by JRP Taylor
The week had passed quickly and so impressed were Ryan and his mother that again they sacrificed their Friday chip supper for the second time, preferring a Saturday afternoon outing to Ma Baker’s again.
“I dreamt about the soldier last night,” he told her. “Did you dear?” she politely responded with much interest and enthusiasm. “You’ve had some very strange dreams this week haven’t you? Is something upsetting you - is everything alright at school sweetheart?”
“Everything’s fine Mum, honest. They are just really weird dreams, but according to my dream I won’t dream tonight because tonight is seven.”
“What’s so special about seven Ryan?” Tanya enquired. “Well, the Dream Angel takes a rest and just watches, but I don’t know what because he said it hasn’t happened yet. Maybe the Dream Angel’s coming out for dinner with us today,” he laughed.
Arriving later on at Ma Baker’s that same day, and having parked the car, the two walked across to Nathan the soldier who was now beckoning them both over to him most excitedly.
As always he was collecting on Saturday afternoon outside the restaurant on the corner of Browning Avenue and had recognised Tanya’s car.
“You’re famous!” he shouted out. “You’re the Gold Star Kid!” Reaching behind him into his back pocket, he pulled out a rolled-up copy of the local newspaper.
“Did you know about this?” Ryan asked his mother. “Yes of course I did,” she giggled. “I was going to take you to the newsagents to buy a copy as a surprise. I don’t know how I’ve managed to keep my mouth shut all day…” whilst laughing aloud.
The story went on to tell readers all about the previous week’s encounter with the Help for Heroes fundraiser and the twenty pound note that Ryan had found.
It also informed the reader that the loss of Nathan’s legs was not the only tragedy of the war. After he had returned from the war in Afghanistan, disabled, his wife, quite unable to cope, had left him. Ryan soon started to realise the full impact and cost of war; that it had both a physical and emotional impact. Nathan didn’t blame his wife. The article said that, “He had returned from the conflict a broken man.”
Nathan did apologise for unfortunately letting the cat out of the bag, but told the pair how the local office had insisted on contacting the local paper about the goodwill story.
“Unfortunately there’s no picture young man,” he said, “but that’ll soon be rectified later, I promise.”
The soldier exchanged personal addresses with Tanya and explained how the charities publicity team would soon be in touch, “If of course that is okay?” he added.
They all exchanged pleasantries and the soldier explained how nothing but good fortune had seemed to have befallen him lately.
He was about to realise his own dream to open a new riding school for disabled children and was in the process of buying a local property that was perfect for this purpose.
After Nathan had spent what felt like ages describing the location in fine detail to Tanya, Ryan noted how this property was not so far from Copper’s End - indeed, “What a coincidence,” he thought...
“In fact, I’m out that way tomorrow. If you’d like to join me, you are most welcome.” Nathan suggested.
“That would be lovely, wouldn’t it Ryan?” Mum smiled, and Ryan agreed. “Yes please Mum. I dreamt about you and horses last night, didn’t I?”
Going horse riding together had always been an unfulfilled passion for the pair and when they’d moved to Copper’s End a few months back, they finally took lessons. Ryan couldn’t contain his excitement at the prospect of riding again with Mum and Nathan the next day.
The soldier went on to explain that he’d been so busy lately that he now fancied a good holiday abroad with his kids. Jokingly he remarked how he had just entered a competition to win a holiday to Disney World in Florida that very same morning. Ryan, by now almost freaked out by the countless unexplained coincidences this morning, merely answered quietly, “I have a feeling you are going to win it.”
Dinner was wonderful together that day. Ryan’s mother now had a natural, radiant glow about her face, one which Ryan couldn’t quite explain, although she seemed to have lost her appetite somewhat.
In the meantime, Ryan definitely enjoyed eating most of his mother’s left over cheese and onion pasty too. They laughed and joked together and Ryan never caught sight of the Dream Angel watching him that day. “I wonder where he is,” he thought to himself.
Then he remembered what the Dream Angel had said. He had almost forgotten, despite promising that he wouldn’t.
