It's Only Temporary (31 page)

‘A good sign, trust me!’ Hank enthused as we walked back to my apartment.

‘Really? What happens now?’

‘Well they will spend the weekend on the golf course, or in the pool or at the track or where ever the hell the go at weekends. Then on Monday they are gonna call you in for a
meeting
and offer you the job.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘Ask Barry, if he has anything for you.’ He said as we approached the congenial doorman.

‘What?’

‘Just do it, trust me.’

‘Good afternoon Sir’s and how are we today?’ Barry asked.

‘Err, fine Barry. Umm, listen do you have anything for me?’

‘Like what Sir?’

I had no idea, ‘Anything at all?’

‘No Sir, I will bring anything straight up to you if I do.’

‘Ok, cheers.’ I looked at Hank, ‘What on earth…’

‘Partner, you just got confirmation that the job is yours.’

‘Huh?’

‘If it was a no, Barry would have
already have your ticket home for you by now.’

‘Really, he said that?’ Stacy asked me on the phone later.

‘Yeah, apparently that’s the way they work.’

‘Oh well, well done then. It’s what you wanted.’

‘I think so,’ I think so? Of course it was what I wanted, I had been counting down to it for the best part of six weeks.

‘You don’t sound too sure.’

‘I’m just tired I guess.’

‘Well try and get some sleep.’

‘Can’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘I have promised to go and watch the Rangers play Dallas tonight.’

‘Who?’

‘The University football team, I have a shirt and baseball cap for the occasion.’

She started to laugh, the sound of it made me feel better. ‘Dan would love that!’ she said.
Then, ‘Check the pocket of your rucksack, I put something I there for you.’

‘Yeah? What?’

‘Have  a look and find out. Well I have my own big day on Monday with the council,’ she added.

‘Yeah I know, you ready?’

‘I guess.’

‘Now you don’t sound too sure.’

‘I wish you were going to be there,’ she said. My heart felt like it had skipped a beat.

‘I’m sure you will be fine I said.

We rang off with me promising to call her after my meeting on Monday so we could exchange victory stories.

‘Kiss Max goodnight from me?’ I said without thinking.

‘Of course,’ she said very quietly.

Chapter 40.

Laying out the Rangers shirt
and cap I decided that wearing them would be wrong, I just did not feel like I belonged in such garb. Remembering Stacy’s rucksack comment I started to sift through the various pockets. I found it at the fourth attempt, it was my print out from the speed dating fiasco with only Stacy’s name on it, I had accused her of it being a mercy vote and not real. Underneath her name she had written.

I truly hope you find what is missing,

Stacy

xxx

P.S. What made you think it wasn’t real?

The intercom buzzed and I heard Barry announced that Hank was waiting for me, leaving the Rangers gear on the bed I slipped the note from Stacy into my shirt pocket and made my way down to meet him.

‘You’re underdressed partner!’ Barry exclaimed.

‘Yeah, I know. Maybe once I have started?’ I offered with no conviction.

‘Hmmm, ok. Whatever you say,’ he said eyeing me sceptically.

As a child I always deduced that I was no good at football, or soccer as it’s called in
Texas, because I was too intelligent. The boys who seemed to be good at the game also seemed to be the ones in the bottom sets at school.

I refined this theory somewhat as an adult, it is in my opinion not lack of brains that dictates your ability but if the celebrity professionals are anything to go
by it is more a question of location. I am simply handicapped due to having my brains situated between my ears and thus too far away from my feet. However it appears that to be really successful at football there is a need to have them somewhat lower in your anatomy and hence closer to your feet as many a kiss and tell glamour girl will testify in the tabloid media.

American football however is very confusing; there seem to be a lot of rules none of which actually
overtly have anything to do with what is taking place on the field. It would seem a PhD is required simply to be able to follow what is going on.

Hank feigned interest in these theories as I relayed them to him; we were sitting in
the university bar celebrating the Rangers victory.

‘So, how you feeling buddy?’ he asked.

‘A little drunk,’ I said counting the empty beer bottles in front of us.

‘Well you’ve got all weekend to sober up before your meeting on Monday.’

His comment reminded me that Stacy would also be in a meeting of her own on Monday, without thinking I pulled the note from my pocket.

‘What’s that?’ Hank asked.

‘Oh, errm nothing. Just a note from a ……friend.’

He reached across and took it from my hand, strangely I made no
attempt to stop him or protest in any way, perhaps the alcohol in my system was to blame?

‘Who is Stacy?’

‘She is….wonderful,’ I said and then embarked on an overly long soliloquy about my recent experiences.

‘You missing her?’

There is was again, that word missing. Did I miss her? Yeah as it happens I did. A lot it seemed.

‘Very much.’

‘Ah.’

‘Ah?’

‘Well what you have to do here is decide.’

‘Decide what?’

‘On whether she’s an
a
, or a
the
.’

‘Hank? Was that English?’

He laughed, ‘Texan probably! What I mean is you have great opportunity here and if you need
a
Stacy in your life then I am happy to tell ya pal, Texas is full of em!’ he said opening his arms as if to take in the entire state. ‘But, if you need
the
Stacy then you’re either gonna have to get her to come Stateside or make the hardest damn decision of your life. Only you can decide.’

