by Todd, Ian
Chapter Thirteen
Fanny quietly clicked the door shut behind her. She could hear her footsteps echoing in the stairwell as she descended the stairs. It wis early…far too early fur church, although she’d awready made up her mind that she wis gonnae gie that a miss anyway. She couldnae face Major Bellow, the new Salvation Army major, who’d transferred through fae Glesga in September. Everywan wis bound tae know whit hid happened. There wis two auld biddies staunin chewing the cud oan the corner ae the cul-de-sac as she exited oan tae the pavement and heided fur her car. They suddenly stoapped talking and stared at her, following her every step wae they accusing eyes ae theirs. She managed tae get tae her Mini, delaying her flight by fumbling wae the keys in the lock and drapping them oan tae the ground. Her guilt and shame overtook her when she saw the look ae disgust and disapproval oan baith their faces. She looked in her rear-view mirror as she sped doon the road, heiding intae toon. The two auld hens wur huddled in animated conversation oan the corner, watching her car disappear intae the distance. Her mind kept gaun back tae the night before. She’d jist been oan her way back fae drapping aff some clothes at The Citadel fur Monday’s jumble sale, which wis tae raise money fur The Young Christian Leaders Club tae go tae Belgium oan a leadership crusade, when she’d spotted the school minibus. It hid shot across the lights at Gilmore Street Station, being driven by Beanpole Wilson. She probably widnae hiv gied it a second thought bit for the fact that she’d fleetingly glimpsed wan ae the boys returning fae hame leave, sitting in the back, looking glum. She hidnae been able tae help hersel. She’d done a U-turn and followed the minibus oot ae the toon centre, towards the school. Aw the evidence, so far, hid suggested a foregone conclusion. There wis nae way in a month ae Sundays that O’Hara wid come back fae leave. She knew this would be used tae undermine her rehabilitation programme. She’d seen the brake lights and the indicator come oan, as the bus turned intae the school. She’d followed it up the drive tae the front door. She’d goat oot ae the car at the same time as Beanpole hid goat oot ae the minibus.
“Working oan a Saturday night, Miss Flaw?”
“No, Mr Wilson. I need to pick up some papers that I’m working on,” she’d fibbed, as she entered the building and went across tae the desk, pretending tae look at the messages that hid been left fur the staff.
“Keep it doon, boys!” Beanpole hid shouted, as the crowd ae boys crashed through intae the vestibule.
In the middle ae them, making the loudest noise, hid been Joseph O’Hara, also known as Baby Huey. She’d wanted tae run across and gie him a big hug, bit the look ae disappointment oan Beanpole’s face hid said it aw. She’d been so pleased wae hersel that she hidnae bothered heiding tae her office, bit insteid, hid jist waltzed back oot the front door towards her car. Oan the way back intae the toon, she’d been so excited that she’d wanted tae share her joy. She’d driven past the cul–de–sac where she knew he lived, where he shared a tap flair flat wae his wife. She’d noticed that the lights wur oan, bit hid taken fright and hid changed her mind about stoapping, driving straight past the opening. She’d jist driven a further fifty yards alang the road when she’d hid tae stoap at the traffic lights. Crossing the road in front ae her, clutching a bottle, wrapped in broon paper, hid been Duponcie. She hid tooted her horn and his face hid lit up when he’d seen it wis her. He’d come o’er tae the driver side as she’d let her windae doon.
“Miss Flaw...Fanny…what in heaven’s name are you doing down this way on a Saturday night? What a lovely surprise.”
“Oh, er, I was just coming back from the school. I had to go and pick up something.”
“Listen, I just live back up the road a bit. Do you want to come up for a glass of wine? I’m celebrating.”
“Oh, er,” she’d stammered.
“Please? It’s good to see you…and I’m on my own.”
“Oh, why not. I’ll have to turn roond. I’ll see you in a minute.”
“I’ll wait for you on the corner, so you can see where I am,” he’d said, moving aff, o’er tae the far pavement as the lights turned tae green.
“Have a seat. I’ll just get the glasses,” he’d said, taking her jaicket.
The place wis as she thought it might look. Wan wall wis covered wae books. There wur two shelved alcoves either side ae the electric fire. Wan wis stacked wae LPs, leaving room oan the middle shelf fur a record player, while the other displayed his academic qualifications and photographs ae his wife and parents in nice picture frames. Oan the wall above the fireplace, a large framed, black and white print ae Bridget Bardot, covering her modesty wae her folded arms wis looking doon oan her. A phrenology heid sat oan a plant stand in the far corner beside the windae. The rug in front ae the fire, opposite the couch oan which she wis sitting, wis a clash ae green swirls that felt oot ae place in the broon and orange decor that dominated the room.
