Bob of Small End
End
Hockey
David Hockey at Smashwords
David Hockey
Hockey:
Universal Religion:
Why one is
Needed and
How it might
be Developed
Dream
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Chapter 8 Forming the
partnership
Chapter 32 The engagement
party
Chapter 1 Claire
Bob
picked up the three bulging plastic bags, locked the door of his
house, crossed the short path to his small front gate and headed
down the road. Turning right at the crossroads by the Crown Inn he
hurried along to the
Gift
Shop
. The whole journey had not been more than five
hundred yards but he was wishing he’d worn his overcoat; the wind
was freezing and strong gusts blew into his face. Jack Tyne was
carrying the last display rack into the shop and he held the door
open.
“’
Ow do
Bob. Manky weather ain’t it!”
“
Hi
Jack. Oh yes, it certainly is.”
“
Good
job it ain’t rainin’ as well.”
“
I think
it’ll snow next, not rain. I didn’t realise it was this cold.” He
put the bags on the counter. “These are the trains I promised Rose.
There’s twenty sets, so she’ll have enough to last the rest of the
winter. Do you know how many are coming to Saturday’s
matinee?”
“
Jane
said more’n a ’undred tickets been sold. Some ‘ud be locals,
tho’.”
“
Well,
let’s hope they buy a few of these. You eating at the Crown
tonight?”
“
Aye.”
“
Okay,
see you there. ‘Bye Jack.”
“
Tarra
Bob.”
It didn’t feel
quite as cold going with the wind but he knew he’d feel it when he
walked home after supper. Good thing he didn’t have far to go. He
opened the door to the pub and crossed to the bar.
“
Usual
please Len. How’s Mildred?”
“
Her
cold’s nearly gone but she’s staying in the kitchen tonight.
Doesn’t want to sneeze over the customers.”
Bob looked at
the menu. He didn’t want the pot pie, he had enough of that at home
although Mildred’s pies tasted better than the ones he bought at
the supermarket. “I’ll have the roast, Len. Lots of
horseradish.”
“
Sure, I
know, and no brussels, right?”
“
Yes.
Put on more roast parsnip and spuds. And extra Yorkshire pudding,
if you have enough.”
Bob’s
favourite table near the fire was vacant and he sat there,
swallowed a mouthful of beer and looked around. Paper chains hung
between the wall lamps and short boughs of fir had been draped
around the shades. He couldn’t see the mistletoe but he knew it
would soon be hanging from the lamp on the ceiling next to the
entrance door. He turned towards the fire. He loved this spot; it
was warm and the chairs were comfortable, a good place to be on a
cold winter’s night. Half-way through his beer Nancy brought him
his meal and he started eating; no point in waiting for the others,
they might not be here for another half-hour.
Saturday
suppers at the Crown had become routine for Bob soon after Betty
had died three years ago. Shortly after she died the station had
been closed and he was given a pension and released. He still
missed Betty. The children, Sam and Regina, missed her too, of
course, but they had married and had children to look after which
must have helped them. It would be another, rather lonely Christmas
for him. Sure, he’d visit both the kids but he only stayed for one
night. Their Christmases were always very busy because they also
celebrated with their in-laws and partied with friends. He saw more
of them and his grandchildren when they visited during their summer
holidays, Sam’s family especially, for they often camped in the New
Forest.
He’d have to
buy Christmas presents for the youngsters soon. Betty used to do
that and he always found it difficult to chose things the children
would like. They certainly didn’t want any more of his trains, they
already had several and were too old for that kind of toy anyway.
He’d look around Tyne’s on Monday and if Rose didn’t have anything
he’d check the shops in Big End.
“
Hi Bob.
Caught you dreaming have I?”
“
Oh. Hi
Joe. No. I was just thinking about Christmas presents, wondering
what to buy the grandchildren. Where’s Jane?”
“
She’s
still at the Centre. She told me at lunchtime she had to help the
stage crew modify a couple of the sets. One of the helpers is sick.
She’ll be here soon, I expect.”
“
Okay. I
guess you haven’t had your supper then. The roast beef’s pretty
good.”
“
I’ve
already eaten Bob. Finished yesterday’s Shepherd’s pie before
coming. Jane’ll probably be hungry when she arrives though. Well,
what have you been doing this week?”
