by J. R. Bonham
Jan found her mother and suggested she went to the kitchen to check that everything was on course. They went together and everything was all ready. The staff were putting dishes out on the dining room table. A veritable feast.
Jan asked her mother, “Shall I call everyone in to get a plate and start? Or do you want to do it? It’s your party.”
“No, you do it. Just tell them to help themselves, there’s plenty to eat, and drink! Show them where they can sit, the chairs in the hall as well as the sitting room.”
Everyone took a plate each with cutlery and sat wherever they could find a chair and started tucking in. Geoff arrived on time with six kids in tow, all very hungry. They went to their respective mothers for help in getting their food.
There was a cake which had been made for Ken and Audrey by the people who owned the pub that they frequented in Clifton. The publican’s wife had taken a cake-making and decorating course and was keen to show off her expertise. Ken deliberately didn’t invite any of his old pub mates. He wasn’t having them mixing with his family, he kept them strictly for his pub life. He had thought that he might invite the publicans, but then had second thoughts and decided against it. He would rather pay them for the cake and have done with it. He didn’t think they would fit in.
When everyone had had enough of the buffet food, out came the cake. There were lots of “oohs” and “aahs” when they had sight of it. It really was very special. It was square, with beautiful ruby red flowers all around the side and ‘Ken and Audrey’ in lovely italic writing on the top with a dark red ‘40 years’ underneath. They took out the knife and in true marriage fashion, they cut the cake together. Everyone clapped. They all enjoyed a piece and delicious it was too. Ken thought that he must remember to tell the publican’s wife how good it was.
The whole evening went by in a flash. The caterers cleared up everything and went on their way. Clare and Jamie were next to leave.
“Sorry, Mum. I can see Joss is tired and needs his nap,” Clare said.
“Will you come over tomorrow for Sunday lunch? I know it’s short notice but I got a big joint of lamb just in case. Jan and Geoff will still be here and it’ll be nice to have a proper catch up before they go home. There wasn’t really time today with everyone buzzing around.”
“OK, I think that’ll be alright, see you then. Goodnight.” Clare and Jamie said their goodbyes to everyone and they left.
“Last to arrive and first to leave!” John noticed.
“Oh, leave them alone,” Audrey said. “They’re coming to Sunday lunch tomorrow, can you come too?”
“Sorry Mum, we promised Vera’s Mum we would go there for lunch. We are just so popular!” John smiled that winning smile of his.
All the guests drifted away after Clare left and that just left the rest of the family.
Even though the invitations had stipulated that no gifts were required, nearly everyone had brought a little something, with a card. A small table had been put aside for all the presents which would be opened at a later time, when everyone had gone. Audrey couldn’t wait to dive in and open them all – with Ken’s approval and his help, of course. Jan and Geoff and John and Vera together with the children all sat around and watched. It was like Christmas all over again. Audrey’s eyes lit up with every gift she opened. She mentally told herself she would have to write a thank-you note to everyone.
“Come on, kids, time to get you home to bed,” John announced.
“What about me?” Vera winked at John.
“Oh and you’ve had enough to drink, young lady!” he winked back at her and laughed.
They all laughed and joined in the fun and John took his brood home.
Jan thanked her parents for a lovely evening and said she thought it had all gone well. Both she and Geoff excused themselves with the children and went to bed, all of them quite exhausted.
Next morning Jan went down to the kitchen to make some coffee to take back to bed. She was amazed at how well the caterers had cleared up everything. The kitchen was spotless. It was just as if nothing had happened there only 12 hours earlier.
Jan helped her mother in the kitchen with preparing the lamb, together with carrots, cauliflower, roast potatoes and parsnips. Audrey remembered that one of Jan’s favourites from a long time ago, was roast parsnips. Jan left the gravy-making to her mother. She was the best gravy maker in the country in Jan’s view, doing it properly in the roasting tin with all the meat juices. Audrey had taught Jan how to make proper gravy but Jan sometimes cheated and bought gravy granules.
Jan laid the table and all was ready when Clare and mob drew up in their old banger. Jan was surprised it made the journey. She was pleased though to be able to talk to Clare and the kids properly. There really wasn’t time the night before.
Every last scrap of meat was demolished and Audrey was surprised. “Well, I think the joint must have shrunk in the oven! It’s just as well that John and co couldn’t come after all! But I suppose we would have managed with having a bit less each. There’s lots of cake left. We could have some for pudding because I haven’t made anything else.”
“It’s a really lovely cake. Did you say it came from the pub?” asked Jan.
“Yes. The publican’s wife made it. She gets quite a few commissions to earn herself a bit extra,” Ken explained.
While the washing up was done by the men and boys, the women and girls went into the sitting room for a chat.
“This is more like it. I like to see domesticated men. What is Jamie like? He didn’t seem to mind mucking in. I think he got to the sink before anyone else to start with the washing up!” Jan suggested to Clare.
“Oh, he’s brilliant. Jamie can do just about anything. He can cook and he enjoys shopping for things in the kitchen. He loves DIY and will turn his hand to anything.”
