Thursday, April 2, 2020

The Mayor's Bear #8

The woman in the lift at the station

The journey the next day was long but anything but tedious. It began as you would expect: a big breakfast, lots of memories and endless goodbye hugs before they finally climbed into Sooshalla’s car.

Her car was fairly old and made some strange noises that you don’t really expect in such a vehicle. Or indeed in any kind of vehicle. Very occasionally it sounded like one of those fireworks that scream overhead. More often it sounded like an old food mixer attempting to knead dough but not really succeeding. And then there was the odd ‘pop!’ which happened when you were least expecting it. Roxie, didn’t like to say anything, she was hitching a ride after all. But they had made it all the way to Scotland from Netherneither End and she felt confident that they would make it back again.

And she was feeling light and breezily happy watching the motorway miles slip by until there was a new sound. It was something like saucepan lid rattling on a stove, followed by what can only described as a loud, long sigh.

“That doesn’t sound good” said Soosh. Luckily they were just passing a service station and they were able to turn into it and parked up as quickly as they could.

The car kept sighing for several minutes. Roxie turned to Soosh. “Do you know what is up?”

“Well”, exhaled Soosh slowly “I don’t mean to worry you, but the last time this happened, the car was off the road for a week.”

“Gosh! That sounds expensive and inconvenient. Good job you have breakdown cover” said Roxie spying the sticker on the windscreen.”

“Well, you know how they always seem to bump up the price when you come to renew membership. And you can usually talk them down.” Soosh paused. “This year that didn’t quite happen like that…”

There then followed lots of phone calls, a little bit of arguing, quite a lot of walking around the car park, some cheese sandwiches and probably too many cups of coffee. Six hours later, Roxie was beginning to get worried. Very, very worried. She was now beginning to wonder if she would get back in time for the Teddy Bears’ Picnic the following day.

Strumbold had nothing to say except “You’ll get there Roxie, I know you will”. He said it several times, albeit in different ways. It was beginning to be a little irritating in the circumstances.

“Why are you shouting at your Teddy Bear?” asked Soosh as she climbed back into the car with another cup of coffee. Roxie gave her a long look and just shook her head.

“OK, so what’s the plan?” inquired Roxie.

“Pretty soon, we are going to be picked up and taken to a nearby garage. I will stay with the car and we will drop you off at the train station. I have been looking at the train times and if we get there by 7pm, there’s a train that will get you back to Netherneither end by 9.30 in the morning. There is a short delay at Crewell,” smiled Soosh with her head on one side.

“It’s not ideal,” said Roxie through clenched teeth “but if it’s the best option, then let’s go for it!”

Of course, the pick up truck got to the train station with only enough minutes to spare to buy a ticket. But nonetheless, Roxie was travelling south on rattly local train a few minutes later. She had her bag, she had her rucksack, she had her Chain of Office, she had Strumbold and she had hope! She clung onto that hope like it was a length of rope holding her off the edge of a cliff. Mayor Roxie would be opening the Teddy Bears Picnic tomorrow!

The night had turned quite cold by the time time Roxie had got to Crewell station. It was approaching midnight. She knew she had to find somewhere to sit and wait in the warm for the train to Netherneither End. The train was due to set off at 5.30 in the morning. She had a long way to go yet.

The train station was emptying of everyone as she arrived. All the other passengers on her train were scurrying off to retrieve cars, hire taxis or meet friends who were picking them up. The station staff all seemed to disappear as well, behind doors marked private. Roxie shivered a little with the cold and a little with worry about what she was going to do for the next five hours. She looked at the signs in the station but none of them said ‘waiting room’. There were plenty of cafes and newsagents, even a gym and a hairdresser. But they were all shut. There was no waiting room and it was getting colder and colder.

“Oh Strumbold, any ideas?” she said out loud. No one could hear anyway. Strumbold stayed silent. He was not that keen on train stations. Lots of bears got lost in train stations.

And then Roxie spied the only enclosed space she could find that was probably the warmest place around: a solitary lift from one platform to the connecting overhead walkway. There was no one else about so she went inside and tried to keep warm. The floor looked a little sticky and rather grubby so she squatted on her overnight back and planned on waiting the night out. Roxie was not happy but what else could she do. The only way to get home in time for the picnic was by train. And that train was hours away.

She had phoned the children earlier in the evening to check everyone was OK. They were having a fabulous time with Heather and Vaneather of course involving lots of cake, stories and an odd card game that they had invented together. She told the children where she was spending the night and before she could count to ten, Samalan had written her another one of his poems.

The trains are asleep
Dreaming of sleepers and tracks 
And clackety-clacks 

She smiled now as she recalled “kissing” them all good night and settled down to wait for the morning.

Around 2am, a short woman with a tired but friendly looking face and grey overcoat joined her in the lift. She smiled at Roxie and Roxie smiled back. She knew she ought to feel a little worried but oddly, she wasn’t. There was something about this woman that felt very peaceful and calm. For a long time neither of them said a word. And then Strumbold coughed. The woman looked up and immediately Roxie coughed again to hide the fact that it was Strumbold who had made the noise. They made eye contact and the other woman said “my name is Toot Barnden, what’s yours?”

Roxie hesitated but then thought that they were both hiding in a lift away from the cold, they must have something in common. So she replied “hallo, my name is Roxie, Roxie Riverbloom”.

And with that they started talking about so many things. They shared many interests. They both liked quilting although Toot hadn’t done any for a very long time. They hated the fact there was no waiting room. They both had a sister and brother. And their conversation went on for a long time. Then dawn began to break and Roxie knew her train was coming soon.

“Toot, thank you, I have so enjoyed getting to know you. If you are ever in Netherneither End, please look me up. We can have a cup of tea together”

“It would be my pleasure Roxie. Perhaps if you can, give my love to an old, old friend of mine who lives in your town. Her name is Puxley Biddlestone. If you haven’t met her already, I am sure you will one day.”

Roxie thought that was a name she did not know. But she thanked Toot again and said she would look out for Puxley.

“Just one more thing, Roxie. If you have a problem today, talk to the woman in the bright blue suit. She’ll be able to help,” Toot informed her. Roxie thought she was looking at Strumbold for part of the time she said this.

“Thank you”, said Roxie, somewhat confused. “I am hoping there will be no problems today. I had my fill yesterday!”

And with that they parted and Roxie climbed onto her train. Roxie was beginning to think lots about what she was going to say later when she opened the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. So as she walked quickly through the first class compartments to her seat further down the train, she did not notice the woman in a bright blue suit.

But Strumbold did.

go to part nine

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