The Way Things Happen
{Highlight to read} Part 9
Jennifer Christine

The continueing stroy of Jenny Holland

The show was really interesting and entrancing as stars and comets wheeled overhead — I certainly wasn’t going to fall asleep — it was too noisy for a start..

All too soon it was over and we were traipsing out to the café for lunch. The boys filtered out of the other side of the auditorium and Paul with them — though I notice he did look back and give me a smile — which — blow me down, I returned.

Wendy nudged me, “Well I thought I was going to be nursemaid today and it looks like I’m going to end up as a chaperone. You ok? You looked like you’d been zapped by a 240v wire when you shook P-a-a-u-u-l ‘s hand,” she leered at me like I’d had sex in front of her.

“You know, I’m almost certain he didn’t recognise you,” she added sarcastically but with a friendly grin.

“Yes, thank God,” I agreed. “I don’t really understand what happened, but I got the most amazing feeling from his hand, like it was electrified.”

“Now you know what it feels like to fall for someone, shame you didn’t get to chat to him, you might have ended up dating him.

“No way Jose. I don’t think I’m going to move forward that fast for a while anyway.”

We straggled into the lunch queue and picked up our trays. The lunch was paid for by the school so it was a bit regimented — we all got a choice of Burger and chips or Fish and chips. I had the burger — it was better than school dinners anyway. The fish looked limp and the batter was pale and soggy and greasy looking — not really inviting.

As we sat down we looked about and realised that the boys had all gravitated to one side of the cafeteria and all the girls to the other. As I looked across I spotted Paul again he was scanning our side of the café — I turned my head away just as his eyes reached our table. I waited a few seconds and glanced back….eeek — he’s still looking at our table.

“Oh my God, Paul is staring at me,” I whispered to Wendy as I shook her shoulder. She turned from Carol and said, “What are you whispering about?”

“Paul — he’s looking at me,” I gasped as my throat constricted from all the blood racing to my head.

“Of course he is dummy, you shook his hand and smiled at him. That my dear is the first step to getting to know someone.”

“Wendy, I’ve known him for 6 years. I sat next to him for two of them.” I squeaked urgently, trying to convey the reality that if he connected my old life and my new one, I’d be pretty much dead in the water as far as future was concerned — thank God I was going to Australia in a few months.

“What’s he like then?” Wendy asked smiling at my discomfort. “You need to hold onto the concept of what you were saying when you got off the bus this morning. You know, the one about ‘moving forward’. It’s not going to happen if you go into a catatonic stupor every time you see an old mate.” She was being gentle, but it wasn’t washing.

“Wendy, I don’t think you realise how frightening this is for me.” My lip started to quiver and Wendy’s eyes went a bit rounder.

“Come on Jen, stop worrying — he isn’t likely to come over and try to pick you up, though he looks quite nice and it wouldn’t really be a bad thing you know.” Wendy consoled me and chided me at the same time.

“Eat your ‘burger’ and try to smile, he has no idea who you were and isn’t interested in him anyway. It’s you he seems to like and oh- oh, it looks like he’s coming over.”
Wendy flushed slightly as my panic spread to her.

I picked up my burger and took a mouthful, trying to act nonchalant. I proceeded to choke on the overlarge mouthful and the dry roll — my eyes started to water and I was hump coughing, trying not to spit out the mouthful of half chewed sludge.

Before I could recover my equilibrium and my decorum which I’d mislaid somewhere between the meat pattie and the onions, he was standing next to my chair. He gently patted me on the back as I spluttered and heaved. Eventually subsiding into a heap.

“That’s the first time I’ve had that effect on someone,” he smiled graciously and looked around the table for some sort of reaction. Wendy and Carol both guffawed so he felt he’d scored a plus and could move up the next ladder rather than slide down the snake back to his seat.

“Are you ok now Jenny?” he asked leaning over to look into my eyes.

I looked back at him and smiled as I swallowed the lump of feral lunch material that had so nearly been my demise.

“Yes thanks, I seem to have bitten off more than I could chew,” I said, falling into my own word trap as Carol nearly squirted cola down her nose.

