Honour of the Line

by Brian Darley

  Somehow I wasn’t expecting Angela to be at school the following morning but as I was walking to school I saw her father suited, booted and looking like he was about to start World War III. It wasn’t difficult to tell that he had not taken the news of being a Grandfather all that well. I somehow didn’t suppose that when he found out he shouted a free round of drinks for his regulars and asked them to raise their glasses.

  After assembly Miss Page had a quiet word with me and arranged to meet me at lunchtime and she picked me up a couple of roads away from school and drove us to a quiet spot at the southern end of the Arches, so as not to arouse any suspicion. I felt uneasy, it was too close to home for comfort and to make matters even worse we passed Mum, who was returning home with a couple of bags of shopping. As I was missing school dinner, Sue shared her sandwiches with me, they were really nice, made with brown bread and cut corner to corner, the bread was fresh, not like the half stale stuff we often had at home. I really enjoyed them. For all of this emotion my appetite was still intact. Sue asked what the hell we were going to do and said it was her intention to somehow tell others so as they could treat Angela with a bit of care, as it wasn’t unlike boys to push each other about and Angela must not risk a fall. Sue was really lovely and she told me she would help all she could. She also asked if Angela’s parents knew who the father was. Our Headmaster had told her that Angela’s father, Mr Simms, was livid and intended to take his daughter away from his lowlife school as quickly as possible. Although I could understand his anger I felt his view of the Arches as lowlife was bang out of order. These genuine, hard working people, were lining that rich bastard’s pockets.

  Sue dropped me off a couple of minutes walk from school, after checking that the coast was clear and we both had to rush as the bell went. What a disaster it would have been if we were both late. Sue had no need to tell any of the pupils, Angela’s brother Peter had gobbed it off to a couple of his mates and by the time dinner break was over the news was travelling as fast as lightning. Angela Simms being ‘up the duff’ was headline news. Much as it had to be kept quiet and secret as to whose child it was, I absolutely detested the cheap way in which the news was being spread around, it became blatantly obvious that most of the older lads wished it were them who were the father, it sickened me to hear it and left a terrible feeling in my heart.

  The following Monday Angela returned to school but still we hadn’t learned our lesson, as we met at the hut to resume where we left off, although Angela’s bump was making it more difficult to fit through the gap in the fence. This made us both giggle. Before making love she told me that Jill was picking her up from school on Wednesday and also wanted to meet me, they had arranged to meet outside school and pick me up by the footbridge at St Jude’s. Angela also said her Dad was trying to get her into a school in Lancashire and get her to move in with her Auntie. Angela said she hoped he was only speaking in anger.

  CHAPTER 21

  Emotional Hell

  On the Tuesday morning things were becoming much clearer. I had been given time to digest everything and I had barely slept as my emotions were like a roller coaster. Sadly I could now see all of the problems but had no idea as to the answers. Everybody was going to be affected in some way or another. I started from the top of the list.

  Poor Angela, by the time she gave birth her 15th birthday would still be a month away. How the hell would she cope? Would her parents support her financially? Surely her Mum would help. What was Angela going to do about our relationship? Sex at every opportunity was great but what when she had a baby to cope with? She was far too young to manage and we had both been foolish. However, we both craved for it so what was really wrong … except the consequences.

  Her parents must have been distraught as she must surely have been the apple of their eyes. Peter, although a nice chap, was a bit of a drip and their elder daughter had been driven away by their strict discipline. Perhaps they had given Angela a little too much rein. They must have felt cheated but surely it was their place to stick by their daughter, whatever the situation.

  How would my family feel I wondered? My Grandad would definitely forgive but probably blame himself for being my scapegoat. Whenever Mum and Dad had tried to be a bit strict he would always side with me. Dad would go berserk and tell me to sort it out for myself and dear old Mum would almost be so happy to be a Grandmother she would hope the second one wasn’t too long following.

  As for Daisy, I could imagine her being just like a young Mum as she was now at an age to show a sense of responsibility. I could imagine her helping as much as possible and feeling very willing and proud. Whatever happened my family would stand rock solid behind me.

