Chapter Ten
The last week at school was very weird, both Dave and Chris were coming up to 16 and like Mike would not be going back after the summer holidays. Dave was going back to England, whilst at school, some of his artwork had been sent to an art college in England, they had been so impressed with his work, he had been offered a place. After the summer break, Chris was also leaving, he had been given a sort of apprenticeship on his father's ocean going tug, and after his exams, he would, or could be master of his own tug, again he also started after the holiday's. so they were all very happy.
On the Tuesday morning, Mike was taken to an empty classroom by Mrs Pike, once he was sitting at a desk, she explained to him, that for the next hour or so he would be sitting the naval entrance examination. A lot of the papers were multiple answer questions ie what would you use to knock a nail into a wooden beam, answer 1) screwdriver, 2) mallet, 3) hammer, 4) chisel. Most of the answers were very simple once you had thought about it, it was just a case of thinking. the maths questions, and Mike hated maths he really had to think about, a sailor gets paid £5 17s 6d, out of which he has to pay £1 2s 6d for his accommodation, 10s for food, how much does he have left for his run ashore, he also gets 6d a day because he doesn't have his daily rum ration. Mike sat and thought for a while, then the light went on in his head, it was all subtraction and addition, very easy when you understood. As the examination progressed, Mike realised, that getting into the Royal Navy was not such a piece of cake as he first thought, and if he passed, he would be extremely lucky, but also very happy. At the end of the exam, Mrs Pike took the paperwork from Mike's desk and put it into a large brown envelope, sealed it, and together made there way back to there own classroom. Mike was told that he would know the results one way or another.
During the summer afternoons Mike and Nann met at the boathouse, they planned to do some small alterations to the canoe before the holiday. Every afternoon, they worked together, first, the front seat backrest was made removable, it could be stowed behind the back seat. The back seat backrest was also altered so that it too could be laid flat in the bottom of the canoe, giving full access to the rear of the canoe. At the front of the cockpit, they put in a small wedge, so that a mast could be erected with a small sail. On the stern, they fitted a rudder that worked using a long rod over the starboard side. The old paddles that had now been replaced by new ones, Mike had acquired two pieces of lead, that he fitted to the old paddle blades, then with a bit of ingenuity from Nann was used as a sort of double keel to keep the canoe upright. All this could be dismantled very quickly and easily for things like the road bridge at Manoel Island. At the end of each working day, while it was still warm, Mike and Nann would swim from the slipway to cool down, racing each other from the slipway to the black buoy and back, and every day the love they had for each other just grew and grew.
On the last day at school, there was very little work done, they spent there time returning books, and clearing out there desks. After the morning break, the headmaster came into the classroom, standing with Mrs Pike he addressed the class. he told the class of Dave's scholarship in the south of England, and how proud the school was of him, he spoke of Chris and the fact that he was doing a training coarse on ocean going tugs, then he looked at Mike saying, "I am happy to announce, that Michael Palmer has passed the entrance examination to join the Royal Navy, and will be joining H.M.S.Raleigh on the 6th January next year. " He then came up the class and shook hands with Dave and Chris, then at Mike's desk again he shook his hand and said. "Palmer I feel you will be an asset to the Seamans branch. As he made to leave the classroom the final bell sounded and the class filed out. Dave Chris and Mike said there final goodbyes and parted company, they had been together for over two years.
They had all enjoyed there time at the school, and apart from the few bad times, most of there time at Tal Handaq had been great, and although they would not admit it, they were going to miss the camaraderie and friendships they had made. Shaking hands and with tears in their eyes, they parted company for the very last time.
On the bus, Mike and Nann sat together, as usual, she held his arm and snuggled in close. "Six whole weeks," she said, "just you and I, I can't wait." On the way home, it was decided that Mike would get off at Pieta and they would meet up in Valletta with there mothers, to do the weekly shopping. As the bus stopped at Mike's stop, he leaned down and kissed Nann on the mouth, the very first time he had done that on the school bus, but he didn't care, Nann looked up at him, she was holding her cheeks in both hands so that the rest of the children on the bus could not see the red face, but as Mike got off and turned to watch the bus carry on down the creek road Nann mouthed the words love you through the window.
