The Serial: The Green Years, Day18

Chrissie had hit a nerve. That was what Fiona Campbell had and Maisie didn’t – class.

Chrissie was fast picking up on Maisie’s reluctance. “Look,” she said, “let’s give it one more go, and if you really don’t like it, we won’t come back.”

Maisie agreed, not wanting to hurt Chrissie’s feelings, but at the same time, deciding this wasn’t part of her plan. The foursome cleared the court and Maisie and Chrissie tried again, this time, with Fiona and her friends now watching their amateur floundering.

Maisie was about to suggest giving up for good, when the hall door opened and two men came in. Fiona rushed over to them, chattering and smiling and pointing at Maisie and Chrissie.

Maisie tried to ignore the obvious fun Fiona was having at their expense, as she skipped towards them.

“The treasurer and captain have arrived,” she announced, “so, if you’d like to follow me, I’ll introduce you and you can pay your joining fee.”

Maisie’s face was red and flushed with exertion and the culottes were making her legs feel hot and uncomfortable. She plucked at the strings of her racquet as she followed Fiona to the side of the hall.

Familiar

“Here they are,” Fiona announced, “two new members.” She stepped aside as the treasurer asked their names and told them the price of the joining fee.

“My name’s Maisie Green,” Maisie said, “but I’m not sure if I, I mean we, are good enough.”

From behind the treasurer, another voice reached Maisie’s ears which sounded familiar but she couldn’t place it.

“You’re good enough, all right,” it said, “both of you.” Maisie squinted towards the figure, who was bending over tying his plimsoll laces.

Ian Brown stood up, a broad smile on his face, “I’m the club captain,” he said, “welcome aboard.”

Maisie’s mouth dropped open. “Club captain?” she repeated. Fiona Campbell, who had been watching the encounter, lost the benign smile she had worn since Maisie and Chrissie had arrived. “Do you know one another, Ian?” Ian Brown never took his eyes off Maisie. “You could say that,” he replied. “What do you say, Maisie?”

Chrissie watched as Maisie tried to cool down and regain her composure. “I’ll say we do,” she said, aiming her response at Fiona. “We know one another very well.”

Maisie had quickly realised, by the pained expression on Fiona’s face, that Ian Brown meant a bit more to her than just being the club captain.

“Are you two joining or what?” interrupted the treasurer who had been patiently waiting, pen poised, to enrol Maisie and Chrissie.

“We are,” said Maisie decisively. “Where do we sign.”

“When you come along next week, I’ll show you the ropes,” Ian Brown murmured in Maisie’s ear, “but tonight I’ve a mixed doubles match booked to play with Fiona.”

“Next week, it is,” she replied sweetly, paying her joining fee of two shillings over to the treasurer, as Ian Brown joined a miffed Fiona on the court.

“I thought you hated badminton,” Chrissie said pointedly, paying her money and signing the form. “And you know what thought did,” Maisie grinned. “It thought wrong.”

Jealous

The two friends hurried back home. “Before next week,” Maisie announced, “I’ll be buying all the black badminton gear. Don’t want Ian Brown thinking I’ve no class.”

“So that’s what all this is about?” Chrissie asked, stopping Maisie in her tracks. “You’re jealous of Fiona Campbell!”

Maisie was shocked by Chrissie’s astute observation. “No I’m not,” she said. “I just don’t like her much, that’s all.”

“But, why don’t you like her?” Maisie shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said defensively, but Chrissie had hit a nerve. That was what Fiona Campbell had and Maisie didn’t – class.

Back to the drawing board, thought Maisie as she pulled on her pyjamas and slipped under the pink satin quilt. She may have a new bedroom, new blonde hair and even, very soon, a new job, but what she didn’t have money couldn’t buy and that was class.

She switched off her cream lamp. She’d have to sleep on things. There had to be a way to become more like Fiona Campbell. That night, Maisie dreamed all of her teeth fell out and was relieved to waken up and find them intact. Today, she would rethink her plan.

“Maisie, Maisie,” called Chrissie before she’d even reached the bus stop. She was waving something in her hand. “Look!” she exclaimed, excitedly. “It’s a letter from Tommy.” Chrissie’s happiness was infectious and the whole of the bus queue began smiling at her.

“Calm down,” said Maisie smiling too. “What’s got your knickers in a twist this early in the morning?”

The arrival of the bus halted any further talk until they were sitting in their seats and Chrissie was unfolding the sheet of cream paper from its envelope.

“Tommy’s ship is coming in to Dundee for maintenance and it’s this weekend.” She clasped the letter to her heart. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

Maisie grinned. “Only the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard,” she teased. Chrissie turned huge bright eyes on to Maisie.

“You know what this means, don’t you?” she breathed. Maisie feigned ignorance. “Nooooo.”

Chrissie nudged her hard on the arm. “It means,” she said in hushed tones, “I’ll know this weekend if Tommy loves me, I mean really loves me, like he’s been saying in his letters.”

Compassion

Maisie felt a mix of hope and compassion for her friend. Based on her own experiences with men, she couldn’t quite believe that Tommy Murphy would prove the exception to the rule.

She linked her arm into Chrissie’s. “I’m sure Tommy loves you,” she lied “and remember who you’re going to pick as your bridesmaid when the two of you get married,” she added, trying to keep her words light.

But inside, Maisie wasn’t at all sure of Tommy Murphy’s intentions. She had thought Jack Carter was a man to trust and how wrong she had been about that and how much it had hurt.

Please don’t let Chrissie be let down as well, she silently prayed to whoever may be listening. Without wanting to, her thoughts turned to Ian Brown.

She thought he was nice but, again, how could she tell. Then there was Fiona Campbell. How could she compete against her for Ian Brown’s attentions and did she even want to?

The two girls spent the rest of the journey to work lost in their own thoughts, and Maisie realising that she hadn’t even begun to formulate a Plan B to become classy.

“C’mon,” Chrissie said. “Our stop.”

More on Monday.