Taking Charge (20 page)

Joy walked on to the stage and the hymn
ended. Everyone sat down. Joy yelled.
“Good morning Banderlee!” Everyone yelled good morning. Joy
smiled.
“Welcome to our parents who have dropped in. And to each of you. It
is so good to see you after a weekend!” They all chuckled.
“We have a lovely newsletter this week. What a lovely civvies day
we had. I am proud that you all took a few extra minutes to look so
smart. Thank you.” Everyone chuckled. Tanya and Penny smiled and
looked at each other. Joy smiled.
“We have news. I am going to hand over to Miss Lewis who has some
important information. And then to Mister Baker. News is good
ladies and gents!”

Tanya
walked on the stage and gave her proposal for the Drum
Majorette squad. It was so quiet while she spoke. Tanya looked
around.
“Are we going to have our own squad?” There was a loud roar. Tanya
smiled.
“And are we going to enter that competition and win!” There was a
loud cheer. Tanya smiled and left the stage and Clive walked up. He
looked at everyone.
“And if you have Drum Majorettes we sure as heck need a band!”
There was loud whistling and Clive chuckled and looked at
Tanya.
“And we will be competing at the end of this year. And we will win!
Because we are Banderlee!” Everyone put up their fists and yelled
‘yes’. Clive smiled as he walked down the stairs.

Joy walked up. She nodded at Penny. Penny
got up and started handing the newsletters out. Joy smiled as the
Prefects all got up and helped to hand out.

“
Ladies and gents.” She walked up and
down.
“I have made some big changes in this school. But we all learn to
adapt. Because change is constant. Not so?” They all smiled and
nodded.
“But I would like to commend you on accepting the changes. And
making the most of them. I know it isn’t always easy. There will
always be new and exciting things happening. I am proud that I am
here to be able to implement the good things.” Everyone smiled as
they listened.
“Your sneakers are looking good!” Joy chuckled as it got
rowdy.
“I have said my say. Have a fantastic week.” The music started and
the noise started. The pupils all walked out in single file. Joy
smiled and walked down the stairs. She shook the parents hands and
chatted as she walked out. Joy headed to her office.

Penny smiled. Joy shook her head.
She chuckled as Penny’s phone
started ringing. She walked through to Joy’s office two hours
later.
“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Every call was to congratulate
you on the fabulous newsletter.” Joy chuckled.
“Really?” Penny nodded.
“Hang on a sec! How would they have seen the newsletter? The kids
are here!” Penny roared with laughter. She looked at Joy.
“I somehow think that is a newspaper. And someone got their hands
on it.” Joy chuckled and nodded.

Penny walked back to her office. She
signed for the bouquet of flowers that had just arrived and took
them through to Joy.
“And someone sent you flowers.” Joy smiled as Penny put them in the
vase and took the envelope and handed it to Joy.

Joy opened the card and read.
“I was so wrong. I am sorry. I love you. Jordan.” Joy closed her
eyes and felt the tears building up. She took out her tissues and
stopped the tears. She would not cry. She would not allow anyone to
see her in tears. Joy held her head in her hands. She didn’t know
what to do. But she would go back to the motel. She would not be
going back to the pub.

The bell rang and Joy left school. She
headed for town. The town was buzzing with excitement. Joy smiled
as everyone waved. She walked in to the grocer and took her basket.
Joy bought long
hot dog
rolls and chose a few cheese grillers from the deli counter. She
smiled as she took them and put them in to her basket. She walked
over and took a tub of mustard and margarine. Joy sighed. She
didn’t even have a knife. She stood and stared at the plastic
plates and the knives and forks. She bought six of the brightest
plastic plates she could find. She added a set of knives and forks.
She smiled and paid for her purchases and walked back to her van.
She hopped in and the tears built up. She took her tissue out and
dried her tears. Joy drove over to the motel. She broke down in
tears as she sat in the van.

Jordan quietly opened her door and pulled
her into his arms.
“I love you.” Joy nodded. He cradled her head to his chest.
“I am sorry. What I said was out of line. I apologize. I don’t want
to lose you Joy. You have become my life. Please come home.” Joy
burst into tears.
“But I didn’t buy food!” Jordan smiled and held Joy.
“We have enough food for tonight. Tonight I am taking you out for
supper.” Joy sniffed and took her tissue and wiped her eyes.
“Will you come home?”
“Not if you yell at me.”
“I won’t yell at you.” Joy nodded.
“Shift over.” Joy moved over and Jordan drove them home. He carried
the packet. They both walked through and Craig smiled.
“What is in the packet?” Joy looked at Jordan and smiled.
“Cheese grillers and rolls.” Craig nodded.
“Could do with one of those.” Joy smiled as she walked up the
stairs with Jordan. He held her in his arms.
“I am sorry. I will never yell at you again.” Joy smiled and looked
at Jordan.
“And this is my home. Get used to it.” Jordan roared with
laughter.
“And I am starved!” Jordan grinned. Joy walked to the stove and put
the pot on and put the cheese grillers in the water to boil. Jordan
took the bread rolls out. The cheese grillers were almost ready.
Joy added the cheese grillers to the rolls. Jordan grinned.
“You must have been starved!” Joy nodded.
“Yes. Famished. I haven’t eaten all day long!” Jordan smiled as she
put all the rolls in to a dish. They both walked downstairs. They
sat down and everyone tucked in to the rolls. Sarah smiled as she
ate her roll.

