The Appeal
Page 16
09:12 Kevin wrote:
Whoah! Wish I’d been there. Something in the herbal tea or did the guy turn up pissed to a Yogathon?
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Last night
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:31
TO: Martin Hayward
Dear Martin,
Well, the Yogathon was livelier than expected, but there is some excellent news: we have a £50,000 donation from Colin Brasher! He owns a tech company and is a Lodge friend of Kevin’s. The money should be in the appeal account this morning and, if my understanding is correct, the first dose of drugs can now be released from the States. Please confirm this, so I can communicate the good news to the committee. We need some serious motivation after last night – the details of which I am still unclear about. In the melee I neglected to compliment Helen on another wonderful speech. I’ll thank her this afternoon at rehearsal, but there’s never enough time to speak properly, so for the record, she did a great job of focusing everyone – well, almost everyone – on Poppy’s plight.
Message from Kevin MacDonald to Sarah-Jane MacDonald on 1 July 2018:
09:33 Kevin wrote:
I never knew Celia had a ‘fear of faeces’. Fear of shit? That’s ridiculous. How does she live?
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Re: My Barry
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:34
TO: Joyce Walford
Someone else’s shit. Apparently her own is tolerable.
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Re: My Barry
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:37
TO: Joyce Walford
No! Sorry, Joyce, I meant that for Kevin. I’m switching between apps on my phone . . . Yes, yes, yes, that other message shouldn’t have been sent. Harley was holding the phone and I was using a voice app he’d downloaded. I haven’t heard how that man is – or even who he is, as I’ve never seen him before. I need to find out how badly he’s injured. Barry should be aware that he may sue. I’ve never been assaulted myself, but if I ever were, then I would sue for sure.
Sarah-Jane MacDonald
Message from Sarah-Jane MacDonald to Kevin MacDonald on 1 July 2018:
09:40 Sarah-Jane wrote:
Someone else’s shit. Apparently her own is tolerable.
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Number
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:41
TO: Isabel Beck
I need to contact Sam about last night. What’s her number?
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: Re: Last night
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:45
TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
Yes, that fellow was spouting unintelligible nonsense. Inebriated, no doubt, or a raving madman. Luckily, Helen and Paige had already left. How much money was raised? Excellent news about Mr Brasher. Another £50,000 would be even better. By the time Lydia reports back on the fund, it’ll be all systems go. So, it’s Big Sunday rehearsal today. The start of play week. I need to organise a few things for the set-build this afternoon. Regards, Martin
Message exchange between Kevin MacDonald and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on 1 July 2018:
09:45 Kevin wrote:
Balls! That’s not a phobia. That’s a get-out-of-poop-scooping excuse!
09:46 Sarah-Jane wrote:
Stop messaging me! I’m dealing with 101 things on phone in car while Harley crickets. Go to sleep. Big Sunday, remember.
FROM: Carol Dearing
SUBJECT: Last night
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:55
TO: Margaret Dearing
Mum, you were right next to them: what did that chap say to Martin? Whatever it was, Martin turned white as a ghost. Carol
FROM: Margaret Dearing
SUBJECT: Re: Last night
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 10:18
TO: Carol Dearing
Didn’t hear a thing. The man whispered in Martin’s ear, but Barry flattened him before Martin could reply. Ask Sarah-Jane, if you can get her to stand still for five minutes – I can’t. Mum
Message exchange between Carol Dearing and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on 1 July 2018:
10:20 Carol wrote:
Are you bringing Harley round today? We’ve got his favourite: a lovely beef roast. Mum
10:29 Sarah-Jane wrote:
It’s Big Sunday. We have to go straight from cricket to The Fairways and won’t be home till late. I told you last week. Anyway, you saw Harley yesterday. I found out why Barry hit that man. He’d had an altercation with Joyce over payment for herbal tea. It could only happen here.
10:41 Carol wrote:
Your nan hardly saw him last night. Bring him round for an hour. He isn’t needed onstage for the whole day! And that wasn’t what the fight was about. The man said something to Martin. That’s why Barry hit him. See you later. Mum
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: Lydia Drake
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 14:19
TO: Glen Reswick
We need to tell people about Lydia Drake. I’ll accept the blame, but people will be angry with me, so I’ll need family backup and, with James at the hospital all hours, he can’t do it. When can you come round?
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Re: Number
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 09:42
TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
Hi SJ, I was involved in the whole thing and know all about it, so you needn’t worry Sam. I can’t type too much at the moment. I slept on Sam’s settee as we got home so late. I’ll send you an email once I’m home and can get my laptop out. I hope Harley wasn’t too upset by what happened. I’ll write later. Love Issy xxx
Messages from Isabel Beck to Samantha Greenwood on 1 July 2018:
09:43
Are you awake yet?
09: 59
Are you awake now?
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Hiya!
