Heartbreak and Happiness

by Rosie Harris

  ‘No, I didn’t because I had other things I wanted to do instead.’

  ‘What were they then?’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘Was you visiting your friend Cindy Mason?’

  ‘No, I wasn’t visiting Cindy because I have no idea where she is. Do you?’

  ‘Me!’ the old woman’s jaw dropped. ‘Why would I know where she is?’

  ‘Well, you seemed to have so much to say about it when Cindy disappeared that I thought you must know what had happened to her,’ Rebecca retorted.

  A dark flush stained the old woman’s face. ‘If you’re referring to what I said about her being fed to the pigs you had up there at Woodside, then say so.’

  The people in the store were all now listening with bated breath.

  Lizzie leaned on her stick and thrust her wrinkled face towards Rebecca. ‘After all, when her clothes were found rolled up and stuffed in a hollow tree and one of her shoes was found in the sty where you kept that great brute you called Moses, then what was one to think?’

  ‘The very worst if they had a mind like yours, Lizzie. It was wicked to spread stories like that. Did you ever stop for a moment to think what damage you were causing to Cindy’s family and to mine with such malicious lies?’

  ‘I’ve heard stories all my life about folks being attacked and eaten by pigs,’ Lizzie went on undaunted. ‘’Tis well known that they will eat anything at all. ’Tis also well known that the herd of pigs your dad kept up at Woodside were vicious beasts. They ruined more than one garden hereabouts, and they savaged one or two people when they tried to drive them off.’

  By now a crowd had gathered to listen to their exchanges, and there were many murmurs of agreement and a great many angry mutterings on both sides.

  Rebecca felt that airing the matter was good. It might bring to an end the sidelong looks both her family and the Masons were getting as well as bring an end to all the unpleasant insinuations.

  The mutterings from the crowd gave way to actual opinions. It was soon clear that very few people had taken much notice of what Lizzie had said, although at the time they had appeared to do so and some had even goaded her into going into detail about what she thought had happened to Cindy.

  The more level-headed among them, however, were of the opinion that Cindy had left home because she had a boyfriend that no one knew about, although no one could name him.

  They felt sorry for the Masons and most of them thought it was irresponsible of Cindy not to contact them and at least let them know she was alive and well, even if she didn’t tell them where she was.

  ‘Waste of police time looking for her like they’ve done,’ one man contended.

  ‘I’m surprised they still haven’t traced her, though,’ another stated. ‘After all, they know precisely the time she vanished and the last place she was seen.’

  ‘True enough, but so many trains pass through Temple Meads station of a day it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. What’s more, if she doesn’t want to be found then she has only to change her name, dye her hair and go some place where she’s not known and that’s the end of it.’

  They were still talking about it when Rebecca left the shop. She couldn’t help wondering whether this would be the end of the matter, or whether she had perhaps stirred it all up again.

  She thought about going up to the Masons’ farm but wasn’t sure if they would want to see her, not even Jake, so she walked down the road to her parents’ butcher’s shop and spent the rest of the morning talking to her mother and father in between them attending to customers.

  From the number of people who came into the shop and the size of the orders, she was pretty certain the worst of the scandal was over and that the village had settled down again and Cindy’s disappearance was no longer the main topic of conversation.

  Even so, she couldn’t help wondering what had really happened to her friend. Deep down, she felt sure that one day they would meet up again.

  Twenty-Three

  The exams went well for both Rebecca and Grace. Their hard work had paid off and they both anticipated they would get very good degrees.

  Subject to that happening, they knew their plans for being eligible for a fast-track teacher training course were possible and they waited for news in hopeful anticipation.

  To some extent they felt free now that the onus of doing well in the exams was over. Their future seemed bright and they decided that celebration and relaxation were in order.

  Their first excursion was their delayed trip to Swansea, and they enjoyed it so much that they planned to go there again before the end of their stay in Cardiff.

  There were also a great many activities they now had time to participate in, both at the university and in Cardiff itself. The weather was mixed; some days bright and sunny, others showery or even dark and glowering.

  They planned their activities accordingly. On fine days they would venture further afield or go on some outdoor project. They explored the Cardiff docks and, although the docks were now completely modernized, they could still find historic traces of when Cardiff was one of the largest ports in Britain, of the days when it was renowned for its exports of coal and visited by some of the biggest liners in the world.

  They spent a whole day exploring Cardiff Castle, starting with the medieval castle and keep built on the mound to the rear. Then they toured the modern part, enjoying the historical aspects and the intricate carvings, as well as all the richness of colour and fabrics used in the interior.

  They also went to St Fagans, on the outskirts of the city, to visit the Welsh Folk Museum, where they spent the day inspecting the reconstructed dwellings and furnished houses set out in the spacious park. They spent a whole day tracing the life, culture and traditions of the people of Wales dating back to the fifteenth century.

  They found it hard to tear themselves away from the museum’s costume gallery, where the different styles of dress worn by Welsh women over the past two and a half centuries were on display.

