Fireworks to Thailand

by J. R. Bonham

  On the day of the dinner party, Jan prepared all the food. Betty made some comments about how many there would be, and then saw there were four places set and realised that she would be eating alone. She didn’t like eating late anyway and always had a cooked meal at lunchtime and a snack about 5.30 or 6 pm, and she ate it whilst watching the news in her room.

  Jan made supper for the children and they were happy to be in their bedrooms out of the way. As a family they bought one of the first home computers. The only place it could go was in Steven’s bedroom so he was always happy to go to his room to play games. Louise liked to play computer games too and sometimes they would play together. Lately though she had lots of swotting for her ‘O’ Levels which were getting ever closer so she would close her bedroom door and settle down to her studies quietly.

  Margaret and Fred arrived fashionably late, about five minutes later than the appointed time. Jan welcomed them into the house and into the sitting room where the dining table was set and Geoff was waiting.

  “I’m afraid it’s a bit of a squeeze,” Jan explained as she let them in. “We’re hoping to get a conservatory which will give us a bit more space.”

  “Oh, I could do you a good deal if you come to the company I work for,” Fred told Geoff.

  “Oh,” said Geoff, quite bemused by the conversation. It was all news to him. Jan had suggested a while back when they first saw the house that a conservatory would be a good idea, but he didn’t think she wanted to go ahead with it.

  “Thank you, we will,” Jan carried on while Geoff was still sitting there, stunned. “Let’s have some drinks, what would you like?” Jan looked over to Geoff for his cue while asking the guests what they would like.

  “We have gin, whisky, wine etc,” Geoff said eventually.

  “Here, we’ve brought you this.” Fred handed Geoff a bottle of wine.

  “And these!” Margaret gave Jan a lovely bouquet of flowers.

  “Oh, thank you so much, you shouldn’t have,” Jan didn’t know what else to say. ‘Is this how it works, people bring wine and flowers when they come to dinner?’ she thought.

  “Mmmm, they smell gorgeous,” mused Jan, but she had to be careful in case she started sneezing. They were pink lilies which had a lovely smell, but they also had huge pollen stamens. If she started sneezing now, she wouldn’t be able to stop and then her eyes would water and the whole evening would be spoiled. She took them to the kitchen, put them in water and left them there.

  Whilst she was there, she checked on the food in the oven and the vegetables were all ready to be cooked. She would give it a few more minutes before she put them on. She reckoned that would give her and Geoff time to have a drink and a chat with their new friends. Then she remembered she hadn’t put out the nibbles. She put crisps and nuts into glass dishes and offered them around as Geoff was giving out the drinks.

  “You have a lovely house,” said Margaret.

  “Yes, we like it here. Our other house was in a cul-de-sac too but not at the top like this, it’s nice and quiet here. And the garden there was very steep too at the other house. We moved to enable Geoff’s Mum to move in with us temporarily before she applies to the council for a flat in the town. She has her own bedsitting room and her own kitchen too.”

  “Oh!” Margaret looked surprised. “Lovely. Hope that works out well,” she said, but wondering if it really was a good idea. Never in her experience with talking to people she knew who had their in-laws to stay, did it ever work out.

  “She seems happy enough for the time being,” Geoff added. “Would you like another drink?”

  “Thanks, Geoff, very kind.” Fred had been listening but not saying very much, and Geoff noticed how quickly he had gulped down the first glass of wine. “How are your two – Louise and Steven? I bet they’re so grown up now. I used to meet them when Margaret looked after them when they were younger. Sometimes I used to work at home you see,” he added by way of explanation.

  “Yes, they’re great, thanks. Louise is busy with swotting for her O Levels, like your Emily. It’s a pity they aren’t in the same class at school, but at least they see each other in break time. How’s Sophie doing?” Jan enquired. Sophie was the same age as Steven.

