sUnwanted Truthst (5 page)

‘Guess what? We're moving. We're buying a house near my cousin's. Mum's been left some money by my nan,' Gail had said. She had also started going to a youth club near her new home, and every Wednesday morning Jenny rushed to school to meet her friend before lessons began, and to hear what progress Gail had made towards her goal of going out with Steve. It was like having a boyfriend herself, but without the anguish that seemed to accompany it.

‘He was there again last night. He kept looking over at me. I'm sure he's going to ask me out soon. He's just got to. I'll just die if he doesn't.'

‘Of course he will, Gail,' said Jenny. ‘He's bound to. I tell you what; I'll come with you next Tuesday. I can't have you dying for love of this Steve.'

‘Will your mum and dad let you?'

‘Even if they don't, I'll find a way to come.'

*

‘Dad, can I join a youth club?' Jenny chose her moment carefully.

Charlie lifted his eyes briefly from the television. ‘Better ask your mother.' His eyes drifted back to the U.S. cavalry galloping across the screen. Since the set had been delivered it had become the main attraction in life for Charlie. Jenny thought that with each flicker of the screen he seemed younger. She went into the kitchen.

‘Mum, can I join a youth club? The one Gail goes to, down in the town.'

‘But you start your O levels next term, there'll be lots of homework to do. We didn't agree to you staying on at school for nothing,' said Alice, who had wanted Jenny to leave as soon as she turned fifteen.

‘What's the point of her staying on?' she had said to Charlie earlier in the year. ‘She'll only get married. She can get a decent office job without these O levels.'

‘I think she should stay on, Gal. The head says she's capable of getting good results. It's only one year more.'

‘I can easily finish my homework before I go. It's only one evening; and anyway school finishes in two weeks. If I start now, I can get used to going before next term.' As she spoke Jenny was already planning how she could leave the flat next Tuesday evening without her parents noticing.

‘Anyway it's too far away. If you went to one at all, it would be better if you went to the one at Hangleton; it's much nearer.'

‘But nobody I know goes there. Everyone goes to the other one.'

‘I don't know, Jenny. How will you get back?'

‘I can walk, or get a bus. It doesn't get dark until nearly ten o'clock. Gail said she'd leave if I don't join.'

‘Well, I suppose you could, it is summer. Alright then, you can go. But I want you back by nine-thirty. If you're one minute late, there'll be trouble.'

Jenny returned to the sitting room where to her surprise the television had been switched off.

‘What did Mum say?'

‘She said I could go.'

‘Oh, she did, did she? Well that must be alright then. Ecuador?'

‘Quito.'

‘Madagascar.'

‘Antananarivo.'

‘Somalia.'

‘That's enough now Dad. I'm going to my room now.'

‘But, we haven't finished.'

‘I've got things to do.'

‘Things?' said Charlie with a puzzled look. ‘What things?'

*

The following Tuesday Jenny cycled home from school, bolted her dinner and disappeared into her bedroom. She peered into the mirror, examining her face for any fresh eruption. With “it will only make it worse” ringing in her ears, she squeezed the offending spot, until the white head burst onto her handkerchief with a satisfactory pop. She spent the next thirty minutes deciding what to wear, and a further five minutes tying her now shoulder-length hair into a pony-tail. At seven o'clock, she was ready.

‘I'm off,' she shouted after checking that her parents were still behind the closed sitting room door. She rushed down the stairs, a brown paper bag in her hand.

Gail was leaning against the brick wall of a ladies' toilet in the local park. They marched inside, immediately swapping their flat shoes for the heels in their bags. Standing in front of the mirror, they applied a thick layer of foundation, a curtain of mascara, and pale pink lipstick. They emerged like butterflies from their chrysalises; two inches taller and ready for action.

The Shirelles thumped out their agonies from a record player in the corner of the hall. Behind a rolled up metal blind was a galley kitchen, where an older girl in a tight jumper served soft drinks in paper cups. Two table-tennis tables and a pool table stood on one side of the hall. Jenny noticed that only boys were playing. The girls stood around in twos and threes watching and giggling. Wooden chairs lined the walls. They sat down in the middle of the row.