“Here you are, Fanny,” he’d said cheerfully, haunin her a fluted Champagne glass.
“And what are we celebrating?” she’d asked.
“My wife just had a beautiful little girl at two o’clock this afternoon.”
“Oh, Hugh, how wonderful. Have you chosen a name for her yet?”
“Yes, we’ve decided on Petula…Petula Duponcie.”
She couldnae remember too much ae whit happened efter that first glass. She’d never been much ae a drinker. She'd telt him aboot O’Hara returning fae hame leave. She could remember he’d opened another bottle…red wine this time.
“So, we have ourselves a double celebration then, Fanny,” he’d said, putting oan the ‘Bookends’ LP by Simon and Garfunkel.
They’d been sitting, chatting and laughing, reminiscing about their university days. She could barely remember how it hid happened, or perhaps that wis intentional oan her brain’s part. She vaguely remembered it hid been efter he’d put oan the new LP that he’d been oot and bought earlier that day.
“This is number one in the pop charts just now. The Hollies Greatest Hits. Best band ever. Do you want a tour of the flat?” he’d said, pulling her up to her feet.
Wan second he’d been staunin close tae her, wae the twin ends ae his bow tie sticking oot ae the collar ae his shirt at a forty five degree angle, and the next he’d been lying oan tap ae her oan the bed, pawing at her undies. She’d tried tae push him aff, bit the weight ae the tap hauf ae his body hid restricted her movements, alang wae the fact that he’d hid his forearm pressing doon oan baith her wrists above her heid, while his other haun hid expertly pulled her tights and pants doon tae her knees where his bare toes hid taken o’er fae his fingers. She’d tried tae tell him tae stoap, bit this hid proved impossible as his tongue hid snaked intae her mooth while he’d been murmuring how much he’d wanted tae dae this tae her fur a long time. She’d felt a stab ae pain as he roughly entered her. It hid been aw o’er in under a minute and he’d fallen back oan tae the mattress, gasping fur breath. She hidnae known whit tae say, so hid jist lain there, no saying a word, fighting back the tears that she’d felt welling up, before slowly pulling her pants and tights up. She’d meant tae leave earlier, bit as she’d waited tae make her move, she’d fallen asleep.
When she arrived hame, she ran the bath. She felt dirty, ashamed, hurt and angry fur getting hersel intae a situation where Duponcie couldnae control himsel. She thought ae a wife and mother in hospital and a new born baby called Petula aboot tae start oot in life and started tae sob uncontrollably as she sank intae the warm soapy water.
Chapter Fourteen
“These cards ur fae fucking nineteen canteen, so they ur,” whinged Tottie fur the umpteenth time.
“Well, dae something aboot it then. Go and ask fur new wans, insteid ae us hivving tae sit here and listen tae they gums ae yers gieing it laldy,” Freckles suggested, raising his eyes skywards.
“They’re aw fucking sticking thegither. Look!”
“So, dae something aboot it then, ya prick.”
“Why should Ah?”
“Cause nae
other fucker is moaning.”
“Hoi, Bum-boy, it’s no up tae me tae decide when we get new cards.”
“See whit Ah hiv tae put up wae? Ye don’t know how lucky ye ur, Tony. It’s okay fur you and Joe…ye’ve only goat a dreaming sleepwalker and a talking clock tae deal wae. Look at whit Ah’m left wae?” Freckles said, looking at the Garngad crowd in disgust, as The Mankys laughed.
“Bella!” Johnboy shouted triumphantly, throwing doon the King ae Diamonds oan tap ae an Ace ae Spades.
“Prick!” Freckles growled, as Johnboy lifted o’er the pile ae cards, grinning.
It wis said casually, bit as soon as Tony opened his gub, Johnboy could feel the excitement rush fae that arse ae his tae his heid. Tony and Joe hid obviously been talking aboot it. Johnboy wis glad a decision hid been made, bit it still seemed like ages away.
“We’ll heid oan the Wednesday night, during the concert,” Tony confirmed.
“So, whit date’s that then?” Minky asked.
“Why? Ur ye planning tae be somewhere else like?”
