It's Only Temporary

by Jamie Pearson

  ‘I’ve got a list,’ I said.

  ‘Me too.’

  I showed her my list and explained Alfie’s offer, ‘Well we will have to see,’ she said. ’I have a date with the Parish Council first.’ It was on the Monday I found out if I had a job in Texas, when I told her she looked disappointed but smiled and said, ‘Ah well, looks like I’m gonna go to this date on my own then.’

  Then she said, ‘Wanna see my list?’ handing me a piece of paper. It was my prospective dates from Saturday night, there was one name. Stacy.

  ‘I’m not surprised,’ I said.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well that I didn’t get any.’

  ‘You got one.’

  ‘Yeah, but not a real one.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’

  ‘What about yours?’ I asked.

  ‘Don’t know yet, I guess they will email that when they get around to it,’ She walked into her office and closed the door.

  Chapter 23.

  A short while later Yu called us for breakfast, I was almost finished by the time Stacy reappeared for hers, ‘Ermm, can I check my emails?’ I asked.

  ‘Sure,’ she said sounding completely unlike her normal self, there was an edge to her voice that I had not heard before. ‘I’ve got my list now, four names on it, not yours though.’

  ‘Well no,’ I was surprised she would think my name would be there. She may have felt I was in need of a charity vote but I had not thought that she would need or even want that to be reciprocated. She evidently did not need my vote as she had four names anyway and she of course would not have wanted me to be on her list simply for the sake of it.

  ‘Why not?’ the hard edge was still there.

  ‘Well, errr. I didn’t think you would appreciate it. You don’t seem to need it.’

  ‘Appreciate it?’

  ‘Yeah, y’know. A sympathy vote.’

  ‘Sympathy, was that what it would have been?’

  I was aware she was unhappy but was unsure where this conversation was going. ‘Well, yeah.’ She gave me a very hard look and was about to speak so I quickly added, ‘Same as you did for me.’

  She appeared to stop herself from saying what she had intended then said, ‘Is that what you think?’ more softly than before.

  ‘Well, yeah. I mean, I am going away,’ I said in a near whisper. Yu coughed as if to get her attention. ‘Full English,’ she said as she slid Stacy’s plate towards her. ‘Emails,’ she said more pointedly to me. As I left the kitchen I saw Yu sit down and put her arm around Stacy. Women, they were completely unfathomable at times I decided.

  I sent Hank a message telling him that I had received the tickets and was looking forward to seeing him. I then opened an email from an address I didn’t recognise which turned out to be from Jon.

  Hi Marc,

  Just to let you know I have been in contact with a Mr Russell from the City Polytechnic, he is hoping you could contact him for a chat.

  Jon

  Jon had attached various ways to contact Mr Russell but had neglected to tell me why. I clicked the email link and introduced myself, advising him that if he needed to contact me he would have to do so very quickly as I was going over sea’s. I also gave him the centre and my borrowed mobile numbers but pointed out that these were only relevant for the next 2 weeks.

  Stacy appeared in the doorway, ‘Ok?’ she asked.

  ‘Yeah you?’

  ‘Fine why?’

  ‘Well you just seemed a bit…..peeved. I guess.’

  ‘Nah, I was just being silly. Having a girlie moment.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’ However I had no idea what that meant.

  ‘Look, it’s just that…’ she began.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, we get on really well I think. I mean you’re on your own planet for sure but, well, I’m gonna miss you.’

  ‘Ah, well I will miss you but we can email and stuff.’

  ‘Yeah I know.’

  ‘Ok, good. Shall we crack on?’

  ‘Let’s do it!’ she said but I noticed she was lacking her trademark enthusiasm for some reason.

  Kurt and Jade arrived on time and we began to discuss the youth club idea. I told them about Alfie’s sponsorship plan and Stacy admitted she was worried about it becoming a night club not a youth club.

  Jade spoke first ‘That’s a top idea Prof! I know what you’re saying Miss,’ this was to Stacy, ‘But I’m sure we can sort something.’

