by Carl Leckey
Please bear with me on this one.” “Oscar my friend I will agree to anything to make you happy.
I think Denise will be pleased as well. Why don’t you inform the flower Ladies what you intend to do. They may agree to stay and it might clean up our reputations.” Oscar leaves thoughtfully.
The Priests
Soon after Denise appears “ Where has Oscar gone I saw him leave a while back he never even spoke, it’s not like him.” “Come aboard and join me my lovely I have something to tell you.” I invite her. When she sits I reach out to take her hand and explain. “Oscar is very concerned about your welfare. He has gone to the church down the road to have a word with the Priest.” “What for, is it about you and I, we haven’t done anything wrong have we?” Denise looks mortified and whispers. “Do you think he knows about er what we nearly did?” “Denise my sweet don’t look so worried, it is nothing to do with us.” I assure myself, Anyway he couldn’t know what we were up to last night, thank goodness. I explain his hasty disappearance. “It is regarding that crying you heard upstairs.” Immediately I speak a look of anxiety appears on her lovely face. “But I thought Oscar said there was nothing to worry about he said there were no such thing as ghosts? Oh Adam Cheri I am still afraid.” I take her in my arms smothering her in kisses. “Denise, my darling” I assure her. “I won’t let any harm come to you.” She cuddles up close to me. God I love this girl the very touch of her sends thrills through my entire body.
Me and my big mouth, I should have phrased it differently, it’s too late now I press on. “Now there’s nothing to worry about.
You know Oscar? Everything has to be right. If the Priest agrees there will be an exorcism to clear any evil spirits out of the house. Mind you, I’m not saying there are any, but just in case you understand it’s just a precaution. We can’t have my lovely worried can we?” Although she gives a little smile, I notice it is accompanied by a slight shiver. “What am I thinking about?” I reproach myself. “You must be freezing cold, look lets go into the coach house there is something I want to show you.” I lead her upstairs, as we pass the hanging rope I realise I should have taken it down. I don’t know whether it is the rope the lawyer spoke about but we don’t need the reminder. When we arrive in the bedroom I show Denise the fabulous wedding dress and finery. Her eyes are all aglow as she examines them exclaiming delighted Ooo’s and Ah’s as one after another she uncovers and unfolds them. She looks so happy now she appears to have forgotten her earlier concerns. Secretly I hoped when we entered the bedroom maybe we would indulge in a little more loving. However her obvious pleasure examining the clothing puts paid to any progress in that direction. I don’t think I would have enjoyed a romp in the mouldering bed anyway. I leave her alone and head back to Pompey Lill to finish the job on the lamps. As I descend the stairs I undo the rope from the beam and cast it into a corner of the coach house amongst other brick a brac. Maybe an hour has passed before I return I begin calling Denise’s name as I climb the stairs. No reply. I call her again she is not in the bedroom when I enter. A feeling of panic grips me, she couldn’t have returned to the house without me seeing her. The wedding dress is nowhere to be seen, I suppose Denise has put it away but the rest of the apparel is still laid out on the bed. I rush through to the living room to find Denise standing in front of the full length mirror holding the wedding dress up in front of her. She looks absolutely indescribably beautiful. For a minute or so I don’t disturb her as she poses in the mirror a vision of loveliness. As she turns towards me it’s as if I am not present. She stares passed me directly into the doorway. “Etienne.” I’m sure it is Etienne, not Adam that she utters. “Why are you here? You are not to see me in my wedding dress until we are married.” A feeling of panic grips me. “Denise! What are you on about?” I have to call her name a couple of times more before she responds. It is as if she drags herself out of some kind of trance. I rush to her she gives me a weak smile and drops the dress onto the floor she collapses into my arms. It takes a few minutes of me holding her tight for her to recover. “What were you doing darling, you looked so strange in front of that mirror. I was really worried.” She explains “Adam Cheri I don’t know what came over me. I was in the bedroom looking at the dress, the next thing I know I was in your arms.
