Lemon Meringue Pie
by
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Ken, in the window seat, turned to look at Steven in the dwindling light as the two men, unspeaking, their eyes twinkling, gave each other a thumbs up sign. The noise and rattling was so intense that conversation was impossible as Steven craned his neck to look out of the tiny window watching Cyprus become a speck of dirt in the silver sea. Immersed in thought, he settled back in the hard seat and closed his eyes. Suddenly Ken stabbed his elbow in Steven's ribs, his eyes reflecting fear in the half light as he pointed excitedly at the starboard engine. Steven's stricken face, illuminated by the flaming engine, was demon like as he watched in horror. Spluttering intermittenly the engine was spurting red and blue flame from the rear end and side vents as if about to catch fire. Anxiously they looked at the R.A.F. personnel surrounding them. They grinned back, unconcerned. The two buddies exchanged glances and laughed with renewed excitement, their teeth fluorescent in the eerie light. In the middle of the night the plane landed at Malta for refuelling. Chattering excitedly the passengers were led into a reception area to discover just one solitary bookstall, nothing else! After what seemed an eternity they were led out to the aircraft once more. On the runway Ken turned to Steven. "Hey, I've just had a thought!" "What's that?" "You haven't read her letter!"
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About the Book
‘Lemon Meringue Pie’ Steven Barkley has just completed his National Service and is on the point of leaving Cyprus when he receives a letter which he places in his pocket intending to read later. Dawn is just breaking when, passing over Europe, he opens the letter and on reading it receives a shock which will change his life forever. Reluctant to divulge the letter’s contents, he returns to work in the City feeling bored, guilty and demoralised. A chance sighting of a newspaper advertisement offering a new life ‘down under’ for just ten pounds appeals to him as impulsively he joins the queue in The Strand outside Australia House. Revelation of the letter plus the Suez crisis and Hungarian uprising, make the purpose for migrating easier for Steven’s family to understand as he joins the exodus on a ship load of ‘Ten Pound Poms’, bound for Australia.
About the Author
Keith Watson was born in Edmonton, North London and was three years old at the start of World War II. He left school at seventeen and a year later was conscripted for National Service in the Army. As an NCO in the Middlesex Regiment he served with the Occupation Forces in Austria and on active service in Cyprus. After two years he returned to work as a Civil Servant at New Scotland Yard and quickly followed the call to become a London Policeman. After four years in the Force, he changed career and became a sales representative, eventually progressing to Sales Director. Keith, now retired, lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Maureen. They have three children and eight grandchildren. Following the success of his first book, ‘Rough Justice’, his latest, 'Lemon Meringue Pie' is set in the Fifties, a time of much turmoil in the world including the 'Cold War', Suez crisis and Hungarian uprising. Food was still rationed in Britain and many UK Citizens were emigrating to Australia seeking a better life.