Wendy rolled her eyes at me and shook her head gently as if to say ‘wrong phrase dear’.

“Well I’m glad I was there to help,” Paul said graciously. I looked at him and my mouth fell open a little. What a cheek — it was his fault, but of course I couldn’t tell him that.

“Yes, very fortuitous,” I said trying to put some irony into my voice.

“The reason I came over was actually to ask you if you and your friends are busy at the weekend,” he said looking round the table at Joanne, Wendy and Carol then back to me.
“We’ve got a day out organised to the Lake District (Authors note - a national park area in Lancashire, England) and we’ve got some spare spaces on the bus which are going cheap, so cheap in fact that they’re free,” he added with a toothy salesman smile.

“Why us?” Wendy asked, canting her head slightly as if to say ‘I dare you to be honest’.

“I’d like to say it was pure philanthropy, but I have to say it’s more to do with I’d rather have 4 girls along than another 4 blokes.” Paul shrugged to lend honesty to his request.

I’d been looking at Paul and I had to say I wanted to jump up and say “yes” straight away. How weird that this guy I’d known for years suddenly seemed to be so different and in fact quite yummy. The only scary side being the fact that I knew him quite well and he might well put 2 and 2 together and get Jerry.

Paul spoke a bit more to try to convince us, “look, it’s a 20 seater bus and there’s 12 guys and 4 girls going at the moment, one the guys is paying for the day as it’s a birthday present from his dad. Don’t be shocked, his dad owns the bus company so it’s not that extravagant.” He added as an afterthought. “The other girls are sisters and girlfriends of some of the other guys.”

“Who’s the birthday boy then?” I asked — I couldn’t remember anyone whose dad was a bus company sort of person.

“Oh, that’d be me,” he said twisting his mouth as if to say ‘I was hoping you wouldn’t ask that’.

I looked round the table at my friends who were all nodding ‘yes’ at me.
I bit the bullet.

“Ok, I think it sounds fantastic, thank you very much,” I said as it appeared he asked me more than the others. Paul grinned and looked back at his mates who were looking across the divided camp expectantly. He gave them a thumbs up and they grinned widely nudging each other like lecherous 15 year olds generally do when they get a chance to ‘trap’.

“Look, here’s my phone number, phone me later when we get back and we can sort out logistics and lunch and stuff.” He passed across a page torn from a small spiral notebook.

Paul Schofield 555672
L5X St Edwards

Was scrawled across the page in a hurried but neat hand.
I took the page and slipped it into my pocket.
“Er could I get your number in case you lose that bit of paper?” He asked colouring up slightly.

In my head things were whirling and bouncing, I could feel my face flushing a bit too.
I knew exactly where this was going and I had to admit it was very exciting and a little scary.
I tried to look nonchalant (as you do) “Sure” I said as if it meant nothing. The girls were giving each other the eye — they too knew the significance of a phone number changing hands.

I wrote my number on a slip of paper torn from my diary (the one I used to relate stuff to the shrink in fact) — this would make interesting reading…
I handed it to Paul who took it, gently touching my fingers as he did so — accidentally on purpose.

ZZAP — there it was again, I almost jumped out of my seat. It looked like he got one too as his eyes widened slightly.
He slipped the paper into his wallet and put it back into his pocket with a smile that said loads….

I hope I know what I’m doing… actually I have no idea, but it’s too late now and I don’t care, this guy is having an effect on me that I can’t explain and I’m going to explore this. It’s probably why there’s still a human race on Earth — as natural as the birds and bees and a lot to do with the euphemism.

Paul bowed slightly and said, “see you later, ladies.”

“Wait a second Paul,” I grabbed his jacket as he turned.

“What’s up?” He looked at me quizzically.

“I’d like to introduce you to Joanne Carol and Wendy,” I said as I pointed to each of my co-conspirators. “That’s just so your friends can sort out their daydreams later,” I said laughing. Paul’s head rolled back as he searched the heavens for inspiration.