Joy got up soon afterwards.
“I think I need to go to the shops.” Jordan smiled.
“I will join you.” Joy smiled as they both headed to the grocer. He
pushed the trolley as Joy loaded.
“And I think tonight is a Bolognese night.” They both looked up.
Tanya nodded.
“I think so.” Joy giggled and Jordan roared with laughter.
“Don’t you have a home?”
“Two. Yours and Mums. Mum is doing some kind of stir fry.” Joy
chuckled and nodded.
“I thought I was going out for supper.” Jordan smiled.
“You are. But I would hate to take away the shopping.” Joy smiled.
Tanya grinned.
“So what did we get?” Joy smiled.
“Definitely Bolognese.” Tanya smiled.
“Toss up. I was invited for supper. What should I do?’ Jordan
grinned.
“Say yes.” Tanya grinned.
“Maybe I should.” Jordan nodded.
“Maybe you should.” Tanya chuckled.
“I am sure Bolognese will keep.” Jordan nodded.
“Okay. See ya!” Tanya ran off. Joy shook her head.
“I hope that means she has a date.” Jordan smiled and nodded.
“Let’s hope.”

Joy smiled.
“I think I need a bottle of hooch.” Jordan smiled and hugged
Joy.
“I was an idiot. And I should be reprimanded.” Joy smiled.
“I was silly and childish.” Jordan chuckled and held Joy in his
arms.
“No. I was the childish one. And I want to make it up to
you.”
“You don’t have to.” Jordan shook his head.
“No Joy. I need to. And tonight we are going out for supper. You
and I. No family. Just you and I.” Joy smiled as they headed
home.

She got dressed in a nice suit
and Jordan ran up the
stairs.
“Ready.” Joy smiled and nodded. He walked her down the stairs and
they headed out the front door.
“Jordan?” He smiled.
“Come.” Jordan drove to the restaurant up the road. He helped Joy
out of the van and they walked in. He smiled as he walked
inside.
“We have a reservation. Lewis.” They were taken to their table. Joy
sat down and smiled and looked at Jordan. He smiled as he held her
hand.
“Jordan. You didn’t have to.” Jordan smiled.
“No. Joy. You are wrong. What I want to do I can’t do with crowds.
I am a shy guy. Like that song we sing.” Joy smiled.

He got up and Joy stare
d. He fiddled in his pocket and went down
on his knee. Jordan opened the ring box and looked at Joy.
“Joy. I want to marry you. I want to have a family. I want to move.
Into a home. Where you can have everything. A real home. Will you
marry me?” Joy held her hands over her mouth. She looked at Jordan
and whispered.
“To be your wife?” Jordan nodded.
“Yes!” Jordan smiled as he took the ring out of the box. Joy
whispered.
“Yes.” He slipped the ring over her finger. Jordan nodded.
“Yes.” Joy smiled.
“Yes Jordan.” He smiled and looked at her finger.
“Oh Jordan!” He got up and pulled Joy into his arms.
“I love you. I have never loved anyone. Ever. You are my one and
only Joy. Will you marry me? Be my wife. Have our children.” Joy
sighed and smiled. She barely whispered.
“Yes. Yes I want that!” Jordan smiled and pulled Jordan into his
arms.
“I slipped up badly. Don’t let me do that again.” Joy smiled.
“I love you Jordan. I know I am not perfect.” Jordan smiled.
“One month. I have booked the church and the pastor. If you change
your mind.” Joy smiled. She looked at Jordan.
“I won’t change my mind. I love you. I will be ready.”
“This means the world to me.” Joy smiled.
“Jordan. You mean the world to me.” He smiled.
“You are my world.” Jordan held her in his arms.
“I love you.” Joy smiled.
“I love you.”

