Rab had been watching the altercation from afar and when Kenny signalled him to join them, he knew it meant trouble

Rab hissed at Kenny: “You didn’t say we’d have to get our hair cut,” as he followed him through the gate. “I’ve changed my mind, Kenny,” he gasped. “I’m no’ joining.” “Get a grip, Rab,” Kenny instructed, pulling him nearer to the door of the building, “you can grow it again when you leave.” Kenny knew if he let go of Rab’s arm, he’d make a run for it. His grip tightened as they went through the door. The interior was a huge drill hall, where an instructor was putting some lads through their paces.

An officer sat at a desk by the door and stood up when Kenny and Rab entered. “What’s your business, lads?” he asked, casting an experienced eye over the teddy-boy suits and beetle-crusher shoes.

“We want to join, sir,” said Kenny, pointing to Rab and himself, “the TA that is.”

“Well,” said the officer, “you’ve come to the right place.” He indicated two metal chairs set against the wall of the drill hall. “Pull up a pew and tell me a bit about yourselves.”

Glowered

For the next half hour, Kenny and Rab, but mainly Kenny, told their life stories, their schools, their jobs and their reasons for wanting to be a soldier.

“Well,” he concluded, “I think you’re just what the TA is looking for.” Kenny beamed and Rab glowered.

He produced some forms and pens. “Fill these in and I’ll let you know when and where for your medical and training dates as soon as they’re processed.”

The boys scribbled silently till the forms were completed. “Is that it?” asked Kenny, handing them over to the officer.

“That’s it,” he said, standing up to let them know the interview was over. He shook hands with both of them. “Welcome to the TA,” he smiled, “and we’ll be in touch.”

Once outside, Rab began again to question the wisdom of his decision. “Stop fretting,” said Kenny. “You’re getting to sound like an auld fish wifie. Everything will be OK, so cheer up and when Chrissie and Maisie see us in our uniforms, you’ll realise I was right.”

The squaddie was still on duty at the gate but he’d been joined by a familiar figure. “Lads!” said the uniformed Shug Reilly, “so you came after all.”

He shook both their hands.

“Didn’t think you’d have the bottle,” he continued, “but here you are and as new recruits you’ll be under the gentle wing of a sergeant till you know the ropes and,” he added, gleefully, “that would be me.”

He pointed to the three chevron stripes on the sleeve of his jacket. “See you soon,” he added, as he turned to go, “and I’m looking forward to it already.”

A slight shimmer of anxiety ran through Rab’s stomach. Shug Reilly was a bit of a hard man and being under his gentle wing didn’t do anything to inspire his confidence.

Rab fretted inwardly all the way back to Fintry, as he tried to think of a way to backtrack his decision without looking stupid in the eyes of Kenny.

“See you tomorrow at Keiller’s,” Kenny said as they alighted from their bus, “and thanks, pal,” he added, “for, well being a pal.”

He slapped Rab on the back and walked away, leaving the reluctant squaddie alone with his anxiety.

The next day in the canteen, Kenny lost no time in approaching Maisie and Chrissie. “How goes it, girls?” he asked, grinning with confidence.

Confrontation

Maisie’s eyes levelled with his. “Does the word liar mean anything to you Kenny Wilson?” she hissed.

“Me,” Kenny retorted, “are you talking about me?” Maisie looked around her. “Well I don’t see anyone else at this table!” Chrissie joined in the confrontation. “You and Rab haven’t joined the TA at all, have you?”

Kenny turned his attention to his accuser. “If Rab had joined the TA he would have told me last Sunday at the Monkey Parade and he didn’t say a word,” Chrissie stated confidently.

“Maybe he doesn’t trust you,” Kenny retaliated, “to tell you things.”

The comment stung Chrissie’s heart, already damaged by Tommy Murphy and she pushed her chair back and stood up.

“Well then,” she said, pointing out Rab at another table, “bring him over here and let him tell me now.”

Rab had been watching the altercation from afar and when Kenny signalled him to join them, he knew it meant trouble.

“What’s up?” he asked as casually as he could. “Have you and him joined the TA or not?” Chrissie asked. Kenny stood with arms folded, avoiding any eye contact with Rab. He knew the score. Rab wouldn’t let him down.

He was up the Clyde without a paddle and Rab knew it. Back Kenny and lose Chrissie. Or back Chrissie and lose the respect of his pal.

“Who told you we’d joined the TA?” Chrissie looked at Maisie. “I did,” she said, “and he told me last Sunday at the Monkey Walk.”

All eyes turned to Kenny, whose mind was racing at 100 miles an hour searching for a way out of his predicament without losing face.

“And we joined the TA,” he said slowly, “only I joined a couple of weeks ago and Rab just joined last night.”

He put his arm round Rab’s shoulder. “Isn’t that right, pal?” “Right,” Rab agreed, anxiously, looking at Chrissie for understanding.

“I was going to surprise you in my uniform,” he told her, compounding the lie. He’d have to stick to his guns now as Chrissie’s eyes changed from anger to the beginnings of admiration.

Relax

“So, you hadn’t joined till last night?” she asked. Rab’s breathing began to normalise. “That’s right, Chrissie,” he said, “I would have told you if I’d joined before that.”

Both girls seemed to relax as the bell for the end of tea break sounded. “So, will we see you later?” Kenny asked, falling in step with Maisie.

“You might,” she said, feeling vindicated in Chrissie’s eyes, “maybe we could go to the pictures, or something,” she added coyly. Kenny was elated. “I’ll check things out in The Courier,” he said, “and see what’s on.”

“And maybe Rab and Chrissie would like to come too, make it a foursome,” she said, now confident that she could ask anything of her ‘budding soldier’ and he’d agree.

This wasn’t quite how Kenny had wanted their date to be, but at least he was making progress. “Great,” he said smiling, and winking at Rab, “the four of us.”

The girls returned to the Packing Department with suppressed smiles. “I think we might have Kenny and Rab where we want them,” Maisie whispered. “Isn’t life fun?”

“Fun,” Chrissie echoed, but she was beginning to like Rab and wasn’t sure how far Maisie meant to go in her pursuit of fun.

More tomorrow.