The Serial: The Green Years, Day 35

Maisie, Maisie,” Grace Dalton said kindly, “there’s nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself

Chrissie hissed: “He’s here. C’mon, follow me.” At the door, Chrissie pushed Maisie to the front and leaning past her, turned the handle.

The door swung open and Ian Brown stood before Maisie, a bunch of roses in one hand and his car key in the other. “Your carriage awaits you, my lady,” he said, bowing slightly and offering Maisie the flowers.

Maisie’s heart was thudding so much she thought she was going to faint. She accepted the flowers and allowed herself to be led to Ian’s car.

This was what she’d dreamed about happening to her for a long, long time, but now that it was actually happening, she felt so scared she could hardly breathe.

But the drive into town to the Angus Hotel was only the beginning. Ian parked the car and took her arm as they walked to the hotel restaurant.

“Shall I take your coat, madam?” asked the girl behind the desk at the cloakroom. Maisie shook her head.

The maitre d’ pointed to a table for two. Candles glowed and silver cutlery was glittering in their light. Other diners were already at their tables, necklaces sparkling on the women and dinner jackets worn by some of the men.

Reluctant

Maisie’s eyes couldn’t take it all in. She’d never in her life been to anywhere so posh.

She looked down at her only dress. Cheap cotton and ill-fitting. She couldn’t go through with it.

“I’ll just visit the lav, er ladies,” she said nervously, to Ian. “Won’t be long.”

“I’ll wait for you at our table,” Ian said smoothly. “By the window.”

Maisie turned away, her heart quickening with every carpeted step.

She walked past the cloakroom, the ladies toilets and the waiters bringing food to the tables, then down the stairs to the revolving door.

Once through the door, she started to run and didn’t stop till she was breathless.

The bus bore the reluctant princess back to Fintry and Chrissie’s door. “What happened!” Chrissie asked, her concern for her friend increasing as she rushed past her and into the bedroom.

Maisie could hold it in no longer. “It was awful,” she wailed, mascara and tears blackening her cheeks “and I ran away.”

Maisie held on to her until the weeping ceased and Maisie had used up half a box of tissues mopping up her tears.

“Why do I keep trying to be something I’m not?” she asked herself and Chrissie simultaneously. There was a knock on Chrissie’s bedroom door and Grace Dalton popped her head around. “Everything OK?” she said, knowing that it wasn’t. She’d heard Maisie’s sobs even with the television turned up.

“I’ve made some hot chocolate,” she said, “in the kitchen.”

“That would be nice Mrs Dalton,” Maisie said, “I haven’t eaten all day.”

The trio trooped through to the kitchen and Maisie related the whole story to Chrissie’s mum. “So, I ran away,” she said, “just like a silly little girl.”

“Maisie, Maisie,” Grace Dalton said kindly, “there’s nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to meet new people to go out with. Where you’ve gone wrong is thinking that you’re not good enough.”

Beautiful

She hugged Maisie and held both girls hands. “That’s all.”

“So, be your beautiful selves, both of you,” she smiled, “and I bet Ian Brown is sitting in the Angus Hotel right now, eating a lonely dinner and wondering where he went wrong.” Maisie brightened. “You think so?” “I know so,” Grace said, “so finish your chocolate and get a good night’s sleep, tomorrow is another day and things will look better in the morning.”

“Thanks, Mrs Dalton,” Maisie said. “You always know what to say to make things right.”

Chrissie saw Maisie to the door. “Are you OK now?” she asked. “I just feel a bit of an idiot,” Maisie said, “and the next time I talk about two-timing being fun, remind me of tonight.”

Ian Brown slowly realised that the girl of his dreams had vanished. “Could someone check the Ladies?” he asked the waiter who was hovering over the table with the wine list. “My friend wasn’t feeling too well.”

“Certainly, sir.” He returned with a shake of his head. Ian ordered a large glass of wine, his appetite having deserted him. Something had gone wrong, but what could it have been?

He took out the slip of paper he’d written Maisie’s address on. Tomorrow he’d find out. He was too close to making her his own to give up now.

The week’s T.A. basic training at Barry Buddon had been gruelling. The assault course, the squarebashing and the rifle range had all been relished by Kenny, but for Rab, it was a different story.

He hated everything about the T.A. and for reasons best known to himself, Shug Reilly had been on his case from day one.

“I’ve had enough,” he told Kenny as they were marched out of the camp and back into ‘civilisation’. “I know you think it impresses the lassies but if that’s what it takes to get Chrissie, then I’ll just have to look elsewhere for love.”

“You don’t mean that, Rab,” Kenny said, trying to placate his pal.

“Shug Reilly was a blighter, for sure, but he won’t always be in charge, so what do you say. Why not think again?

But Rab wasn’t to be moved on this one. “I’ve tried, Kenny,” he said, dejection sitting heavy on his broad shoulders, “but it’s just not for me.”

Crestfallen

Kenny knew when to quit bugging his pal. He saw that Rab really hated all that muck and bullets but he had loved it, regardless of whether it impressed Maisie or not.

“OK, pal,” he said, patting Rab on the shoulder. “Thanks for trying, anyway, and the next time I go to Rodd Road, I’ll let them know what you’ve decided and find out how to return your kit.”

Rab looked crestfallen. He hated letting Kenny down but it was as well done now than later when he was in too deep.

Once they were home, Rab decided he’d go round to Chrissie’s house and tell her he was no longer a soldier and if she didn’t like it, then that would be that.

Ian Brown parked his car outside what he thought was Maisie’s house and took a deep breath.

He tucked a box of chocolates under his arm and walked resolutely up the Dalton’s garden path.

Grace Dalton opened the door to his knock. She was just about to tell him that she didn’t buy anything from people on the doorstep when she spotted the chocolates.

More tomorrow.