  Rebecca reflected wistfully that Cindy would have been intrigued by the agricultural gallery with its farm implements, vehicles and machinery from the earliest days right up to modern times, especially the circular pigsties dating back to earliest days and the water-powered corn mill.

  In complete contrast, the next day they visited the Big Pit at Blaenavon, once one of the leading coal mines in Europe but now a museum.

  With an ex-miner as their guide, they were able to travel down 300 feet to the coalface in a cage, the same as the miners had once done, and saw the cramped conditions under which men had once worked.

  They also visited the Blaenavon ironworks, and Rebecca felt it was like entering a cave as they went in through the rough stone entrance into the mountainside.

  She wished she had been able to show all this to Cindy, because the contrast between the soft, rolling landscape of the West Country and the starkness of the mountain scenery and grim surroundings she and Grace were experiencing would have impressed her so much.

  They bought each other a lovespoon as a keepsake. The spoons were elaborately carved, with twist handles. They had seen them when they visited St Fagans, both in the museum there and the individually furnished peasant cottages, and had been fascinated by them.

  Now, as they exchanged spoons as a mark of their friendship they decided it would be nice to purchase one to take home for their mothers. Finding a different style from the ones they had bought for themselves took them further afield, but eventually they found exactly what they wanted.

  Exchanging lovespoons also served to remind Rebecca of Cindy. She felt hot tears well up into her eyes and was tempted to buy another spoon and keep it until they met again, whenever that might be.

  When their results finally came through, Rebecca and Grace found they were every bit as good as they’d hoped. They had both earned outstanding degrees.

  Together, they waited to see if their applications for the teacher training course in Liverpool were successful. When they hea
rd that they had both been accepted, their joy knew no bounds.

  ‘Does this mean you will be living at home?’ Rebecca asked hesitantly.

  She enjoyed being with Grace and sharing what was happening in their lives. Although Grace would never take the place of Cindy, no one ever would, she was a tremendous companion and Rebecca knew she would miss her a great deal if they were parted.

  ‘Of course not. We’ll share a flat somewhere, the same as we’ve done here in Cardiff – unless you have other plans,’ Grace added cautiously.

  ‘No, if you’re quite sure, then I’d like nothing better.’

  ‘Shall I look for somewhere suitable as it’s practically on my doorstep? Then you can come up and see if you like it before I sign anything,’ Grace suggested.

  ‘That sounds a great idea.’

  ‘I’ll get Mum or my brother to take a look as well before I make a decision. They’re bound to spot any flaws.’

  ‘That makes good sense. My mum and dad will probably want to see where I’m going to live, too. The three of us could stay overnight in a hotel, then meet up with your family for a meal or something after we’ve seen the flat.’

  ‘That sounds reasonable.’ Grace smiled, her blue eyes twinkled. ‘I wonder how they’ll get on? They mightn’t be able to stand the sight of each other.’

  ‘That’s hardly likely and I think it would be great for them to get to know each other – what’s more,’ Rebecca added, ‘you must come for the weekend or a few days and have a taste of rustic life.’

  She rather hoped that Grace would refuse or say she would put it off to some other time, but Grace accepted with alacrity,

  ‘That sounds a great idea!’

  Rebecca nodded her agreement. She couldn’t bring herself to speak. She felt she had done a foolish thing in inviting Grace to Shelston, because now she would have to tell her about Cindy.

  Cindy was never far from her mind, no matter where she was or what she did, and several times she had thought of confiding in Grace about her former friend. At the last minute, however, she always stopped herself from doing so because Grace would be bound to ask questions about where Cindy was now.

  Although she had vehemently rejected all the malicious gossip about Cindy disappearing with a married man, she supposed it could possibly be true. It was certainly far more likely than the rumour spread by Lizzie Smith suggesting that she had been killed and eaten by their herd of pigs. That really was so highly improbable she was surprised the police had even listened to such nonsense.

  Deep down, however, although she still had no idea about what had really happened, Rebecca was sure that Cindy was still alive.

  They had been so close ever since they’d been tiny tots that she was sure she would know if Cindy was dead.

  She also felt certain that one day they would meet up again, although when or how she had not the slightest idea.

  Twenty-Four

  The end of term was a time for farewells and promises to keep in touch, although most of the students knew they probably wouldn’t meet again except on graduation day or by accident at some time in the future.

  Since Rebecca and Grace were going to the same university in the Merseyside area for their year of teacher training, their farewells were fairly perfunctory. They knew they would be meeting again and when that would be.

  Both of Rebecca’s parents came to the graduation ceremony and so did Grace’s mother and father, so the two girls were able to introduce them to each other.

  After the ceremony, during which the two girls were presented with their graduation scroll, Bill Peterson insisted that Grace and her parents should join them in a celebratory meal at the Castle Hotel, where they were staying.

  Wine helped to ensure a relaxed mood and by the end of the evening they were all on very good terms.

  Fred Flowers was a tall rangy man in his mid-fifties with thinning grey hair. He ran a shipping agency in Liverpool. His wife, Doris, was ten years younger, thin and nervy with tightly permed brown hair and large dark eyes.