  Despite all of these thoughts I still wasn’t facing reality. I was far too young to be a parent and I would soon have to make a decision whether to be a full time footballer and move away. Rather cowardly that seemed the best option at this moment but I had never liked people who were scared of facing the music. In my book if you made a mistake you paid for it.

  Meeting Jill was also slightly daunting as I had no clue as to what she might be like. I wondered if she would be angry, sad, or supportive. I really hadn’t a clue but she sounded really nice. Nevertheless seeing her for the first time was going to be fairly traumatic as the only adults I had ever had proper in-depth conversations with were the lass from Woollies and Miss Page. Sue Page had been great through everything but I wondered about her as well. Why was she still single? Why didn’t she have children? She was a bit of a looker, surely many men would have fancied her. I know many of the lads at school did.

  Besides my concerns for Angela, above all others, I felt especially sorry for Mum and Dad, who had been unable to have children of their own. Fortunately for me they didn’t know but it was of little consolation to me at that time. Another small plus was that whatever happened baby McFirley/Simms would not end up at St Jude’s, or anywhere similar. I would not let that happen.

  CHAPTER 22

  Meet My Sister

  Georgina had bumped into Jill a time or two and said she was really nice and I would definitely like her. I was very apprehensive about the whole meeting thing. Being pleasant to your younger sister’s boyfriend was a whole lot different to meeting the father of her child. The fact Angela and I were so young did not make me feel very confident that Jill would not shower me with the abuse I so richly deserved. But at least it wasn’t her Dad! Thank God he didn’t know, he would surely have given me a real good hiding, one which I would have thoroughly deserved. He may have had faults but surely any father in his position would want to take revenge on the culprit who had put his daughter in the family way. If he ever found out I could accept a slapping for the right reasons, like making Angela pregnant but I also suspected that parents often took revenge more for their own embarrassment. Surely they should support their daughter through thick and thin.

  Immediately after school on Wednesday I rushed down to St Jude’s, passing the pub with a huge feeling of guilt and embarrassment. I was sweating like a pig and ‘I suspect I was as red as a beetroot and was also certain I looked guilty as charged. On the railway bridge by St Jude’s I stood shaking like a leaf as a lovely polished green A40 pulled up. Toot toot sounded and I walked towards the car as though I was going to the firing squad at high noon. Angela jumped, or should I say waddled, from the car and came over to me. She flung her arms around me and kissed me and then she said “Billy meet my sister Jill”.

  As I got my first sighting of Jill I totally froze. Surely this was a dream? Jill looked at me also in a state of shock because, lo and behold, she was the girl from Woollies. No point in telling any more lies so I confessed to Angela that we knew each other from the record counter at the shop. This seemed to ease the tension as Jill made a joke about me spending hours in the shop without ever spending any money. I thought it best not to mention that Jill had helped finance my record player, it just made sense to say nothing. Angela and Jill travelled in the front, with me
spread across the back seat and we all seemed okay and spoke about everything except the topic of the day, Angela having my baby. As we pulled away we had a jumpy start as Jill hadn’t had the car for very long. She’d had to save hard after passing her test. For a moment I thought poor Angela would have her baby sooner rather than later, with all the shaking. We all laughed and Angela said that her sister had mistakenly filled up with kangaroo petrol as the ride was so jumpy.

  Once we arrived at a rather deserted beauty spot in the neighbouring town we got out and sat on a bench opposite the lake. It was really peaceful, the buds were trying to break through and at last it seemed winter was disappearing for another year. I sat between the two girls and put my arm around Angela’s shoulders. Rather surprisingly Jill put her arm around me as we discussed what the hell to do. Although it was so terribly wrong and I felt sure Jill was just being kind, she unknowingly sent butterflies through me. It was one of the best feelings I had ever experienced. She asked me what I was going to do about my football career and then touched the delicate subject of my long term plans. Being totally honest I said I hadn’t a clue – in my mind a few weeks seemed a lifetime away. I wouldn’t have to face the music for a while at least. I knew this was totally irresponsible but I was trying to be up-front and honest. Jill then asked Angela the same question and her reply was that perhaps if I took the football route and moved to the Midlands maybe we could rent a house together, because whatever her father said, I would always be this baby’s Dad. Jill then pointed out that at 15 we would almost certainly be hunted down by the Police and the baby taken into care. She told Angela she could understand why she had fallen for me as I seemed a sensible chap and very adult for my age. This made me feel really good but if I were that adult I would surely have been responsible enough to avoid full sex and go no further than fondling and the like. At least I was beginning to notice my faults, it wasn’t like we had only done it once or twice, we were at it like rabbits at every half chance that came our way. Jill said she had no idea how to sort it but would have a chat with her Mum in private as her Dad was like a headless chicken who wanted to be a vigilante and murder every male under 20 years of age who lived within the Arches. His stuck up opinion of us was that we were all low life and it must be one of us, but our sort were his bread and butter.

