by Lynda Page
Ginger giggled.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ginger’s prophecy was correct. To both girls’ delight they returned from their trip to Skegness Market with two top designer dresses each along with a crocheted top for Ginger and a skirt for Jackie, at only a pound or so each garment more than they would have paid for off-the-peg items from their usual stores. It was quite apparent to them that the stallholders they bought the clothes from were well aware where the merchandise originated as during the sales process they continually kept an eye out for any signs of the law approaching. Tongue-in-cheek, Ginger asked Jackie if she was going to wear one of her new dresses on the date with Terry next Monday. A look from her left Ginger in no doubt that none of the treasured new clothes were going to be wasted on the likes of him.
All the staff at Jolly’s awoke the next Saturday morning to open their chalet curtains at just after the crack of dawn, and all of them heaved groans of despair. The hot sunny weather, it seemed, had temporarily departed, to be replaced by dark clouds and torrential rain. It meant they were not only going to have to cope with the already busy changeover day, but also be running around like headless chickens organising an assortment of indoor activities to entertain the campers until the weather improved enough for outside programmes to commence again.
Jackie’s personal opinion of Terry Jones might be that he was a conceited weasel of a man but she could not deny that he was excellent at his job. This morning he had rallied his staff, firing off instructions to them on which events to organise and in which different facilities, so that none of them clashed.
Terry might be good at his job but, regardless, he was no miracle worker. That day he was also having to cope with a seriously depleted complement of staff as over a dozen of them had woken that morning with terrible sore throats and raging headaches and were unfit to work. Terry was finding himself without a bingo caller in the hastily organised event in the Paradise hall as all the rest of his staff were otherwise occupied.
Usually in situations like this he would have called on a receptionist to help out or one of the general office staff, but as they were already up to their eyes as it was transfer day, poaching one of them to help out was not an option. It seemed there was no alternative but to do it himself. He didn’t want to, though, preferring to go around acting the part of the boss, not undertaking a job that one of his minions should be doing. Then an idea struck him. Yesterday he had purposely helped set up a situation to aid Jackie in her aim to prod Harold Rose into tackling his shyness – though why the likes of the vivacious Jackie felt the need to waste her time on a middle-aged man she couldn’t possibly have any romantic interest in was beyond Terry when he himself was on offer to her. But then, it had won him a date with her, something he’d been trying for a long time by now. Now he saw another chance to make her grateful to him. Hopefully she would show the proper level of gratitude to him on their date on Monday night.
Terry sprinted through the belting rain over to reception. He pushed his way through the soaked crowd outside forming a disorderly queue, there being no spare Stripeys to keep them in order, then through the door leading up to the offices. Without pausing to tap on the manager’s door and wait for a response, Terry barged straight inside and announced, ‘Mr Rose, we’re in a right pickle and need your help urgently.’
Shocked at having his sanctuary invaded, Harold Rose looked up stupefied.
He finally found his voice. ‘Well … er … as you can see, I am very busy. Jackie will assist you, I’m sure.’
Terry stared at him blankly. He’d understood from what Jackie had told him that their temporary boss was reclusive, but did Harold not realise it was changeover day? Had he not also observed the adverse weather conditions, which always caused them added problems? Surely this was a time when personal issues must be shoved aside, for the sake of the camp’s good name. Terry announced, ‘You obviously don’t remember that Jackie and Al are already up to their eyes helping on reception as it’s changeover day. Due to the weather I have had to organise some extra inside events to keep the campers happy, but as several of my staff are ill and so unable to work today I’ve been left short of a bingo caller. The ballroom is full of women waiting for the session to start and I fear if I don’t find a caller soon I’ll have a riot on my hands. I can’t do it myself as I’m already judging a hastily organised kids’, talent show in one of the Paradise lounges. I’ll walk you across to the ballroom now and introduce you to Kim, who will be your assistant.’