“Oh I’m going to love this weekend,” he laughed and gripped my shoulder gently and walked back to his expectant, grinning friends.

Our table erupted into a sort of cacophony of chatter like a cage of birds had been shaken up. My friends were all grinning and looking over at the group of guys that Paul had returned to. Each of them looked pretty ok.

“Tell us who they are Jen,” they urged almost as one.

“Ok” — I looked across — “Tony, John, Paul and Thomas.” As I looked at them the memories flooded back, “They’re all pretty decent guys, ‘good families’ is how my mum would put it. Top half of the class or better. Not swots, good sportsmen, all in all a fine bunch of guys. Oddly enough, I don’t think I ever associated with them in any real sense. I used to play chess with Tony and bridge with Thomas sometimes when it was wet and we had to stay in at lunchtime.”

As I thought about that I realised that it was unlikely that they would ever put 2and 2 together and find the old me — I didn’t really know them at all even though we’d been classmates for years.
Such is the lonely existence of someone who really doesn’t fit into a structure. Isolated by a difference no one could see or even understand.

We slipped into the lecture theatre for the afternoon lecture and found the boys had been given one side of the auditorium and we the other.
I glanced across and Paul’s eyes were on me — as he saw me look, he waved and smiled — ooh that smile…
I gave him a little wave and a smile and that was all we had time for.

The thought of the weekend made me shiver in anticipation — I was still not sure if it was the thought of the risk or the not unreasonable desire to be close to a nice boy.

“Right boys and girls, quiet please, let’s begin……”

The trip home was an anticlimax. But the phone call was all we four talked about and what we would wear and what we would say and do and boys and buses and lakes and eeek.

“Hi mum,” I slung my backpack down in the hall and walked through to where mum was sipping a coffee and reading a magazine. Supper was in the oven and smelt super.

“Hello pet, how did the Planetarium visit go?” Mum looked up from her magazine and smiled as I sat down opposite her.

“Interesting would be a good word,” I offered.
“Followed by frightening and scary and downright terrifying.” I added.
“Why, what’s so scary about the stars, did it make you feel insignificant?” Mum looked a bit concerned.

“No. that part was great; it was the fact that King Edwards lower fifth was also there that covered the other adjectives. I had my whole life flash before my eyes and my whole class as well. Well they didn’t flash, but the effect was almost as bad.” I giggled when mum’s eyebrow shot up at the connotation.

“I ended up accepting a date with Paul Schofield — remember him, he was the best batsman in the junior school?”

“Whoa whoa hang on there Musky, what’s this about a date and yes I do remember him — question is, does he remember you?” Mum rattled to a stop and looked at me for an answer.

“It’s his birthday on Saturday and his dad, who owns Schofield Bus Line, has given him a present of the use of a bus and lunch for 20 in the Lake District. So can I go??”
I looked with shiny eyes at my mother who looked back at me with steady yet slightly surprised eyes.

“This is very sudden, I thought you were off boys ‘til you were ‘sorted’?” she made a question of it.

Well actually so did I but he didn’t recognise me at all and he is very nice and with all those people with us it should be safe and Joanne, Carol and Wendy are coming too and and..” I stuttered to a halt.

Mum waved her hands and smiled, “hey, it’s ok with me if you’re sure. How much is lunch going to be?” She asked calculating how much I would need as pocket money.

“Like I said, nothing, it’s a birthday bash.” I grinned and swept my hair back out of my eyes. “Paul even gave me his phone number.” I added

“The question is, did you give him yours?” mum smiled knowingly.

“Um — yes,” I flushed a bit. “It only seemed fair.”

“I have to say that this is a complete turnaround from yesterday. I hope your hormones don’t flip you into touch and leave you all lost and alone again. Now off you go and get changed and do your homework BEFORE you phone the rest of the world.”

I almost skipped up the stairs to my room. How weird is that.

Bring Brring, Bring Brring, Brinnng

“Hello? Jenny.” I answered in my usual fashion thinking it was going to be Wendy, after all I hadn’t been home ten minutes, who else could it be?

