Clouds Below the Mountains

by Vivienne Dockerty

  “There’s a lot to be said for having your own space and being able to make your own decisions,” said Kath. “ Though it can get lonely at times.”

  “I don’t know about lonely,” laughed Lucy wryly. “ I’d welcome lonely sometimes.”

  ***

  “Does anyone want to visit the toilets before we start on the tour?” asked Paul, as he paid for their admission tickets in the Thai village styled building, after annoyed tutting from Sonya who had been willing to pay for herself and Evan. No one did, so they all stood on the veranda that overlooked the lake, with its koi carp and pretty waterfall.

  “So what does everyone want to see?”, asked Cheryl, who was flicking through the park guide. “ If we stick to the advised route we’ll come across gorillas next and then the place where the penguins live.”

  “Perhaps we should just go with the flow,” said Sonya. “I know Evan will be thrilled to see everything.”

  “That’s what we’ll do then,” said Paul. “Though maybe you should have brought his push chair, it looks as if there’s a lot to see.”

  ***

  “Maybe we should get a separation,” said Kate provocatively, as she and Greg sat on the sun loungers later that morning near the pool bar. Greg removed his sunglasses and stared with irritation at his wife.

  “Do we have to talk about this, Kate, can’t you be content with how things are?”

  “Are you content with how things are?”

  “I don’t want very much out of life really. I’m happy with things at work, I have a lovely grandson and a nice home, so I can count my blessings as it were.”

  “No mention of the wife who has made all this possible then?”

  “Kate, what do you want me to say? I’d be lying if I said I’m in love with you, like I was when we were younger. We’re different people now and as such we should accept that and move forward together.”

  “So no more nookey in bed?”

  “I never said that our love making should cease forever. It’s just as I said, now that we are older it isn’t so necessary.”

  Kate went quiet then, fighting with a desire to go straight back to the bedroom and pack her suitcase. Sometimes she hated Greg, he could be so bloody pompous. All she wanted was reassurance that he still did love her, with the occasional kiss for no particular reason; being told she looked attractive when she had made a special effort just for him; being held in his arms when things became too much for her, but mostly feeling that tender closeness which their loving used to bring.

  She fought back the tears that were threatening to spill and choked back her resentment at Greg’s uncaring words. One day she’d make him pay for his laissez faire attitude and hoped that he would come to rue his careless use of her.

  ***

  “Are you looking forward to your day off?” asked Kath, as she and Lucy sat together at the end of the meeting, waiting for any of the clients who wanted to ask them questions about the day trips. “Well, I’ll be glad to catch up on my washing, but other than that I’ll probably laze around the pool if the weather is nice, or I might just stay in bed all day. What do you normally do on your day off, Kath?”

  “Same as you. I usually go to the launderette after I’ve had a lie in, then as my accommodation hasn’t got a pool I usually have a walk along the sea front or go to the supermarket and buy a few bits and pieces. I mostly eat out, as you know, but sometimes I’ll buy something to cook at my apartment.”

  “So you’ll be looking forward to going to Raffles tomorrow night, with them serving up a three course dinner and then a show to watch. It’s a good job your day off is Monday.”

  “Going to Raffles is still part of my job, Lucy,” said Kath reprovingly, detecting a bit of jealousy in the girl’s voice, as she hadn’t been asked to accompany their clients. “ It can be annoying sometimes having to be on duty, when all you really want to do is switch off.”

  “Well, anytime you want me to go in your place, just ask,” said Lucy daringly and was glad when a client came up to the table, which prevented her supervisor ticking her off.

  “Is it too late to book places on the cabaret evening tomorrow?” asked Gary Greenfield, blushing as he felt the two women looking at him keenly. “ Only my wife says it would really make our honeymoon special, if we went somewhere like this Raffles place.”

  “I’m sorry, but our allocation has been taken for tomorrow,” said Kath. “ We share a coach with all the other travel companies and we are only given so many places. There are places still on next Sunday’s trip, if you would like to book for then.”

  The young man looked crestfallen, then wandered back to his table, where his wife began to have a go at him without lowering her voice.

