‘And your nan? Is she better?’
‘No, she passed away after I finished my degree but I did get those three years with her, and then I guess I didn’t want to leave my mum right away – they had been close – so I stayed in Middlesbrough for her, slid into working with my dad in the family business and before I knew it, years had passed.’
‘That happens. What’s the family business?’
‘Plumbing. It wasn’t really for me.’
They had reached the end of the marina and come to the beach. Kam lifted his hand to Pippa to help her down the steep steps that led to the beach. As she reached the sand she took her sandals off and dangled them from her wrist.
‘I like the feel of the sand under my feet. I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of that. I know I’m being nosy, and you can tell me to stop at any time, but how did you make the leap from plumber to teacher?’
‘I don’t mind your questions. I’ll say if I do.’ He smiled down at her and she linked her arm through his again. This was nice, but he needed to be careful not to get caught up. ‘I had a break-up and it made me realise that I had become stuck in a rut and ended up doing exactly what I was afraid I would. Mia breaking my heart kind of did me a favour by making me reassess everything.’ He paused in case he was boring her. Kam didn’t often share such detail with people but talking to Pippa was just so easy. She nodded her head to encourage him to carry on. ‘I’d been working with kids at the surf club in Saltburn in my spare time and really enjoyed it. I bit the bullet and decided to train as a teacher. I didn’t want to teach business studies, which was what my degree was in, so I thought I’d try being a primary school teacher teaching a broad spectrum of subjects, and I have loved every minute of it. Best decision of my life. What’s more, I can do it anywhere, and so I moved down here. My friend Ben was already here, and now I can teach and surf. Best of both worlds.’
‘Your parents must be so proud.’
‘Ah, no. Not at all. Well, I don’t know about my mum but my dad was cross. Proper cross. He felt let down because I’d left the business. When I picked my degree, he saw it as something that would equip me for when I took over from him and then he couldn’t understand how I could walk away from what he had built up. The fact that that was the point – it was what he had built, not me – still doesn’t seem to register to this day. I think he thinks I’m being idle and feckless. And now that I’m in Cornwall, still surfing but without a permanent job, it reinforces his opinion.’
‘But you’re working with us.’ Pippa looked perplexed and he wanted to wrap her up and keep her close. He supposed she had probably never disappointed her mum and dad so it made no sense to her.
‘Yup, but it’s not permanent. I kinda have this… no, don’t worry about it.’
‘No, go on. Tell me. You can’t start and then stop. That’s not fair!’
‘It’s a bit dull.’
‘I doubt it. You haven’t got a dull bone in your body. Admittedly you haven’t cracked a joke and pulled a silly face today yet but I can forgive you. I get enough of those in the week.’ She winked. ‘I want to know more. Tell me!’
As he looked at her, he found he wanted to talk, to see what she thought. ‘Okay, I have this five-year plan. It’s important to me and this job at Penmenna is an important step. I guess I feel I’ve wasted so much time, not getting to university until I was twenty-two and then not doing my teaching training until last year, that I want to catch up. So, I need to keep my head down and focus on my career for the next few years. Everything else comes second. This temporary position in Penmenna is great. Hopefully Rosy will give me a good reference, which will help me get a position here in Cornwall. Then once I’ve got a full-time permanent post, while still being able to surf at weekends, I’ll be living my dream. I’m giving myself five years to get established in this life, and by then hopefully I won’t need to go back to the plumbing business with my tail between my legs. Once that’s done, I can worry about all the other things in life – kids, mortgages and stuff – and make my parents see that my decision to leave the business wasn’t a mistake, but a good move, and definitely the right one for me.’
He looked a little shamefaced, ‘Does it make me sound like a kid, still looking for approval from Mum and Dad?’
‘It all sounds very reasonable to me, although I’d say going to Uni at twenty-two doesn’t exactly make you a late starter, but I know what you mean. I really do. You need to do what’s right for you and you feel you need to prove that to your mum and dad. Planning is the best way to guarantee it happens. I think most of us want our parents’ approval throughout our lives. It doesn’t stop because we’ve left home and having a knowledge of that doesn’t make us childish. Quite the opposite. It makes us self-aware and respectful of the people who have dedicated decades of their lives to us. So no, not a kid, but a decent, switched-on human being. How’s the quest for a permanent position going?’
