A few more pages

Hank had attended and indeed passed the leading hands course a few years before. Being a naturally gobby git he had no problem with his presentations and managed the rest of the course with ease, squeezing in a good few nights heavy drinking and womanising along the way. The physical aspects hadn’t proved too difficult either as he used to keep himself in shape, that was a few years ago obviously. He told Bill that the whole thing was a doddle and nothing to worry about and that all the stories about it being hard as nails were exaggerated by people who had done it to make them look better. Like the dreaded Black Mountains. This was an arduous couple of days carrying bergens up mountainsides usually in the pouring rain and with a gale blowing. Now Hank wasn’t really qualified to advise Bill on this aspect. The truth was that Hank had never done it. Two days before he was due to do it he met one of the instructors in the pub and they got chatting. As usual one thing led to another and one pint led to several. The instructor was not what you might call an accomplished drinker but felt that as a matter of pride he should at least keep up with the junior rank. Hank was more than happy to accommodate him and when the instructor ran out of cash again he was more than willing to subsidise the binge. In the early hours the unwitting and incredibly drunk instructor  was led to a gay bar and fed a few more beers before being introduced to some friendly bikers. The next days lessons began at 07:30 but the instructor was late. When he finally turned to at 12:00 he was not his usual ebullient self and seemed much the worse for wear and also walking funny. He spent the rest of the day scowling at the class which was not unusual for a chief stoker but he reserved special scorn for a particular leading naval nurse who sat smiling smugly at the back of the class. When the Black mountain exercise was due to start Hank called the instructor aside and explained that he was quite tired and did not really feel like doing the exercise. Five minutes later he found himself being assigned the job of radio operator, the first time this was done in the history of the course. He then sat on his arse for two days drinking tea and smiling inanely at the instructing staff.

Of course he never told Bill any of this, instead he told him that it was actually just a bit of a walk and you only missed a few hours sleep if you were unlucky. Asking for another pint whilst he went to the heads again he started on some mental arithmetic. Lunch was £4.75; three pints £6.30 that made a total of £11.05 only another £38.95 to go. He couldn’t use the toilet trick for much longer and Bill was turning all poncey wanting to go back and see Rosey. A new plan was needed. He rubbed some soap in his eyes and headed back to the table.

A fresh pint was waiting for him but Bill was getting ready to leave. Turning to say goodbye he noticed that Hank had been crying. “you all right mate?”.

“Oh I’ll be ok, fella, you get back to Rosey mate, you need to spend more time with her and I’ll make my own way home to the flat”.

“Are you sure ? You look upset”.

“Its nothing, I was just thinking in the heads that I might be pissing my life away and then I look at you and you seem to have it all. A woman who loves you, a nice house and real career prospects. No, I’ll be fine, just a bit maudlin at the minute, nothing a few more pints wont sort out. You go back to Rosey and tell her how much you love her, I’ll be fine.”

Bill still wasn’t sure, he felt he shouldn’t just leave his mate alone in the pub in such a low mood. He went to the bar and bought him another pint. Returning to the table he set the pint down and said; “well if you’re sure you’ll be ok I will head off and see the missus.”

“Of course fella, you get off and tell Rosey I was asking after her.”

Bill turned to leave. About 10 feet from the door he heard a loud sniffle and turning saw Hank wiping tears from his eyes. No way could he leave his best mate in this state so he went straight back to the table and sat down. “Listen Hank I have never seen you like this before and there is no way that I am leaving you like this.”

Hank slowly looked up from the table, sniffled, smiled and nodded slowly at his mate; “you are a prince amongst men fella. Would you mind getting the drinks in whilst I go to the heads, this bladder of mine is really playing up today..”

Five hours later Hank had managed to retrieve the equivalent of  £42.70 and was well pleased with himself and felt that he could safely release Bill, the Guinness contributing to his magnamanous attitude. He told Bill that he should make his way back home and show Rosey some attention. Bill was totally plastered at his stage and needed no encouragement so stumbled out of the bar and got a taxi home. Hank had taken his car keys so he couldn’t drive. Just after Bill left the barman approached and handed Hank a slip of paper. He looked at it and swore loud enough for the whole pub to go quiet. It was a bar bill for £85.40, Bill hadn’t paid for a bloody drop all night preferring instead to have a bar tab. As he paid Hank swore that he would get his money back, he just needed a plan but was too pissed to think of one right now.