  “I think he’s taken on more than he can handle,” remarked Lucy, looking over to where an irate looking Mrs. Greenfield was telling her husband, that he had better think of somewhere else just as special, as they were only on holiday until the following Friday, so what use was next Sunday to them?

  He came back a few moments later. “Excuse me, are there any vacancies on the V.I.P. Moonlight Teide trip?”

  “Well, yes, we still haven’t filled our allocation, although it isn’t escorted by a representative from Periquito Travel. Also I have to say it is very expensive. I have never been on the trip myself,” said Kath, in a regretful voice. “Yet I have heard from other travel rep’s, that watching the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean after a four course meal can be very romantic.”

  “And is that right, seventy pound per person?”

  “Yes, Mr. Greenfield, that is the price of the trip. I believe you also get the benefit of a local astronomer to map out the stars while you’re there.”

  “I’ll have to go and tell Tracy,” the hapless young man said, readjusting his black rimmed spectacles that had slipped down onto his nose. “ I’m not sure we have that kind of money to spend.”

  It was obvious the couple hadn’t, as he didn’t return to the reps’ table to book the Moonlight Teide trip and a few minutes later an angry looking Mrs. Greenfield tottered out of the Sunlight Bar, her high heeled sandals tapping ominously and her husband scurrying ahead to get the door.

  “Whew, you can see who wears the trousers in that relationship,” said Lucy, although it was only figuratively, as Tracy was wearing a white knee length halter neck dress with a band of pink bugle beads sewn around its waist. “ He must really love his wife to put up with that kind of behaviour from her.”

  “It takes all sorts,” said Kath sagely, before smiling at a client that had handed her a booking form,

  “Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Is that two seats I’m reserving for you? Santa Cruz shopping on

  Monday, right?”

  ***

  “There’s a comedian on tonight, Mavis,” said Fred, as the couple sat on sun loungers after breakfast, feeling the warmth of the sun on their faces and planning what they should do with their day. “Well, he’d best not be mucky or I’ll walk out,” said Mavis. “ Do you remember when we had that day out to New Brighton and we stopped on to watch that fella at the Empress Club that time? Remember, I can’t think of his name now, went on to have his own series on the telly? Well, he was disgusting. I still recall his joke about Harold Wilson passing a motion. There’s no call for it. If they can’t come up with summat that makes you laugh, they shouldn’t call themselves comedians.”

  “Yes, I remember that as if it were yesterday,” Fred replied. “Cost me twenty one shillings that night to get a couple of rounds in and you walked out with yer nose in the air. Anyhow, it’ll do us good to ‘ave a bit of a laugh, with you going all doo lally on me yesterday. All right if I go off and do a bit of archery, I see you’ve brought yer book and look settled in your chair?”

  ***

  It was hot in the Orchidario, hotter than outside, even though the sun was doing its best to heat up the day. The three children were whining, as none of them were interested in silly flowers, even if Paul had said they w
ere things of beauty and shouldn’t be missed from their tour.

  “I want to go back to Chimpland, Daddy, I want to see that sweet little baby monkey again,” said Annabelle, in a very peeved voice. “ Who wants to look at flowers, you can see them at Asda any day?”

  “I want to go to Chimpland as well,” said Jack, copying his big sister, “ and Evan does too.”

  “Oh, we’re not going back to Chimpland,” said Cheryl wearily, feeling her dress sticking to her sweating body and wishing she had worn flat sandals like Sonya. “ Let’s go to see the sea lions. It will be cooler there by the water and then after we can go for a spot of lunch.”

  “I want to go back to see the monkeys,” cried Annabelle mutinously. “ Daddy said we could do what we wanted today and that is what I want.”

  “I’m sure I was talking about doing what you wanted today within reason, Poppet,” said Paul calmly. “ We have to think of others too and I can see that Mummy needs a rest. Would you like to have lunch after we’ve seen the sea lions, Sonya? You’re very quiet, you and Evan, are you not enjoying it?”

