“Bob, you old rascal!”
“Nice to see you again, Mark. You had no trouble finding the place then.”
“There's not that many Stormy Petrels that Google knows about. Just what exactly is a petrel?”
“It’s a kind of bird. I see Mark’s already made a start on the ale.”
“Howdy, Bob. How are you doing?”
Robert settled down with a drink. “So what brings you two reprobates here? I’ve not seen you since teacher training college.”
“Mark’s visiting family nearby and I’m here for work. We thought we could combine the two and get the old gang back together.”
“Where are you stopping?” said Robert.
“A hotel called Merlin Court. Big soulless place, quite posh but no character. We’ll be here all week.”
“Fur coat and no knickers, I’d call it,” said Andy.
“So what’s this about you being up in court?” said Mark. “You haven’t got one of your pupils banged up, have you?”
Robert grimaced. “Why don’t you say it a bit louder, Mark?” he said quietly. “I think somebody at the back of the pub didn’t quite catch that.”
At the bar, Sammy, hearing his place of employment mentioned, craned his neck to listen more carefully.
Back home, at number 23, Robert’s fiancée, Nasreen, was answering the telephone.
“Hello, Dad. How are you and Mum?”
“Never mind about us,” said Nasreen’s father, “what has that ‘boyfriend’ of yours been up to?”
“What do you mean?”
“We saw his name in the papers. It said he had been in court.” Nasreen’s mother called out to the phone over her husband’s shoulder.
“Is here there? I want to speak to him.”
“No, he’s gone out for a drink with some old college mates.”
“He leaves you alone, and goes out drinking alcohol? Are you sure this is the man you want to marry? We have been very tolerant so far but there is a limit.”
“It’s just two fellahs from his student days. He hasn’t seen them in ages. Remember, Dad, you said you were alright about this.”
“I am beginning to wonder if we are,” said her father. “It said something about misconduct with schoolgirls. I think we shall come and visit you and discuss this.”
Monday morning, and in the Ames household in number 24, Martha was helping Dennis get ready for work.
“Have you told them at work what happened?” said Martha.
“They know I was in court, because I had to take the time off. They don’t know the outcome.”
“Surely they wouldn’t sack you over just a bit of a punch-up. It’s not dishonest.”
“I’ve now got a record, thanks to him next door. And a sentence.”
“Three months prison suspended for two years,” said Martha. “There’ll be no problem as long as you stay out of trouble.”
“If I catch him looking over the fence at Brooke, there’ll be trouble alright.”
“Don’t be so silly,” she chastised him. “It’s all just been a bit of a misunderstanding. Otherwise he wouldn’t have his job at Hope Academy. Remember, I’m starting night-school classes there next week.”
“I don’t know why you’re bothering. Anyway, where is Brooke?”
“She had some breakfast and went back to bed to do some studying. Her resits are only a week away.”
“Why is she not at school?”
“Both the girls are on half-term,” said Martha, surprised. “You’ve been too wrapped up in yourself to notice even when they’re on holiday.”
Foster, Daisy and a rather forlorn-looking Luther shuffled in to Maplewood Surgery and approached the reception desk. Tricia was busy filing so Jade greeted them.
“It’s Mr and Mrs Woods, isn’t it?” Jade hazarded – she was trying to get used to knowing patients by name.
“That’s right,” said Daisy. “It’s about Luther, to see Dr Fry.”
“You’re booked in for a nine o’clock appointment.”
Daisy leaned forward to speak. “Hello Tricia.”
“Hello – I didn’t see you there. Not opening the shop this morning?”
“This comes first,” said Daisy.
Under his breath, Foster added, “It’s not as if we’re turning away that many customers.”
Sammy spotted the two guests he had seen with Robert Farrah at The Stormy Petrel, as they walked down a corridor of Merlin Court. “Could I have a word with you two gentlemen?”
“What is it?” said Mark.
“It might be delicate,” said Sammy in a hushed tone. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you were saying the other night.”
“Saying about what?”
“You mentioned – forgive me for taking an interest – something about the attractiveness of young ladies of college age?”
“You were eavesdropping?” said Andy, infuriated.
“Just thought you’d like to know – if you wanted, I might have some pictures that you might appreciate. Here’s a sample.” Sammy produced a postcard-sized photo from his pocket.
“Go away, you horrid little man!” said Andy.
“Hang on a minute,” said Mark. “If we got some of these, we could play a great prank on Bob.”
“What sort of prank?”
Celine fidgeted at the top of the stairs. “Come on, Brooke – I want to pee! What are doing in there all this time?”
Brooke snatched open the bathroom door. “Shut, up you little drip! What do you think I’m doing in here?”
“I dunno – tarting yourself up for a date with your boyfriend?”
“If you don’t shut your mouth, I’ll put seats in it. Buzz off.” Brooke stormed out on to the landing and went to her bedroom.
Celine at last got the bathroom to herself. As she was finishing up, she noticed some packaging that Brooke had evidently left by the sink.
“Mum?” said Celine, finding Martha in the kitchen, “has Brooke got something wrong with her teeth?”
“No, I don’t think so, dear. Why?”
“She’s always crabby with me these days,” Celine sighed. “I wondered if she had toothache.”
“I’ll ask her, just to check,” said Martha.
“Ask about her new toothbrush too. She had it in her hand,” said Celine. “Here’s the wrapping.” She held up some card and plastic. “Is Clearblue a special make of brush?”
END OF EPISODE 23.
