R.T. Cain
 |
|
Most of us have heard of the "Swinging Sixties" yet what was that decade actually like for the ordinary people living outside London or other major conurbations? Find the answer in this revealing, affectionate and humorous examination of the real life and times as experienced by a group of people living together in the small northern Town of Lapley Vale. The Author claims they were merely "Swaying" rather than "Swinging". Perhaps you may agree.
"R.T. Cain" was born in the Isle of Man in 1940. During the 1960's he was a young policeman serving in the Lancashire Constabulary. He was one of the original 'Z Cars' drivers before he steadily progressed through all the various ranks to eventually retire as a Superintendent in Merseyside Police in 1988. He is a family man well known by all his friends and relatives as a person who has always faced up to life displaying a calm exterior enhanced by a keen sense of humour. He loves to write about his observations of real people many of whom fail to appreciate their own natural uncontrived comical behaviour.
The naive young couple who are featured throughout this story meet for the first time when Eric is sent to collect gardening chemicals from the chemists shop where Jenny works as the assistant...
"Oh!...Er…...Good Morning...Er…...Miss..."
Jenny seems to smile even more sweetly as he adds.
"Yes...Er...Can I have a packet of plasters please?."
Jenny nods as she turns to pick up a small box of assorted plasters from the shelf behind her. She places it on the counter in front of Eric and politely enquires.
"Something like these is it?."
Eric lifts up the box to examine it as Jenny points out to him.
"There's twelve in each packet...All different sizes and really good value for two shillings."
Eric nods as he places his hands inside his overalls to reach the money which is kept in his trouser pocket. As Eric searches for his cash Jenny places the packet in a bag saying.
"Thank you...Will there be anything else Sir?."
Eric manages to expose his money and is searching through his loose change. He shakes his head as he speaks.
"Er no...No thank you...Will Mr Jeeps be very long?."
Eric nervously nods towards the door through which Harry had disappeared. He coughs politely before he explains.
"I really need to see Mr Jeeps himself you see."
Jenny still smiling gives Eric a knowing look before she reaches under the counter to produce a packet of "Durex" contraceptives. She places them in front of Eric with a coy but sympathetic expression on her face. Eric picks up the packet to take a closer look as Jenny leans forward slightly. Lowering the tone of her voice she says.
"Look it's quite all right...You'd better pay for these before you buy something else you don't want and run out of money....Really...It's fine...I'm quite used to providing gentlemen with their personal requisites."
Jenny smiles reassuringly as Eric realises what he is holding in his hands. He throws the packet down on the counter as if it is on fire. Eric gasps, looking horrified, as Jenny now appears to be having difficulty comprehending the situation. She finds herself carefully demanding.
"Well....Do you want them or not?."
Eric is so embarrassed he can hardly speak. When he manages to do so his tone reveals an element of sheer panic.
"No!....Actually No!...I don't...I'm afraid I've no idea what you're going on about...Woody Green sent me to see Mr Jeeps on his behalf...He said that Mr Jeeps has some chemicals for him or should I say for his grass....Woody said to be sure I saw Mr Jeeps himself...Personally...I'm sorry."
Jenny is now the embarrassed one. She is blushing as Eric holds up the bag containing the plasters.
"We use a lot of these in our game because we often pick up little cuts and grazes when we're working on the Green and we ran out of them last week."
As if to prove his point Eric points to a small plaster on one of his fingers on his left hand.
Jenny swiftly removes the ‘Durex’ off the counter and puts them back where she got them from. She is unsure what she should say in the circumstances. Her cheeks are now almost a burning colour of red as she manages to splutter.
"Oh my God...Look...I'm awfully sorry...But...But I was only trying to be helpful...Some men are very shy about buying those things from a girl...I'm very sorry...I don't know what to say...I just don't."
Eric feels much better now. He is confident enough to try to re-assure her. Smiling weakly he attempts to relieve the tension.
"Look it's no problem...It's O.K. honestly...I wouldn't know what to do with them anyways."
He attempts to laugh but Jenny's stares at him in a way which clearly indicates to him that she does not really wish to discuss the problem with him. Eric feels his face going red again
The relationship develops from this disastrous first meeting until they eventually happily marry.