“Hi, it’s Paul,” came over the line.

PANIC…

“Oh er Hi Paul, I wasn’t expecting a call so soon.” I gulped.

“I was just checking you hadn’t sold me a dummy,” he smiled down the phone. “I didn’t want to order the extra lunches in Windemere unless you were for real, dad told me to check anyway,” he said trying to pass off the excuse. “Well I also wanted to hear your voice again, it’s just so warm and friendly and not in the least standoffish,” he added.

“Why would it be standoffish?” I asked perplexed and not a little intrigued.

“Pretty girls are usually a bit cold, they tend to dismiss and control and the first thing you hear is their dead voice, like it’s too much trouble. Yours is totally different, it’s shy and warm and like dew on the grass in the morning — sort of clean and fresh.”

“You’re spinning me a line right?” I asked starting to giggle.
You soppy individual, where on earth did that line come from? Dew on the grass….. eeeww.” I was belly laughing now.

“Besides who says I’m pretty?” I added as an afterthought. “Pretty ordinary more like.”

“No, honestly, I don’t usually spout rubbish to girls, I’ve actually not had much chance, you lot are quite unapproachable usually. But you and your friends are really friendly, not in the least stuck up like Grammar School Girls usually are.”

“Oi you, wait a cotton pickin’ minute,” I laughed, “ it’s you lot that are usually prone to precipitating out at the opposite end of a room to the girls. Look at today, you were the only one that breached that great divide. Why was that, by the way?”

“I really wanted to talk to you and I knew if I didn’t do it then, I’d not get another chance — probably til sixth form.” He chuckled, admitting his rejoinder was weak but probably true.

“Alas you wouldn’t have a chance in Sixth form.”

“Oh, why’s that then?” He sounded confused as if my growing up would preclude him from my future.

“I’m moving to Australia in the New Year,” my voice had an edge of disappointment. There are some things that aren’t great about moving away. Losing your friends is one of them.

“That’s a bit sad, why are you moving?” He sounded like I felt - rug pulled out and all that.

“Dad’s job, he’s been given a new branch to run in Brisbane. Sort of new start thing, it’ll be several years, so I guess we’ll emigrate rather than come back again.”

I was telling him things I never thought I’d tell. I was including him in my life and I’d only known him half a day — plus the other five years of course, but they don’t count

“Oh, I see,” he sounded dejected now.

“Well we have three months I guess, before I go,” — crikey where did that come from?

He cheered up a bit at that, “Yeah, make hay while the snow falls eh? — no that doesn’t sound right,” he hesitated, I could sense he was going to say ‘make love while the snow falls’ but had the sense to keep his male humour in his own head.

“Well, Saturday? What’s the routine? Do we meet you somewhere at what time?” Changing the subject before he fell in his sword

“Yeah how about 8am at the War Memorial Square we have to come through that way and it’s pretty central. Just bring warm clothing and an umbrella — maybe wellies too, it can get pretty muddy.”

“I have some walking boots, I’ll pack those. No fancy clothes then?”

“No it’s an outdoorsy thing — maybe a bit of sailing on the lake — have you ever sailed?”

“Oh yes” I said smiling at the memory, “I’ve even won races.”

“You’re on — see you Saturday” I could hear his smile

“Yeah, right, that’s a date,” oops, too late, shouldn’t have said that…

“Byyeee” I could hear his grin now!

I rang the girls to confirm — all is good! Didn’t tell them about the slip ups. I take full responsibility for my own goofs.

On the bus next morning Wendy asked me what clothes I was taking.

“Um.. I’m just going to wear a nice polo shirt and a pullover with some jeans and walking boots —I’ll take an anorak in case it’s wet. I’ll have some softshoes in my pack as well as my first aid kit and a pair of dry socks.” I tapped my chin as I mulled over any other stuff that I could possibly want

“No No NO you can’t just go like that, you have to take some other stuff just in case”

“In case of what?” I looked at her trying to work out what she was talking about.

“In case we get to go somewhere posh and stuff.”