I had the strangest feeling it was of incredible love and sadness.
I can’t explain but I know I wasn’t frightened.” Denise pauses as if considering the best way to describe her experience. “In fact I felt a great peace surrounding me.”
I have had enough of the coach house for the moment thank you. “Come Denise you are freezing cold, let’s go back into the house. You shall sit by the fire while I make you a hot drink.” Ever the one to be tidy she replies. “Give me a moment to put the dress away I can’t leave it here it’s far too precious.” She gathers the dress up off the floor. I urge her. “Denise leave it on the chair I will put it away when I come back.
Right now you need to get warm, come on please.”
Thankfully she relents and hangs the dress carefully over a chair.
We are sitting comfortable luxuriating in the heat of the fire when Oscar arrives accompanied by two elderly gentlemen in clerical attire.
He introduces them as Father Simon his local Priest and a welcome visitor to his parish a Bishop no less. Neither of the Priests speaks English and they both apologise for not including me in the conversation.
Denise translates as they explain what they intend. The Bishop has given permission for Father Simone to carry out an exorcism on the room upstairs.
I decide the mumbo jumbo ceremony is not for me. “Get your coat on Denise we should leave this to the experts. Let’s go and have a meal with the lads in the Cafe. They are putting a really nice supper on tonight.”
After an excellent meal and a bottle of wine in the good company of Alec and his Lady friend we head back to the house. The Priests have evidently done their duty and already left when we enter the living room. Oscar snoozes in an armchair in front of a blazing fire. Our arrival disturbs him he wakes yawns and stretches. I enquire slightly cynical. “Is it all done Oscar? Are we fully exorcised if that is the expression?” He assures us. “We will have no more problems from whatever it was, thanks to the assistance of the church. Now let’s sort out the sleeping arrangements for Denise? I think you should go upstairs.” My little heart gives a lift until he adds. “And she can have your room down here.” The thought of me spending the night upstairs makes me shudder I respond to his suggestion with. “You have got to be joking. Wild bloody horses couldn’t drag me up there to sleep. You are the one that is convinced it’s safe from spooks go and prove it. I will sleep in front of the fire thank you very much. Eventually it is agreed Oscar is sleeping upstairs to prove a point I believe.
Thankfully I think sooner him than me. Denise is to sleep in my room. She immediately heads for the room after wishing us good night.
Oscar makes me promise (his words not mine.) “There must be no hankity pankity.”
Assured of my vows that Denise will be as pure and innocent in the morning as she is now, he retires to bed leaving me with my frustrated thoughts. Instead of lying awake all night dreaming of Denise I begin reading the numerous English language books Oscar has accumulated in his time in Le Havre. There is much fascinating material on the subject of war and the reasons for it. Myself I can’t understand why nations can’t discuss their problems and resolve them without the need to go to war. I am enlightened when I discover from the literature the reason why talking has failed in the past.
These are all things I had no knowledge about until I learned to read.
I find I am quite comfortable sleeping in an arm chair in front of the fire. I find this no hardship to me after years of sleeping on a straw filled mattress in an army tent. About a week passes by. On one occasion Oscar appears downstairs in the early hours. I am engrossed in a book covering the subject of sharing wealth with the workers that created it. The book i
s written by a Spanish Basque the same author I came across at the bookshop by the harbour. Oscar is pleased to discover me studying. He remains downstairs for the rest of the night discussing the subject in depth. It appears the opinion of the author coincides with Oscar and me.