  Miss? I get Prof and Stacy gets Miss? How did that occur?

  ‘Kurt?’ Stacy asked. He had not spoken at all.

  ‘Membership,’ he said. ‘Everyone who gets in has to be under sixteen and a member, they have to pay a joining fee which they lose if they mess and get kicked out.’

  ‘Yeah!’ Jade chipped in. ‘Anyone over sixteen has to be part of the organising wotsit.’

  ‘The committee?’ I said.

  ‘Yeah and they will have to have references and stuff.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan.’ Stacy said.

  ‘So what do we do now?’ Kurt asked.

  ‘Well I was waiting for the others to tell you but…’

  ‘Erm, sorry Marcus. I got distracted. The others are not coming in.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘They all start their new jobs today!’

  ‘Result!’ Jade cried.

  That was good news, no matter what happened now I could leave with my head held high.

  ‘Right, so first off we need to gather some stuff. Free stuff if we can.’ I said.

  ‘Then we have to go to a council meeting to get permission,’ Stacy added.

  ‘When’s that?’ Kurt asked.

  ‘Three weeks today.’

  ‘Give us the list, we’ll be back later,’ Jade announced.

  Chapter 24.

  ‘Phone call!’ Stay announced a bit later.

  ‘Who from?’

  ‘Dunno.’

  ‘Well that narrows it down a bit.’

  She smiled and said ‘Guess you’re just gonna have to ask em hey?’

  ‘Hello?’ I said into the receiver as I once again sat at Stacy’s desk.

  ‘Marcus?’ a voice enquired.

  ‘Speaking.’

  ‘Hello. Sorry there was a bit of confusion about your name I have it down as Marc but the lady who answered the phone put me right. Is that the Silverdale Centre which is in the old church school building? I just wanted to be clear so there is no more confusion.’

  Maybe not for you I thought, but I was clueless as to who this was or what they wanted.

  ‘Well good, so maybe you can enlighten me as to who you are?’

  ‘Pardon?’

  This conversation was already going downhill very fast.

  ‘To whom am I speaking?’

  ‘Of course, yes! Sorry. This I Keith Russell, from the Poly.’

  ‘Right, hello. I take it you got my email then?’

  ‘Yes, thanks. Any chance you could send me your C.V.?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Well I’m potentially gong to offer you a job.’

  The prospect of other offers had always been there but I had not anticipated one coming from the local Polytechnic, which was a few miles from the centre.

  ‘Errr, ok,’ I said on reflex. I was not at all sure about this though, a local Poly over Hank’s offer seemed a bit of a mismatch of opportunity. I knew for a fact that the Poly did not teach Egyptology so it all seemed a bit pointless.

  ‘Great, can you do so asap?’

  ‘I will try.’

  As I rang off I noticed Stacy standing in the doorway, ‘You do that a lot y’know,’ I said.

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Loiter in doorways listening to conversations.’

  ‘Hmmm, well my centre, my rules. Anyway, it’s bugged so I hear everything anyhow,’ I was not sure if she was joking. ‘You look a bit nonplussed,’ she told me.

  I explained the conversation to her and my reluctance to bo
ther to send my C.V.

  ‘The local Poly?’ she asked. I nodded ‘Well you’ve said you would now, anyway it could be a backup plan?’

  The next few days were spent helping Kurt and Jade search for the items on Alfie’s list, and to my amazement we gradually began to receive donations. With a few hastily printed flyers to hand out we found that the local response was very much in favour of the idea. Again I started to feel that I was honouring my end of this bargain, I felt proud I realised and tried to push the inexplicable nagging doubt that I had to the back of my mind.

  By Thursday the nagging feeling had moved from the back of my mind to the front, I had also received a letter from Mr Russell offering me an interview, however it was on my first day in Texas.

  As a result I elected to take a day off from the centre in order to clear my head and made my way to the library instead. I emailed Mr Russell explaining that alas I would not be attending and to be polite I took some time to explain why. Following this I logged onto the Rockwell University webpage, there were lots of photos of a large modern building the seemed to have lots of glass and space. I even found a picture of Hank as the head of the History Faculty.

