It's Only Temporary

by Jamie Pearson

  The following morning I awoke to the sound of a kettle boiling, I looked at where Stacy and Max should have been sleeping only to find that they were both up and dressed with the bed folded away.

  ‘Morning,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I thought we’d go and get some breakfast from the café before we go and find your folks?’

  ‘Sounds good.’

  Following a shower in the bathroom block which turned out to be cleaner and warmer than the one at Henrietta Street we headed for breakfast. It was shaping up to be a very warm and sunny day so we were all dressed in shorts and T shirts. Max had the additional items of a baseball cap and his insect sunglasses plus a covering of factor five thousand sun lotion which made him look like a ghost.

  My concern about spending time with Stacy was dissolving rapidly; I was actually enjoying myself and was quite flattered when Max unexpectedly took my hand as we walked. He was fascinated to discover that they had dog’s in Devon too.

  Getting the pitch number for my parents from the office we set off walking with a crudely drawn map as our reference point. I was nervous as we walked along the track, my parents were very loving and kind people who just happened to live a bizarre way of life. However I was unsure how they would react to our unexpected arrival and my news, I did not want to hurt them.

  Growing up my school friends who had discovered that my dad was not in fact a NASA engineer had always thought his dreadlocks and tattoos were cool. I had thought dreadlocks were ridiculous for a white guy from Manchester as was my mother’s penchant for wearing Kaftans. Especially when I was a child and she had attended school parent’s evenings in them.

  Some years before they had decided to retire and had set off to travel the world in what even I had to admit was a pretty cool camper van. My dad had spent years restoring it and I was sure Stacy would not be disappointed, for some reason this felt important to me.

  In the end they had reached this part of Devon after a week and had never left, as far as I could tell they normally used the camper as a car and lived in a rented cottage or something similar during the winter, it was all a bit vague about the summer and the campsite but my mother had told me they had a pool and views of nature.

  The pool was something Max was very excited about.

  I saw the camper, ‘That’s them.’

  ‘Oh wow! Look at that VW!’ Stacy said.

  ‘Yeah, not sure where they are though.’

  ‘Hello!’ a voice called out.

  I froze, my brain felt like it was experiencing multiple short circuits. At that moment I had no idea where either Stacy or Max were, I could not speak or move only stand there trying to suppress a scream. Walking towards us was my dad, tanned, fit, dreadlocked, tattooed and completely naked.

  ‘You’ve found us, what a brilliant surprise,’ he said, extending his hand to Stacy.

  ‘Hi I’m Rob, his dad,” he said gesturing at me with his head.

  She recovered quickly and shook his hand, ‘I’m Stacy, pleased to meet you.’

  I found I was only able to turn my head to look at Stacy and the wide eyed, open mouthed Max. I was astonished at her composure when she said, ‘And this is Max, say hello Max.’

  He looked thoughtful for a second, ‘Hello,’ he said eventually then added ‘Where are your clothes?’

  My Dad paused and then laughed, ‘Oh, I forgot I wasn’t wearing any. We tend not to when it’s very hot. ‘

  Max seemed happy enough with that response ‘Can I see your pool?’

  ‘Of course you can,’ they turned and walked away. My dad looked over his shoulder and said, ‘You alright Son?’

  Stacy took my hand, but all I could focus on was the back of Max’s head. The boys black hair a stark contrast next to my dad’s white buttocks.

  ‘Are you ok?’ she asked.

  ‘I am so sorry, I had no idea!’

  ‘It’s fine, a bit of a shock but funny too. Your parents are nudists! I knew the site had a naturist section from the website but didn’t know they were in it.’

  ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

  ‘Cos you would have run a mile!’ That was probably true.

  We walked past the camper and Stacy could not take her eyes off of it, my dad was showing Max the “pool” which was a fairly loose description I felt as it was in fact a large inflatable paddling type affair. Sam however was far more interested in the living accommodation, a full size Indian Tepee.

  ‘I thought you lived in the camper?’ I said.

  ‘Whatever gave you that idea?’