Kam grinned. Of course she understood. He should have known she wouldn’t judge him harshly; it wasn’t in her make-up to be mean. ‘Pretty well actually. I asked Rosy if I could put her down as a reference and she agreed. I’ve applied for five, no, six jobs now, across Cornwall, although one is in Devon, but I could live with that and it’s just a matter of hearing whether I’m called to interview. It’s early days yet.’ He glanced around. Somehow, they had already reached the entrance to Penmenna beach and were pretty close to her flat. Time had whizzed by!
‘And don’t forget: you might get Sarah’s job and then you could stay at Penmenna and everything would be perfect.’
‘Everything would be perfect.’ He smiled, knowing how much he would like that.
‘Right, I’d better leave you now. I promised Lottie I’d help her with the stock inventory. Lucky, lucky me. Enjoy football!’
‘I will.’
‘And Kam, don’t stress it. Your parents will come around. I think you’re practically perfect. Any school would be lucky to have you. I just hope it’s ours that gets to keep you.’ And as she turned to head back to her flat she gave him a great big grin and he knew he really hoped it too.
* * *
Hey, was nice to see you today. How did football go?
Yeah, good. I had a great time actually. Really like Dan, he’s pretty cool for a vicar.
He’s def an improvement on the last one. I like him too. I know Sylvie said he was great when her mum died.
Don’t doubt it.
I wanted to say thank you. I appreciate you opening up to me today. It’s not always easy talking about the non-surface stuff. I felt honoured that you confided in me.
I was happy to. You’re a good friend, Miss P.
And that was the way he was going to keep it! Even if you took the boyfriend out of the equation, and his own career plan, he really liked Pippa, he wasn’t going to mess with this friendship.
You are too. See you Friday.
Looking forward to it. Night!
Night.
Chapter Nineteen
‘Oh my god, you’re about to get Marion at her worst. I don’t know what’s happened to her, and I never thought she could get any more intense or evil but she’s extra snappy at the moment. She’s timetabled a meeting in for all of us staff at lunchtime and has allocated Sylvie and Amanda on playground duty and given them two members of her committee each to help, so we can’t even cry lunch duty to get out of it. Which is a bit of a bummer because that’s how I’ve escaped every year so far. I know they’re saying she has trouble in her marriage, but dear god, that woman needs to get laid. Coffee?’ Pippa held out a mug to Kam, who looked a little shell shocked. ‘Are you alright?’
‘Yep, that was just a lot to process thirty seconds through the door. Good morning though.’
‘Ha! Good morning. Sorry about that, but trust me, you need to be on full form, now. I’m helping you, consider this on-the-job training. I know you laugh at me but honestly, she is insane this week. And we’ve got swimming with her first th
ing, so drink up, and I really hope you’ve got padlocks for your teacher trunks, I’m scared for you.’
‘I thought it was my job to stand on the side and oversee the pool. I didn’t realise I’d have to get in the water.’
‘Yeah, I’m only teasing, but still, it’s worth considering. She’ll try and persuade you to get changed and come in. If you want I can get Sylvie in before register to teach you some basic avoidance moves. She used to teach self-defence before the ballet school took off.’
‘Sylvie is a wonder, isn’t she? Best teaching assistant in the school. How are you today, Mr Choudhury? You still haven’t got back to me about dinner, or a housewarming, you naughty, naughty boy!’
Marion swung into the classroom, gave Pippa her usual dismissive look and beamed at Kam, who still had his coffee in his hand and a slightly dazed early morning look on. Pippa couldn’t help but think how cute he looked. She could picture him waking up in the morning, hair all jagged and mussed. with a sleepy morning smile on.