The Auction
On the day of the auction we all arise early I haven’t slept much I am too excited about the prospects ahead. After such a build up in my imagination the actual auction turns out to be quite a damp squid. The day passes over quickly. I can’t believe the speed that the British Army disposes of its valuable assets. It is not so long ago we would have sold our souls to get our hands on one of these trucks during the war. In pouring rain we move about from numbered lot to lot. The auctioneer carries out his function in a routine manner translating from French to English for our benefit. There are only three other serious bidders one French and two British and a few rubber necks with no intention of buying anything. At the end of the morning we have acquired all we set out to achieve. We are now the proud owners of ten brand new American built four wheel drive trucks. We have the workshops including all the tools and fitments and spares. Plus an enormous heap of assorted wrecked vehicles and scrap. Oscar signs the cheque in a casual manner for what looks like a Kings fortune to me. It is evident he is used to dealing in high finance. As for me I have never seen so much money change hands at the stroke of a pen. What have we done? After the auctioneer and bidders leave we retire to the office to dry out have a brew and discuss our future in our own depot. Alec is somehow confidently arranging to have his demob in France. I know I have little chance of doing something similar. I am determined to try when I report to the movement office for orders. Alec has agreed to run the place for us until I become competent.
He now has the grand title of depot and workshop manager. What a guy! He has already negotiated advanced orders from customers eager to get things moving after four years of stagnation. Alec has certainly not been idle in his last days in the army.
When we have sorted out who does what and when. Oscar heads for home I make my way to the movement control office.
As he forecast Harry Evans has departed and is replaced by a fierce looking Sergeant with a bristling red moustache. He is not interested in my problems or requests when I attempt to explain my situation. Practically ignoring me he demands my pay book then consults a long list. When he locates my name he sorts through a rack containing envelopes. The Sergeant hands an envelope to me and remarks. “You will be in good company, the rest of your mob are booked on the same ferry. I have to ask you this. Have you considered signing on in the regular army?” His question amuses me I retort. “You have got to be joking?”
As far as he is concerned that’s me dealt with I don’t warrant any more of his valuable time, he turns to the next man in line. It looks as if I am dismissed. I wander out of the office ripping open the envelope as I leave. It contains orders to report to a camp in Cheshire for demobilisation. Travel documents for the channel ferry and the train journey in the UK are stamped and dated to travel in two days time. When I break the news to Denise when we are alone, to say the least she is not happy. I did not expect the reception I receive and am taken aback. She questions. “What will I do while you are away? How long will you be gone? Are you really coming back? You are abandoning me like all soldiers do. You have taken my love, now you want to go home to England. I suppose you have a fiancée waiting for you there? You had no intention of marrying me. My Grandfather was right when he warned me about soldiers.” She begins to cry. I attempt to take her in my arms to reassure her, she pushes me away. I am shocked by her attitude. I didn’t realise she was so insecure. How could she doubt my sincerity? I try to explain. “Denise I have orders. We talked about the possibility that I might have to go home for demob, be reasonable for God’s sake. I love you. It breaks my heart to leave you, but it will be only for a short time?” She replies in a pleading voice. “Then take me with you if you love me as you say you do? Take me to England with you that’s all you have to do, I know you won’t come back if you leave me.” She is inconsolable I am at a loss to know what to do. She runs into the kitchen weeping uncontrollably.
I am in a dilemma. There is no way I can take her on a troop ship apart from the fact she has no passport. I follow her into the kitchen and try to approach her again. She totally rebuffs my attempts to take her in my arms to console her. She rushes to her room saying as she leaves.
“If you don’t want me I want to go home to my family.