Harold gulped as sheer panic swamped him. He couldn’t just walk out on-stage to face a ballroom full of women all looking back at him, expecting him to take charge of the proceedings and keep his nerves in check for at least a couple of hours. What he had faced yesterday seemed like nothing in comparison. But Terry Jones was giving him no choice, waiting at Harold’s open office door to escort him. Taking several deep breaths in an effort to force down a surge of panic and stop his legs from quaking, he rose from behind his desk and followed Terry over to the ballroom, wishing that a miracle would happen and the ground would open and swallow him up.
It wasn’t until later that afternoon that Jackie found out about Harold’s courageous efforts. Terry made sure to let her know what he had done to aid her cause. He collared her as she was on her rounds of the camp much later on. Through pressure of work Jackie had not eaten since breakfast that morning. Feeling hungry and tired, she was not very receptive when Terry approached her and neither was she at all happy with what he had done.
Sheltering under an umbrella to help ward off the still battering rain, she snapped, ‘Oh, for God’s sake, Terry, did you not listen to me yesterday when I took you into my confidence over Mr Rose? That man has been scared of his own shadow all his life. He needs to be helped to build up his confidence slowly and surely, one step at a time … not be plunged straight into situations that would scare the living daylights out of me, let alone him. Oh, you really are the limit! Anyway, I haven’t time to stand here arguing with you now. I have a tour of the camp to make and then I must head back to the office and see for myself that Mr Rose has not suffered a heart attack or worse after what you just thoughtlessly put him through.’
Terry responded defensively, ‘Well, I thought you’d be pleased. I saw the opportunity to help you and …’
She cut in, ‘… and hoped I’d show you my gratitude on Monday night? Go to bed with you, is that what you were after?’ She saw by his expression that it was exactly how grateful he’d hoped she would be. Jackie shot him a look of contempt and, as she hurried off, called over her shoulder, ‘I appreciate that you tried to help my cause with Mr Rose, but I would think a lot more of you if you’d done it to help Mr Rose himself and not thought about what you could get out of it.’
Her round of the camp would go down in the record books as the quickest Jackie had ever done. Due to the rain most of the outdoor areas were deserted so it was only the indoor sites she needed to visit The staff were doing an exemplary job of keeping all the campers entertained during the atrocious weather and she was gratified not to uncover any pressing problems that needed dealing with, for a change. Back under cover in the office, after quickly confirming with Al that nothing he couldn’t handle had transpired while she was out, Jackie went to check on Harold to see what state he was in after what she knew would have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
In her need to find out she forgot to wait courteously for him to call out that she could enter after she’d tapped on his door and went straight in.
Harold himself had only returned a few minutes before. Jackie found him seated behind his desk with his head cradled in his hands, his whole body shaking.
Her heart went out to him. Her first instinct was to rush over and offer him comfort; tell him how sorry she was that he’d been given no choice but to put himself in such a nerve-wracking situation, and promise to do her utmost to make sure it never happened again. But she managed to stop herself, because otherwise she would b
e doing exactly what his mother had done: not helping him to face his fears and overcome them, but sheltering him from ever making the effort. Jackie needed to do the opposite.
She went over to the desk and sat in the visitor’s chair. The noise she made set him starting nervously as he had not heard her come in. Before Harold could say anything Jackie told him, ‘Mr Rose, I’ve just been told by Terry Jones how you came to his rescue today. I bet you’re very proud of yourself? If not, then you should be.’
He wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief and blustered, ‘Proud! I hardly think so, Miss Sims. I daren’t think what all those women must think of me. I only went on-stage in the first place because the young girl who was checking the numbers and handing out prizes gave me a push. But as I did they all stamped their feet … it sounded like thunder, believe me … then they all jeered and that made me trip over my own feet and crash into the ball machine which toppled over, broke open, and the balls scattered all over the ballroom. The whole room erupted into laughter. They were still laughing while everyone helped pick up the balls. If I hadn’t been so terrified they’d form a lynch mob and do goodness knows what to me, I’d have made a run for it then and there.