In the flat Mike's mother was sewing, "Hi mum," Mike called, "Hello son," his mother called from the lounge, "Just going to change," Mike called, "and then we can go." Changing into a cotton shirt and shorts, Mike walked up to the lounge, his mother was sat at the table using her sewing machine. "Come on mum," Mike said, "it's Friday, we do the shopping today." Dorothy stood up, "heck," she said, "I clean forgot," Switching off her machine she rushed around getting herself ready, once done she said. Ok, son, let's do this." On the bus Dorothy asked Mike if everything was alright, he smiled and told her the good news about the navy, she put her hand on his shoulder, and looking at him, said "Well done Michael, I'm very proud of you, and your dad will be as well." At the bus pulled into the bus station, and they both got off, Dorothy said with a sly grin on her face, "I suppose we are meeting Maureen and her mother in the usual place." Mike nodded then smiled, "of course," he said, "don't we always."
At the cafe Nann and her mum were already sat under a large sunshade, as Mike and his mother arrived, they both stood up. Grace embraced Dorothy and Mike kissed Nann. As they kissed, both mother's watched, Grace with a smile on her face, Dorothy was a little more sullen. Dorothy loved her son but was very keen that he did not rush into anything too hastily. But for Mike, he was so happy with his life, he had to keep pinching himself to make sure it wasn't a dream. Sat around the table, they all had iced coffee and cheesecakes, the conversation around the table was about the holiday, both Grace and Dorothy were trying to organise a night banyan for the chief's mess, and a boat trip to Blue Pool on the Island of Comino, a small island between Gozo and Malta. As they talked. Mike and Nann were engrossed in each other, "Maureen," Mike said, "is that the dress you were wearing on that..." Nann put her finger to Mike's mouth to stop him in mid sentence, then she whispered, "yes, and the same underwear." Mike smiled and putting his hand under the table squeezed her knee. Nann just looked at this man she loved so much and accepted his fingers on her. "Right you two," Grace said, "Dorothy and I are off to do the shopping, we will meet the pair of you outside the N.A.A.F.I. at," looking at Dorothy for the answer, Dorothy said, at 14-30," Mike asked about Wembley stores, but his mother said that she and Grace can do that together, and Grace nodded. "You two go off and enjoy yourselves, we will both see you later Grace and Dorothy said almost together. Mike and Nann walked away from the table, she took his hand and walked him to a small jewellers shop in a side street. She asked him to wait outside for her as she went inside. Outside it was hot, Mike was wondering what was going on, Nann cane back out to him some ten minutes later, and again took Mike's arm, and walked with him. They made their way to the Barracca Gardens and found the seat that was hidden by the shrubs and bushes. Sitting down under the stone arch Mike and Nann kissed, then Nann handed Mike a package, Mike looked at her. "For me, " he said, Nann looked around, then back at Mike."Is there anyone else around," she asked, "Yes my darling, for you." Mike opened the box and inside ha saw a mans watch, it was beautiful, it had the 1 to 12 on the face, but inside the numbers 13 to 00, the only number missing was the number 6, and that was replaced by a small square window showing the date. On the back was engraved the words Yours forever, and underneath Maureen. As Mike looked at it, he was mesmerised, "I love it, "Mike said, "It's beautiful." The strap was made of stainless steel, with a clasp that opened out into three sections, enabling the wearer to remove the watch at any time. Nann showed Mike the writing on the face, this said, fully automatic, and waterproof to a depth of 150 feet. As Mike removed his old Timex and made to put the new timepiece on to his wrist, he noticed the small lettering on the underside of the clasp, it read, You took my childhood and gave me womanhood, I took your boyhood and gave you manhood, we did this with love, devotion and understanding.
Mike was having trouble with the strap, being left handed, and the watch needing to go on his left hand, he looked at Nann. "Give us a hand love, the strap is very new, and I can't get it to fasten properly." Nann did what was needed to be done, and very soon after the watch was on Mike's wrist, and looked very smart. "Thank you for this love," Mike said, "I will wear it always ." Mike looked at his new timepiece, "Sorry love, time to make a move," as she stood up next to him, he held her in his arms gently kissing her mouth, as he held her close to him, he could feel her body moulding it's self to his, he had to pull away, looking at his new watch, he said, "Come on love, we have work to do." They kissed again, then made their way to the N.A.A.F.I shop.
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