  “Oh, she loves it at the grammar school. With Emily already there, it has made an easy transition for Sophie and of course, they both go on the bus together. How is Steven doing?” Margaret enquired, so glad that her daughter made it to the grammar school and not to the comprehensive like Steven. “Such a polite boy. And we hear that you have a little dog now?”

  “Yes, we do,” Jan replied. “He’s a West Highland Terrier, Hamish. I’ll bring him in to meet you when we’ve finished dinner. He’s a bit of handful when there’s food around, he won’t stop drooling! Steven is doing fine at the local comp. His reports tell us that and he seems happy enough and he’s working hard.” Jan was a tiny bit jealous that both Margaret’s children passed their 11-Plus and her own son had to make do with the comprehensive school – but she wasn’t going to admit it to her friend.

  Jan gave their guests a feast. They had prawn cocktail as a starter, then a pork dish she had found in a recipe book, with apricots and apple. She had done it once before as a special treat for the family when the cookbook was new and she wanted to experiment. Then for pudding, she did an old favourite of Geoff’s: apple and blackberry crumble and custard. She had heard that Fred liked old fashioned puddings and so that one was for him too.

  When they had finished, Jan went to get Hamish who had been banished to the kitchen all that time. He whined a little when he first heard strange voices because he wanted to see who it was but he soon calmed down. He came bounding in and licked everyone in turn.

  “Oh, isn’t he just gorgeous! I wish we had a dog! If we did, I’d have one like Hamish, I think. Fred, what do you say? Shall we have a little dog like Hamish?”

  “Well, dear, if you don’t want so many holidays then I suppose we could. You can’t have it all!” Fred was thinking ‘Oh God, a dog as well as cats! When is this woman going to stop taking in strays!’

  “Coffee?” Jan asked Margaret first. She knew Margaret liked a good cup of coffee, so she had bought some expensive ground coffee and made it in the percolator. It was a good excuse to use it; it had been a wedding present a long time ago but Jan couldn’t remember who had given it to them. They usually just had instant coffee at home.

  “Oh, yes please,” said Margaret. “Isn’t he a little darling? I love Westies. Didn’t they win Crufts last year?”

  “Yes, they did. I’ve always liked the look of Westies, not necessarily when they’re puppies but adorable as adults. I couldn’t have a dog that moulted because I’m allergic. I’m allergic to cats too.”

  “Oh dear. Well, when you come to us we will have to hide the cats away from you. I will hoover everywhere too! I’m glad you’ve told me, although you may have mentioned it before. I had forgotten. Don’t forget, if you ever want to go away on holiday I’ll have Hamish for you, don’t put him in the kennel. Even if we do get a dog it’ll be fine, the more the merrier.”

  Fred took one look at his wife and frowned, but said nothing.

  “Look at the time, Fred! We’d better go. We don’t want to outstay our welcome. Thank you both so much for a beautiful evening, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We must do it again, at our house I mean. I’ll be in touch,” said Margaret.

  “Yes, thank you very much,” said Fred and gave Jan a peck on the cheek and shook Geoff’s hand. “Don’t forget when you want a new conservatory, do let me know.”

  With that, they went to the door, into the car and were off.

  “Do you mean they don’t stay to wash up?” Geoff complained.

  “Of course not! You don’t invite people in for dinner and then expect them to wash up!” Jan wasn’t quite sure if he was joking, probably not. “I think that went quite
well and it looks like we have an invite back. And then they’ll have to wash up in their own house! Can you help me to clear up now?”

  Geoff begrudgingly helped with clearing away all the dishes and started on the washing up. There was obviously a lot more than usual, with three courses. They weren’t used to having three courses.

  “Maybe we should get a dishwasher?” he suggested.

  “At last. He has a good idea!” Jan said rather too sarcastically than she meant. “What I really meant was – yes, what a good idea. Yes, please! Thank you very much.”

  Chapter 19

  “Don’t you think it’s about time we got ourselves another car?” Jan tried tentatively to raise the subject. She had wanted a little bit of independence of her own without having to keep on asking Geoff to use the family car.

