Chapter Fourteen
The weeks just flew by, Mike was learning more and more from the buffer, and it was agreed, that the last week Mike would do a full review of what he had learned, there would be tests and exams, both written and practical, and at the end of the week, someone would have a word with him.
Father got the family together a couple of Sundays before they were due to leave Malta, and told them all, they would be flying out, a week on Wednesday, that gave them ten days to pack up everything ready to fly home. The V.W.beatle had already gone some six weeks earlier, it had been filled with some of the bulkier items, and then with the help of a crane lowered onto the port side of a cruiser heading back to Portsmouth. The rest of the bulky items had been crated up and sent back to the U.K. by troopship that was calling into Malta from Cyprus, and again heading back to England. This then left some clothes and a few bits and pieces that would go into suitcases. Kelvin was told he would leave school on the Friday and would then have Monday and Tuesday to himself. Then looking at Mike he said. "You know what you will be doing next week, and I suppose we won't see you until the Monday." Then putting his arm around his son's shoulder, he took him to one side. "Michael lad," he asked. "Is everything ok with you and Maureen?" "Yes, dad," Mike said. "Everything is fine, really, it's just that she's upset that we are going back to the U.K. and she's having to stay out here, we're are finding it very hard, "Mike said. "But we are both strong, and we feel that this could be the way things will be for the next 22 years, so this will be the test, if we can get over this, then we can cope with anything." "Well done son." His father said. " "Thinking like that, will give you the strength to be parted for long periods of time because when you do join the navy and eventually tie the knot with Maureen, you could be parted for up to two and a half years at any one time." "I know dad," Mike said. "But we can do it, I know we can, Maureen is very strong willed, and she loves me, so we will have to see how things pan out."
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as the buffer promised, Mike sat tests and exams, and Mike did very well. He marched, he saluted, and he did rifle drill. In the classroom, he had to draw from memory a jackstay naming all the required ropes and lines, he also had to do the same with a fuel transfer. By the time he had finished and had made his way back to the flat, he was totally done in. The flat was empty when he got home, so Mike went to his own bedroom and lay on his bed, closing his eyes, Mike was soon asleep. It was well after four when his mother came to his room to wake him up. "Are you alright son?" She asked, getting off the bed Mike gave his mum a week smile saying, "I'm fine, mum, honest, it just been a hectic few days, that's all, and I still have tomorrow to get through yet, but yes, I feel ok." Around the dinner table, they all sat in almost total silence, Mike was worried about what he was going to be doing on Thursday, Dorothy was worried about her eldest son, and Ken was worried about a work problem, and Kelvin was thinking about how many fish he could catch and sale to the old men who he enjoyed fishing with every afternoon. After dinner, Mike went to his own room, he needed to study, Dorothy and Ken were sat on the balcony, and Dorothy confronted Ken with her concerns, but all he said after taking a sip from his coffee cup. "Look, love, Mike want's to join the Royal Navy, he needs to expect the worst, so that when he does get to H.M.S. Raleigh, what happens there won't seem so bad."
Ken took Mike into Manoel Island on the Thursday for the very last time. In his hand, Mike carried a small case with clean clothes in and the books he had signed for some ten weeks earlier. The buffer came into the room at bang on 9 and said to Mike. "Right peddler, we have to be at the captain's office at 09-30." "What for," Mike asked, "what's wrong." The buffer smiled. "Nothing as far as I am aware, he just wants to talk to you, so you had better get yourself ready." At 09-20, they both walked across the top of the parade ground and into the captain's outer office, inside was Mike's father, he was sat at a large desk facing the door to the office and also the door to the captain's office. "Good." he said, "you're on time, ok buffs, you can go in." The buffer knocked the door and the buffer and Mike walked in. The office was huge, with a large desk and a chair which the captain was sat in, all around the walls were maps and charts of Malta, and photos of ships of the Royal Navy. Mike and the buffer stood to attention in front of the captain's desk. "Stand at ease please," the captain said.
"So," he said. "This is young Palmer." he looked at some paperwork on his desk. "Well Palmer," he said. "I have been hearing good reports about you, not only from my own staff but also from the ships you have visited. I have here a letter from the captain of H.M.S.Bossington, who tells me, when you have completed your naval training, he would be pleased to have you as a member of his ship's company. How do you feel about that Palmer." "Thank you, sir," Mike said, "thank you very much." The captain stood up and walked around his desk, standing in front of Mike he shook his hand. "Palmer." he said. "if you get through your naval training, I feel you will be an asset to the Seamans branch, what say you chief." "I agree sir," the buffer said. "This young man has proved himself every day of the ten weeks he has been with us training, and I feel sure, will make Petty Office, or Cheif Petty Office well before his naval career ends." The captain was nodding his head in agreement. Mike and the buffer stood to attention once again, saluted and left the office. In the outer office again the buffer went and had a quiet word with Ken, he showed him the letter from the captain of Bossington. Ken nodded and looked at his son, then in a low voice said to the buffer. "I think we will try and pull a few strings, I know he is my son, but he is also someone who deserves the chance of some happiness, and the only way he will get that, is if we can get him back to Malta, on a good ship and with his fiance, so let's see what we can do."