Gail nudged Jenny in the ribs. ‘He's over there. He's such a hunk.'

‘Where?'

‘By the toilet, I really dig him,' Gail sighed.

Jenny gathered that the tall fair-haired lad must be Steve.

‘Come on let's jive. He'll notice me then.' Gail pulled Jenny up and they joined some girls dancing in the middle of the floor.

Jenny remembered how she used to dance with Desmond. He had returned to Nigeria a couple of years before. Alice had said that, ‘it was not before time', and that she thought, ‘he was never going back'. Although she hadn't seen him for three years, Jenny felt that she had lost a friend. The record finished and Gail walked towards Steve. Feeling self-conscious by herself, Jenny went into the girls' toilet, stood in front of the mirror for a minute and then came out again. Gail was still talking to Steve and seemed oblivious to anything or anybody else.

Jenny picked up her bag and walked over to the hatch. As she stood sipping her drink the swing doors to the hall burst open and two boys entered laughing. They were both dark-haired, but one was slightly taller than the other and wore a blue jumper. She stared at him. Both boys looked at her as they walked past; the taller one's eyes meeting her own. Her cheeks turned red as she returned to her chair.

Gail ran over and sat down. ‘Steve's asked me what I'm doing at the weekend. I know he's going to ask me out. I just know it.' Her head shook excitedly.

It was Jenny's turn to nudge Gail. ‘Who's that?'

‘Where?'

‘Over there by the pool table; the taller one, he's just picked up the cue.'

‘Oh, they were here when I first started coming, Martin someone, I think. My cousin knows him. She's over there. I'll go and ask her.'

‘No don't!' she called out, but Gail was already halfway across the floor.

‘Yes, that's Martin Barretti,' Gail said breathlessly arriving back at Jenny's side. He lives next door to her. ‘Do you fancy him then?' Her blue eyes demanded an answer.

‘No, of course not.'

‘Oh yeah – you're all red.'

Jenny was conscious of Martin for the remainder of the evening. As she danced with her friend she kept glancing over to the pool table. She couldn't stop herself from looking at him. When the boys had finished their game, they stood talking and drinking, pretending not to be interested in the girls dancing in front of them. But Jenny was sure he was looking at her.

*

Two weeks later, Jenny stood between Gail and her cousin, keeping one eye on the doors.
There they are
, she thought,
bang on time
.

Gail put her hand over her mouth. ‘He's coming over, give me your drink.' She pushed Jenny into the middle of the hall. Suddenly she was standing in front of him. She couldn't look him in the eyes, so looked over his left shoulder.

‘It's Jenny, isn't it? You're new here, aren't you?' he said.

‘Yes, this is only my third time.'

‘I'd buy you a drink, but you've already got one.'

Jenny nodded.

‘Are you doing anything this Saturday?'

‘No,' Jenny answered, although she knew that her mother would be expecting her to go shopping.

‘Would you like to come for a walk then – say Saturday afternoon?'

‘OK,' Jenny blushed.

‘Where would you like to meet?'

Knowing that he didn't live near her, she said the only place that she was sure he knew, ‘I could meet you in Hove Park.' She caught his eyes for a second and looked away.

‘By the miniature railway?'

‘Yes, that's fine.' She smiled.

‘OK. I'll see you there then, two o'clock on Saturday.' He left her and walked over to where his friend was waiting by the pool table.

Gail pulled Jenny into the toilet. ‘Come on, what did he say?'

‘He asked me out on Saturday.'

‘And?' said Gail.

‘And what?'

‘What did you say?' Gail emphasised, as if talking to a small child.

‘I said yes of course.'

‘There you are.' Gail smiled at her cousin, who was standing behind her.

Jenny stared at Gail, and then her cousin. ‘You didn't tell him I wanted to go out with him did you?'

‘Of course I did,' said Gail, adjusting her hair in the mirror. ‘It's obvious you fancy him like crazy. You can't stop staring at him.'

‘That's so embarrassing,' said Jenny, wishing that she hadn't made her attraction so obvious.

