Havent forgotten my thesis though. Combined a visit to Claras sickbed with a surreptitious interview. Godly Gordons alleged miracle cure is an even more popular topic than Hens suicide-Tom can hardly refrain from chortling with glee at his own cleverness in persuading Gord to join his team of alternatives-naturally I didnt tell him the only reason his precious healer had come to Sandytown was cos hes got the hots for me!!!! Cant help feeling flattered even tho theres no way I could fancy the guy-tho I must admit I quite like him now. Anyway-he seems to have got the message-theres been no sign of him for the past few days-I think Toms a bit worried he may not show for the festival opening-but I assured him Gord wouldnt let him down-not that kind of fellow.
Anyway-Clara is doing well-when it came down to it seems that its mainly broken bones amp; concussion-probably was from the start but Gords still getting all the credit locally! Could be moved now to an NHS specialist unit-but Ted Denham insists that she should stay at the Avalon- amp; the specialists should all come to her-his treat! Ted-as youd expect-has bounced right back from being pilloried in the News as no 1 suspect-rides into town on the Sexy Beast like Alexander the Great looking to be worshipped-which he is-everybody loves a rich young squire-who promises to be a lot more liberal with his money than dear old Daph! Hes promised Tom hell take her place in the development consortium- amp; fulfill all her undertakings- amp; more! The Festival of Health is of course Toms particular baby-but Teds first spectacular will come next week when Daphs funeral takes place. I dread to think what hes got planned for the wake! Havent seen much of Esther-but when I did the thaw begun at the hog roast continued-maybe it wasnt me in particular she disliked-just life in Daphs large shadow. No word yet of the return of the Swiss toy-boy. Maybe she thinks it wouldnt be decent to parade him till her aunts safe in the ground.
Back to Clara-not much useful there for the thesis-hoped she might have had a white tunnel experience-with Gord at the far end shouting-go back! — but all she remembers is some dream about a sweets shop- amp; not being able to get in! Something there for the Jungians maybe-must have a look when I get back to my books.
The cops have packed up amp; left the hall. Bumped into Novello before they went-or maybe she contrived to bump into me. She said-sorry-its the job. I said-yeah-mines the same-getting people to trust me-difference is-if I let them down-Ive failed-
Unforgiving or what!
Saw Andy Dalziel in the pub. He asked me how I felt about things. I said I was glad it was all over-wasnt he? He said being glad wasnt part of the job description. Not sure what he meant. Need to think about it. Hes on his way too-after the weekend. Says whatever else all the excitement did-its got him back on his feet amp; hes looking forward to being back on the job again in a few weeks. I said-Mr Pascoe will be pleased to hear that- amp; he said-you reckon?-
Funny thing about Mr Deal-whatever he says-no matter it sounds dead ordinary-it leaves you listening to the echoes.
Minnie has just come in to tell me its time for the off! Shes sitting on my bed staring at me accusingly. I think she takes me going home after the opening as a personal affront. Also I think shes got a whiff of whats going on between Uncle Sid amp; the bart. Not surprising-like Ive said before-if I was head of MI5-Id get Min on the books straightaway! Happily she met George when he drove me back to Kyoto- amp; it was love at first sight! Shes decided if I wont be her sis-in-law by marrying Sid-shell do it the other way-by marrying George! Only compensation for me leaving her after the opening is that George is coming to pick me up!
Sids back in London-dont know if hell show today or not-be interesting to see what the future holds for the Odd Couple now that Teds stinking rich. Funny thing love. Poetry says it stays fixed even when everything around it changes. Not my observation. Its a creature of circumstance. All it needs is a handy pine tree amp; an even handier ex-best-mate- amp; there it goes! Still debating louse Liams penitent letter. Hope you amp; the mahogany hunk prove exceptions to the rule- amp; stay fixed- amp; eventually settle down in a nice little honeysuckle covered cottage in Willingden!
Got to go or Mins going to explode.
Next one from home!
Love
Charley xxx
2
Right, Mildred. This is the last time you and me are going to speak. Always sad to say good-bye, but let’s face up to it, this thing between us has run its course. Funny how things work out; first time I set eyes on thee, I thought, no way you’ll ever catch me whispering sweet nothings into that thing’s ear! Now I’m feeling like I’m going to miss you.
That’s why it’s time to end it, of course. I’ve got to admit I learned to enjoy it, but it’s too bloody dangerous to keep on with, as the vicar said to the verger’s wife as she pulled on his bell rope afore morning service. There’s stuff on here I don’t want any other bugger to hear-stuff I don’t much want to hear again myself!
So last time, last thoughts, last things.
All packed up and gone now, Pete and Wieldy and the rest of the whole traveling circus. Wasn’t till they’d all gone that I realized how much I were going to miss them. All this convalescing stuff’s fine, but I reckon if old Daph hadn’t got herself topped, with everything that followed, and I hadn’t got myself involved like I did, then likely I’d have taken another three weeks at least to get to where I am now.
Cap took a bit of persuading when she came down to see me on Thursday. Started reading the riot act when I said I’d handed in me notice and I was heading back home at the weekend. In the end I had to push her on the bed and show her how much better I was. I’m trying to think of Pet as a training session, getting me ready for the serious stuff again. Funny, ain’t it? Me looking for ways of justifying what I know were a rotten thing to do by any standards. At least Pet can claim she did it out of love-though mebbe there was also a bit of payback for Fester letting himself be tempted by the thrill of the Bannerjee Jump! Pet had to know about that. Nowt happens in these places that a good matron doesn’t know about!
Any road, at least it gave me the confidence to get back to close contact with Cap. Must have been back to my old form too, ’cos when we’d done she asked, What’s keeping you till Sunday? I told her I wanted to go to this Festival of Health opening ceremony and she wondered what the hell for? When I said I’d got to know a lot of the people involved and thought it ’ud be a nice time to say good-bye to them she gave me an old-fashioned look, so I had to take her mind off things again.
That at least convinced her my progress weren’t just a flash in the pan and, like me and her animal rights activities, she knows when not to keep coming with the questions.
Truth is, if she’d injected me with a truth drug, I’m not sure what answers she’d have got. It’s all finished here. Isn’t it? Pete’s come through with his halo just slightly bent. He’s played it exactly the way I forecast and now all he has to do is relax and take the applause. But nearly getting it wrong has really sharpened his already very sharp nose and he rang me to ask what I thought. Not that he said that’s why he were ringing. Just to keep me in the picture, and hope I got back to work soon. But we both knew he were asking if I thought he’d got it sorted now.
What the fuck could I say? Mebbe if I’d been Irish I could have said I wouldn’t have started off from here in the first place! Mebbe I should have said it’s like when you’re having a crap and you think you’re done, but summat deep inside tells you to stay put ’cos there’s more to come.