  “I doubt we can afford that, what with the insurance and petrol, let alone buying it in the first place.” Geoff didn’t want to commit himself even though he knew that actually, Jan needed the car more than he did. On days she needed it, which was most days in the week, she would run Geoff to work, come back, take the children to school then take herself to work. Later in the day, it was the reverse of the morning.

  “I think you’ll find it’ll pay for itself in the long run.” Jan was ever hopeful that this battling with Geoff would one day prove fruitful but this didn’t seem to be the day. “I think I may have hinted several times in the last few years that we need another car, and it’s been ages since I’ve had my own. Nothing swish or expensive or new. The kids are always needing to be taken here and there with their after-school activities. Just a little runaround would be really useful. And of course it would be useful if I have to take your mother to the doctor or the shops.” She thought that this last statement would sway him. Then she continued as a last resort when it wasn’t looking hopeful by the look on his face. “I could have it as a birthday present, save you having to think of anything else!”

  “Oh! I thought you wanted a dishwasher!”

  “Of course we need a dishwasher but I don’t want one for my birthday, do I? It’s something for the house, not for me. I could say I’ll buy you a dishwasher for your birthday, how would you like that?”

  “OK, point taken. So you want a car of your own?”

  “Well, yes please,” said Jan. “You said all those years ago that we couldn’t afford two cars and, if you remember, I got rid of mine. I reckon now we can afford it so I’d like one, just something cheap like a mini or something, that’d be nice.”

  “Let me think about it. I’ll keep a lookout at work. I think I know just the thing.” He was being secretive and Jan couldn’t believe it. ‘He’s actually sort-of agreed to something I suggested without actually saying no! Is he mellowing?’ she wondered.

  He came home one day, some weeks later and said, “I’ve found something you might like!”

  “Oh! Am I allowed to ask what it is or see it before you decide?”

  “We’ll go and see it on the weekend if you like.”

  “I like. Are you going to give me a clue as to what it is?”

  “No,” was Geoff’s decisive answer.

  The weekend arrived and Jan was getting excited. She waited for Geoff to suggest they go and see the car he had decided on for her. She couldn’t wait.

  “Come on then!” Geoff shouted from the porch as he was getting his coat on. “We’ll go and see the car now and then you can decide if you want it or not.”

  She grabbed her coat and rushed out of the door. Then she noticed the children who were looking at their parents as if they had gone completely mad.

  “Dad’s buying me a car for my birthday!” Jan imparted to Louise and Steven. Betty was getting her breakfast in her own kitchen and wondered what all the commotion was about. She overheard what was being said but waited until Jan and Geoff had gone.

  “I can’t think what he wants to buy her a car for!” Betty was quite disgusted. “You have a perfectly good car in the drive, why do you want another one for heaven’s sake?”

  “I think Mum wants one for herself rather than using Dad’s all the time,” Louise was trying to put her Mum’s point of view across to her grandmother. “I think she doesn’t always want to ask Dad if she can use the car, and it would be useful for us too, Gran. Mum can take us to lots of different activities that we do after school. Steven sometimes has to stay on at school for football practice and I have my clarinet lessons. And it would be useful for when I start to learn to drive when I’m 17. Mum has always said that she would teach me to drive. She can take me out in her car rather than use Dad’s, which I think would be too big for me as a learner.” Louise was getting excited at the prospect of learning to drive. Only about a year away. Her ‘O’ Levels were going to have to come first though and she knew she would have to work hard for them in the next year.

  Geoff drove up the drive to the college and along the side road to where his workshop was located. They got out of the car and Geoff steered Jan in through a side door.

  “Close your eyes,” he said while producing a blindfold. “Just in case you cheat!”

  “Oh, are you sure? Am I safe?” Jan wondered.

  “Of course!” Geoff pushed her towards another room but was careful she didn’t trip over anything. “You’re not peeping are you?”