“Mum,” he said excitedly, “I’ve just remembered more of my dream. I have to say to you, Bella will run like the wind…”
Tanya froze, as if the world had suddenly stopped spinning. “How can you possibly know that?” she said quite taken-aback and overwhelmed.
“The Dream Angel told me in the dream that it would make you happy,” Ryan told her.
Again his mother started crying, and again Alina, the waitress from Ukraine, came to comfort her.
“So this is your second time here and the second time you have burst into tears! Is the food really that bad?” Alina joked.
Tanya replied, “No, not at all, it’s wonderful, honestly, it’s my son’s fault, he’s always so utterly amazing!”
During the drive home after dinner, she tried to explain to Ryan why she had once again cried.
“Your father had left me a letter to be opened only if should he be killed in action and not come home to us. In the letter he had told me he was sorry that he wouldn’t be able to buy me my horse, the one I had always dreamed of, but if heaven allowed he would call her Bella and she would be able to run like the wind,” she said in between her inconsolable tears.
Unable to concentrate on the road ahead, she stopped the car, turned off the ignition and turned to face Ryan. She told him that nobody else, that never, had anybody ever read that very personal last letter - And she had most definitely not ever discussed it with anyone else – never!
Of this she was unequivocal, unshakeable and adamant. In fact the letter had been buried in Norman’s grave alongside him during his funeral. It was absolutely, completely and irrefutably impossible, she told her son, for him to have known this unless… unless of course…
She stopped speaking as Ryan now finished her sentence for her “… was the Dream Angel really my father?” he said.
“You’re dad wanted me to move on and re-marry, “she sobbed, holding her son’s hand as if she would never let go. “But I just couldn’t, not unless I knew you would be happy too.”
“I am Mum, I promise you,” he replied. “The Dream Angel said that you would know when the time is right and that you will be happy again living as a new family.”
After much emotional upheaval and turmoil that day, Sunday morning soon arrived. Having slept well and both now fully refreshed after a good night’s sleep, Ryan brought his mum a cup of tea in bed and he soon noticed that her rosy glow had returned to her face once more.
After getting up and only a short time later, “It’s nearly nine thirty!” she shouted up the stairs to him. “He’ll be here soon. Turn your computer off. Are you ready?”
“Nearly. I’m just doing my teeth!” Ryan shouted back down.
He heard the clatter of horse’s hooves and peering out from the bathroom window, he was amazed to see Nathan had arrived with three horses, one of which he was riding and two others in tow. He looked so organised and had even remembered to bring spare riding helmets with him.
Tanya laughed and waved out from beyond the kitchen door. This wasn’t quite what she had expected but a wonderful surprise it was, heartfelt and most welcomed. The pair were soon found to be hurriedly rushing outside into the garden…
“What are their names?” asked Ryan. “Well mine is called Wellington, yours is now called Gold Star Kid because she is named after a famous boy called Ryan, and your mother’s is cal
led Bella.” “I’m told she can run like the wind…” replied Nathan.
The pair were very excited, mother and son both mounted and they all trotted steadily away up the road together as Thumper too, happily ran along after them.
“I’ll take you to the new house,” Nathan said. “I’d be delighted
to show you if you want. My riding school is only just through the next village. Well I call it mine, it will be in a few days, and I just need to sign the papers. I’ve paid the deposit and they were more than happy to loan me the horses for the day, and I’ve got enquiries from many charities and organisations wanting to support it already.”
“Only if I can pay for lunch,” insisted Tanya. “That’s good for me,” Nathan replied. “How about the Weaver’s Arms? We can pass it on the way back through the bridleway trail at Brook Wood.” They soon arrived…
During the pub lunch that day, as Tanya looked into her purse for the money to pay for lunch as promised, she noticed she had gained an extra twenty pound note.
“Where on earth has that come from?” she said. “It wasn’t there last night. I only had four ten pound notes and another fiver?”
As she passed it over to the landlord in payment, she noticed written across it, in black crayon just below the Queen’s head, the words;
“This is for my Dad.”
- END –
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