Copyright Oggbashan March 2010/September 2019
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons.
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Our newly-formed amateur drama group had no money for costumes. We had asked our friends and acquaintances. Our local Church had offered us the leftover clothing from their next jumble sale. The drama group's committee had agreed because they knew that the Church's volunteers selected the clothing, discarded the rubbish and washed all of the items put in the sale.
At our next meeting the committee asked for volunteers to collect the clothing on Saturday afternoon. When Margaret wrote her name on the list of volunteers I waited until a few others had signed before adding my name. I didn't want to be too obvious.
I was surprised when she approached me after the meeting. Surprised but delighted. I liked what I knew about Margaret. I enjoyed watching her particularly when she dressed for a period drama with large dramatic dresses or skirts that suited her large frame. I would like to know more and perhaps ask for a date but I was reluctant. Her relationship with Dave had only recently ended in tears.
"Alan?"
"Yes, Margaret."
"Why did you volunteer?"
I thought fast.
"To help the group."
"Is that all?"
"Well..."
"Did you volunteer because I had?"
"Er... Yes."
I'd said it now. She might slap my face or...
She kissed me. We are almost the same height, or she might be an inch taller and certainly taller when wearing heels, as she was.
"Thank you, Alan. It is nice to know that someone fancies this 'fat cow'."
"Dave's words?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Then he is blind or stupid."
Margaret kissed me again, properly this time. My arms flapped helplessly as her hands closed around my head and tilted it back. Then I got the message. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close while I returned her kiss. When we parted she threaded her arm through mine as we walked to the car park.
"Alan, do you realise that we are likely to be the only ones there?"
"Why? There are at least half-a-dozen names on that list."
"There are, but most of them sign up for work and never turn up. You must have noticed that you, I and a couple of others do all the work. You know that the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer will be at a Drama Festival watching how others do it. With them away the others are unlikely to come."
"Well... perhaps I hadn't thought that far."
"Perhaps you were only looking at me?"
"Perhaps I was."
"Even when Dave and I were an item?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I thought you were happy with Dave. You seemed to be."
"I thought I was. I didn't realise Dave was married."
"He isn't!"
"He is. He has three children and goes back to his wife each weekend. He told me he was visiting his parents. He was only here on a contract that ended two weeks ago. So he dumped me. He told me he was married, had had his fun with me, and was off to pastures new."
"That's despicable."
"It is. I may have spoilt his next affair. I found his home address on a bill he left behind and I wrote to his wife. She rang me a week ago. She hadn't known what Dave, who is actually called Derek, had been doing and is furious with him, not me. Sheila knows someone here, I don't know who, but that someone told her that Dave hadn't told anyone he was married."
"I think that would have been me."
"YOU!"
"Yes, Margaret, me. Sheila rang me. She was at school with my elder sister, Joanne. She was a family friend as well. When she asked me about Dave, I told her all I knew. I didn't know that 'Dave' was her husband. As far as I knew she'd married a Derek. She had. He used the name 'Dave' while he was here. Since his surname is Smith he had kept it. Sheila didn't react when I told her about Dave and you, even when I said he'd dumped you.
I thought she was making a casual enquiry about someone she knew. She didn't give the impression of a wronged wife. The rest of the phone call was catching up on family news. I've met her and her children at my sister's but I'd never met her husband Derek. He was always away on business. Joanne would have known him straight away because she was one of Sheila's bridesmaids. I didn't go to the wedding because I was in my last term at University. Had I been at home I would have. In my second year vacation I'd had a crush on Sheila. For a slightly older woman she treated my infatuation very sympathetically, letting me down gently, and leaving me aware, looking back, that she had been very kind to me."
"How old is she? And Derek?"
"I'd have to work it out. My sister Joanne is six years older than I am. Sheila was the same class as her when they were at school but I think she is six months older. Joanne is thirty-four and her birthday is a couple of months away - so Sheila must be thirty-five. Derek, whom you knew as Dave, was a couple of years older than Sheila so he'd be thirty-seven or eight."
We had reached the car park.
"Thank you, Alan," Margaret said.
"For what?"
"For wanting me, for telling Sheila about 'Dave' and just for being you."
She kissed me again. This was getting to be a habit. I kissed back and kept hold of her.
"Margaret?"
"Yes, Alan." She was smiling at me.
"Do we have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to see each other again?"
"No."
"Would you go out with me? Now?"
"Certainly. Where do want to go?"
I said "Where?" as she did. We laughed.
"Not far, Alan."
"How far?"
"Would the back seat of your car do?"
"Yes."
I had my car open as fast as I could. We climbed in. Margaret sat on my lap. She kissed me hard.
"I need to take some precautions," she announced as we paused for breath.
"Precautions?" I was puzzled. I hadn't expected to go so far that precautions were necessary. I wasn't prepared. I hadn't been with a woman for months.
"I don't want you to go too far."
"I won't, Margaret."
"I'm still not sure about trusting any man's word. Not after Dave/Derek."
"I can understand your reluctance after him. There's nothing I can say because all I can offer are words."