  The website gave an impression of a modern progressive university which I reflected may be just what I need after fifteen years at Luci, a place that revelled in its own history. The photos caused me to think about the flat above the centre with its space, light and sense of tranquillity. If that was how Texas was going to make me feel then there was absolutely no reason for any doubts.

  As I shut down the webpage I realised I had left my email account open and a new message had arrived while I had been mentally in the USA.

  Hi Marcus,

  I understand exactly what you are saying and appreciate your sincerity. I still feel it may be worth our while meeting informally, perhaps the day before? I realise it is a Bank Holiday but I am happy to spend some time with you if you can make it?

  Let me know.

  Regards

  Keith Russell.

  Well that would not be happening, I was going to America that day. Shutting the PC down I left the Library and made my way back to my room. No I was right, Texas was the answer, definitely I thought to myself.

  ‘You should go,’ Stacy told me the next day as we ate breakfast.

  ‘What to the interview at the Poly?’

  ‘Yeah, I mean he’s obviously keen and it gives you an option if Texas doesn’t work out.’

  ‘Why wouldn’t it work out?’ The question was out before I had chance to think about how to respond, I tried unsuccessfully to not sound defensive . Mainly because that’s how I felt, I was not sure why.

  ‘No reason, calm down, I’m just thinking logically.’

  ‘Well it’s pointless. I am not wasting my time, or his.’

  ‘Ok, well you need to tell him that then. It’s only fair.’

  She was right, I should do that. ‘Yeah. I will,’ I said.

  ‘Anyhow, where are Bonnie and Clyde?’ she asked. The look on my face obviously betrayed my confusion. Both Stacy and Alfie had a knack for making bizarre statements that needed to be translated into English. I hoped the they did not do this in Texas, although I would miss it a little too I had to admit.

  ‘Kurt and Jade, our star crossed lovers. They out on the scrounge again?’

  ‘I think so. You know about them? Being a couple I mean?’

  She just laughed, ‘You are such a Dumbo at times! They are so loved up they may as well wear T shirts.’

  ‘I see.’

  ‘Speaking of which I’ve got a date this weekend,’ even Yu looked up from what she was doing at that one. Seeing our reactions Stacy continued, ‘Yeah, Frankie. He was one of my four from the speed dating extravaganza, or in your case disaster!’ she chided.

  ‘Alright, not my finest hour,’ I admitted.

  ‘You can say that again.’

  ‘Hang on, Frankie First Time?’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘The guy who was at next to me?’

  ‘Yeah. What did you call him?’

  ‘Frankie First Time, that’s how he introduced himself.’

  ‘Blimey he sounds like a Mafioso,’ Yu added.

  ‘No, he was asking me if it was my first time. It certainly wasn’t his.’

  ‘So?’ Stacy said eyeing me over the top of her mug as she drank some tea.

  ‘So, I just think…’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, you could do better.’

  ‘Really? Like who?’ she asked in a very pointed way.

  ‘Well who else have you got on your list?’

  There was a pause as she stared at me, then she said ‘So you don’t like Frankie?’

  ‘Well it’s not that I don’t like him. I just think he’s wrong for you.’

  Yu was staring at me very intently but I was not sure what she was thinking.

  ‘Ok, so you don’t think I should go out with him?’ Stacy asked.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Tough,’ she said as she got up and left the room.

  Yu just shook her head and went back to whatever it was she had been doing, I sat at the table feeling very perplexed. Thank god this would all be over soon.

  Chapter 25.

  Later that day Stacy came into my classroom, she was carrying some papers and looked very thoughtful. ‘Marcus, can you help me?’

  Her tone of voice was very different from the past few days, the strange abruptness and harsh edge had gone. I assumed she had simply gotten over whatever the problem was the way women do some times.

  ‘Of course, what’s up?’

  She sat down, ‘Applications, four of em,’ she said.

