It's Only Temporary (32 page)

After a moment’s pause the Chairman said ‘We,’ referring to the council panel with his hand, ‘Take your point, however there is also the public nuisance element.’

‘Yes?’

‘Well having discos going on until all hours, very disruptive.’

‘All hours?’ Alfie shouted from the back. ‘It’s gonna be seven till ten three nights week, and the only time there will any music is on a Friday night, the other two
nights will have other things going on, like, art and stuff.’

‘And Cooking!’ yelled Yu.

‘Team building!’ Paul added.

Really? I thought to myself. I was not sure who was more surprised me or the panel. I looked at Alfie who just nodded empathically.

‘Well there is still the need for someone to take responsibility for the youth clubs operation, an adult.’

‘I’ll do that on the Friday’s,’ Alfie said.

‘And you are?’

‘Alfonso Garibaldi, talent agent,’ he announced proudly.

Alfonso Garibaldi?
No way!

‘Are you a local Mr Garibaldi?’

‘Henrietta Street.’

‘Well that still leaves the other two nights.’

‘That will be me,’ I said. I gave him my name.

‘Living locally?’ he asked.

‘In the flat above the centre,’ I said.

Stacy looked at me in shock, I had not had a chance to tell her this or in fact any part of my hastily formed plan.

‘Well in that case,’ he said looking at his panel for agreement. ‘Motion agreed for a twelve month licence for a youth club three days per week. Good luck!’

Chapter 42.

‘Your back?’ Stacy said to me.

‘Yeah, I forgot something.’

‘What?’

‘To return my keys.’

‘Oh,’ she said looking a little dejected.

‘Nice one mate!’ Alfie shouted slapping me on the back and interrupting.

‘Alfonso Garibaldi?’ I said in mock shock.

‘That’s me, I can make you an offer you can’t refuse y’know,’ Stacy laughed at that but I was once again clueless.

‘So you’re gonna live in my flat?’ Stacy asked as Alfie walked away. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time but now I was forced to confront the reality of convincing Stacy of its merits my resolve started to crumble.

‘Errm, is that ok?’

‘What about America?’

‘Well it was still there when I left.’

‘Don’t be smart! You know what I mean. Wasn’t it any good?’

‘It was great, nearly perfect?’

‘Perfect?’ she said looking confused. ‘So why are you back? Did you not find what was missing?’

‘I said
nearly
perfect and yes I found it.’ She looked even more confused now. ‘So I figured if I rent your flat then that would help with the finances and….stuff? Most of my belongings are already in there anyway. ’

‘Well yeah, I suppose. I guess having you in there is better than no one or someone I didn’t know and couldn’t trust….. Can I trust you?’

‘Yeah….you can,’ I said taking her hand.

‘Hang on, how on earth are you gonna pay rent?’

‘Well as of tomorrow I am respectably employed.’

‘Doing what?’ she asked incredulous.

‘Head of History at the Poly, that’s where I’ve just come from and why I was a bit late.’

‘A bit late? You almost missed it!’

‘That’s not the only thing I missed.’ She frowned as if she didn’t understand. ‘Like I said I found what was missing, well I realised what was missing actually and had to come back and get it?’

‘What was it?’

‘You…….dopey,’ I reached down a kissed her. She froze for a moment before putting her arms around my neck and kissing me back.

‘Won’t the Americans be really angry?’
she said.

‘Maybe but I didn’t want to kiss them,’ she punched my chest lightly. ‘Anyway I’ve made them an offer they can’t refuse,’ I said borrowing Alfie’s line despite having no idea where it came from.

‘Oh yeah?’

‘Well Keith, my new boss is more than happy to run a student exchange programme if they want. That way they can send their students to
Europe
for a bit. It’s a big draw apparently for American Universities.

‘Oh, cool. So……now that I’m your landlady?’

‘Well that’s the other thing?’

‘Hmmm?’

‘Yeah, you see, I was kind of hoping about living in the flat….’

‘What?’

‘Well that if things work about between us…..’

‘Yes?’

‘That.’

‘What?’ she said in a voice which betrayed her frustration.

‘It’s only temporary.’