Driving home Hank let his mind wander. It was time to get promoted and that meant behaving responsibly for long enough to convince his Divisional Officer and the CO that he had turned over a new leaf. To that end he had a shave when he got home and ironed a clean uniform. The next morning he was 20 minutes early for work and volunteered to work in resusc all day. Come 15:15 he did not go home but continued at work until 8 o clock, ensuring that it was noticed by all in any position of authority in the department. He continued in this vein for some time, volunteering for extra shifts and mentoring as many students as possible. He went on courses, taught regularly and was generally an all round good egg. He even paid for the repairs to Bills car and stopped drinking before early shifts. This in turn lead to weight loss and a healthier tinge to his pallid face. It didn’t take long for the change to be noticed. Truth be told he had always been a competent nurse and had a natural talent for the emergency department and this coupled with his new attitude ensured promotion to the heady heights of Petty Officer 4 months later.

Bill pulled up outside the house, and looked at himself in the rear view mirror. ‘get a grip you stupid fucker’ he thought to himself.  He knew how stupid he was to drive after drinking so much.  He’d never do that again.  He looked at his watch and realised he was already four hours late home, stinking from the days fishing and the beer.  As he approached the door he found an old polo mint in his pocket that he thought would mask any alcohol and geared himself for getting the key in the lock first time to avoid arousing suspicion. As he leant towards the door Rosey opened it and he fell through flat on his face.

“You bastard.” She whispered hoarsely.  “you promised me you would be home three hours ago.”

He staggered to his feet and used the wall to support him, “No I didn’t, I promised I’d be home four hours ago… I love you.”  He leant forward to kiss her but she pushed him away. 

“just get upstairs and clean yourself up.  My parents are in the living room!”

Bill’s face lit up.  “Ah great”  He exclaimed and staggered in to meet his future in laws.  “I am sooo pleased to meet you” he said with his hand outstretched.  However his untied shoe lace caused him to trip and he landed squarely on her mother with his hand cupping her left breast.

Rosey’s dad stood immediately and picked Bill up.  “Steady there young man.  Been drinking have we.”  He steadied Bill up stairs and came back down.  The look on his face made Rosey want to cry.  Her parents only wanted the best for their daughter, that is what she had always been told.  Every choice she made was always reinforced by them saying that as long as she was happy then they were to.  Somehow knowing that had always made her choose wisely, in a way to make them happy.  How could anyone be happy with this, with Bill.

“Daddy, I’m so sorry.” She wept.  Her dad put his arms around her and simply held her.  Something that always reassured her that everything would be okay.

“Darling you certainly have made a choice there haven’t you.”  He whispered into her ear. “I can only blame myself”.

“Daddy?”  She pulled away and looked into his eyes, unsure of what he meant.

“My dear I never thought it true when people say that girls are attracted to the men who remind them of their fathers.  I always believed you were too young and would have forgotten my badness when you where a child.”

“Daddy?”  Rosey was scared, “What do you mean?  Bill is nothing like you.  For a start you don’t drink, you go to church every Sunday.  You are a member of the golf club!”

“Ahem”  It was her mother, “Is no one concerned about the young man accosting my bosom?”

“Daddy!  What do you mean?”  she implored, ignoring her mothers protests.

“My child you were only four years old, I guess on some Freudian level you buried deep.  You see when I met your mother I was living rough on the streets.  I was drinking anything.  At one point mixing lambrini and white spirits just for kicks.  That was when I met your mother.  She turned my life around and we married.  Much to her parents disgust.  But it was the seventies and that kind of thing happened.  I got a job, you were born, but it didn’t take long for my horrible drinking addiction started again.  It was then that I found god.  He helped me over this cruel sickness and I’ve never touched a drop since.  I never knew it would influence you this way. But if you’re anything like your mother then I’m sure you’ll make a man of him.”

“I, I don’t know what to say?  Mummy, Daddy, why didn’t you tell me this before.  I can’t believe you kept this from me.”  she slowly sat down on the couch and silence filled the room.  Upstairs the sound of Bill retching punctuated the silence.

“so what are you saying then?”  She looked across at her mum and dad who had resumed their seats next to each other in a typical portrait pose.