  As we returned to the bridge by St Jude’s, Jill pulled the car up very gently, stopped the engine and waited for Angela and I to get out. When I got out Jill came over to me and kissed me firmly on the cheek whilst giving me the biggest cuddle. As she did this she asked me to go to Woollies at closing time on Thursday. Angela and I had our usual passionate snog and she got back in the car so that Jill could drop her off near the pub.

  I decided to cross the bridge to St Jude’s and had a strange feeling come over me. I could still smell Jill’s perfume on my neck and although I knew it was wrong I became aroused. Deciding I had to pull myself together I distracted my mind by looking at the sad sight of St Jude’s, the main building was in the process of being demolished and I sat by a pile of rubble and sobbed. Confusion, guilt, you name it, I had every emotion in the book and the sadness of St Jude’s just about tipped the scales. It was at that point I felt life held no future for me and for the one and only time I considered taking my own life. At the time it was a serious thought and I considered chucking myself from the bridge in front of the 6 0’clock which was always my favourite train as it was steam hauled and, more often than not, by a named engine. The 6 0’clock had brought me many happy memories during my childhood. I can recall seeing named engines brightly painted and shining pulling the lovely green carriages of that time but sadly nowadays steam was in big decline and most engines were really filthy and the carriages looked fit for the scrapyard.

  Eventually common sense prevailed as I put others before my cowardly self and it was my little sister Daisy, Mum, Dad and Grandad who I couldn’t do it to. Mum and Dad had saved my bacon so why should I wreck their lives? Deep down inside I knew whatever problems I brought to their door they would always stand by me, unlike Angela’s Dad, who seemed to think mostly of his own ego. He sounded a really shit example of a soldier to me and I bet he was a skin back fusilier.

  Somehow I dried the tears, went home and changed and then went to have tea with Grandad. It started thundering and lightning and the heavens just opened up. His sister from up the road came rushing round in a panic, she was absolutely petrified of thunder. Grandad turned the lights out, turned the wireless off and lit three candles, which gave us enough light to play rummy. We could make a pot of tea with water that we had boiled on the kitchen range. People of that time were scared silly of electricity during thunderstorms. That evening turned out to be one of the most special of my life up until that time. I knew for sure that Grandad would never let me down, although shamefully I had let him down on so many occasions and I really didn’t like myself.

  Today hadn’t answered too many questions, but two were answered with a big yes. Firstly I would never contemplate suicide again and secondly I must get my football back to where it was. I owed Grandad that much and decided I would never again let him down.

  CHAPTER 23

  Meet Me by the Car Park

  Thursday was a weird day for me. I felt as though I was being unfaithful to Angela, although I wasn’t really doing that much wrong. Surely talking to her sister wasn’t a major crime? Who the hell was I kidding? If Jill had wanted to snog me no way could I have imagined me forcing her away, but that situation couldn’t possibly happen ….. could it?

  Straight from school I rushed home to get smartened up a bit, had a quick game of catch with Daisy, who was getting quite good at it by now, I really wished she were able to play football as well. Mum asked if I was going for a job as a paper-boy or delivery boy as I was making more of an effort to look smart than usual. I stopped off at Grandad’s and left a note on the table right next to the teapot so as he couldn’t possibly miss it, explaining that I would be late and could he keep my tea warm on a saucepan.

