Rolling Shadows - Chapter 15

That evening Hannah cooked them a meal. The family gathered around the large kitchen table and she placed two cooking pots on mats in the centre. She took the lid off of one of them and the small floated across the table.
“Beef curry, with turmeric rice,” she declared, “I hope its not too hot for you. Held back on the powder and such.”
“She made a really potent chili the other day,” Lee said, “my lips felt like they were on fire.”
“This isn't that hot,” Hannah said, as she served, “would you mind getting the naans? They just need taking from the oven.”
Lee got up to get the bread and the family sat down to eat. The conversation quickly turned to Joe, Lee and Jake's grandfather and Karen's mother; they had all been to the funeral but of course still missed him greatly.
“Sorry to be so philosophical,” John said, “but he died at a good age.”
“Well said,” Lee raised his glass. After taking a sip he said, “somehow I thought you would be one of those people who wanted to die on your feat.”
“I plan to live forever.”
Lee smiled placing his glass down on the table, “sounds good. I imagine it might get a little dull after the first million years or so.”
“An infinite universe has infinite possibilities,” John said. He turned to Hannah, “this really is excellent. How was it cooked?”
“To my shame the rice is from the microwave,” Hannah said, “but the curry was slow cooked, its why the beef is so tender.”
“Amazing how much of a difference that can make,” Lee said, “we've been having a lot of slow cooked dinners recently.”

As Jake and his family finished their dinner and adjourned to the living room Stacy arrived at the pub. As she had expected she was the first to arrive but as it was a nice evening she sat on the wall outside the pub to wait for them. About five minutes later she saw a couple crossing the road, they were holding hands. She smiled and waved at them, recognising them as Mark and his girlfriend – know by her nickname – Twig.
“Hay Stay,” Mark said.
“Hi.”
“Exam go okay?”
“Think so.”
“You've probably been asked that a lot today,” Twig said.
“I have,” smiled Stacy, “maybe I should get a sign.”
“Sparkles and tinsel with 'Exam Went Well' in large friendly letters,” said Twig sounds good.
“Shall we go in?” Mark asked, “who are we waiting for?”
“Yeah,” said Stacy, “the others can find us.” She moved towards the door and held it open for the couple to enter.
“Who are we waiting for all together?” Mark asked as he placed his coat over the back of a chair and sat.
“T, Dillon, Chris, Sammie and Amy.”
“The whole group,” Twig smiled.
“Well the core group,” Mark said, “Amy might make it in time for closing.”
“She'll be here,” Stacy said, “she isn't that often late.”
“But she used to be,” said Twig.
“Yeah,” said Stacy, “past tense.”
“Why let the truth interrupt such things?”
Stacy smiled.
In time the others arrived and Amy wasn't the last but was the best dressed of the bunch. Stacy would not begrudge her that and for once she seemed not to have over done it. Stacy herself wore a simple red t-shirt and jeans.
“Can get anyone anything,” Twig asked.
“Pint of Brains,” Mark said.
“I know,” she smiled, “anyone else?”
“I'm fine at the moment,” Stacy said
“Not right now,” smiled Tina.
“Just a coke, thanks,” Dillon said.
The others, having just arrived, already had their drinks, they smiled in thanks of the offer.
“So, one coke, one bear and whatever I'm having,” Twig said.
“What some help with caring?”
“I can manage.”
The conversation went on like an erratic taxi, covering a variety of topics and sometimes seguing from one to another where there seemed to be no link. As Twig came back Sammie was just finishing a story about work.
“What was that?” Twig asked.
“Tell you later,” Mark said. He took his drink from her, passed Dillon his and went back over to the bar to collect her own.
“Where's everyone going on holiday then?” Dillon asked.
“Greece,” Sammie said, “really looking forward to it. Hot sun and sea.”
“You sound like an advert,” Stacy said.
“Yeah,” Sammie said, “I guess they sold it well.”
“Greece sounds good,” Dillon smiled, “beautiful beaches and...”
“Don't,” Sammie said, her tone was one of light heated warning.
“Don't what?”
“Imagine me in a bikini or something.”
“Okay.”
Sammie rolled her eyes, “anyone else?”
“Mark's parents are going to the Maldives tomorrow so we'll have his house to ourselves,” Twig arrived back taking her seat.
“Sounds excellent!” Dillon said in a suggestive tone.
“Do you think about anything else?” Sammie asked.
“Every so often,” Dillon said, “I'm going to Blackpool, me, Luke and Steve.”
“What about you Tina,” Mark asked, taking advantage of Dillon's pause.
“Tenby,” Tina smiled.
“You go their every year,” Dillon said, “why not go somewhere different?”
“We like it,” Tina said simply.