  Max appeared at the entrance, ‘Mum, can I have one of these?’

  Stacy and my dad laughed, ‘We will see,’ she said.

  ‘Come sit,’ my dad said guiding us to a table and chairs in the shade of a tree. ‘Your Mum has popped to the shop to get some cold drinks. We can’t keep them cool for long here.’

  ‘Right,’ at least she will have clothes on’ I thought.

  I heard her voice, ‘You’re here?’ there was an unmistakable element of anxiety in her tone.

  ‘Oh sweet Jesus!’ I put my forehead on the edge of the table and tried to focus on my shoes.

  She was wearing a floppy sun hat and large round sunglasses that reminded me of my pepper spray Panda look. However she was wearing nothing else except two carrier bags of assorted bottles, she quickly went into the tepee and then screamed.

  ‘There’s a child in here!’

  Max exited the Tepee like an Olympic sprinter, clearly unhappy about the sudden appearance of the strange naked woman, I couldn’t empathise more. He went over to Stacy and buried himself in her midriff; I found I had the urge to do the same.

  My Mum reappeared this time with shorts and a T shirt on as well, ‘Hello love,’ she said to me still obviously flustered. ‘It’s great to see you, but what are you doing here?’ she said as she hugged me. ‘Rob, clothes now!’ she barked at my dad who dutifully disappeared into the Tepee.

  She smiled at Stacy, ‘We have heard absolutely nothing about you or your little man, typical Marky!’

  Taking her cue Stacy said ‘Hi, I’m Stacy and this is Max.’ On hearing his name Max emerged from the under her arm as my dad reappeared from the Tepee, ‘Can I take my clothes off too Mum? I want to go in the pool.’

  ‘Is that OK?’ she asked.

  ‘Of course,’ my dad said. ‘This is the naturist part of the camp, it’s very discrete has its own shop as well. It’s very easy to simply forget you’re not wearing clothes, sorry if I offended you.’

  ‘No not at all,’ Stacy said. ‘We must have caught you unawares, turning up out of the blue like this?’

  ‘Well I have tried to warn Marky that he wouldn’t like it here in the summer, now you know why love,’ my mum said.

  My dad added, ‘I’m glad you’re not bothered by it. In fact Stacy if you are too hot, feel free to…’

  ‘Dad!’ I shouted. ‘For the love of God, do not finish that sentence. Ever!’

  Chapter 34.

  ‘So, to what do we owe the honour?’ my dad asked.

  ‘I’ve got some news for you.’

  ‘You’re getting married!’ my mum yelled.

  What? How on earth had she made the instant connection between “News” and “Married”? Even the up until that point unflappable Stacy looked taken aback by that one.

  ‘Are you going to be my Daddy?’ Max had asked form the swimming pool before I could say anything.

  ‘That’s wonderful!’ my mum continued, seemingly on roll now.

  ‘Linda...’ my dad said.

  ‘So have you fixed a date yet?’

  ‘Linda…’

  ‘Is Max…y’know...yours?’

  ‘Mum! Stop!’

  There was a moments silence before Max, who seemed to consider any period of time without speaking as being an unnecessary waste said ‘I’d like that.’

  I had been about to try and prevent my mum from embarrassing us all further but those three words from Max brought me
to a sudden halt. Stacy reacted first my scooping Max up and saying ‘Ok buddy, let’s get you dry and stick some more sun cream on you. Don’t want you to get burnt do we?’ Max shook his head solemnly to show his agreement. ‘Can I take him in there?’ she asked indicating the Tepee.

  ‘Sure, help yourself my dad said.

  We made eye contact as she carried Max towards the entrance, get on with it! Seemed to be the message.

  ‘So are you?’ my mum asked.

  ‘Linda, just let him speak,’ my dad said.

  ‘Well what else could have made him travel over here, with Stacy as well?’

  ‘Linda!’

  She folded her arms and looked belligerently at my dad.

  ‘No and No. I’m not getting married and Max isn’t mine,’ I said.

  ‘So what is it Son?’ my dad asked.

