Chapter 23

Driving through the open countryside Fran struggled to raise her spirits. Everywhere around her looked beautiful in the spring sunshine. After so much rain the fields were thickly carpeted with grass, and ‘England’s green and pleasant land’ was a sight for sore eyes – especially for someone who spent her working life in London and lived on its outskirts.

She was ashamed of her bad temper. It was just that all her friends had gone for a weekend down to the Dorset coast. They had rented a little cottage and would have a wonderful time socialising, possibly doing some boating, eating at picturesque pubs, and generally have the fun that young people enjoy. What’s more, among them was a certain John Peters, who had begun to pay Fran some marked attention. She was hardly smitten by him – he didn’t seem to have the initiative and drive she looked for in a male companion – but at thirty years of age, when you lacked anything approaching a boyfriend, you welcomed signs of interest, initially, anyhow.

Well, she was committed to going home for Barbie’s birthday, and she knew that her presence at the tea party would make the event for her parents. She had a birthday cake in the boot of her car on which, written in icing sugar, the words ‘Happy 70th birthday, Barbie’ were emblazoned. When she thought of her parents and all the love with which they had enveloped her all her life, she knew there was no place for resentment, and started to look forward to seeing them.

It was just that, at the age she now was, it seemed appropriate to draw the conclusion that a single life was going to be her lot, and she knew this was probably her fault. The fierce independence of spirit that characterised her was off-putting to the male sex, and usually frightened any boyfriends away in a matter of weeks. She wondered why she had to be quite so self-protective, and guessed that it had a lot to do with her origins. If you did not know who you really were you needed to cling on to what little identity you did have. Oh well, she’d probably hate sharing her life with anyone, anyway.

Deep in her musings she became aware that the car was making some odd noises and proceeding rather jerkily. Then the engine cut right out. She managed to pull in to the side of the road and tried to restart it, but without success. Just what she needed! A breakdown on a country lane surrounded by fields and not a house in sight. She got out and looked up and down the road – perhaps she could flag down a passing car – but there wasn’t a single one to be seen. The only sign of life was a small herd of cows in the nearby field who were sufficiently interested to come up to the wire fence to find out if there was a little bit of excitement taking place on the other side.

‘Stop looking at me!’ said Fran. ‘If you can’t help, just go away and let me think what to do. Haven’t you got lives of your own? How can I come up with an idea if you’re just going to stand and stare at me!’

The cows’ unblinking gaze did not waver as they solemnly continued to chew their cud. Once more she scanned the empty road in both directions, ready to stop any approaching car, but again there was nothing in sight. She was just thinking she was going to have to set off to try and find some sign of habitation when over the brow of the hill there appeared a tiny yellow dot. Fascinated, Fran watched as the dot grew bigger in size, until it finally was transformed before her eyes into the smallest car she had ever seen – more like a Noddy car than a real one. It drew up behind her and out climbed a large man, his face covered in a bushy moustache and beard, but his eyes, which she could see, looked kind.

‘It appears we have a maiden in distress.’

‘I’m afraid my car cut out on me, and I can’t get it going. It would happen miles away from anywhere. There isn’t even a house to be seen – only these stupid cows.’

‘I don’t suppose they’ve come up with any useful suggestions? No, well, perhaps we’d better have a look under the bonnet.’

‘Would you really? I’m so sorry to be a nuisance.’

‘Not at all. I like looking at car engines, although I’m rather more conversant with old ones than modern ones.’

‘What’s your car then? How old is it?’

‘It’s an Austin Nippy. It was born in 1936 and it likes going for spins along country roads.’

‘It looks so small, you’d think other drivers wouldn’t see it.’

‘They don’t always, but fortunately I can see them. I’m Nigel, by the way.’

‘I’m Fran, and I’m very grateful to you.’

By now he had taken several things out of the engine, looked at them and put them back, while Fran stood anxiously by. Then he had a go at starting it, and the engine fired into life.

‘Oh!’ cried Fran. ‘How clever of you! Thank you so much. What was it?’

‘There was a short in the electrical circuit, but I think I’ve got rid of it. Still, I’d get a garage to check it over as soon as you can. How far are you going?’

‘I’ve got about another half an hour to do – it’s my mother’s birthday – I’ve got her cake in the back of my car. She’d have been so disappointed if I hadn’t made it.’

‘Well I’ve got a thermos of tea – we could have had our own tea party. You can have a cup now, if you like.’

He went over to his car and from the back picked up a thermos flask which he held out to her. It was covered in greasy marks.

‘Perhaps I’ll forgo the pleasure – anyway, I’ve no knife to cut the cake.’

‘I’ve got a couple of screwdrivers and a pair of pliers. I expect we could manage. Still, I’m sure your mother’s tea is preferable. Mind if I follow you a little way? Just want to make sure your car’s functioning properly now.’

‘Would you? That would be very kind. And look, why don’t you come in and have some birthday cake with us? I know my parents would be delighted.’

‘I’m not exactly dressed for the occasion.’ He was wearing trousers that had seen better days, and an old jacket – but mercifully his clothes did not seem to be covered in oil.

‘You look fine,’ she said. ‘It’s only going to be us. Just a family tea party. Will you be able to keep up with me?’

‘I will ignore that remark, and put it down to ignorance,’ he replied. ‘Off you go.’