‘Then later on I thought I was doing okay until I was calling out some of the numbers and they all started heckling me … they were yelling things like “Kelly’s eye”, “two little ducks”, “all the fives”, and so I’d become flustered and call out the next number wrongly and then have to put it right. As soon as I’d called out the very last one, I couldn’t get out of there fast …’ He stopped talking for a moment to look at her with a hurt expression. ‘See, even you’re laughing at me now! I’m so useless.’
Jackie wiped away tears of mirth from her eyes with the back of her hands. ‘Oh, Mr Rose, I’m laughing because I have no doubt you gave them the best entertainment they’ve ever had at a bingo game.’
He eyed her, bemused. ‘How do you come to that conclusion after what I just told you?’
‘Well, for a start, those women had been waiting quite a while for a caller to turn up. Stamping their feet and cheering was their way of showing you they were pleased to see you. Then, when you tripped and crashed into the ball machine, they would have assumed it was part of your act. They weren’t heckling when you called out some of the numbers – what they were calling out was bingo slang. “Kelly’s eye” is number one. “All the fives” is fifty-five. “Key of the door” is twenty-one. Most of the numbers have a nickname but I don’t know them all. I have no doubt that if you’d stayed just a little longer at the end, instead of high-tailing it out of there, those women would have given you a standing ovation and be demanding to be told when you were going to be the caller again, because they’d enjoyed themselves so much.’
Harold shook his head in disbelief. ‘I know you’re just saying that to be kind and I appreciate it but …’
His self-pitying attitude got the better of Jackie then. It was apparent to her that she was wasting her time trying to help him to a better life as you couldn’t help a person who obviously had no intention of helping themself. Her patience suddenly snapped. ‘You’re accusing me of lying to you and that’s not right, Mr Rose, when I’m not. I’ve worked at Jolly’s for a long time and I know that those women in the ballroom today came here on holiday expecting to have a good time. From what you told me, albeit unintentionally on your part, you certainly entertained them today.
‘You know, you really have to start showing some belief in yourself. See yourself as the smart, intelligent man you are … someone whose company people would enjoy if you’d give them the chance, instead of making yourself look like a bumbling idiot by always scuttling away from them.’ She was on a tangent now and just couldn’t stop. ‘Your mother might have thought she was doing her best for you by protecting you from difficult situations, but what she should have been doing was encouraging you to face up to them. Then, more than likely, you wouldn’t be anywhere near as lacking in self-confidence as you are today. But obviously you’re happy with having no friends and being a lonely man, or you’d want to do something about it.’
Jackie realised then she’d gone too far – been so rude Harold could quite justifiably sack her.
Jumping up from her chair she fled from the room.
Back in the office, as she made her way around her desk and slumped down in her chair, Al asked in concern, ‘Is everything all right, Jackie. Only I heard you … well, not exactly shouting, but your voice was raised and you sounded annoyed to me?’
She gave a despairing groan. ‘No, everything is not all right. I couldn’t stop myself from losing my temper with Mr Rose and I’ve more than likely managed to get myself the sack.’
He looked aghast.
‘What did you say to him?’
She heaved a forlorn sigh. ‘A lot of things I never should have done to a man in his position.’
The switchboard buzzed and Al picked up the receiver to answer the caller. A moment later he replaced it and looked across at her gravely. ‘That was Mr Rose, Jackie. He wants to see you in his office.’
Feeling like she was about to place her head on the executioner’s block, she obeyed the summons. Standing before Harold’s desk she felt she was only wasting time. She knew he was going to tell her to pack up her belongings and leave the camp. But Harold did not utter any word of reproof.
Looking down at his desk, he murmured, ‘I’ve got a nerve asking this, Miss Sims, but would you be willing to help me?’
She eyed him, taken aback. ‘Er … well … yes, of course I will, if I can. What with?’
