Opposite Sides (30 page)

“
Did
you
put that there?” she
asked sternly peering over the top of her glasses. Jan shrugged and
said nothing. “If you did, then you can take it down again. Do I
make myself clear?”

At first Jan hesitated
but then, like a robot, she stomped stiffly over to the wall and
took the picture down, stomped back past her aunt, glared at Hans
and finally threw the offending photo back in the drawer. She shut
the drawer with a loud bang. She adjusted her glasses and glared at
Hans in anger before pressing her lips tightly together to stop
them from quivering. Hans could see that she was visibly upset, for
one small tear trickled down her cheek and dripped off the side of
her chin and on to the carpet. She reminded him of a child about to
cry and before anyone could react, Jan turned and fled out of the
room. The living-room door slammed shut with an explosive
sound.

Miss Turner patted her
chest between her heaving breasts. She looked quite
pale.

“
The pair of
you have left me speechless. Such a disgusting outburst . . . and
in my living-room. Really, Mr Resmel, an apology is in
order.”

“
I am sorry,
Miss Turner, but I cannot forgive for that.” He pointed at the
drawer. “Why keep such a horrible picture?”

“
I’ve
explained that before, young man. It is not horrible when you
understand.”

“
Understand
that? That’s war. I thought we were trying to move forward from the
horrible things that happened.”

“
Yes, what
happened was horrible, I agree. But we cannot ever forget all those
young men. One day, Mr Resmel, you will understand. And understand
why that photo is here.”

The air was tense. He
felt uncomfortable. He stood up and, clicking his heels together,
gave her a stiff bow.

“
I think I
must leave. Thank you for the tea, Miss Turner.”

He swivelled round on his
heel and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Hans
collected his coat from the hook in the hallway and let himself out
of the front door. He did not look back

He was annoyed with
himself for his stupid outburst. It had been like the earlier times
when he and Jan had had words. He should have controlled himself
more but when he had caught sight of that vile picture, all those
previous memories had resurfaced. He had not intended to be so
confrontational but why, oh why, had Jan Turner reacted in such a
way when told that he was in love with her
second-cousin?

Maybe, she
did not want him to have anything to do with her
family
, he thought
. Maybe, she was still annoyed with him over some previous
event. And why she had replaced the photo after her aunt had
express-idly forbidden her to do so? Jan knew he was to visit so
did she do it to hurt him?

He was regaining his
composure, quietly walking away from the college and towards the
local Inn where he always stayed when he came for the weekends,
when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“
Hello,
Hans.”

It was Anne, bright and
breezy, as usual. Bertie had written and told him that Gerald’s
crazy desire to fly was about to come true. He had managed to get
himself into a position where he was not only being paid for
messing around with aeroplanes but was learning to fly them as
well. He’d already got all the kit: scarf, leather boots, helmet
and goggles. In a few more months, Gerald would acquire his wings.
Bertie had also written that Anne and Gerald’s relationship had
become much more serious and that he soon expected to hear of their
engagement. Hans wondered whether Miss Turner had objected to that
liaison, too, but he did not let on.

“
Hello,
Anne,” he said in a bright, breezy manner. “How’s life treating
you? Still busy?”

“
As ever.
What’s this I’ve heard about you?”

“
Me?”

“
You. I’d
heard from Jan Turner that you’re going back to
Germany.”

“
I don’t know
where she got that idea.”

Anne put her hand over
her mouth.

“
Oh dear, did
I get it wrong? Jan said her aunt . . . ” Anne shook her head and
gave a weak laugh. “Oh, never mind about that.” She patted him like
a mother, ever so gently on his arm. She had far more important
things to discuss than Miss Turner. “Isn’t it absolutely beastly
about the miners? So unsettling. Have you heard? They really should
behave themselves and return to work immediately. This morning’s
newspaper is full of the strike this weekend. See? Here.” She waved
the newspaper under his nose with the headlines emblazoned across
the front page. “I was asked to pop into town and get one. Gerald .
. . ” She paused and rolled the paper up into a cylinder. Anne took
a deep breath. “Oh, sorry, haven’t you heard the latest news around
here? It’s Gerald and me. Daddy’s given us the green light. Been
going out steady for over six months, now. Oh, and he’s learning to
fly.”

“
Who? Your
father?”

“
No, Gerald,
silly. He’s got a weekend job at the aerodrome. Adores it and when
he gets his wings, he’s promised to take me up. Spiffing, isn’t it?
There, he could fly you back to Germany.”

“
It is too
far and I’m not going.”

“
Oh.”

“
I’m staying
here.”

“
Are you
going to see Caroline?”

“
Yes,
tomorrow.”

“
I noticed
you coming out of the school grounds. Did you visit Miss
Turner?”

“
Yes but we
had a row.”

“
Oh dear.”
Anne raised an eyebrow and inclined her head closer in Hans’
direction. “Do tell me what happened.”

For a few seconds, Hans
chewed at a niggly piece of skin that had come loose at the side of
his little finger nail while he thought of what to say.

“
I was
telling her about Caroline and me and she didn’t like
it.”

“You sure?” Anne
straightened. Her eyes grew wider for she loved to hear any sort of
news about the school or the Turners. And anything that could be
construed as gossip was even better.

“
Yes,” he
answered in a firm manner. “Said we were too young.” An angry frown
formed on his face. He clenched his fists and made his little
finger sting. “Thinks she owns me, Anne!” he snapped.

“
Could be
because Caroline’s related. Miss Turner’s fine with me.” Anne
leaned back on her heels and smiled with light
satisfaction.

“
Does she
know about you and Gerald?” asked Hans. He was feeling upset over
the rejection he had felt from the school mistress as well as being
annoyed over seeing that photo again.