She set off, and saw that the yellow car was indeed keeping up with her, although the driver was maintaining a respectful distance. This meant that when another car did catch them up it would pop into the gap, so that she had to pull in to let it go by – otherwise she couldn’t see the yellow car at all. Half an hour later they both duly arrived, and parked outside the cottage.

Fran received a rapturous welcome, and when the greetings were over she introduced Nigel. He had been hanging back respectfully but now he came forward smiling as Fran explained what had happened on her journey. Her parents immediately turned the warmth of their welcome on him, as Fran had known they would, and expressed their thanks for his roadside rescue.

‘Think nothing of it,’ he replied. ‘I make a point of coming to the assistance of, on average, about one damsel per week. But they don’t all take me to birthday parties.’

‘I wonder,’ said Percy tentatively, when they had eaten lots of cake and drunk numerous cups of tea, ‘I wonder if I could have a look at your car? It’s a Nippy, you said? The first car I ever owned was an Austin Seven.’

‘In comparison with the standard Austin Seven the Nippy, as you probably know, has an uprated engine. Fran was surprised that I could keep up with her.’

‘It did seem to go fast for such a small car,’ said Fran.

‘Yes, on a good day and with a following wind, it can make 60 mph or more. The only problem is stopping.’

‘Why? Don’t the brakes work?’

‘Not as effectively as those in your modern vehicle. But you have to admit it’s a lot more fun. I wonder if the ladies would mind if I took Percy out for a little spin?’

‘Would you?’ Percy was beaming from ear to ear.

‘Providing you bring him back safely,’ said Fran.

‘Oh dear, yes!’ Barbie was looking distinctly worried. ‘Please go slowly, won’t you and make sure he fastens his seat belt.’

‘There’s a slight problem with that,’ admitted Nigel. ‘There aren’t any.’

‘You’ll have the police after you!’ Barbie’s fears were mounting.

‘Not at all – you see they’re not a legal requirement on a car of this age. But never you fear – I’ll have him back safe and sound, and all in one piece, in twenty minutes, if that’s acceptable.’

Percy went off looking like the cat who has found the cream. The two women couldn’t help laughing at his boyish enthusiasm, and went to the window to watch. While Percy had a door that opened on his side so that the passenger could get in, the driver, it appeared, had no such luxury and was forced to climb into his seat. With a number of splutters and bangs the car drove away, leaving Barbie and Fran to enjoy a little time of being together and catching up on news. Then the loud bangs and splutters could be heard once more, heralding the men’s return.

‘Wonderful!’ cried Percy. ‘Absolutely wonderful! Takes you back. Upon my soul, that’s for sure – it certainly takes you back.’

‘I hope you didn’t get cold, dear, with it being all open like that.’

‘Nonsense, my love, it’s a beautiful warm day.’

‘I suppose you can only take it out in the good weather?’ asked Fran.

‘There is a cover you can put up,’ replied Nigel. ‘The only thing is …’

‘I knew there’d be a “but”,’ said Fran.

‘Well, the only trouble is that whoever designed the cover forgot that you don’t just need to look ahead – from time to time you need to be able to see out of the side windows as well. You can’t do that, when the cover’s on.’

At last it was time to go. Fran was delighted to see her parents looking so happy, and although Barbie was now frail, Percy, at seventy-five, looked fit enough. It had been a good afternoon. She was pleased she had come.

As they went out to their cars Nigel said, ‘I do hope that was all right, I mean taking your father out in the car. Your mother might have preferred him not to go, as it was her birthday, and you had come to be with them.’

Fran, touched by the thoughtfulness, assured him that Barbie had been quite happy about it.

‘To tell you the truth,’ she said, ‘I didn’t much want to come today because my friends have all gone off for a weekend down to the coast. But actually, it’s turned out to be a lot of fun.’

‘That’s good,’ he said. ‘I’m glad. I shall drive behind you some of the way, until I need to turn off, after about three quarters of hour. By then we should be fairly sure that your car will behave until you get back.’

‘You don’t need to follow me now. I’m sure I’ll be fine.’

‘Oh,’ he said, ‘are we having our first argument? I do hope so.’

‘Why?’ Fran was puzzled. ‘I don’t understand. Why would you want to argue with me?’

‘Believe me, I don’t. But if it’s our first, that implies I’ll see you again to have another.’

Fran smiled. ‘That was the most oblique chat up line I’ve ever heard.’

‘I was just wondering,’ he said, ‘if your friends are still away, whether you might like, that is, I don’t know how you’d feel about having a ride in this tomorrow? But you’d probably hate it. Never mind, it was only an idea.’

Without giving her a chance to answer he climbed back into his car, and they set off. The journey went without a hitch, and Fran couldn’t help smiling whenever she looked in her rear mirror and caught sight of the yellow car, because in some strange way it appeared to be smiling at her. They reached the point where they would be going their separate ways.

He honked his horn and pulled over to the side of the road. Fran stopped also. Nigel appeared at her window.

‘Perhaps you would be kind enough to give me your telephone number? Then I can ring later, and make sure you’ve arrived home safely.’

‘What if I haven’t?’

He thought for a minute.

‘Then don’t answer the phone.’

He ran back to his car with the piece of paper containing her telephone number, climbed in and started up again. They moved off, and Fran saw him wave just before the Nippy moved out of range of her rear view window. She waved back, laughing to herself, and continued on her way home. Feeling certain she’d hear from him later she found she was rather looking forward to speaking to him again.