Still Swaying

Municipal Park Keeper Albert Snooks is by the Lake consoling Jimmy Watson after he had been mistaken for a pervert by children inside the Park. Jimmy has been reassured.

Suddenly both men are conscious of the sound of a motor vehicle engine getting closer and closer to where they are standing. This is despite the fact that the footpaths are not really designed nor intended for vehicular traffic of any kind. Without speaking the two men look into each others eyes in sheer astonishment as the sound gets louder and even louder. Just as they are beginning to wonder if they are simply hearing things a British racing green coloured mini car appears from the cover of the rhododendron bushes on their right as they look away from the Lake into the Park. The vehicle is about to run out of footpath as it nears the edge of the water. Albert reacts impulsively by shoving Jimmy into the bushes. In doing so Albert loses his balance. His peaked cap and spectacles fly off as he stumbles to trip over the low wire fence, splashing loudly when he falls into the shallow water. The vehicle screeches to a halt inches away from the edge of the water and the fence.

The driver's door swings open to reveal a flustered looking Jeremy Smith-Eccles, wearing a dark suit and his dog collar. He rapidly clambers out of the vehicle. The engine stalls with a jerk. Jeremy stares at Jimmy who is crouching in the bushes experiencing a mixture of sheer terror and stunned astonishment with ashen, white, features. Clearly shaken the Curate anxiously speaks to Jimmy.

"My goodness that was very close...Are you all right Mr Watson?...I fear I am unsure how I managed to get myself inside the Park like this...I obviously took the wrong turn somewhere along the line...I was beginning to wonder why the roads appeared to be getting narrower and even narrower."

Moving his position to allow him to view the front end of the mini car as it teetered over the water's edge Jeremy sees that the fence has been breached. He is instantly relieved to see that no damage has been caused to the car. He assists Jimmy to climb out of the undergrowth, remarking as he does so.

"OOOh...That was close....By Jove it was."

Standing up his waist in the water, not yet noticed by Jeremy, Albert is struggling to control his temper. Jeremy's last remarks prove to be too much for him to bear. He roars.

"CLOSE?....BLOODY CLOSE?....I think you might find that it was a good bit closer for some of us Pal!"

The incident is not quite over yet...Read on.....