‘Ah, Mrs Marksharp, how nice to see you. We’ve got swimming I see this morning, and Miss Parkin has just been informing me about the special meeting at lunchtime.’
‘Oh, you don’t want to listen to her, dear.’
‘There isn’t a meeting at lunchtime?’
‘No, there is. I just meant generally. She’s supposed to be terribly good with the children and all, but she can’t count much past twenty, which is why I suspect Rosy keeps her in reception.’
‘I am here, Marion. And I’ll have you know I run a very successful business when I’m not in school.’ The woman was intolerable. What if Kam believed her and thought she was only here as a charity case.
‘Hmm, second hand clothing. Not really Google is it, dear?’
‘It’s a vintage clothing business that actually does quite well. And I’m an HLTA. They didn’t give me that because I look cute.’
‘No, well, that’s true. But, from one woman to another, all this desperation, dear, it’s not a good look for you. Now, why don’t you pop along and put some blocks out or whatever it is you do this early in the morning before the children come in, apart from flirting with poor Mr Choudhury here.’
‘Mrs Marksharp! I hardly think—’
‘It’s fine, Kam, I don’t need you to spring to my defence. I’m used to her. I’ll go and make sure everything is ready for when we get back from swimming. I should probably get this afternoon all prepped too, seeing as we won’t get a chance at lunchtime.’ Pippa shot daggers at Marion to reinforce her point.
‘Okay, I’ll come and give you a hand.’ Kam responded, looking like he was trying to hide his amusement.
‘Oh, don’t be silly, dear. That’s what she’s paid for. Now I do have some things I’d like to discuss with you before we all get on the coach.’
* * *
By the time it was lunchtime, Pippa realised her hope that Marion may have worn herself out by being an absolute nightmare at the pool was never going to come to fruition. If anything, she was now in overdrive, pacing around the table in the staffroom as everyone filed reluctantly in, and then standing at the head of the table as a general preparing for battle
‘Right, is everybody here? Quickly, quickly, if you’d all like to find a seat… I meant the teaching staff, Alison, not you. Right, this year’s May Fayre is going to be the best ever. I know I say that every year but every year we do so brilliantly and I know we can again this year. First thing is the cause. As you all know we always split proceeds between the PTA and a charity of our choosing. As I say to my boys, we are very lucky to live as we do and it’s only right that we give to the less fortunate. I only discovered the other day that darling Rafe has been playing cards and giving most of his pocket money to the old dears in the Whispering Brook Care Home. Such a generous soul. So kind to spend time with the elderly. Anyway, I thought we could see who we wished to award the money to this year. I vote that we donate to Alex McKenzie’s Foundation, thus the children will get to see the good their money does as the school is tied so closely to the Healing Hearts Orphanage. Does everyone agree?’
Marion was referring to the foundation set up by the father of Ellie in Class One. As a foreign correspondent in Central Africa, Alex had witnessed first-hand the trauma caused by the civil war in South Sudan, and since coming to Penmenna he had devoted his time to fundraising to help the displaced children of conflict. The community had done all they could to help Alex, and Penmenna school had forged close ties with the orphanages that Alex was helping to fund.
‘I have compiled a list here of very worthy causes,’ Harmony Rivers piped up. ‘I think it’s about time we diverted some money to help animals. After all they don’t have a voice and, as human beings, we are their number one predator so we must take responsibility. I’ve been doing sterling work in advocating on behalf of guinea pigs, and whilst we’re on the subject…’ – Harmony shot a look at the rest of the teaching staff knowing she would have no success with Marion – ‘we should also discuss the keeping of Sir Squeaks-a-lot. Not only is that name an indignity but I understand he escaped the other day and who could blame him? Who are we to have the right to incarcerate any living or breathing creature? I think we should set him free, maybe somewhere where he could—’
‘Get eaten by the local cats? Any sensible suggestions? No? Fabulous. Alex’s foundation it is then.’ Marion didn’t have the patience to let the hapless teacher finish.
‘Really! This isn’t a dictator…’ Harmony’s indignation trailed off as Marion fixed her with a look and Marion’s minions either echoed the look or shushed her ferociously.