Jordan smiled as they sat down next to
each other. Joy leaned in to his arm.
“Jordan. Last night. I realized. I can’t be without you.” Jordan
held her in his arms. She held on to Jordan. He held her in his
arms.
“I think we need a real home.” Joy smiled and shook her head.
“When we grow out of our home. Then we can consider things like
that. Moving. But for now. I rather like my home.” Jordan
smiled.
“We order another table and chairs?” Joy nodded.
“Yes. In bright pink?” Joy nodded.
“Jordan. I don’t want to move. Until we have to.” Jordan
smiled.
“But will that be your home?” Joy smiled.
“On our way back. I need to clear my room. And then I need to pay
my bill. I want to go home with you. Where I belong.” Jordan
smiled.
“As in.” Joy nodded.
“As in I live at home. People can think what they like. Home is
home. And your home is my home.” Jordan smiled as he looked up. The
waiter put their starters on the table. Joy smiled.
“Oh Jordan!” He smiled.
“Snails?” Joy smiled and nodded. They both sat and ate their
snails.
“Oh I hope Douglas has broadened his horizons!” Jordan grinned and
chuckled.
“Did you see the specials?” Joy nodded and whispered.
“Oh I am going to stock up! Salmon! We have to!” Jordan roared with
laughter. Joy smiled as she watched her plate being removed and the
Lobster Thermidore being put down in front of her. Joy
smiled.
“Jordan.”
“I hope you like. I kind of selected our meals.” Joy smiled and
nodded. She looked at her ring.
“I love you Jordan. I had a rough night. I had a heavy day.” He
held her hand.
“I know.”

Joy smiled.
“Don’t let it happen again.” Jordan smiled.
“I won’t.”
“You need to take control.”
“I will. I have. I think.”
“I need a rudder. I need a guide.” Jordan smiled. They tucked in to
their meal. Joy smiled.
“I think pudding at home.” Jordan nodded. He took the bill folder
and put his cash inside. He smiled and looked up.
“Thanks.” The waiter smiled.
“My pleasure Mister Lewis. Professor Sheridan.” They walked out and
Joy smiled. She hugged Jordan.
“Take me home you sexy thing!” Jordan grinned.
“That I will. Straight home.” Joy smiled and nodded. She held on to
Jordan. Joy whispered.
“I was worried.” Jordan smiled.
“So was I.” She sighed.
“Thank you. For my flowers. For taking me out for supper.” Jordan
smiled.
“Jordan it matters. It matters a whole lot.”
“I wanted to do something different. You come home every day and
you cook our meal. You needed spoiling.” Joy smiled.

They headed home and Jordan held her in
his arms. They walked through the door of the pub and Joy smiled.
She looked up at Jordan.
“This is home.”
“And when our babies arrive?” Joy smiled.
“Plenty of room. We have a spare room. Two. There is lots of room
for a walking ring. Jordan we have it all.” Jordan smiled and
pulled Joy into his arms. He stood at the front door. Craig
smiled.
“Coffee?” Joy smiled.
“Make it a real Irish.” Craig smiled and nodded. They walked
through and sat at a table. Jordan held Joy’s hand.
“Joy if there is anything that irks you. Anything.” Joy
smiled.
“No angel. Nothing at all.” Jordan smiled.
“You sure. Walking ring?” Joy smiled and nodded.
“Lots of space. Sarah is right there. Frank is right there. All we
have to do is carry the walking ring down the stairs.” Jordan
chuckled and nodded.

Joy smiled as she looked at her ring. She
looked up at Jordan.
“Thank you.” Joy lifted herself and kissed Jordan.
“I love you. I wanted to hit you. But I love you.” Jordan smiled.
He held her hand.
“Do you like it?” Joy smiled and nodded.
“I love it.” Jordan smiled as Craig brought their coffee.
“Well now. Congratulations!” Joy smiled.
“Thank you Craig.” Craig smiled. They had their coffee. Jordan
smiled.
“Can we go and settle your bill now?” Joy smiled and nodded.
“Yes.” They drove out and Joy settled her bill at the motel. She
smiled as she paid.
“You going home Miss Sheridan?” Joy smiled and nodded as Jordan
hugged her.
“Yes I am.” Jordan smiled as they walked out. Everything was in the
van. They headed straight home. Joy smiled as Jordan carried her
overnight bag. Craig shook his head.

They both walked up the stairs. Jordan put
her bag down.
“Jordan I want to try something. A few new songs. Just us.” Jordan
smiled and nodded. They ran down the stairs and Joy took a seat
with Jordan at the stage. Joy strummed on the guitar.
“Do you remember this one?’ Jordan grinned and nodded. They both
sat and played their guitars. Clyde quietly walked in and picked up
the trombone. He joined in. Joy and Jordan both grinned. She
giggled.
“Hey Clyde!” Clyde smiled and nodded.
“Are we jamming?” Jordan smiled.
“Just for an hour or so. Joy wanted to try a few things.” Clyde
nodded. Joy strummed and nodded. Clyde and Jordan nodded. She
started to sing.
“There’s a kind of hush all over the world.” Bruce walked
through.
“Off duty!” He chuckled and sat at the drums and quietly drummed.
Joy smiled as they sang the chorus. Jordan smiled as he listened to
the words.