“Paul said there’s no ‘posh’ involved,” I held up my wiggly fingers to emphasise the posh bit. “Actually he said we may go sailing, so I guess a spare pair of duds and warm top may be in order..” I paused - I was NOT going to take nice clothes to the Lake District. It wasn’t that sort of place unless you had your own car and a hotel booked.

“Ok, I demurred, a full change of clothes in case I fall in the lake and give Donald Campbell some company, but I draw the line at taking pretty stuff.” I looked at Wendy and she slowly shook her head.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear all that, now what are you really taking?” She tilted herhead and looked falsely bright, meaning — DO NOT REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

“I’ve decided to take my full wardrobe in two steamer trunks and a hatbox full of makeup” I pursed my lips at her. “You’re doing it again — remember summer and the sailing?”

“Oh, that.. hmm yes”

“Lets keep it simple — we’re not out to impress the boys with anything more than our physical fitness, we can keep the ‘pretty’ for the disco if we are ever allowed to go. Besides, it’s harder to get at my body if I’m wearing stuff like that.” I added thoughtfully.

“Jenny, I don’t believe I heard you say that” Wendy looked shocked in a pantomime pose, “They wouldn’t do something like that would they?” then grinned to make sure I understood that she was looking for more than a walk round the lake.

“Right, I understand you loud and clear, you can go in a mini skirt and a boobtube if you like — I’m going for the fresh air, not the fresh hands.” We both giggled and got up to get off the bus.

Carol and Joanne were just getting off their bus and joined us. “What are you wearing?” Carol this time..

Wendy opened salvos, “I’m not sure, Jenny is wearing sackcloth and ashes or something.” She looked sideways and grinned at me. I gave her a haughty look and pretended to walk off to the main school block.

Joanne volounteered, “Well I’m going to be practical — I’m wearing jeans and a warm top — last time I went to the Lakes in a dress, I got soaked and cold and it wasn’t much fun. Carol seems to think this is going to be a tea party thing. I am pretty sure it’s going to be an outdoors event and more to do with boys trying to impress us and us all getting muddy.”

Carol rolled her eyes, “Well at least take something you can change into if we do go somewhere nice.

“Are you going to buy Paul a pressy?” Carol asked me as we walked to the assembly hall.

“I’m thinking about it? Any ideas?”

“Well you could always just wrap a ribbon round your chest and tie a bow at the front,” she suggested in mock innocence, “that, I’m sure, would be appreciated.”

I shook my head, “I don’t know where you get your ideas from - sounds like something Miranda would come up with,” I ventured.

“Meeaiow, ooh aren’t you the bitchy one,” she grinned and clawed the air for emphasis.

“I’ve got an idea, but I’m not telling.” I had just had a minor inspiration.

Saturday morning we all rolled into the bus, it was a cold but dry morning where we were, but it was nearly always less so in the ‘Lakes’.
I was carrying my lightweight day-pack — fortunately, though it was an old one that Jerry had, it hadn’t seen the light of day for a long time and was not genderised by being male colours.

The other girls had opted for grip bags probably to hold more options. The driver opened the side luggage bay and put the offending articles in the almost empty cavity.

There were a few lightweight backpacks like mine and two grips with feminine overtones.

Looked like I was at least partially right.

Climbing on the bus we got hi’s from everyone and Paul stood up and greeted us.
“Hello again, glad you could make it,” his eyes said a lot more.
I shook his hand again EEEK — I wish it wouldn’t do that.

“Could you reintroduce your friends again? almost everyone else knows everyone so we’d like to make you feel at home.” His eyes were smiling at me — it was making me hot under the collar but I was basking in it like a sunlamp.

I raised my voice slightly, “Right, Joanne, Carol and Wendy meet these persons on the bus.” I suddenly came over a bit dizzy, I nearly started introducing them — I knew nearly all their names and of course I shouldn’t. I took a very deep breath and sat down where Paul ushered me — oh — next to him — I flushed again… sheesh get over it girl.
Everyone returned the greeting and got settled as the bus pulled into the traffic.
Next stop Clitheroe