  “Oh, yes, Paul, sorry. The place is everything that appeals to animal lovers and so much for the children to see. It’s just that you were right about me not bringing Evan’s push chair, he seems a lot heavier when I’ve been carrying him today.”

  “It’ll be the heat, it takes a lot out of you,” Paul replied sympathetically, noticing that the girl didn’t have a pick on her and she was carrying a sturdy child. “ I’ll carry Evan until we get to the sea lion enclosure and then we’ll have a rest for a while.”

  “I noticed that they have those little kiddie cars that you can push along, when we were in the booking hall, Sonya,” Cheryl commented edgily. “ Why don’t you go back and hire one and that will save both you and Paul getting hot and sticky?”

  “Oh, we can manage Evan between us,” Paul said confidently. “ It would mean Sonya trekking back to the main entrance and it’s only a few minutes to the rest area anyway.”

  “As you wish,” said his wife stiffly. “ Though there’s still lots to see after lunch. I think you’re making a rod for your own back, as it were.”

  “I don’t mind going back to the main entrance,” Sonya said quickly, hearing from Cheryl’s tone that the lack of a push chair for Evan was annoying her. “ If you don’t mind looking after Evan while I’m gone, I could be back a lot faster without him.”

  “We’ll meet you at the restaurant by the Loris show then,” said Cheryl firmly. “ Look, here it is on the map, shall we say in twenty minutes time?”

  ***

  “I hope she doesn’t think she’ll be hanging around with those two all week,” said Ray Keegan to his wife,Tricia, as they sat on sun loungers watching their daughter, Joanne, laughing with a couple of boys by the tennis courts.

  “Oh, she’s just enjoying herself, Ray, give her a break will you? She’s had a rotten few months and you can’t keep her tied to your side all the time.”

  “And who was the cause of her rotten few months, Tricia? Certainly not me. If I’d had my way I’d have locked her in her bedroom until she was eighteen, but oh, no, you were the one who suggested this holiday. Let her rest after the abortion, you said, get her away from the lad who got her pregnant, you said and look at her. No remorse for getting herself in that condition or promises that she won’t do it again. You should have let me get the police involved and had him done for sex with a minor.”

  “Ray, we’ve been over this time and time again,” his wife said exasperated. “ The lad is sixteen, only two years older than Joanne. They’re hardly out of nappies themselves, they were just experimenting with what they’re taught in school nowadays. In our day we weren’t given graphic details on how to go about it. Let’s face it, I thought you could get pregnant after sitting on a toilet seat.”

  “Yes, and all I was told, was what transmitted diseases you could get if you did it with anyone. I don’t know. Our Shirley and Lindsey, managed to get through their teen years without causing us any problems. Look at them, settled and happy with decent fathers for their kids.”

  “And one day Joanne will as well. We’ve just got to get her over this, be supportive and stop harping on.”

  “Well I hope that estate agent has got his finger out when we get home, Tricia, and got us some viewers. I won’t be happy until we’ve moved away from Longsight and put some distance between that fella-me-lad and our Joanne. Once she’s miles away from him and going to a different school over there in Wigan and putting her mind to her studies, we’ll be able to forget about what’s happened and start afresh.”

  “I still think it’s a bit drastic, wanting us to up sticks, give in your notice to the Council and move all that way to Wigan, Ray. You might not find an employer as good as the Council, you know.”

  “Of course I will. There’s always work for a plumber and you’ll still be able to do school dinners at one of the local schools. Anyway, let’s enjoy this sun, eh and hope our Joanne behaves herself, but perhaps you could have a word about those skimpy shorts she’s got on.”

  ***

  “How is my beautiful English rose today?”, asked Miguel, who had made a point of passing Jenni’s sun lounger, whilst collecting glasses from around the pool area.

  “Feeling happy and contented, but rather sad that I am going home on Tuesday.” Jenni took her sunglasses off, then shaded her eyes with her hand, so that she gaze into his handsome face and seeing only admiration for her, in his brown Hispanic looking eyes. “ I too am sad, Jenny, that you will be going home and my mind is full of trying to think of how we will ever meet again. Maybe I will have, what you call, an inspiration.”

