The Green Years, Day 32

Rab and Kenny sank down on to their bunks. The week was going to be harder than either of them had imagined

Kenny answered sharply. “This is it,” he said. “We’re going to be fully trained and kitted out for the New Year and when we turn up at the City Square with Maisie and Chrissie to kiss the auld year cheerio, we’ll be kissing the girls hello!” He slapped Rab on the back. “Was I right,” he said grinning, “or was I right?”

Rab conceded. “You were right Kenny,” he said, “as usual.”

The T.A. had cleared things with Keiller’s for the boys to have the time off and a late winter sun also showed its face, along with Maisie and Chrissie, as they boarded the bus at the Seagate to take them to the camp.

“See you in a week, then,” Kenny said beginning to regret the idea of Maisie seeing him off. After all, they were only going a few miles along the road to Barry Buddon, not out to a war zone.

But Maisie played along. “A week it is,” she said smiling “and will you have on your uniform when you come back?” she asked, quite looking forward to seeing him in full battle-dress.

Decision

He looked at Rab. “What do you reckon,” he said, “kit and caboodle?”

Rab nodded, conscious of Chrissie standing beside him and not sure whether to kiss her goodbye or shake her hand.

But, in the end, the bus driver made the decision for him. “Hurry up and give her a kiss mate, this bus is for leaving.”

Chrissie felt her face go scarlet and Rab leant down and kissed her cheek. “See you in a week?” he asked, unsure if she would still fancy him a week from now.

Chrissie nodded and quickly stepped back, knowing that the letter from Tommy was sitting darkly in her clutch bag.

The girls waved as the bus backed out of the bus station carrying Kenny and Rab into the unknown of Barry Buddon T.A. Camp.

“Do you think they’ll wait for us?” Rab asked anxiously.

“We’re only going to be away a week, Rab,” Kenny reassured him, “and if they’re not,” he added, glibly, “there’s plenty more pebbles on the beach and in our army gear, we’ll have our pick.”

But as the bus picked up speed and headed out along the Broughty Ferry Road towards Barry Buddon, Kenny realised that his blasé front was just that, a front, for deep inside he now knew for certain, Maisie was the one.

Kenny and Rab were amongst eight others who were reporting for duty that day and Shug Reilly was there to meet them all.

“My name is Sergeant Reilly,” he said, menacingly, “but you can call me SIR.” Rab visibly jumped and even Kenny flinched at the word SIR.

“Get him,” murmured Rab out of the corner of his mouth, just loud enough for Sergeant Reilly to hear.

“Did you have something to say to me, son’?” he asked Rab sweetly.

Rab shook his head. “I didn’t quite hear you,” the Sergeant said, cupping his hand around his ear.

“No,” said Rab, his stomach now tightening. He’d always been a bit wary of Shug Reilly, but now he was proper scared, as Shug’s face closed in on his. “NO WHAT, SOLDIER?” he said.

Rab’s mouth refused to move as did everyone else’s, as they waited for the next word.

“SIR” blasted the Sergeant, “that’s the word you’re looking for, son, SIR.”

Sergeant Reilly walked down the line before returning to Rab.

Knot of fear

“Now,” he said, his voice sweetness and light again, “I’ll ask you again and this time, I want the correct response.”

“Do you have something to say to me, son?” Rab’s face was white as he fought to untie the knot of fear in his stomach. “No, sir,” he said. “LOUDER,” barked the Sergeant.

“NO,SIR,” Rab repeated, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him. Satisfied, Shug Reilly resumed his position in front of the new recruits.

“Follow me,” he ordered, “and try to keep in line,” this remark directed specifically at Rab. For the rest of the day, the recruits were issued with their kit and shown their bunks.

“We eat at 6.30 sharp,” ordered the sergeant, “the Mess Hall is there,” he told them, pointing in a vague direction. “Don’t be late.”

Rab and Kenny sank down on to their bunks. The week was going to be harder than either of them had imagined, with Rab already thinking that no woman was worth this aggro, not even Chrissie. Kenny could see the panic in Rab’s eyes.

A full week of this would either make or break him. “C’mon, pal,” he said. “Let’s find the mess before all the grub’s gone.”

“I’m no’ very hungry,” said Rab, his stomach still knotted. Kenny felt a twinge of conscience at how he’d steamrollered Rab into joining the T.A.

“Just let’s give it a try,” he said quietly. “We’re here for the week so might as well at least enjoy the food.”

Rab relented and stood up, following Kenny to the billet door. “If we last a week,” he muttered. Kenny put his hand on his shoulder.

“We’ll be OK,” he said, more calmly than he felt. “Just keep thinking of the New Year and the girls.”

Miserable

Ian Brown was miserable as he walked with Rebel around the grounds of the National Cash Register Company, checking that all doors and windows were secure.

The night air was frosty and Rebel’s breathing left him in misty clouds.

What had gone wrong, he asked himself, time and again, without answer. He knew Maisie liked him, but the fates seemed to conspire against him every time he tried to get closer to her.

And now, there was this ‘boyfriend’ of hers to contend with, the soldier. Just then, Rebel barked and began to pull Ian towards the perimeter fence.

“OK, boy,” Ian whispered, flashing his torch in the direction Rebel was pointing, all his senses alert now knowing that something was wrong.

He unleashed Rebel who went hurtling into the darkness, while Ian ran behind him.

“Freeze,” he shouted as a flurry of legs and arms tried to scramble under the wire fence, but Rebel had an arm in his grip and had no intention of letting go.

Ian grabbed a leg and pulled a second intruder back into the compound. “Get the doag aff me,” a panicking voice screamed at Ian.

“Stop struggling,” Ian shouted as he clamped a pair of handcuffs on to the other figure who was now lying face down in the grass.

“Release,” he commanded Rebel who immediately dropped the intruder’s arm but continued to stand over him.

More tomorrow.