“Naw, bit it’s ma dug’s birthday oan the twenty second.”
“How dae ye know that then, Minky?” Patsy asked, impressed.
“Because it wis born three days before Christmas, ya plonker, ye,” Freckles chipped in, tae laughter.
“Right, Ah bet ye couldnae tell me when that auld broon flea bag ae a thing ye call a dug ae yours wis born, eh? Tell me that wan, Freckles, ya piss-pot, ye.”
“That’s because it wis born before me, tit-heid.”
“Wis it?” Patsy asked.
“Fuck the dugs and their birthdays. If ye want tae talk aboot dugs, then fuck aff o’er there and argue amongst yersels. We’ve far mair important things tae be talking aboot,” Joe grumbled, looking across tae see whit the teachers wur up tae.
“So, that’ll be the eighteenth then…a week before Christmas?” Johnboy chipped in, getting aw excited.
“Aye, ye’ll jist be in time tae dae some Christmas shoapping tae buy a present fur yer boyfriend, Johnboy.”
“So, who’s included?” Freckles asked.
“Masel, Joe, Johnboy and Silent, unless any ae youse kin get backstage withoot being noticed. Ye’re aw welcome tae come,” Tony whispered.
“Whit dae ye think, Joe?” Freckles asked.
“Ah think it wid be hard withoot being clocked. The stage is gonnae be a good distance fae the front row ae seats. There’s nae guarantee ye’ll get a seat doon the front. Even then, ye’d need tae crawl across the flair. We’re no sure where the teachers ur gonnae be staunin.”
“Last year, there wis wan staunin wae his back tae the wall, bang in the middle, between the front row and the stage. Remember, he goat the lights turned oan because he wis getting pelted wae jelly beans, Baby?” Minky said.
“Oh, aye, Ah think it wis Rolled Back Neck. Ye couldnae miss that fat bawheid ae his, even in the dark.”
“Ach well, never mind. So, it’ll jist be youse then,” Freckles said. “How ur ye gonnae dae it?”
“They’re aboot tae start their full dress rehearsals this Friday. We’ll be behind the scenes as part ae the concert party. We’ll wait till they get tae their loudest song and then jist tan wan ae the windaes. They’re the only windaes in the whole place that urnae alarmed…the stupid basturts. Wance we make it through the frame, we’ll take it fae there.”
“Right, well, jist let me know whit song and Ah’ll speak tae that wee Allie Foster and his brother and get them tae make sure they’re aw screaming at the tap ae their lungs, like a bunch ae frightened altar boys oan a trip tae Lourdes wae aw they priests fae Roystonhill.”
“Fine. Ah don’t like they pair ae basturts, so it’s better that it’s yersel who deals wae them,” Joe agreed.
“Joe, ye don’t like anywan, including yer ain reflection in the mirror,” said Patsy, which wis rich coming fae him, who’d hid a fight wae nearly everywan in the place at wan time or another.
Chapter Fifteen
Fanny sat doodling. She couldnae concentrate, despite the pile ae folders sitting in front ae her. She hid tae arrange four hame visit reports fur the local probation services…three in Glesga and wan in Dundee. They hid tae be oot that day as the boys wur due tae be released in mid-January and wae Christmas coming up, there wis nae guarantee the visits wid take place before the break. Nae hame visit meant nae releases.
She’d stayed in bed aw day Sunday and maist ae Monday. There hid been a knock at the door oan the Sunday night aboot hauf nine. The evening service hid finished at eight so she’d assumed it hid been somewan fae The Citadel. The knocking hid been persistent and she’d been jist aboot tae get up and answer it when she’d heard the footsteps heid back alang the landing and descend the stairs. The flat hid been in total darkness, apart fae an orange glow coming in through the windae fae the street light ootside. She hidnae been able tae make oot the sky, bit she’d watched the snowflakes blowing and swirling against the glass, chasing each other in mad dashes, in a never ending game ae hide and seek. She’d been o’er the events ae Saturday night a thousand times. It hidnae been his fault. She shouldnae hiv gone back tae his place fur a drink. She’d been stupid and selfish. Hid she no driven past his flat in the first place, hoping tae see him, tae share the news that wan ae the Garngad boys hid returned against aw the odds? The mair she thought aboot it, the mair angry and upset she’d become wae hersel. She wis twenty two and hid never hid a boyfriend…well, no a proper boyfriend. There hid been plenty ae opportunities though. She’d been asked oot oan numerous occasions and hid gone tae the pictures a few times wae a few ae the Christian Fellowship lads. Some ae the staff at the school hid also asked her oot earlier oan, jist efter she’d started working there, although maist ae them wur married. She envied aw the couples she saw wandering aboot the toon centre, haun in haun, and she often wondered whit wis wrang wae her. She’d been tae the Hallelujah Jamboree in Balloch earlier in the summer…bit the only people she seemed tae attract wur the married wans.