“Lucky you!” Jan was envious. She whispered conspiratorially: “Geoff’s pretty useless. I’m sure he could cook if he tried. If only he would try. Trouble is his mother never taught him. She doesn’t think that the male variety needs to do that sort of thing. She reckoned whoever they marry would do it for them automatically. Just like she did with Geoff’s father I suppose. I think I shocked her the other day when I said I would teach Steven to cook and to iron his own shirts! She nearly had a blue fit!”
“Well, good for you!” Clare agreed. “Of course they should learn from their mothers. Soon enough some of them go off to Uni and then they would have to look after themselves.”
“Quite.”
The men came in with coffee in dainty cups on trays and the women were surprised but delighted.
“All the washing up done and put away by yours truly and others!” Ken told the women in readiness for some praise.
“Well done, but you’ll have to wait a long time if you want a ‘thank you’ – don’t hold your breath, as they say, these days!” laughed Audrey. They all thought that was funny. “Don’t forget who slogged away with the cooking! It takes hours of preparation and cooking, all to be demolished in minutes. Do we get any praise for that, I wonder?”
Ken slunk away to his den for a crafty cigar and some peace. Unfortunately for him, all the kids followed him down there.
“Granddad, can we have some sixpences for the fruit machine, please?” they pleaded.
“Here you are.” Ken gave them a handful each. None of the children forgot to say thank you. “That’s good, you play nicely now.”
He decided that if he wanted some peace he would have to go in the garden with his cigar. Unfortunately for him Bob, the next door neighbour, was passing by.
“Oh, Ken, I just wanted to thank you so much for a lovely party and for your words of wisdom too. I spoke to my wife and she’s agreed to give it another go. I don’t know if she was just feeling sorry for me or whether her leaving just didn’t work out. Either way, I shall try very hard to keep her this t
ime.”
“Good, well done, I’m very pleased for you,” Ken told him. With that, he lit up his cigar, sat on the wall and pondered. It had been a good party. ‘I always throw a good party.’
Mid-afternoon came and Geoff decided that it was time to take their leave. Jan felt bad to leave early but agreed they had to get the children back in time to prepare for school the next day. Louise was starting exams for her mock ‘O’ Levels starting the following week, and she had to revise.
They packed their things and got in the car. Audrey was in tears and so Clare consoled her while they all waved their goodbyes.
Clare and Jamie also took their two home, but not as far as Jan had to go with hers.
Ken said to Audrey “Do you realise that all our offspring have managed to produce a girl and a boy each, isn’t that incredible?”
“Yes dear. It’s very clever!”
Chapter 14
Jan had been quietly thinking of a way of keeping Steven’s mind occupied, away from bad influences at school. She decided that he needed something to look after and love. A dog might do it. If they gave him a dog for his birthday, it would be his responsibility. She would have to run the idea by Geoff first, of course. She wasn’t too hopeful of the response, but she mooted it anyway. She wasn’t going to say why she thought he needed this distraction, just an idea for his birthday.
“What d’you think?” she asked after making Geoff a cup of coffee when he got home and the children were upstairs doing their homework. Her fingers were crossed.
“If you think he can handle it, I suppose we could give it a try. If he fails, then you would have to take it on yourself with feeding and taking it for walks etc. Yes, I think it would be a good addition to the family as a whole. I like dogs, preferable to cats. Do you have any particular breed in mind?”
“Well, yes, in fact, I do. The one that won Crufts this year is a West Highland Terrier and they are adorable. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves on this. I think we should ask him first? He’s old enough to be responsible for a dog, yes – but would he actually want one. That might be another kettle of fish altogether.”
“Yes, you’re right. Call him down and we’ll ask him.”
Steven and Louise came down together. Louise was curious as to why her brother would be summoned. It wasn’t supper time.
Jan decided that she would ask Steven in such a way that might be better than if Geoff asked him.
“What would you say if we were to buy you a puppy for your birthday?”
“Oh yes please!” Steven smiled, he couldn’t believe his luck. One minute he’s playing truant and then sniffing glue, and the next thing is he’s being offered a lovely little dog to play with.
“You lucky thing,” Louise interjected. “I don’t get presents like that!”
“Wait there just one moment!” Geoff intervened. “You do understand it’s a huge commitment to you and the rest of the family? Dogs aren’t just for Christmas, as the advert goes! Your duties towards this creature would be at the very least, feeding, watering and walking it twice a day. After that you can have as much playtime as you want.”
Steven mulled this over and wholeheartedly agreed that he would look after ‘his’ dog, even though it would be part of the whole family. Jan agreed that if ever Steven was not able to do any of these things one day, then she would take over the responsibility. Failing that, someone else would have to.
“I was going to suggest a West Highland Terrier. Not too big and not too small. What d’you think, Steven?” Jan asked.
“Oh yes, I love them, they’re so cute,” Louise interrupted.
“But it’s not for you, is it?!” Steven teased. “I think they’re cute too, by the way.”
