible with rain for forty days and nights. I think it might come very gradually but perhaps the scientists will find a way to stop global warming, who's to say?'

'Are you going to tell him that, Tom? I think he'll be most upset if you're against him.'

'No, I'm not going to tell him that, love. I'm going to wait a while and see what happens. There is no hurry, you know I've always been one for thinking things over.'

'I do know!'

'O God,' moaned Sharon,' I might have known that I wouldn't get what I want!'

'It's stupid rushing into things. I had thought we could raise a bit of cash to give to the Colonel. I'd hate to think we were missing out at this stage. We'll leave it for a couple of days and I'll go round as usual to work, there's still plenty to do, and then we'll see if there's any new developments. I think David might have some influence on the Colonel now that he's seen what's been going on.'

'Well, I'm definitely not going to go on the boat. I don't care if it starts blowing a gale tomorrow. I like my feet firmly on the ground. If you two decide to go then I'll come and wave you off.' Mrs Dailey was adamant.

'Let's leave it and go to bed, we'll talk about it again in a day or two.'

HOME PAGE

Web site design by Roger Cornwell. Last updated on 11 October 2006.