  “Of course! NOT!” she was smiling behind the blindfold in anticipation.

  Geoff had got permission from the college to acquire a 20-year-old Mini for which the college had no more use. It had been in a very sorry state when he acquired it but he had used his own time to prepare it by putting in a new engine, together with new brakes and then spraying the bodywork with black paint. He had also added a finishing touch of a gold stripe down both sides. It was a work of art and he was very pleased with himself. He positioned Jan in such a way as to get the full impact and then took off her blindfold.

  “Wow!” This was the impact he was expecting from her and he was pleased.

  “Do you like it?” he asked.

  “Like it? I love it!” she gasped, so excited.

  ‘That’s good. Now I know you won’t complain tonight when I want my way. You nearly always say tomorrow or you have a headache, well, you haven’t got one now!’ Geoff’s thoughts running away with him.

  “I don’t suppose you want to wait for your birthday now you’ve seen it!” he said to her.

  “No. I can wait! I’ve waited all these years, a few more weeks won’t hurt,” Jan said, even though she wanted to drive it straight out of that garage, right there and then. She gave him a big kiss. “Aren’t you the clever one?! Keeping all this a surprise for me.”

  “I had had it in my mind some months ago when I first heard they were getting rid of it and then you suggested it so it was perfect timing. I said I would take it off their hands and I’ve been working on it ever since. I had to do it in my own time so I used my lunch hours and worked a bit later than normal. And sometimes I used some of their time when it was quiet, but don’t tell them that! Then when you mentioned it I thought I must show it to you.”

  “This would be ideal for me to teach Louise to drive in as it’s so much smaller than the other one.”

  “Do you mean mine?” Geoff asked.

  “Well, it’s always been the family car but I suppose you’ll want to have exclusivity on it now!”

  “Whatever exclusivity is!?”

  “It means that it will be yours and mine will be mine,” Jan explained. “While we’re in the mood, shall we go shopping for a dishwasher now?”

  “You’re chancing your arm a bit, aren’t you? Aren’t you satisfied with your new car?”

  “Oh yes, but if we’re going to do more entertaining then we definitely need a dishwasher, don’t we?” Jan tried.

  “OK! You might as well take advantage while I’m in a good mood. Let’s go to the shops and see what
there is.”

  In the first shop they went in, there was a huge choice of dishwashers. There wasn’t any point in going anywhere else. Jan didn’t really like shopping and so as soon as she saw what she wanted she decided that was it.

  “Do we have to measure to see if it will go in the kitchen?” Geoff asked Jan.

  “Not really. They are all the same size. The washing machine can be moved to the garage and the dishwasher can go where the washing machine is now.” She had worked it all out beforehand and had measured up too.

  “Ok, let’s do it.” They paid and agreed a day when it could be delivered.

  They drove home and Jan was feeling quite euphoric. Ecstatic even. She couldn’t believe in just one day she had succeeded in having two of the things she had most coveted for years.

  Jan’s mother had had her first dishwasher, a Colston when Jan was only nine. It was one of the first ones to be manufactured for home use. It was very basic with only one programme. The later dishwashers became much more refined with several different programmes for washing different things.

  The children were on the doorstep when they heard the car drawing up the drive.

  “What is it, Mum?” shouted Louise from the front door. She didn’t have any shoes on so she had to wait until her parents came inside. They weren’t going to shout out to her from the driveway.

  “What DO you mean?” Jan smiled at Louise, in the hallway.

  “Haven’t you been to see about a new car?” said Louise, and Steven was hanging on her every word awaiting a reply just as excitedly as Louise.

  “No, of course not!” Jan said and then waited a while for the impact to sink in. “Well, not a new car as such. In fact a very old car. But it’ll be my car all the same and it’s fab! Your Dad has done it up and it’s quite beautiful. It’s a little black Mini and it’s all mine!”

  Louise and Steven looked at each other and then looked at Jan to see if she was joking. They decided probably not.