That was decided then. A West Highland Terrier for Steven. Lots to think about before then. Jan was hoping they would be able to have a holiday again, possibly before being tied up with a dog.
As Steven’s birthday was in June, several months away, they had plenty of time to plan things properly. Jan had read up all about buying a puppy, it being prudent to choose one from a legitimate litter. They should see where it had been born and should be shown its mother and possibly its brothers and sisters too. She asked around and was told of a good breeder in North Devon.
Jan rang the breeder and was very happy with what she was told. Yes, there was going to be a litter born about mid-June and yes, they could meet the mother, either before she gave birth or afterwards. Then they would have to wait eight weeks after the birth before they could take him/her home. Steven didn’t know if he wanted a boy dog or a bitch, but he thought if they go and see the litter and choose one that came to him, that would be it. He would know.
“I expect we can have a nice holiday before we take on the dog,” Jan started to explain to the whole family. “We will go and see the litter once the mother’s given birth. We have to wait eight weeks anyway so that takes us to the middle of August. So we can have two weeks once school breaks for the summer and be back in time to prepare properly. Clever eh?”
“So, you’ve got it all worked out?” Geoff mused.
“Of course!”
“Lulu, are you there?” called Jan. Louise came downstairs, looking a bit down in the mouth. “Shall we go shopping? I don’t want you to lose out or to think that Steven is getting something much nicer than you’ve ever had. He is, I know. Something a lot more expensive than we usually buy for birthdays. Maybe you’ll have something special next birthday. I know it’s a long time away, but that should give you time to think of what you would like. Meanwhile, I’d like to buy you something nice to wear now. What d’you say?”
“Thanks, Mum.”
They went off to the shops and Louise had a field day. She tried on tops and skirts and liked them all. With summer coming on there was a nice bikini she had her eye on. She wasn’t going to hold back while her mum was in a spending mood. Jan was very happy to buy her daughter nice things. If fact it made her happier to do that than buying things for herself.
The next day Louise came home from school with a letter. She knew what was in it because the girls at school had been talking about nothing else. A school trip. To Wimbledon.
“How is this going to work?” Jan asked. “We live so far away, it would take hours and hours to get there and there aren’t even seats booked. Just ground passes!”
“I don’t know! All I do know is that I want to go, please. All my friends are going.”
Jan was transported back to when she was at school in Bristol. They had a trip arranged to Wimbledon where they had tickets for Court Number One. They had had to leave really early by coach so the traffic wouldn’t be too bad. They arrived as the gates were opening. They had been told the meeting point and not to be late back as the coach would leave at six o’clock sharp. After that, it was up to them what they did. They were old enough to be ‘let loose’ but because they weren’t in school uniform they were still expected to behave themselves. Like young ladies, as befitted their private school status.
They looked around the outside courts first and watched some players knocking up. They obtained some autographs from a few of the tennis stars of the time as they saw them wandering around. Then they found Court Number One and sat there in awe. What a wonderful place. They watched the tennis and wished they could play on such beautiful grass courts themselves. The courts they played on at school were horrible clay courts where their socks ended up the same colour as the courts, orange. The stains never came out. Jan’s mum was always complaining.
Jan and Marian, her best friend, decided at about 4 pm to try to get into Centre Court. There was free standing in those days. As they were nearing the court someone came out of the Debenture seating area and offered them their tickets because they were going home early. The girls couldn’t believe their luck.
They showed their tickets and then found their seats. They sat
there dumbstruck. They couldn’t take it all in at once.
“Wow!” They both said in unison.
They had never seen anything so fantastic in all their lives. A wonderful place in all aspects. As they came out and made their way back to the meeting point, they met up with Paula, their friend. She told them that she had seen several tennis stars and got their autographs but when they told her that they had been on to Centre Court, she was very jealous.
“Mum, Mum! You were miles away!” Louise was nudging Jan. “What do you say? Can I go? Please. Pretty please!”
“I must run it by your father first. It would be a fantastic experience for you if you really want to do it.”
“Will you tell him I really, really want to go? I’ll wash up for a month if I have to!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll put in a good word,” Jan smiled as Louise crossed her fingers.
Jan asked Geoff for Louise and he eventually agreed it would be good for her but it was the usual battle that Jan had with him whenever there was something she wanted him to agree to. After all, they had done something really nice for Steven, Louise deserved something to look forward to as well.
Louise went to school the next day and all the girls were jumping about excitedly. They had all been given the go-ahead. Louise was summoned to the headmistress’s office. She wondered what she had done and she was worried.
“Louise,” the Head began and Louise was quaking. “I know that your parents have agreed for you to go to Wimbledon, but unfortunately we are one adult person short to take so many girls. So we either have to reduce the number of girls going or we will have to find someone who can be responsible for some of the girls. We don’t have enough teachers free so we are having to ask parents. There has to be a ratio of at least one adult to every six or seven girls. I was wondering if you’d like to ask your mother if she would be prepared to come with us to supervise some of the girls, including yourself.”