He shocked her further by lifting his head and looking directly at her. ‘That pathetic buffoon of a man you just described … I don’t want to be him any more. I’m so desperately lonely, I’m terrified that one day I will die on my own at home and my body will lie there rotting for years before anyone notices. I don’t think I could ever become the life and soul of the party type … I’ve left it far too late ever to hope I could meet a woman willing to take me on and start a family … but if I could just get myself to the stage where I could have a conversation with someone and feel comfortable, not desperate to run away and hide, and maybe a friend to spend some time with, then I’d be happy with that.’
If he’d only realised it she was already trying to help him. ‘I’d be more than willing to, Mr Rose,’ Jackie said enthusiastically. She then heaved a huge sigh of relief and blurted out, ‘I really thought you’d called me in here to sack me. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had. I should never have spoken to you the way I just did, and especially what I said about your mother. I am sorry.’
He gave a wan smile. ‘My mother was a lovely woman, Miss Sims. She was very soft and gentle … my whole world. But you were right. Instead of shielding me from situations that terrified me, she should have encouraged me to face them. Had she done so I might not be the bumbling idiot I am today. It took you pointing that out to make me see more clearly. In truth, I’ve been hiding behind your skirts, haven’t I, and in turn making your life hell? It is I who should be apologising to you, in fact. I don’t know how you can ever forgive me for making you lose your boyfriend through the extra hours you did while covering the work that I should have been doing.’
She enlightened him. ‘Well, you did me a favour in a way because if I hadn’t worked late I might not have found out that my boyfriend wanted to be with someone else other than me. They’re together now and, as far as I know, very happy together.’
‘And you?’ he asked.
‘Oh, I’ll be fine in time. I’ve got good friends helping me through. And that’s what we’re going to get you … some good friends for you to enjoy being with, who’ll be there for you when you need them. We need to build up your confidence one step at a time. We could start tomorrow with you coming with me on the daily tour of the camp. It’s actually Al’s turn to do it but I know he won’t mind swapping with me. If you find it too much, we’ll cut the tour short and
come straight back. What do you say?’
Harold studied his desk top thoughtfully for a moment. Such a simple thing, to accompany her on a tour around the camp, but one that filled him with dread. He was very aware, though, that should he refuse, Jackie more than likely wouldn’t offer to help him again. If he wanted a better life then he needed to help himself get it. Before he could change his mind he said, ‘Yes, I’ll do it.’
Jackie grinned at him. ‘Good.’ Then she added with conviction, ‘Before you know it, you’ll be doing the tour on your own.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
‘You look nice.’
Jackie spun around and stared at Ginger, who was coming into the chalet after having a shower.
‘I don’t, do I! I don’t want to look nice. My intention is to look as awful as I can.’
Ginger kicked shut the door behind her and flung herself down on her bed, telling Jackie, ‘I was being sarcastic. You look like a relic from the nineteen forties. Where on earth did you get that skirt and blouse from?’
‘I raided the Stripeys’ dressing-up box. It was a toss up between this skirt and blouse or a hideous Crimplene dress.’
‘Oh, of course, it’s your big date tonight with Terry.’
‘Don’t remind me! I want to look so embarrassing he won’t want to be seen with me and will make an excuse to cut things short.’
Ginger snorted, ‘Jackie, that man is besotted with you! You could turn up in a sack tied in the middle with rope, and he’d still think he’d won the pools, being out with you. I’m surprised you’ve not heard already – he’s so cock-a-hoop he’s taking you out tonight that he’s told everyone who will listen. The way he’s making it out is that you asked him, of course.’
Jackie’s face darkened thunderously. ‘The slimy toad!’ She then heaved a miserable sigh. ‘Tonight is going to be the longest of my life.’
‘Well, my advice is to think twice next time before you rope someone in to help you with your hare-brained schemes. How is the Mr Rose Project coming on, by the way?’