‘No it isn't. He fancies you too. He's looking over here now,' Gail said as they opened the door and went back into the hall.

*

Jenny spotted his blue jumper first. He was standing at the end of the miniature railway track. Her heart leapt and she quickened her step.

‘Hello,' said Jenny as she walked up behind him. She had decided to wear the same blouse and skirt she had worn when he had asked her out. She was not normally superstitious, but had thought it might be a good omen.

He turned and smiled. ‘Hello Jenny.'

‘Have you been waiting long?'

‘No, not long. Shall we go for a walk?'

‘Good idea.'

‘I used to love going on this train when I was a kid. I was always pestering my parents to bring me up here. Have you been on it?'

‘Only once; I think it only runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays,' said Jenny.

They walked side by side in silence, crossing the old drover's road that sliced the park in two. Stopping by the swings they watched as some children were pushed higher and higher by their friends; their screams filling the air.

‘I used to push my sister like that until she cried; that was down in Stoneham Park,' said Martin. ‘Did you used to play here?'

‘Yes, with Gail sometimes. She lived opposite me before she moved. I preferred the roundabout though,' said Jenny.

‘You live near here then?'

‘Yes, up by the windmill. Gail said you live next door to her cousin.' Jenny reddened as she imagined what Gail must have said to him.

‘Yes, I used to play with her when I was young, but not anymore.' He gave Jenny a wry grin and reached for her hand. They stood watching as a young boy tied the free swings to the struts, until the shrill whistle of the park keeper made him run away.

‘I used to do that too,' Martin laughed. They walked slowly towards the tearoom. ‘Do you fancy a drink? We could sit down for a bit.'

‘Yes, that would be great. There's a table outside,' Jenny worried whether she should let go of his hand first.

‘What would you like?' asked Martin, dropping her hand as they stepped onto the veranda.

‘A lemonade if they've got one, otherwise a Tizer.'

Jenny sat down. Two couples were playing a game of doubles on the tennis courts opposite. She felt shy in Martin's presence; but not uncomfortable. She remembered how awkward she had felt whenever she had been to Gail's house and her older brother was there. She hadn't even been able to say hello to him.

‘You're in luck.' Martin placed the bottle of lemonade in front of her. ‘Tizer for me and I've bought a Wagon Wheel. I thought we could share it. Hope you like them.'

‘I love them.' Jenny's stomach rumbled at the sight of food. She had been too excited to eat before she left home, saying that Gail's mother wanted to talk to her about exams, and that she was late and hadn't got time for lunch. ‘I heard you work in a bank. Which one do you work in?'

‘The Midland Bank in Brighton, I'm a trainee bank clerk. I only started four weeks ago. I'm enjoying it so far. What do you want to do when you leave school?'

‘Haven't a clue. I start my O levels in September.'

‘I didn't know either. Dad wanted me to get a steady job with prospects. He runs a café near the seafront. I used to work there in the school holidays. He said he wanted something better for me though. That's what they all want isn't it?'

‘Yes, all my parents say is – I've got to get a job in an office.'

‘Do you want that?'

‘I don't want to work in a factory or a shop, and I know I want more out of life than just being a housewife.' She thought of her mother charring for Mrs Rowland, coming home exhausted and then having to clean her own flat. Her life wasn't going to be like that.

‘What do you enjoy doing?'

‘I like reading – especially about foreign countries, I enjoy the countryside and cycling, but I don't expect any careers advisor is going to think much of that.' She decided not to mention the capital cities; he might think it odd.

‘I like the countryside too. Perhaps we could go for a ride sometime?'

She blushed.

As they left the tearoom, Martin reached again for her hand and they strolled to the southern edge of the park.

‘I'm fascinated by this stone. It's enormous,' Martin said as they stood and read the metal plaque at the base of the Goldstone, a twenty-ton sarsen stone that gave its name to the surrounding area.

‘Yes, it's huge,' but today Jenny was only interested in the boy at her side. They continued around the edge of the park, stopping at the tennis courts to watch a father teaching his son how to perfect his serve. They crossed back over the drover's road.