  ‘Applications?’

  ‘Yeah for the services course tutor post, it’s only part time and won’t make a massive profit but it will help. The kids as well as the centre,’ she added.

  ‘I’m sure. What do you need me to do?’

  ‘Interview em. Next Friday.’

  ‘My last day.’

  ‘Yeah,’ she said quietly.

  I walked back to what I euphemistically called home after work and ostensibly tried to enjoy the warm summer evening. I told myself that my time here was coming to an end that the positives I had been hoping for were just around the corner. Despite this I was feeling unsettled and for once I knew why.

  Frankie first time.

  The guy who went speed dating simply to meet desperate women, why on earth was Stacy going out with him? Well more’s the fool her I decided despite this I could feel my anger rising.

  ‘Wotcha mate, lovely night innit?’ Alfie called. He was letting himself in as I approached.

  ‘Is it?’ I growled.

  He looked at me, ‘Whoa there Nelly! What’s up pal?’

  ‘Women.’

  ‘What, a lack of or too many?’

  ‘Neither, they just drive you mad.’

  ‘Ok,’ he said closing the door again. ‘C’mon.’

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘Across the road.’

  Sitting in the empty bar of the Star Alfie asked what I wanted to drink, ‘Not bitter if it’s ok with you?’ I said remembering last time

  ‘Sure. Hey Ronnie, two Bud’s mate!’ he called.

  Ronnie brought us two bottles of American beer, ‘Best get used to this mate, it’s all they drink over there.’

  There were no glasses provided and I was initially appalled to see Alfie simply take a swig straight for the bottle. ‘Go on, mate, try it.’ I hesitantly took a sip, the cold beer was just what I needed on this hot and frustrating afternoon. We sat quietly in the still empty bar and I found I was actually enjoying the drink and the silent company of Alfie. Drinking straight from the bottle seemed satisfyingly decadent, rebellious even

  As I emptied the bottle Alfie said, ‘Another one mate?’ I nodded. He ordered two more and asked ‘Like it?’

  ‘Yeah actually I do.’ I tried not to sound too surprised but was not sure if I managed
it.

  ‘Y’know sometimes it’s just good to sit in the sun with a mate and have a beer. Kind of puts the world to rights.’ I couldn’t argue with him. How I had denied myself this simple pleasure was beyond me. ‘First time?’ Alfie asked.

  ‘What?’ I snapped. I could see he was shocked by my reaction. ‘Look Alfie, I’m sorry I didn’t mean that. It’s just something has ….annoyed me.’

  ‘What has?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Yeah you do.’ I looked at him quizzically.

  ‘Women?’ he asked. I nodded, ‘A woman?’ I nodded again, ‘Stacy?’ What was he a mind reader?

  ‘Yeah, how did you know?’

  ‘Oh I dunno, intuition I guess. So what’s up?’

  I told him about her strange behaviour during the week and her decision to go out with Frankie First Time despite my warnings. Throughout this he just sat there nodding, I even managed to include the offer from Mr Russell, it felt good to off load.

  ‘Sorry Alfie, I guess I just needed to talk about it.’

  ‘That’s cool, it’s what friends are for.’

  Friends? Not mates, friends. That was what he said and I suddenly realised that I considered Alfie as a friend, probably more so than I had ever done with anyone before.

  ‘Thanks,’ was all I could think to say.

  ‘No worries. You wanna know what I reckon?’

  ‘Definitely.’

  ‘You should go and see this mush at the Poly.’

  I was not expecting that, seeing as we were predominantly talking about women, well Stacy actually.

  ‘Ok, well err that’s not quite what I was expecting you to say.’

  ‘Nah, defo. Do it, it’ll give you something else to focus on. Stop you from getting yourself in a state.’

  ‘A Distraction?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Oh, ok. What the hell, why not?’ We touched bottles.

  ‘Course there’s the other thing you’ve got to ask yourself. About this thing with Stacy.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘You jealous?’

  Chapter 26.