  Standing in the car park opposite Woollies staff entrance I didn’t have a clue what I was doing there and thought Jill could have said whatever she needed to in front of Angela but she obviously had her reasons for secrecy. Staff began leaving in dribs and drabs until Jill finally came out looking a million dollars. My nerves were jangling as she approached but her smile dispelled all of my fears. Jill threw her arms around me and gave me the biggest smacker on the cheek, which was wonderful but the warmth of her cuddle stayed with me a long time. It was spitting lightly with fine rain as she held my hand and we trotted to her car. My ego took a massive boost as we passed my schools Head Boy, Ray Streeter, who always fancied himself with the girls. He looked mystified as I ran past him with this stunning looker, who was obviously quite a bit older than me.

  We got into Jill’s car and as she drove off she tooted to a couple of the girls she worked with, which really surprised me as I thought she would be a little more secretive. Jill did most of the talking, mainly about inconsequential things such as music, my school, her work, the weather and such like. Angela never got a mention until we pulled up in a secluded car park on the west side of town. It was still daylight but I could imagine courting couples spending romantic times in the back seats of their cars. Only one thing of real consequence passed Jill’s lips and that was when she asked me not to take up football for a living, in fact, she almost begged. I pointed out I was now virtually duty bound to at least go and view the options and I could see the hurt in her eyes. Sadly I had no idea why this was so important to her. We nattered for ages and I began to feel, not for the first time, I was getting major feelings for this gorgeous young woman who was way out of my reach. I gave Jill my word that our meeting would never pass my lips and I assured her the Head Boy would remain quiet as he would certainly feel quite put out at seeing me with Jill. It would certainly dampen his ego.

  Jill dropped me off near the gasworks and I went to Grandad’s for tea. He had waited
for me and we shared a pie his sister had put in the oven for us. I wished that all families had our spirit and felt so privileged that my family had chosen me, not just Mum and Dad, but every single member no matter how distant. Baby McFirley-Simms would hopefully, somehow, get the same love, comfort, warmth and support that I had been fortunate enough to find.

  CHAPTER 24

  The Train at Platform 2

  On the day after Easter Monday I was due to travel to the Midlands. This was to be the first step towards my football career and it was all arranged that I would stay in my potential digs and return home on the Friday. Never before could I remember leaving Mum, Dad, Daisy and Grandad and I was very nervous and quite upset inside. Mum worried about her little soldier, Grandad was so proud as he had helped me achieve the level I was at, and Dad just thought that it might possibly make me a man. In his eyes it was the next best alternative to joining the army.

  Dad was at work so I waved Mum and Daisy cheerio as I made my way to the station with my suitcase, which seemed to weigh a ton. It felt like it was full of house bricks. The trouble was Mum thought I was going for six months and packed everything from toothbrush to kitchen sink. She worried so much about me.

  At the station I didn’t need to buy a ticket as the club had paid for me in advance. I had a travel warrant and it made me feel very posh indeed. I walked up the stairs to the platform and almost had a heart attack as, unbeknown to me, Angela’s mother was taking Angela to see her Aunty in Lancashire and all the time everybody thought that her family were just bluffing. Surely her parents couldn’t really disown her and send her all those miles away! Angela came straight over to me and gave me a cuddle and a peck on the cheek and then introduced me to her Mum, who seemed a really warm person. I assumed Angela and Jill took after their mother. Although it may seem surprising to people nowadays, young girls of that time who found themselves pregnant did whatever their parents decided, which although would seem very difficult to take was quite a bit better than their parents or Grandparents would have had to endure had they been in the same position. Had this happened in the generation before, it surely would have meant that Angela would have ended up at somewhere like St Jude’s, at the very best, but more likely an institution, as unmarried mothers brought shame on their families. Angela and I just acted as though we were school friends and her mother became quite chatty. When the train pulled in I held the door open and helped Angela into the carriage, which her mother seemed to think was a real gentlemanly gesture. Sadly as the train pulled away I looked to my right and could see the wreckage of St Jude’s which was now a flattened pile of rubble. It had, in its time, been a refuge of one sort or another for many unfortunate souls but had long passed its glory days and with a real lump in my throat I tried desperately to compose myself.