  ‘I’m going away,’ they waited. ‘To America, to live and work…probably.’

  Thankfully my mum didn’t say anything.

  ‘Probably?’

  ‘Yeah Dad, I’ve got an interview next week in Texas.’

  ‘Wow!’

  I went on to explain about how I had lost my job and Hank’s offer, how important it was to me and that I saw it as a great opportunity. Neither of them spoke when I had finished, they just sat there looking at me.

  ‘America?’ my mum eventually said.

  ‘Sounds good Son.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Well we will help in any way possible, you know that. Had you been straight with us about what was going on before we could have helped,’ he said giving my mum a pointed look.

  ‘That’s fine dad, but thanks.’

  ‘So how does Stacy fit in to all this?’ my mum asked?

  ‘Oh I just tend to bail him out of police custody when he needs it.’ Stacy said. She had remerged from the Tepee at what seemed to be an altogether too convenient moment to be by chance.

  There was another pause before my dad then my mum stared laughing, I was aware that Stacy had very skilfully diverted the conversation away from the subject of the nature of our relationship, whatever that was. As much for her benefit as mine I assumed. Between us we explained how the centre worked, my role, the new course and the attempt to get the youth club up and running.

  ‘The youth club sounds like it will make a big difference,’ my dad said.

  ‘In more ways than one,’ Stacy replied with what I assumed she thought was a throw away comment. My dad was not letting that one go and gave her a look that virtually demanded she explain herself.

  ‘Without it we are sunk, if I can’t bring in the extra money I will have to close. The new course will help but there is still a short fall.’

  The enormity of her situation was laid open by that statement, succeed or die it seemed and I was once again aware that I was walking away from it all, from her, probably when she needed me the most.

  ‘Well,’ my dad said. ‘You’re just gonna have to give em hell in that meeting darling, make sure they know how valuable it is to the young people. Don’t be overawed by em if they get all pompous and they probably will, imagine them naked, they will seem less intimidating then. I know.’ He added with a laugh.

  ‘I’ll try,’ she said quietly.

  ‘So that’s your big news, what are you doing now?’ my mum asked.

  ‘I promised Max a trip to the beach,’ Stacy said. ‘And…I was hoping to have a look at your camper? I’ve got splitty too, it’s parked near the café, but it’s nowhere near as nice as yours.’

  ‘Why don’t we multitask?’ my dad replied. ‘We go to the beach in the van?’

  I thought Stacy was going to explode with excitement.

  ‘With two conditions,’ my dad added. She was totally attentive now, ‘First I get to look at yours later?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘And you drive.’

  She looked stunned, ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Totally.’

  ‘Oh my god!’ she launched out of her chair and hugged him.

  Chapter 35.

  Watching Stacy as she drove my dad’s camper was like seeing her with new eyes, she was in her element, vibrant, carefree, and happy. I wanted her to stay that way; I hoped she would be able to. We had transferred Max’s car seat into my dad’s van and he had been highly amused at Max’s battle cry of “Rock and Roll” as soon as we started moving. After the beach he had directed us to a restaurant where it seemed my parents were well known.

  We spent a very pleasant evening discussing all things VW and Max related, we even ventured into talking about Texas and the Centre but mercifully we stayed away from the topic of myself and Stacy. Perhaps they could tell there was an underlying issue there for me, if not both of us.

  Max was very tired but wanted desperately to sleep in the Tepee, there was plenty of room and he and Stacy we agreed, would stay with my mum, my dad decided to sleep in his van and I elected to return to Dolly ostensibly to ensure she was not at risk of being broken into. In reality I needed some time to myself to process yet another day in what I was beginning to refer to as the rollercoaster of my life.

  ‘I’ll walk back with you,’ my dad told me as I was about to leave.

  ‘That’s ok.’ But he was already striding out ahead of me.

  As I caught him he said ‘Busy time huh?’

  ‘You could say that.’

  ‘You sure this is the right thing?’

  ‘It’s the only thing,’ I had not told him about my meeting at the Poly.

  ‘Hmm, there’s always other choices.’