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 10:29
TO: Samantha Greenwood
I don’t want to get up until I know you’re awake. Thank you for letting me sleep on the settee. I’ve barely slept at all, so I know Kel and Arnie aren’t back from the hospital yet. You have lovely decor. But nothing from Africa . . . I was expecting you to have mementos of your time there, like the little doll Arnie gave Poppy. It’s very thoughtful of him, although I can’t say I believe it has any healing properties as such. I hope he’s ok. On balance, I don’t think he’s ready to help out at the play. I’ll email Joel and let him know, although as he was there last night I imagine he’s put two and two together. I overheard Arnie mention Claudia. Did you suggest he looks for work at St Ann’s, like I said? It’s just . . . I didn’t realise he would be quite as agitated and jittery as he is. I’d say he’s not ready to go back to work yet.
I would love a desk like this. I recognise it from the Ikea catalogue. Your laptop is even older than mine! I keep meaning to upgrade, as new laptops are more secure than these older models, but it’s so expensive, and my phone does everything much faster.
I’ve always fancied a balcony. Imagine eating breakfast on it in the summer. Orange juice, mixed berries and a croissant (so long as I’d reached my ideal weight), followed by black coffee – even though I don’t like coffee much, and especially not without milk. I’m going to see if I can open the sliding doors very quietly. I watched them building this block and wondered what the view would be like from the upper floors. Does Arnie know Martin? I don’t understand why he said that to him . . .
It’s lovely out here – a beautiful sunny day again. Pity we’ll be inside rehearsing. You said you’d drop me off so I can have a shower and get changed before rehearsal, but would you mind waiting for me, so we can both go into the hall together? After last night . . . we don’t want people thinking we have aggressive friends or we may not be cast in the next play. Perhaps we could decide together what we tell people. I don’t mean lie, but whatever’s wrong with Arnie, it’s subject to patient confidentiality
. Then again, after last night, people deserve to know what happened. The yoga was so badly interrupted. I only hope it didn’t affect the amount of money raised . . . How long is Arnie staying with you? Whether he’s on the wrong medication or has an undiagnosed psychiatric condition, it’s probably best he moves to where he can be monitored and supported. Hopefully Kel will sort that out. Does he know the bus route back? It’s so high up here. I can see Topps Tiles. Let me know when you’re awake. Lots of love, Issy xxxx
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Hiya!
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 10:33
TO: Samantha Greenwood
Sorry to email you again, but should we volunteer to clean up the lawn at The Grange today before rehearsal? We’re so used to ringing for a contractor when accidents happen – plus we were preoccupied with getting Arnie to A&E . . . Thinking about it, for most people there the poo would be the worst aspect of the whole thing. If nothing else, working in Jelly Antics gives us a high tolerance of bodily waste. For me, though, the worst thing is what he said. Why would he accuse Martin of being a rapist? I’m in the kitchen very quietly making a cup of tea. I’ll make two cups, in the hope you’ll be awake soon. Lots of love, Issy xxxx
Message exchange between Nick Walford and Barry Walford on 1 July 2018:
12:02 Nick wrote:
What’s Mum banging on about? Have you been nicked again?
12:09 Barry wrote:
Just some tosser getting on my tits. He got pissed at Mum, then started on Martin, so I knocked the shit out of him. Literally, the guy shat himself. Sick! Mum says he’ll squeal, but he won’t. It’s nothing. Reckon we can get off Big Sunday and see the match?
FROM: Martin Hayward
SUBJECT: Curious incident
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 12:21
TO: Tish Bhatoa
Dear Tish,
We are about to embark on a new phase of fundraising – hopefully one that will prove more productive than the current appeal, which has plateaued. You were asking about Samantha Greenwood a while ago. Well, a curious incident occurred last night at a charity event for Poppy. Sam was with a scruffy man I’d never seen before. He was rubbing people up the wrong way, and I had to step in when things threatened to get punchy with a lad in our drama society. I’d never seen him in my life, Tish, but he seemed to know me – and you. He said I was ‘Bhatoa’s bitch’ and then something about ‘protecting a rapist’. He was quite obviously mentally unstable, but how did he know your name? Regards, Martin
FROM: Tish Bhatoa
SUBJECT: Re: Curious incident
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 12:49
TO: Martin Hayward
Dear Martin,
Whoever this was, Samantha Greenwood is behind it. It’s a long story, but he doesn’t mean me. My younger brother runs a specialist clinic in the Central African Republic. From time to time he clashes with other aid agencies and individuals, largely due to the nature of his work and the struggle for funding. You would hope volunteer charities would all pull in the same direction, but the continent defies our logic and reason. It’s hard for us to imagine, but that part of the world is war-torn and lawless. Where life is worth so little, the truth has no chance. For some, this existence can scrape away their veneer of civilisation until all that’s left is a base instinct for survival. Samantha Greenwood is one of them. Don’t trust anything she says. I’m sorry you’ve been drawn into this, but please don’t worry. Concentrate on the appeal, and I will deal with her. Tish
FROM: Tish Bhatoa
SUBJECT:
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 12:53
TO: Samantha Greenwood
I know what you’re trying to do and it’s futile. You’re not in Bangui now. As long as I live, you will never get to him.