Back in the classroom, Mike had changed into his normal clothes, his number 8 uniform had now been returned as had the Seamanship Manual von1, but the Seaman's handbook was given to Mike as a gift, signed by the buffer himself. "Well peddler," the buffer said. "I cannot teach you any more, the rest comes with experience, and you get that on board ship's at sea." They shook hands and Mike left the classroom for the last time. As Mike turned the corner by the church his name was being called, "peddler you old bugger, no coffee this morning." It was his friendly able seaman. Mike told him that his ten weeks of work was over and that in January he would be joining up for real, so he hoped that they would meet up again in the future. They shook hands and Mike headed down Manoel Island Road for the last time, as he walked in the winter sunshine it suddenly began to dawn on him, in six days time he would be heading for new adventures, a new life with new rewards, whatever they would be.
On Friday morning Mike was on the pavement under Nann's flat, she had been stood on the balcony, so as soon as she saw him, she grabbed her coat and was out the door, down the steps and onto the pavement. They kissed. "So where are we off to today," Mike asked. "Valletta." Nann said, "I have to get something very special today." they headed for the bus stop, and as soon as the bus came along, they got on. The bus was almost full, however, there was one seat by the door next to a very pregnant woman. Mike sat down and looking at Nann he patted his knee and Nann sat on his lap, as the bus got to Pieta it stopped again and a priest got on the bus, as he did so everyone on the bus lowered their eyes, except the pregnant woman, she struggled to get out of her seat and let the priest sit down, he was a very large man, and trying to sit by the window he almost pushed Mike and Nann off their seat and into the aisle. Mike was bloody fuming, making his feeling known all the way to Valletta. As the bus stopped at the bus station, Nann got up to get off the bus, but the priest barged past her almost knocking her to the ground. Mike was now spitting blood, making sure that his girl was ok he shot towards the bus door, then grabbing the priest by his sash he spun him round to face Mike eyeball to eyeball, then he told him his fortune, the priest tried to pull away, but Mike stood his ground and carried on with his rant. Mike felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned his head, another priest was talking to Mike in broken English. "I beg my brother's forgiveness," he said, "he does not speak the English. " Mike looked at the young priest and said."You tell that fat moron, he is not God. Only a servant of God." The priest nodded. "I will," he said, as he walked away he was repeating what Mike had said to him. Mike looked around to find Nann, she was stood by the bus with some of the passengers who had watched what had just taken place, as Mike walked back to Nann, the people standing started to clap, however, one irate man walked forward and tried to start an argument with Mike about his actions, but Mike was having none of it. "Do not start on me, "Mike said. "I'm not a Roman Catholic, I am Church of England, and my church does not treat its people like permanent sinners, my church treats its people like people. Our vicar would have stood up on the bus and waited for an empty seat. And anyway my friend, you look healthy enough, why didn't you give up your seat for the priest. The man slowly bowed his head and walked away muttering in Maltese. Mike took Nann by the arm and lead her towards the main street. "Are you alright Michael," Nann asked squeezing his arm. "Yes love, I'm ok, it's just these religious moronic priests, they think they can run this little island by putting themselves above God Almighty, and one day it will all come crashing down around there ears, they need to realise that they must lead by example, not by fear and bullying."
By the time they were sitting in the cafe having a drink, Mike was calm again, and things were back to normal. "Right," Mike asked. "What have we got to do today." "Well," Nann said. "First stop jewellers, then I need to go to my little dress shop in the side street." At the jeweller, the ring was ready, and when Nann looked at it, she was very impressed. On the underside was written love always and on the outside just above the dark green stone were the two Ms entwined. Nann placed the ring on Mike's finger, the third finger of the left hand. "There," she said. "Now you really are mine." Outside on the main street, Nann again took Mike's arm and lead him to the dress shop, and once again he was left standing alone whilst Nann disappeared to the back of the shop. Mike seemed to be sat for ages, he had gone through three of the magazines on the table, but to be honest, looking at women in underwear was not his cup of tea, let's face it, he had the real thing if she ever showed up again. Nann reappeared carrying two small carrier bags, and when Mike asked what was inside, he got the twinkle and the cheeky grin. back at the cafe, they had a sandwich and a coffee before setting off for the bus home, Mike was hoping that no priest would get on and spoil the ride.
It was dark when they got back to the flat, Roger was sat in the car with the engine running waiting for Grace, as she came out of the main door and walked to the car, she told Maureen and Mike that they were going to a party at the Trent's flat, this was to say goodbye to Dorothy and Ken, and also celebrate Roger's promotion to captains secretary, "So we will see you two later, much later." Grace gave Nann a kiss then once in the car, they drove away.
In the flat, Mike sat down on the sofa and while Nann was preparing something to eat, read the paper. Nann was in the kitchen for what seemed like a long time, as he walked in, Nann was mashing potatoes. "Sit down," she said handing him knives and forks. A few moments later she had two plates in her hands with sausage, mash and mushy peas on them. As they sat eating, they didn't say very much, they both knew that they had very little time left before there were going to be parted, and they wanted, no needed to make every second count, but as they both sat there thinking, they knew it was going to be very difficult.
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