The Serial: The Green Years, Day 26

Kenny felt the first butterflies of panic in his stomach. He couldn’t let her dump him again

Rab glanced over to the other side of the Murraygate and nudged Kenny back. “Chrissie Dalton as well,” he said thoughtfully. “I heard she’d been seeing some navy bloke, but he’s obviously gone back to sea, and left her all alone.” Maisie’s dismissal of Kenny, on more than one occasion, had originally dented his manly pride, but at the same time it seemed to make her more and more desirable. “Let’s cross the road,” Kenny said, “casuallike, and see how things are with the girls.”

Rab flinched. He wished Kenny would stop trying to be the big man all the time, then maybe they’d get somewhere with the girls.

Within seconds of crossing over they had fallen in behind Maisie and Chrissie. “Going our way?” Kenny asked, already placing his arm around Maisie’s shoulder. “Hi Chrissie,” said Rab, ignoring Kenny’s chat-up line.

“Do you mind if I walk with you for a wee while?” Both girls stopped and stared at one another, each silently asking the other if this was a good idea. Substitute It was Chrissie who broke the stalemate. “If you want, Rab Skelly,” she said, “but only for a wee while mind.” She shrugged her shoulders at Maisie indicating that Rab Skelly wasn’t Tommy Murphy, but he was better than nothing.

Maisie got the message. Kenny Wilson wasn’t Ian Brown but he would do as a substitute for love till The One came along.

Kenny couldn’t believe his luck. He linked Maisie’s arm through his and guided her past Rab and Chrissie and away from their earshot. “How’ve you been then Maisie?” he asked, keeping everything polite and neutral. “I haven’t seen you around for a while.” “Like you care?” Kenny felt the first butterflies of panic in his stomach. He couldn’t let her dump him again. “Of course I care,” he said and actually meant it. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks now but ......

“I’ve been busy,” Maisie interrupted. “Righto,” said Kenny, “busy with...?”

“Busy with my new job,” Maisie announced proudly. “I’ve been promoted to bonus checker.”

“Well” Kenny smiled, “bonus checker. That’s pretty special, that is.”

At the mention of the world “special” Maisie visibly brightened. “And I’ve been to the theatre and joined a badminton club,” she added, getting into her stride.

“But how about you Kenny?” she asked. “What have you been up to?”

Kenny fell silent. What had he been up to – absolutely nothing! He felt his face redden as he searched for words that would show Maisie that he, too, was special.

“I’ve joined the TA.” The lie was out and once voiced, couldn’t be retracted. Maisie stopped walking and turned to face him. “Territorial Army?” she said incredulously, “Seriously?”

“Aye,” Kenny confirmed. “Me and Rab joined a couple o’ weeks ago.”

“And do you get a uniform and a gun and everything?” she asked. Kenny Wilson had suddenly risen in stature before her eyes. Panic “I’m impressed,” Maisie said. “so if there’s a nuclear attack, you’ll know what to do?”

Kenny began to panic. “Not yet,” he said, “that comes later after we learn about the guns.”

His free hand covered Maisie’s. “So how about I buy you a coke to celebrate your new job and my joining the TA?”

Maisie nodded in admiration. “I’d like that,” she said. “So would I,” answered the new recruit. First thing on Monday, he and Rab would join the TA.

“What happened to you last night then?” Chrissie asked as they sat on the bus into work, this accompanied with a nudge and an exaggerated wink.

“I could ask you the same question, Chrissie Dalton. ‘You can walk with me just for a wee while’,” she mimicked. “Rab saw me safely home,” Chrissie said, trying not to smile, “and that was all.”

“Quite the gentleman now he’s joined the TA then?”Maisie said. Chrissie turned to look at Maisie, waiting for the punchline.

“Joined the TA!” she echoed, her voice an octave higher than normal. “Him and Kenny,” Maisie confirmed. “He told me last night.”

“Rab never said anything to me then,” Chrissie murmured, a bit miffed at Rab’s secret life, kept a secret from her.

“Ask him yourself,” Maisie said. “Unless, Kenny’s a liar. Oh no,” Maisie groaned. “Don’t tell me.” Maisie fumed for the rest of the journey into work.

As soon as Kenny got into work on Monday he headed straight for the men’s toilets. He knew Rab always came in 10 minutes early to have a smoke before starting his shift and he had to speak to him before Maisie did.

“Rab! Rab!” he shouted into the smoky atmosphere, “are you in there?”

The sound of a toilet flushing and a cubicle door opening signalled that Rab had had his fag and was now ready to face the world.

He’d had a good Sunday at the Monkey Walk and felt that Chrissie Dalton was at least wavering, if not completely convinced, of his feelings towards her.

“What’s all the racket about?” he asked, spying Kenny halfway through the toilet door.

“We need to talk,” Kenny said, “NOW.” Ignored Rab followed him out into the corridor. The look of fear on Kenny’s face couldn’t be ignored and Rab fell into step alongside him as they headed to the Sugar Boiling Room.

“What’s up?” Rab asked anxiously. “Has some man caught you with his missus or something?”

Kenny pulled Rab closer. “It’s worse than that,” he said. “I told Maisie Green that you and me were in the TA and she was mighty impressed Rab, so we need to join, right, before she finds out that it was nonsense and she dumps me again.”

“The TA” Rab said, incredulously. “You mean the ‘Terries’ – short haircuts and itchy uniforms and running around with toy guns?”

Kenny gritted his teeth. Rab wasn’t going to be the pushover he’d imagined. “Rab,” he pleaded, “you should’ve seen the look of love on Maisie Green’s face when I told her we’d joined up.” Rab’s teeth were also gritted. “Will you stop saying

we. I’ve no’ joined up and I don’t intend to, so you’re on your own pal.”

“Wait!” Kenny called to Rab’s disappearing back. “Just think how much Chrissie will want you. She likes a man in uniform.”

Kenny watched the slowing of Rab’s steps as his words sank in. “That Navy bloke for instance. She really liked him,” he added smoothly.

Rab turned, “do you think so?” Kenny knew he had won the argument and went in for the kill.

More tomorrow.