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Re: Number
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 12:55
TO: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
Hi SJ! I hope you’re well and looking forward to Big Sunday. Not long now until we’re back onstage and under the spotlight! Sorry for the delay in emailing you. Sam has just dropped me off to get changed. She’s parking and waiting in the car, so I can’t be long. I know Sam and Kel are mortified by what happened with Arnie. He’s their friend from Africa – well, he’s not from Africa obviously, but he worked there with them – and they’re helping him come to terms with being back home. I can’t say too much because, of course, his medical status is confidential, but please don’t worry – whatever he said to anyone last night, it wasn’t really him. He’d been stuck at a friend’s house earlier in the day. Kel picked him up and drove him straight to the Yogathon, so he missed his medication and that sent him haywire. Also, it was a full moon last night and, while this sounds mad, tempers are more likely to fray at that time of the month, which accounts for Barry’s response too, I suspect. I’ve probably already said too much, but I hope it explains Arnie’s outrageous language. We took him straight to St Ann’s rather than wait for an ambulance. He’d had a blow to the head, so there was a chance he could be more badly injured than it appeared. You can’t be too cautious about blood clots and neck injury. Sam and I got in at two and will be at the hall for one, but Kel will be late as he’s only just back from the hospital. Arnie’s neck is fine, but they are keeping him in until they have a discharge meeting. I hope he can access more appropriate care, as his behaviour was worrying even before the altercation on the lawn. But that’s between you and me. We are all keen to make up for what happened. Would it help if we volunteered to clean the lawn? It was Sam’s idea, and she always knows what’s best. I so hope Harley wasn’t scared by what happened. See you at one, Love Issy xxx
FROM: Sarah-Jane MacDonald
SUBJECT: Re: Number
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 13:00
TO: Isabel Beck
That explains it. Magda cleared the lawn as best as. Perhaps she’d like some flowers? We’ll have to ensure fundraising events do not coincide with a full moon in future. Harley is fine.
Sarah-Jane MacDonald
FROM: Isabel Beck
SUBJECT: Hiya!
DATE: 1 July 2018 at 13:05
TO: Samantha Greenwood
Hiya! Thanks for waiting for me. Hope you’ve sent all your emails. Ah! I can just about see you from the bathroom window – you’re on the phone. You’re welcome to wait in the flat, but I won’t be long now anyway. I’ve sent SJ a quick message to let her know it was Arnie’s medication talking, not him. Apparently the Polish girl Magda cleaned the lawn. It would be a lovely idea to send her some flowers: what do you think? I can order them from Blooms and have them delivered to The Grange on Monday – split the cost three ways.
I’ve been thinking about what Kel said on the phone. That Arnie missed his meds. Well, if missing his medication has that effect, don’t you think he’ll need proper help? I don’t mean what he said to Martin, or the thing with Joyce; he wasn’t right before then. You’re far cleverer than me and you must’ve noticed it, too. I’m sure Kel isn’t like this, but I’ve read that sometimes people who work with psychiatric patients all day can start to regard disrupted behaviour as normal. Almost ready for Big Sunday! Love Issy xxxx
Messages from Sarah-Jane MacDonald to Kevin MacDonald on 1 July 2018:
12:59 Sarah-Jane wrote:
You never said who Clive Handler was. I forgot to ask in the literal shitstorm of the Yogathon. Who was it?
13:14 Sarah-Jane wrote:
Your phone’s off and you’re asleep, aren’t you? Wake up! Don’t keep me in suspense! Typical! And now Martin’s here to open up the hall. Big Sunday begins. Don’t be late or I’ll send Joyce to wake you up. I mean it.
Femi
Are you clear what happened at the Yogathon?
Charlotte
Yes, all good.
Femi
Great. Just checking.
Charlotte
Thanks.
Femi
Could you possibly summarise it for me? Please.
Charlotte
Sam, Kel, Issy and Arnie are at the Yogathon. At some point in the evening Arnie has a run-in with Joyce at the tea counter. Her incensed son Barry follows him to the lawn, where the yoga is in full swing, and confronts him. Martin tries to calm them down, but Arnie turns on him. What he says causes Barry to knock Arnie to the ground. A momentary loss of consciousness etc. ends in Sam, Kel and Issy taking Arnie away to hospital.
Femi
He accuses Martin of protecting a rapist and of being ‘Bhatoa’s bitch’.
Charlotte
And it baffles everyone who overhears it. Because they don’t know what we know. We know it refers to what happened with Sam, Tish and Dan in Africa, plus it reveals that Sam has spoken to Arnie about her suspicions re the appeal.
Femi
For the record, I disagree with Bhatoa’s view of Africa: ‘Where life is worth so little, the truth has no chance.’ It’s a Western perspective that defines a continent by its most troubled regions.
Charlotte
While we’ve taken a break: in his update on 23 June Martin states categorically that Poppy is going blind. But that’s just what SJ said to get the band to play for free – am I right?
Femi
Yes. Martin is a desperate man. His granddaughter is seriously ill. He feels responsible for curing her. Doesn’t share the burden of stress with his wife.
Charlotte
I’m inclined to agree with Tish and Kevin. The Haywards are successful, wealthy landowners. Why don’t they pay for Poppy’s treatment themselves?
Femi
They’ve had numerous outgoings, referred to throughout the correspondence. Are they as wealthy as we assume?
Charlotte
So the community – people far worse off than them – are asked to empty their pockets.