“
Oh yes.”
Anne was quite matter-of-fact about it. She laughed and tossed her
head. “I think nearly everyone in town knows about us. Miss Turner
knows Gerald’s father quite well. Mr Brookfield-Smith’s on the
Board, so they have dealings in that way.”

Hans felt deflated. His
voice betrayed the bitterness he felt. It seemed so unfair; one
rule for her and another for him. He shook his hand to allay the
pain.

“
Lucky
you!”

“
Look, can I
give you a lift?” Anne was bright and breezy. She ignored Hans’
sombre mood. “Gerald taught me to drive a few weeks ago when we
went out in the country and Daddy was so pleased, he bought me a
new motorcar - that one, over there.”

She pointed to a sporty
car parked just across the road. Anne was lucky to have a father
who not only had income from his farm but was also a partner of a
profitable business, although what it exactly was, Anne had never
said.

“
No, it’s all
right, thank you. I enjoy to walk.”

“
Well, if you
ever change your mind, you can contact me easily enough. You’ve
still got my telephone number, haven’t you? Oh, just say who you
are and ask for me. We’ve got a new butler and he doesn’t know
you.”

Hans nodded and tried to
look brighter. He had the rest of the day to unwind and all of
Sunday to enjoy himself with Caroline. He didn’t need to be back in
London until Tuesday.

He and Caroline spent a
wonderful day together, walking, laughing, hugging and kissing.
They enjoyed the orchestra in the bandstand. They sat on the lawn
holding hands as they listened to the band play happy, entertaining
tunes. All the world and all its problems evaporated that day and
they were still in a jubilant mood when he accompanied her safely
back to the bus stop.

The next morning, he saw
Anne in the High Street.

“
How did
things go with Caroline?”

“
Good.”

He elaborated on his
meeting with Miss Turner. He explained to Anne that when he told
Miss Turner about his relationship with Caroline, she had lectured
him about all the poor girls who were taken for a ride by wicked
young men and then dumped after they had had their wicked way with
the poor girls, whatever that meant and that she didn’t want to see
Caroline treated like that. He mentioned that Miss Turner had not
been sure if his intentions were honourable especially as he had
not spoken to Caroline’s father.

“
And do you
intend to speak with him?” Anne asked.

“
Yes. Miss
Turner told me that she didn’t think he would ever give his
permission. Me not being a local boy, I think. I also got that
impression from Caroline when she told me about her father.
Personally, I think it’s to do with all that prejudice from the
war. I’ve had the same feeling before. It’s a feeling of suspicion
as well as not being accepted.”

“
There’s got
to more to it than just that, Hans. Caroline’s not twenty yet. Her
father is only being protective of his daughter. That’s what it’ll
be. I think you’re being too harsh on yourself.”

“
If it’s
nothing to do with me, then what? Even Miss Turner is not pleased.
I say she has no idea about love. Look at her. An old woman. Why in
a school for boys? Anyway, who’d want anything to do with
her?”

“
She wasn’t
always old.” Anne felt she had to defend the woman. “She must have
been young once, you know.”

“
Yes. Last
century!” Hans snapped.

“
It’s Jan I
feel sorry for.” Anne brushed back her hair that had fallen across
her face. “Miss Turner won’t let poor Jan do anything. I think she
is making sure Jan will be around when she gets really old and
needs a nursemaid. Also, if anyone even looked at Jan, I think
there would be thunder and lightning from all directions. They’d
have to pass close inspection of the Turner kind! Have you thought
about that?”

“
I expect
you’re right.” He gave a sigh of resignation. “Jan is a strange
one. Always goes off the deep end especially when I do anything.”
Hans suddenly had an idea. It seemed ridiculous to him but he did
not mind sharing it with Anne. “One would almost think Jan is
jealous.”

“
Of your
freedom, yes. As for Caroline . . . if she really loves you, she’ll
stick by you, come what may and no Miss Turner’s disapproval or Jan
Turner’s jealousy will turn her away from you.” Anne glanced at her
expensive gold watch. “Oh, is that the time? I do not want to keep
you talking. I say, when does your train leave?”

“
I haven’t
got a return ticket,” Hans answered. “Couldn’t get one in London. I
was hoping to get on the one o’clock one.”

“
Let’s go and
get your ticket now. I’ll take you in my motorcar.”

Hans climbed in over the
over the small low door and settled himself in the passenger seat.
Anne easily started the motor and drove like an expert,negotiating
the numerous horse-drawn carts that still made up a large part of
the traffic volume.

When they arrived at the
train station, they were alarmed to find signs all over the
platform.

All trains
have been cancelled until further notice.

“
How am I
going to get back to London?” Hans’s voice had an air of
desperation mixed in with disappointment. “What’s happened? Why no
trains?” Then he remembered the warning the ticket officer had
given him on Saturday morning when he had purchased his ticket to
come here. “I remember. I think the ticket office said it’s
something to do with coal supplies . . . and the
miners.”

They walked through the
station building and found that the station master was still
around. Hans went up to him. He couldn’t remember seeing this
person on the station during the other times he had used the
trains.

“
Excuse me,
but we’ve seen notices telling us that there are no trains today.
Is something wrong with them?”

“
Sorry, sir,
can’t righ’ly say. I’m not the real station master. I’m doin’ this
job just f’ today, sir. It’s the strike. Everyone’s out. ‘aven’t
you ‘eard the news, sir?”

“
What
news?”

“
It’s all in
the ‘eadlines, sir.”

“
About the
trains?”

“
No. The
strike”

“
What
strike?” Anne was equally curious to know why the trains had ceased
to run.