“This really isn't necessary,” Lee said.”
“Just giving you a hand,” Jake smiled taking another plate and wiping it over, “we had a wonderful meal I'm happy to help with the washing up.”
“You shouldn't have to, but the dishwasher is on the fritz,” he smiled, “so thank you for your help.”
“You're welcome.”
“Actually its good it gives us a chance to talk. Email is so impersonal.”
“There's always the telephone,” Jake said placing the plates on the shelf.
“You don't get many minutes when deployed,” Lee said, “and I'd want that time to talk with Hannah.”
Jake smiled, “you'd have more time if you didn't do the old 'you hang up', 'no you hang up' thing.'”
Lee laughed, “yes true. My work keeps me very busy. We don't do that so much now.”
Lee poured away the dirty water and helped Jake dry the last few items of crockery, once those were put away he declared.
“Why don't you go and sit down. I'll bring the tea.”
Jake dried his hands and headed into the living room while Lee filled the kettle. As he put it on its base he continued is ruminations of his trip to York

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Lee grabbed his coat, slipped on his shoes and headed into his grandparents kitchen. He sat on a chair and propped his foot on another while he tied his shoelaces.
“We have something for you,” Doris said.
Lee finished tying his second shoelace and pulled his chair closer to his grandmother, closed his eyes and held out his hands. He felt two small pieces of paper fall into them. Opening his eyes and looking down he saw what he had been given – forty pounds.
“Thank you very much!” he said most elated.
“Well like I said. 'We get little chance to spoil you!" his granddad beamed.
“Thank you again! Where are we going?”
“Along the ooze.”

After a short drive the car pulled up alongside a small grassy area. A little walk from there and they came to the ooze side itself. Lee's grandparents moved at a slow pace so Lee decided to run on ahead. Soon he was about one hundred meters from them. He slowed back down to a walking pace admiring the narrow-boats, when suddenly someone called to him.
“Lee West.”
Lee turned almost right round to see who had spoken. He then noticed a man standing at the end of one of the boats. He wasn't however completely convinced that he had just been addressed. He didn't know this man and he seemed to stand as though expecting something – as if he couldn't move without prior permission. The man was tall, clean shaven with short black hair and wore a blue suite with a waistcoat to match.
“Lee West?” the man said again this time with doubt.
“How do you know my name?” Lee asked, it was too late to pretend he wasn't Lee West. The man did not answer and Lee took a step forward. Lee noticed that on the right breast of the man's jacket was a badge, it had two sticks crossing over a green circle.
“Please come with me.”
Lee folded his arms in response to that. He hoped his facial expression communicated 'you can't be serious.' However he did not think that there was any harm in just talking to this man and, with arms still folded he asked the man his question again; he also asked what the man's name was.
“I am William McColl,” he said, “and I know your name from a survey you once completed.” From an inside jacket pocket he pulled a piece of paper. Clasping it between his hands he whispered something then threw the paper to Lee. Instead of carrying only a meter or two, as lee expected, the paper transformed in mid-air into a paper aeroplane. It came towards him and hovered just in front of Lee's face. He took and unfolded the paper. Reading over the information he had a vague memory of it, some sort of government survey that his form tutor had once given them.
“These were anonymous.”
“Not entirely,” William said, “wouldn't you like to know about what I just did? Throw it back.”
Lee half-heatedly threw the paper back towards the narrow-boat. It once again became a paper aeroplane and came back to William's hand.
“You still haven't answered my question.”
“All will be come clear.”

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Even now as Lee remembered he wondered why he had stepped onto that boat. Of course he was glad that he had. As had he listened to the more rationale part of his mind he never would never have met Hannah.