I am not waiting for you in this awful house while you are gallivanting around England.” I slump into a chair in a quandary when I hear Oscar returning. He is in the sitting room. I am about to seek his advice but he is occupied reading a sheet of paper a frown evident on his face. I give a discrete cough to attract his attention he smiles and greets me. “You look upset Adam is there a problem?” He enquires with concern in his voice. I explain the situation from my arrival today to Denise’s last statement that she wishes to return home to her family. He thinks for a moment then says. “Well she is right about one thing. Denise certainly can’t stay here alone. I have had this letter from my fiancée. I must go there as soon as possible. It is not good news Adam. I won’t burden you with my problems. The only thing I am able to suggest is I drop her off at her village on my way to the farm. Don’t worry I shall have a word with her. I am sure she will understand that the circumstances are out of your control. The poor girl is naturally upset because you are leaving her so soon. You know she was looking forward to getting married? I believe she thought if you were man and wife she would be permitted to travel to England with you if you had to go.” I reply “Oscar my dear friend you know, if I could take her I would. If I could stay here with her I would. If I could marry her right now I would do so. You know that is not possible. Believe me I have tried to stay in France. Denise has no passport to come to England, but they wouldn’t let her on a troop ship anyway. I have even considered deserting but what kind of a life would that be for us looking over our shoulder all the time.” At the mention of desertion Oscar looks horrified. I can see he is about to intercede. I quickly assure him. “Don’t worry Oscar it was only a passing mad idea. I am in a no win situation. All I’m able to do is leave her in your good hands. There’s no one I would trust more to look after her. I hope when I return she will forgive me. Although Oscar tries again Denise will not be pacified. They leave the next day without my love even bidding me goodbye. Is this the end of our romance? I am totally depressed as I wander around the empty house packing my few belongings ready for my trip to Blighty. My mind is in turmoil as I consider my future. What if Denise doesn’t come back? There are a number of reasons for me to settle in France but she definitely is the main one. Although I am a driver I believe a good one. Have I done the right thing committing myself to establishing a business I know nothing about?
To top it all that I know nothing about managing a business. The daunting task ahead makes me shudder. After a while worrying about this and that I shout at the top of my voice. “Bugger it. I started with nothing and if I end with nothing I have lost nothing. This makes me feel a lot happier I make my way to the café and have a good night with the lads from the depot. I must admit to being drunk when we all discussed our futures.
A couple of the lads reveal they are being demobbed in France. Their revelations really annoy me when they disclose how they had achieved this. If only I had known much earlier maybe I could have used the same tactics. It seems they had made their French girl friends pregnant and married them. Through a drunken haze my mind goes back to my opportunity recently to do the same thing to Denise. I can’t help wondering if only Oscar hadn’t returned when he did. If only he had returned minutes later? If only I had succeeded in seducing her?
All these stupid thoughts pass through my mind as I stagger back to Oscar’s house to spend a lonely night.
Morning arrives. In the cold light of dawn I am greeted with a thumping headache. My mo
uth tastes foul and I feel like puking. I make a vow there and then never again will I get drunk. No more booze of any description will pass my lips. I fill the kitchen sink then dunk my head in cold water. I feel a little better. With an eye on the clock I pack my belongings in my kit bag. I realise these few articles represent my last two years of life in the British Army. I make a cup of tea the milk has gone sour I drink it black. I decide to eat something to settle my stomach.
The only bread in the house is stale. I would toast it but I have let the fire go out. I realise then how efficient Denise was at housekeeping.
I never appreciated how much she did keeping the house running smoothly the meals on time and the house sparkling clean. A glance at the clock tells me it’s time to go. Donning and buckling on my back pack, throwing my kit bag over my shoulder I take one last look around.
The memories of my time in the house flood back to my first visit here when it was a brothel. That fantastic night I had with Christina when I lost my virginity and innocence. My time with Denise and Oscar, the plans we made. I make my way down the long hallway and open the front door. Without another look back I slam the door and head towards the docks to join the ten o’clock ferry to England and demob.
CHAPTER 6
Back to Blighty
The ferry is chocker block when we finally get aboard after queuing for hours. I recognise many faces from the training camp when I first enlisted but the reunion with my dressing station pals gives me the most pleasure. It’s great to have the company of my old mates Toot, Sam, Billy, Jake and Dave. Toot and Sam being regular soldiers are returning to the UK to be redeployed as ambulance drivers ferrying wounded soldiers around the country. Billy Jake and Dave like me are heading to a dispersal camp in Cheshire for demob. It is like a reunion party on the boat Toot supplies the rum Sam entertains us with outlandish stories about his escapades while in foreign postings around the empire. All around us troops are downing the booze many drinking themselves into insensibility. Despite my vow of abstinence this morning I join them.