  ‘When Rebecca comes up to Merseyside, you must come with her for a few days so we can return your hospitality,’ Fred Flowers insisted as they parted at the end of the evening.

  ‘We’ve hired Nick Blakemore for a week, Becky, so me and your mother can spend a few days with you here in Cardiff,’ her father told her.

  ‘That’s great, I’ll really enjoy showing you around.’ Rebecca kissed him on the cheek. ‘See you in the morning. I’ll come and find you at the hotel.’

  The next two days were momentous. Rebecca revelled in showing off the city she had grown so familiar with. She also took them to the folk museum at St Fagans. Her father was so intrigued by some of the early agricultural appliances and the circular pigsties that they had a job tearing him away.

  Before returning to Cardiff, they spent a couple of hours at Castell Coch, a picturesque small castle dating back to the eleventh century perched on a hillside midway between Cardiff and Pontypridd.

  Her parents were so impressed by their visit to Cardiff that they assured her they would come back again some day.

  Grace had already returned north with her parents, leaving Rebecca to spend her last few nights alone in their flat before returning the key to the letting agent.

  Bill’s idea of hiring Nick Blakemore for a week was to give Sandra an opportunity to have some time with Rebecca when she got back to Shelston. As it turned out, though, it was with Nick that Rebecca spent most of her stay.

  He accompanied her to two annual shows that were being held in the area and they also did some sightseeing. Sandra was glad to see that they were enjoying themselves.

  In no time at all, or so it seemed, it was time for Rebecca to once more pack her belongings and set off for another year at university.

  In Merseyside, however, the course was quite different. Part of each term would be spent studying and part would be out teaching in an actual school. The schools would all be in the Merseyside area, but Rebecca and Grace had no idea in advance which they would be allocated to teach at.

  The term work was far more intense than it had been at Cardiff, due to the fact that a three-year course was being condensed into one year.

  Rebecca and Grace found there was little time for relaxation even at the weekends, although they were free from studies from midday on Saturday until Monday morning.

  Since it was much too far from the West Country for Rebecca to go home for weekend breaks, she took to spending them with Grace at her home.

  The Flowers made her very welcome, particularly Grace’s brother Danny, who Rebecca discovered was a policeman. He was four years older than Grace, tall and good-looking with very black hair and vivid blue eyes. He had a ready smile and an infectious laugh, and he was a great dancer.

  ‘I’m afraid I have two left feet when it comes to dancing,’ Rebecca warned him.

  He refused to listen but insisted that she must let him take her to the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton and he would bring along one of his friends as a partner for Grace. Rebecca was rather reluctant, but Grace persuaded her it would be a laugh.

  By the end of the evening, Rebecca could hardly believe the difference as she found herself circling expertly in Danny’s arms. When she danced with his friend Bob, however, it was quite a different story and she was eager to return to her previous partner.

  ‘I think our Danny is falling for you,’ Grace laughed at the end of the evening. ‘He danced almost every dance with you.’

  ‘Or else he was being kind because he could see I wasn’t finding dancing with his friend very easy,’ Rebecca said.

  They both found that these weekend breaks fortified them for the strenuous studying during the week ahead and they were both greatly relieved when it was time to do some actual teaching.

  ‘It will be like having a holiday after the way we’ve been working all term,’ Grace commented.

  ‘It very much depends on the sort of school we get sent to,’ Rebecca point
ed out.

  ‘They can’t expect us to work any harder than we have been.’

  ‘I’m not sure about that, I don’t think we’ll find it easy. Depends on what sort of class we are given. They may all be little horrors and hard to control.’

  ‘Rubbish!’ Grace told her. ‘Show them right from the start who’s in charge and they’ll behave.’

  ‘But how do you do that? I’ve never had very much to do with young children.’

  ‘They won’t be very young children. We’re being trained for secondary-school standard. Some of them won’t be much younger than we are,’ Grace said confidently. ‘Anyway, we can always exchange ideas during the recreation periods or at lunch time and change our tactics if necessary.’

  On the first point she was right. Both of them were given classes of fifteen-year-olds, so they could at least relate to them. On the second, she was wrong; they were not sent to the same school. They were not even sent to schools in the same area.

  Grace was sent to a secondary school in Toxteth and Rebecca to one in Hoylake.

  ‘Where on earth is Hoylake?’ she asked Grace in despair. ‘I’ve heard of it because of the famous golf course there, but I’ve searched the Liverpool map from top to bottom and I can’t find it.’

  ‘That’s because it isn’t in Liverpool, it’s on the Wirral. That’s the posh part on the other side of the Mersey. Danny took us over there to the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton. Remember?’

  ‘Of course I do. We went across the Mersey on a ferry. Will I have to do that?’

  ‘You could go over on the ferry, or you can take the train. I think there is one that goes direct from Liverpool Central, but you might have to change at Birkenhead.’

  ‘I’m going to have to get up in the middle of the night to make a journey like that and be there by nine o’clock!’ Rebecca moaned.

  ‘No, not really. There are trains are every ten minutes, so it will only take you about half an hour. It will probably take me almost as long to get to Toxteth.’