  ‘Not this time.’

  We walked on quietly for a bit, ‘What about Stacy?’

  ‘What about her?’

  ‘Leaving her behind.’ It was not a question. I did not reply, not because I did not want to but I simply couldn’t. As we reached Dolly he gave her a quick appraisal in the darkness. ‘I’ll look properly tomorrow.’

  ‘Ok.’

  ‘There’s always choices Son,’ he said turning and walking away before I could respond.

  ‘Not this time,’ I said again but only I was listening.

  The following morning I made my way back to my parents pitch and found my dad had already started cooking breakfast. ‘Ah the ancient art of Ti Ming!’ he called as I approached.

  ‘Ti Ming?’ I had to ask against my better judgement.

  ‘Timing!’

  ‘Ah, of course….silly me.’

  After breakfast we all walked back to Dolly and my dad had a good look at her, giving Stacy some tips. He even offered to do some of the work for her if she came and visited during the winter when he would have a garage at whatever place they had decided to rent. She was thrilled but we were at a point where had to say goodbye.

  ‘Can’t you stay longer Marky?’ this was from my mum who had not wanted me to come in the first place.

  ‘No, I’m off to America tomorrow. Got to get back and get sorted.’ This was a lie as the entire contents of my room were packed in my suit cases waiting to be collected or were in my rucksack similarly packed and in the back of Dolly. “Grab n Go” as Stacy had put it.

  The journey back was fairly uneventful and our conversation was mainly limited to Campers, Max, Nudists and Traffic Jams. Eventually we pulled up in Henrietta Street, and as I climbed out I noticed Max was fast asleep. Without thinking I leant over him and kissed the top of his head, ‘Rock and Roll,’ I whispered.

  I suddenly realised I really should have asked Stacy’s permission before I had done that and I looked at her nervously, would she be angry. All I saw was the back of her head as she climbed out as well. She came around the front to meet me and I could see she had tears in her eyes.

  ‘Send me a post card?’ she was crying properly now, so I was I realised.

  ‘I’ll call, ‘I promised.

  She suddenly threw her arms around my neck and I held her close to me with my hands on her waist, she reached up and kissed me again. There was no doubt that this was
more than affection, I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but she stopped me by putting her finger to my lips.

  ‘Find what you are looking for,’ she said then turned away and got back into Dolly. We were both still crying as she pulled away.

  Chapter 36.

  The next morning I showered, changed my clothes and repacked my ruck sack. Locking my door behind me for what I realised was possibly the final time I lugged my two suitcases and rucksack down the stairs onto the street to wait for the taxi I had booked with a few minutes of credit from Stacy’s old phone.

  ‘Wotcha mate.’

  I turned to find Alfie standing in the doorway, ‘Hey Alfie.’

  ‘You all set then?’

  ‘Yep, oh can you drop this into the centre for me at some point?’ I said handing him the phone.

  ‘No worries. Gonna miss you mate.’

  ‘Me too, but you said you’re gonna come and visit?’

  ‘Try stopping me’ he grinned.

  The taxi pulled up and the driver was surprised to find I had so much luggage for a three mile trip to the local Poly. I extended my hand to Alfie, ‘Come here,’ he said grabbing me in a bear hug.

  ‘Look after Stacy for me? Help her with the council?’ I asked.

  ‘You know it. Now get going and give them yanks some stick.’

  Arriving at Mr Russell’s office I could see that the fact I had copious amounts of luggage with me was a bit of a surprise to him.

  ‘Moving in?’ he asked genially.

  ‘Oh, er sorry. Off to the airport from here. The States if you remember?’

  ‘Yes, yes. Well maybe I can change your mind?’

  I doubt it, I thought to myself. We talked generally about teaching, the Poly and the local area. I was conscious of the time as the car was due to arrive soon; he seemed to notice this and evidently decided to cut to the chase.

  ‘So in a nutshell Marcus, I need a Head of History for September. You can still teach Egyptology if you see fit but none of my current tutors have your range and depth of experience. I know you are off to the USA but would you at least think about it?’