  Jenni smiled at him, thinking what a pity that she hadn’t met this wonderful man before she had got herself involved with Simon. Miguel deserved better, she was second hand goods, though that knowledge of her hadn’t seemed to deter him.

  “If it’s meant, it will happen,” she replied, quoting a favourite saying of her grandmother’s. “ Where are you working this evening, in the Sunlight Bar again?”

  “Alas no, I am in the Quiet bar until midnight, but once I have finished making everything good, I could join you at the disco, then walk you back to your bedroom later. I see that tonight there is a joking man for your entertainment. I have heard him before, when I have been on duty and he gets much applause.”

  “Don’t let me keep you from your work, Miguel,” said Jenni, casting an anxious look at the Pool bar, where a few guests were waiting to be served. “ I don’t want you getting into trouble because of me.”

  He followed her gaze, then whispered to her reluctantly,“ adios mis querer, I’ll see you later on.”

  ***

  Sonya pushed the little red and yellow plastic car along with its handling stick, passing the Aquarium where they had earlier watched the sharks swimming above them in the viewing tunnel, marveling at the brightly coloured tropical fish with names that were forgotten in an instant and trying to stop the kiddies scaring the inquisitive fish, by knocking on the tank walls.

  She was looking forward to a nice cool drink and a sit down, though she worried a bit about how she was going to pay for her share of the lunch, that they would be having later. It was all very well Paul being magnanimous, but a single mother had her pride as well. She didn’t want his charity. She had just been glad to have the opportunity of bringing Evan to the Loro Parque, as there was no way that her father would pay for the cost of a travel company tour. Though she loved her dad she was aware of his frugalness, as he always weighed up the pro’s and con’s before parting with a precious pound.

  Passing the aquarium once again, then turning into the courtyard of the Loris centre, Sonya was surprised to see Paul and Cheryl entwined on a wooden bench, seemingly with no thought except for each other. Her heart leaping into her throat with fear, she bounded up to the surprised couple and demanded to know the whereabouts of Evan. Fear for the safety of her only son and secondary thoughts f
or the whereabouts of the couple’s children, made her jump to conclusions causing her voice to sound rather sharp.

  “Where’s Evan?”, she demanded, looking around in a demented fashion, her imagination having stretched already, to her child being snatched by some pervert and as she spoke, was being driven away in a high speed car.

  “He’s over there with Annabelle and Jack in the play area,” said an amazed looking Paul, pointing to a gated playground with gaily coloured swings, slides and a climbing frame which was slightly out of view from where the couple were sitting.

  “Are you accusing us of not keeping an eye to the children?” Cheryl asked, having noticed the flush on Sonya’s face, when she had realized she’d got the situation all wrong.

  “Er no,” she stuttered. “ I’m sorry, I didn’t see Evan, I hadn’t realized for a moment where he was. It’s this heat. Look I wasn’t accusing you of anything, I just wondered where he was.”

  “Well, as long as we’re not being thought of as feckless parents,” said Cheryl, her eyes narrowing at the possible slight on their parenthood. “ The kids have been in our sights all the time you’ve been gone.”

  “Let’s go and eat,” said Paul hastily, knowing his wife could easily get very worked up over Sonya, if her mind wasn’t taken up with something else soon. “ Oh, I see you’ve got Evan’s transport. I hope our Jack won’t be trying to get into the thing or we’ll be pushing him as well.”

  ***

  Kath’s mobile rang, as she and Lucy began to gather up their paperwork and folders after the guests had departed from the room.

  “It’s Maria at Reception,” explained Kath, after she had taken the call. “ It seems one of the guests wants a doctor calling for his wife. She’s got stomach pains and the poor woman’s expecting too. We’ll go along and see if there’s anything we can do to help. There’s a little daughter who’ll want looking after, if the man has to go to the hospital with his wife as well.”

  “Oh, do you mean Mr. and Mrs. Golland? Steve and Fiona, I think they’re called and they have a sweet little girl called Emily?”