‘This is ridiculous. We should let Harmony speak. What was it you wanted to say, Harmony?’ Pippa spoke up, even though the Class Three teacher irritated the bejesus out of her. Only yesterday she had pinned her down by the photocopier and ranted at length about the lack of legislation protecting animal’s sexual choices. Pippa had considered banging her own head repeatedly on top of the photocopier to see if the change in vibrations would have an effect on Harmony’s monologue but decided she’d rather go without having to handwrite the twenty pencil control sheets she was copying. Plus, she was still harbouring her crush on Kam, made even worse by his openness at the weekend, and wasn’t sure a gaping head wound was the most attractive look. But even Harmony at her most annoying didn’t needle Pippa as much as obvious injustice. And Marion was the queen of injustice.
Harmony looked at Marion and back at Pippa while playing with the sleeves of her rainbow cardigan, sleeves that were already more than a little frayed, but before she could speak Rosy bustled into the staffroom, her tablet under her arm.
‘Sorry I’m late, everyone. How are we doing?’ She stopped by the fridge and pulled out a whole batch of caramel shortbread. ‘I hope everyone’s had lunch, but I thought we could do with some sugar to tide us over. Harmony, I made you some separately with carob and stevia. Nothing you dislike got anywhere near it.
‘I wouldn’t be too sure of that,’ Pippa whispered to Kam whilst nodding at Marion.
‘Did you have something to say, Pippa?’ Rosy pulled the age-old teacher trick, gentle concern on her face and iron steel hidden behind the phrase designed to bring errant pupils to heel.
‘Just that we should make it fair, have a vote on who we want to donate the money to and not let Marion steamroller us into doing what she wants. We might all end up agreeing with Marion but we should allow Harmony a voice too.’
‘Oh, for goodness sake. Fine!’ Marion snapped. ‘Let no one say this PTA is not run on democratic lines. Right, hands up if you want to share the proceeds with Harmony’s sexually-confused Guinea pigs, right no one. Fab, then that’s it.’
‘I put my hand up.’ Harmony was obviously emboldened by Pippa’s intervention.
Marion carried on, ignoring her completely, ‘Hands up for those who would like to channel the money into a charity that we are all familiar with and that links to the schools PSHE programme? The Alex McKenzie f
oundation. Right, that seems unanimous to me.’ She gave Harmony a glare that would induce nightmares, and then swung it around at Pippa too. Pippa bowed her head to stop herself from giggling, examining the table in depth and knowing that if she made eye contact with Kam she would be lost completely. Marion marched on. ‘Next thing on the agenda is the stalls. Now, we are very good at this but we do have a few changes in personnel this year. After all, I lost my very best ladies last year and the current PTA members are still very much… um… in training. Aren’t you, dears?’
Sarah and Jenny, two stalwarts under Marion’s rule, looked a bit cross at this whereas the newer mums nodded supportively. They had obviously spent most of the preceding academic year being told how unworthy they were and now believed it. It was like those cults or training grounds where they beat you down and left you with nothing and then built you up again to fit the image they wished you to be. Pippa reckoned that Marion’s new ladies – Alison in particular – must be about to complete the knock-all-the-joy-out-of-you stage fairly soon.
‘So, let’s go through the stalls list and assign any unknown spaces. Firstly, cakes. Now, Pippa your mother normally does this. Is it safe to assume she will this year?’
‘Yes, she’s looking forward to it, although Polly, my sister, will be cramming for her exams and can’t lend a hand so without her or Mum’s friend, Joanna, who can’t make it this year, Mum will need a spare.’
‘Oh, my mum is coming down for half-term. She will be here for the fayre and has asked if she could help. Perhaps she could do cakes with Pippa’s mother?’ Kam jumped in. Pippa sent him a sideways smile. That was cute. He hadn’t mentioned that the other day, and she would love to meet Kam’s mum. Although she had slight anxiety about her own mother being let loose anywhere near her.
The Cornish Village School--Summer Love Page 10