“
Mostly
making trains. Rose thinks she’ll sell more than usual this
Christmas, but I’ll not make any more until spring. I’ve found a
nice piece of wood and I’m looking forward to carving another
bird.”
Tourists liked
his birds and trains. That was how Bob filled his time, making toy
trains and carving wooden birds. He and Rose Tyne earned a little
money each year as they were sold. Most people in Small End had one
or more of his creations.
“
What
about you Joe, what have you been doing?”
“
The
spuds and brussels have all gone. There’s only broccoli in the
fields now. I’ll have them picked and shipped next week then plough
if it doesn’t rain. Then the greenhouses have to be cleared,
fertilised and rototilled. I’ll get everything done before
Christmas if the weather lets me.”
“
Then
put your feet up for a while.”
“
Yes.
Jane wants to go to the south of Portugal again. Trouble is, it’s a
bit like being in England ‘cos there’s lots of Brits there and they
have pubs, fish and chip shops and tourist attractions, just like
we have here. I’d rather go somewhere different for a change, but
we need the warmth, that’s why we go to Portugal. It’s much warmer
than England. You’ve not been there, have you?”
“
No. The
furthest I’ve been is Wales and Lincolnshire. Betty and I went to
Wales for our honeymoon, remember? And I used to go to Lincolnshire
with my Mum when she went to see her sister. She lives near
Boston.”
“
Yes, I
remember. You usually brought me a stick of rock from Skegness. Ah,
here’s Rose. Hi Rose. Where’s Jack? Isn’t he coming.”
“
He’s at
the bar buying drinks, behind that group of women. They’re from one
of the tours I think, there’s a bus outside.”
“
How’s
the Centre looking? Got all the decorations up?” asked
Bob.
“
No, not
yet. I popped in to see Jane this afternoon. Jack or I’ll have to
be there to arrange the sets for Monday’s dress rehearsal,
someone’s sick. Oh Joe, we’re ready for the Christmas tree. Can we
get it tomorrow, in the afternoon?”
“
Sure,
that’ll be fine.”
Jack put his
beer on the table, gave Rose her cider and sat down.
“
Hello
Jack” said Joe. “What’s new with you?”
“
Nowt.
Still lookin’ fer cottages and ain’t found any. I’ve news about
Bonnie tho’. She’s rented a room. Lady from Reading’s taken t’big
‘en, maybe fer rest of December. She came here wiv her parents when
a teenager and says how nice t’village was then. She’s thinkin’
t’buy a cottage. Wish I ‘ad one fer her! She’s comin’ ‘ere fer
supper.”
Small End had
only one Bed and Breakfast, Bonnie’s B&B. All three bedrooms
were usually occupied between spring and fall but winter guests
were rare. Visitors liked to explore the countryside around the
village. The rolling slopes, cattle and sheep in the fields,
inviting woods and bushy hedgerows made this part of England very
attractive. The walkers followed the many footpaths and strolled
along the Tusset River’s towpath. Children from the city loved the
wildlife, the birds, rabbits, cows and horses. Older folk came
because it was quiet, reminding them of the England they used to
know when they were young. Small End was just fifteen miles from
the coast so people could go there anytime they wanted to watch the
waves or let their kids swim and play on the beach.
“
How did
you learn about Bonnie’s guest?” asked Rose.
“
I’s at
Bonnie’s when she came. Her name’s Claire. She’s bin lookin’ arter
her Mum since her Dad died an’ her Mum died three months ago.
That’s all I know. There she is.” Jack stood up, waved his hand and
she walked over to them.
“
Hi
Claire. This is my wife, Rose, and that’s Bob and Joe,” he said,
pointing. “‘Ere, ‘ave my seat. Wot’ d’you want t’drink?”
“
Hello
everyone. A gin and tonic, please, Jack.”
“
Welcome
to Small End, Claire,” said Rose, “though Jack told us you’ve
already been here.”
“
Yes,
many years ago with my Mum and Dad, when I was a teenager. We spent
two weeks in a hotel in Big End and I always liked coming here. The
people here were so friendly and we often walked along the river. I
liked it so much that I’m thinking about buying a cottage here and
I’ll be staying at Bonnie’s for a while to see if this place still
suits me.”