The Green Years, Day 29

“Ian felt his good mood go from exuberant to dejected in a split second

Ian Brown had been fretting since that evening at the Rep and Fiona had been unbearably fawning.

He’d prayed that Maisie would turn up again at the badminton, but there had been no sign of her the week before and he doubted if he’d ever see her again.

“Penny for them?” Fiona chirped, sitting herself down beside Ian in the church hall. Badminton night again and she couldn’t wait.

Ian continued to bounce his badminton racket against his other hand and barely looked up. Fiona was irritated at his lack of response.

She had thought that after their night out together at the theatre, he’d be a bit more daring and now that Maisie Green was out of the way, she’d done everything to encourage his attentions.

“Not worth a penny,” he said standing up and taking a shuttlecock from the box. Fiona followed him.

“Ready to start?” she asked, brightly, taking up her position on the opposite side of the net.

The rest of the players gradually drifted in and waved to the pair of them, nudging occasionally and smiling.

“She’s got her claws into him now,” one of the girls said to her partner. “About time,” came the reply. “She’s been after him for ages.”

Embarrassment

Maisie and Chrissie sidled into the hall just after eight o’clock. “I told you we’d be too late,” whispered Chrissie. “All the courts are full.”

“Sorry,” said Maisie, trying not to look for Ian Brown amongst the moving bodies. “I had to work late with Ella. One of the packer’s bonuses was wrong and she wouldn’t quit till we’d got it right.”

“I know,” said Chrissie changing her shoes. “Maybe someone will be finishing soon.”

Ian Brown and Fiona Campbell shook hands over the net and started moving towards the girls. Maisie felt herself flush with embarrassment and wanted to run out of the hall and as far away as possible from the cosy pair.

“Maisie!” exclaimed Ian Brown, finally looking up and spotting her. “You’re here,” he added his whole face lighting up while Fiona’s darkened.

Fiona linked her arm into Ian’s and smiled possessively at Maisie. “Nice to see you both again,” she smoothed. “Ian and I were wondering where you’d got to.”

Maisie felt herself bristle, but Chrissie’s hand on her shoulder was holding her down. “Is that the court free now?” Chrissie asked.

Fiona gazed at Ian. “Is it free?” she said airily. “Have we had enough fun for one night, or do you want some more?”

“I think some more,” Ian grinned, taking Maisie by the hand and propelling her towards the empty court. “Never can get enough of a good thing,” he added, locking his eyes on Maisie’s.

Chrissie jumped in before Fiona could say another word. “You and me then,” she beamed, “and may the best woman win.”

The words weren’t lost on Fiona as she fumed after Chrissie on to the next court. Ian Brown couldn’t believe his luck. Now he had Maisie’s attention again, he’d be able to explain to her about Fiona meaning nothing to him and ask her for a date.

Maisie was useless at badminton and was glad when Ian called a halt to their game and led her to the table with the orange squash and tumblers.

“Here,” he said, handing her a glass of the cold juice. “You’re getting better at the game and next time, I’ll show you some shots.”

Rejected

“Next time?” Maisie queried, gulping down the cooling drink. “I doubt if there’ll be a next time,” she said, remembering how rejected she’d felt on seeing him with Fiona at the theatre. “I don’t think badminton is for me.”

Ian felt his good mood go from exuberant to dejected in a split second. “But, you’re only learning,” he rushed, “you’ll get better.”

Fiona was approaching rapidly, with Chrissie in her wake, but Maisie couldn’t bear to watch another example of their togetherness.

“Well, here’s your girlfriend,” she said, quickly standing and joining Chrissie. “Our boyfriends are meeting us for a drink later and we don’t want to keep them waiting, do we Chrissie?” “Boyfriends,” Ian said weakly.

“Yes,” Maisie repeated. “They’re soldiers in the TA and they finish gun practice at nine.”

Chrissie looked bemused. What was Maisie on about? “So,” she said with a superior nod as she handed her racket to Fiona, “we don’t want to keep the boys waiting, do we?” Once out in the cold air, Chrissie pulled Maisie to a stop. “What was all that about?” she said, squeakily, “we’re not meeting Kenny and Rab.”

“WE know that,” said Maisie, “but Mr Brown and Miss Smartypants don’t.”

“C’mon,” Maisie said, “let’s go home and leave the lovebirds to themselves.”

“But, I thought you liked Ian Brown?” Chrissie asked, more confused than usual about Maisie’s romantic swings and roundabouts.

“Used to,” Maisie emphasised, “used to like Ian Brown, but I’m not about to go into a competition for him. If he likes me, then he’s going to have to chase me,” she said with finality, “and I’m getting harder to catch.”

Chrissie sighed. “So Kenny’s the hot favourite now is he?”

“At the moment he is,” Maisie said airily, “but who knows.”

Chrissie was beginning to get concerned about Maisie’s thinking about the men in her life. They’d hurt her in the past, that was for sure, but the way she was behaving now, wasn’t like her at all.

Silence

The bravado Maisie had felt at the badminton club, dissipated as she said goodbye to Chrissie and made her way back home.

She’d tried to be unconcerned that Ian Brown and Fiona Campbell were now an “item” but her pride wouldn’t let it show and she knew that she could never fit into their world and nor did she want to, she told herself decisively, as she turned her key in the lock of her home and went inside.

Ian Brown packed away his things in silence. Maisie had a boyfriend – the words dug into his chest and a soldier too, who knew how to handle guns.

His job as a security guard and dog handler suddenly seemed pathetic against the charisma of a soldier.

“Alright Ian?” Fiona asked, glad that Maisie Green now had a boyfriend of her own, but annoyed at Ian’s sullen silence.

She was here for him wasn’t she? Maisie Green didn’t come up to her knee caps for style, so what was his problem?