She’d decided no tae go intae work oan the Tuesday either. It hid been late oan in the efternoon that she’d heard footsteps approaching her door. The knock hid been loud and firm. When she’d goat up and opened the door, she’d been surprised tae see Major Bellow staunin there.
“Ah wis worried aboot ye. Ah tried phoning the school bit they wurnae too sure where ye wur, so here Ah am,” he’d bellowed tae everywan in the building, taking a loud sip fae his teacup.
“I’ve, er, not been feeling well, Major.”
“Whit’s the matter, hen? Ye look kind ae peely-wally, so ye dae.”
“I think it’s maybe a cold or something.”
“Or something...”
“Yes, or something,” she’d said too quickly, seeing his eyes narrowing suspiciously, clearly no convinced.
“Look, Ah’m here because we wur aw worried aboot ye, Fanny. It’s no like ye no tae turn up when ye said ye wid. The jumble sale wis a big success. The only person missing wis yersel. It’s jist no like ye,” he’d bawled, repeating himsel.
“Yes, well, I...” she’d started tae say and that’s when she’d burst intae tears.
She couldnae help hersel. Being in the flat oan her ain the previous two days hid perhaps been the catalyst fur whit hid happened next. When she thought aboot it later, she hid tae admit tae hersel that he wis probably no the person she wid’ve spoken tae in the first place, bit at that time and place, there hidnae been anywan else. The floodgates hid jist opened and she’d poured oot everything that hid happened, leaving oot the maist torrid details, bit admitting she’d woken up in Duponcie’s bed in the morning. He hidnae butted in when she’d been rambling and at wan point he’d passed her o’er a hankie fur her tae blow her nose. When she’d finished her tale, although feeling ashamed, she’d felt much better.
“Aye, well, ye see…young wummin like yersel hiv tae watch oot. Aw this free love that ye see splashed aw o’er the papers and telly disnae help. Mrs Whitehoose is right…there’
s far too much sex and violence oan the telly. That’s who Ah blame. Ye see young lassies, the same age as yersel, walking aboot hauf naked wae flowers in their hair nooadays. Nae wonder men ur getting the wrang ideas. Ye’re right aboot wan thing, Fanny. Withoot excusing his weakness and the temptation put in front ae him, ye put Mr Duponcie in an awkward position, so ye did. Ah mean, wae his wife away in hospital as well,” he’d bellowed, a look ae disappointment plastered aw o’er that lined face ae his.
At the mention ae Duponcie’s wife in hospital, she’d started sobbing again. She knew he wis right, bit whit she wanted tae know wis, whit wis she gonnae dae aboot the situation?
“There isnae much ye kin dae, hen, is there? He’s married wae a new baby. He’s goat a job that carries a lot ae responsibility and a lot ae people depend oan him, particularly those who ur the maist vulnerable. Why, in a week fae noo, ye’ll hiv forgotten aw aboot it. It’ll jist be a distant memory, wae nae consequences tae anywan other than yersel. It’ll be a learning experience. Jist thank God and pray as a sinner, that ye’ll no make the same mistake twice.”
He wis right. It widnae hiv happened if she hidnae put temptation Duponcie’s way. She looked o’er at the waste paper basket in the corner. It seemed such a waste, bit she’d nae regrets. The stems ae the roses wur sticking straight up. She couldnae see the petals as they’d disappeared when she’d tossed the bunch across the room fae her desk. They’d been waiting fur her when she’d dragged hersel oot ae the flat and gone back tae work. They’d been delivered first thing oan the Monday morning. She wis glad that nowan hid hid the sense tae put them in a vase ae water. The only reminder ae who they wur fae, wis the ‘Thanks fur Saturday night. How aboot dinner?’ card that wis hinging o’er the rim ae the basket. She looked at her desk and wiped away a couple ae loose petals wae the back ae her haun, before picking up her pen and reaching fur the folder oan the tap ae the pile in front ae her.