Chapter 41.

I was late, how on earth could I be late? I had travelled across the
Atlantic to be at this meeting and I was in danger of missing it! I bounded up the steps and without stopping to be announced made my way into the room.

The Chairman of the board was just about to concluded things, ‘Well if we are not of a mind to proceed then it seems that there is nothing more to discuss. I am sure we all have better things to do today than sit around here?’ he said. There was a murmur of agreement from his colleagues on the panel.

‘I am sorry I am late, can I speak please?’ I said keeping my eyes fixed on his to avoid getting distracted. I needed to focus totally on what I had to do in order to salvage the situation.

‘Well young man, I’m afraid you are correct. You are late, too late it seems.’ 

‘You haven’t closed the meeting yet, let him speak!’ a voice I recognised called out.

With his eyes locked on mine the Chairman let out and exaggerated sigh, ‘Very well continue, but please try and keep it brief?’

I looked around me, what the hell did I say now? ‘Do you know who Nefertiti was?’ I asked.

He looked stunned at my question, ‘Well of course! He was a Pharaoh.’

‘Jade?’ I said. She was on her feet in a second.

‘Actually your honour,
she
was a fifteen year old that changed a nation, the world even,’ she said.

I smiled at her, ‘You don’t need to call him your honour Jade,’ I whispered. She just shrugged. I risked a look at Stacy for the first time, I had avoided doing so up until then as I didn’t want to lose focus but I
found I had to look. She had evidently been close to tears at the prospect of her application being denied, now however she simply seemed to be in shock at my unexpected and rather dramatic entrance.

‘Why am I being lectured about Nefertiti by a Ladette?’ the Chairman asked.

Ladette? That was potentially a mistake. I half expected Jade to move forward and hit him and if not her, Kurt who was beside her to her to do it instead.

‘She’s not a Ladette!’ a voice called out before either of them could respond. It was Sam, ‘Her n Kurt taught me how to write better,’ he said. ‘You n all Prof,’ he added for my benefit. ‘Now I’ve got a job and so have my mates here, all cos of the centre and what we did there. So you should f…’

‘Apologise!’ Alfie shouted from the back thankfully cutting Sam off. This was greeted with a round of applause from the packed public gallery; it seemed the centre was a big issue locally. It was Alfie’s voice that I had heard demand I be allowed to speak.

Looking suitably ruffled the Chairman said, ‘Well I am sorry Miss, but what exactly is your point?’

Jade opened her mouth to speak, then realised she had no idea what the point was and looked at me in desperation.

‘The point is that this young lady who is only sixteen knew more about that subject than you did.’ He visibly bristled at that, ‘More than nearly everyone in this room I might add,’ I said quickly. The centre has offered five local young people an opportunity
to study, an opportunity they have all taken. Three have jobs, stand up guys,’ I said, reluctantly they got to their feet. ‘And two are undertaking further study to join the armed forces,’ I gestured for Kurt and Jade to rise and slowly they obliged.

Alfie instigated a “spontaneous” round of applause at which all five blushed, ‘Of course they were supported in this by some volunteers,’ I said pointing at Paul and the two girls. Paul was on his feet in a millisecond loving the limelight and dragging th
e two girls up with him. ‘Ably fed by this lady, who cook’s the best breakfast ever!’ I nearly shouted pointing at Yu, she reluctantly got to her feet.

‘In fact this room is full of people who benefit from the centre as it is, stand up every one!’ Dan was up first followed by Bert,
Ada and assorted others until nearly half the gallery was on its feet.

‘Yet there is one person who holds all this together, who shows a selfless de
votion to the needs of the community and who, without your support, would be forced to close one of the few things in this area that has a real sense of intrinsic value,’ I said pointing at Stacy who also rose to her feet.

‘Yeah!’ Alfie shouted pumping his fist in the air, I was sure he had no idea what I had just said but he was on a roll and encouraged those around him to join in.

When the up roar had died down the Chairman said, ‘Yes, yes. We have already heard these arguments before your late arrival, had you been on time you would also have heard the argument for the economic value to the area.’

‘Economic?’

‘Yes, a national bookmaker’s chain is willing to set up shop and employ local people should the centre not continue.’

‘Shame! Shame!’ Alfie called from the back.

‘So you’re forcing her out in favour of a gambling den?’ I said pointing at Stacy again.

‘No one is forcing anyone, we are denying the application for a youth club on the grounds of potential nuisance but it would be remiss of us to not take into consideration all the relevant factors and that includes the economic one.’

‘I see, public nuisance and economic?’

‘Yes.’

‘So how exactly is the local community going to benefit from another bookmaker?’

‘They will employ four people.’

‘I see, hmm. Well the centre has already employed three staff and helped three more obtain jobs so by my reckoning that makes it a score of six four to the centre.’ This caused another bout of cheering. ‘Of course that was just in four weeks, imagine what will happen in four years?’ more cheering.

‘I was also wondering if the council could explain how they find the potential for sustained improved employment prospects could be less valuable than a bookmaker?’  I was expecting more cheering but became a little unnerved when the room suddenly became quiet.