Monica. Ch17.

Monica gets more annoyed at Alan's attention to the new girl.

Chapter 17

Alan noticed me walking towards Jean and called to me. "No, Monica, Bob can pair up with Jean. You're sparring with me." The sad look left my face to be replaced by a smile that broadened even more when I saw the look on Jean's face. We sparred for a while before Alan stopped me. "Monica, I'm really proud of you. You just get better and better. You're one of the best students, so what was all that about with John? Did he do something to annoy you?"

         "No, of course not."

         "Well, why did you strike him like that?"

         "I wasn't concentrating. I was watching you playing with that girl."

         "That girl's name is Jean as well you know. She needs a bit of help with her basics and we are all meant to be of help to her, not just me. I'm a bit disappointed you allowed an outside event to influence you. You mustn't lose your concentration and you know that. You lost it again when I spoke of an imaginary assailant. You should have seen it was a deliberate attempt to see what sort of response you would give."

         "And I gave the wrong one."

         "Yes, you did, but at least you know you did. I want you to spar with Jean now. And remember that she's a beginner and she needs all the help and encouragement you can give her. You spar with her and show me you have the ability to become a brown belt and not a jealous alley cat."

         "I love you, Alan."

         "Not the time or place, Monica," he said, but then he moved closer and whispered. "And I love you too, and I really am proud of you."

         "Any time, any place," I said.

         Alan clapped his hands and called out to the group. "Okay change partners again before we get on and do some fitness training."

         Jean seemed a bit nervous when she realised she was being paired up with me, but she became more relaxed when I began teaching her moves as if she were a friend. The talk from Alan seeming all that was needed to remove the jealous aggression from me.

         At the end of the training I walked across to Alan as he stood chatting to the other instructor. "I suppose you're stopping behind again to help with the pugilists?"

         Alan laughed at my attempt at sarcasm about a branch of karate I was not fond of. "The full-contact group, yes, but I've asked the four beginners to stay behind for a while so I can give then a bit of personal attention as well."

         "I'll stay and help, if you like."

         "No, you get home, it'll be late by the time I get through. Anyway I've asked Abby's mother if she can drop you off. She said she can go past your street."

         "Is Jean one of the beginners that's staying behind?"

         "Yes, does that cause you any concern?"

         "No. I just wondered. I thought we were going for a drink tonight that's all." I said no but the doubts were still in my mind.

         "We'll leave it until Thursday. We'll have a drink with the crowd on Thursday. Then afterwards I'll take you to The Golden Bird for a Chinese meal, just the two of us."

         A huge grin filled my face at the thought of dining out together and removed any jealous thoughts from my mind, temporarily at least. "Oh, guess what came in the post this morning," I said and continued almost like an excited child. "My provisional driving licence."

         "What on earth do you want that for?"

         "So I can drive and get a car. I thought you might like to take me out in your car for some lessons."

         "Don't be silly, Monica, I don't have the time and I don't need you wearing out my clutch."

         "Oh, don't be so mean."

         "I'm serious. I teach karate not driving and if you have any free time at all then you should be going over your katas. Get your brown belt and then if you want you can save up and take the driving lessons properly."

         I left the hall feeling disappointed that Alan had no interest in me driving and I knew it would be hard for me to pay for a course of proper driving lessons.

* * * * *

         On Thursday, Alan dropped me off at the burger bar. I got out of the car and Anne must have noticed as she walked out to us. "Hello, are you going to introduce me then, Monica?"

         "Alan, this is my friend Anne."

         "Glad to meet you at last, Anne. Monica often talks about you."

         "Oh, no! That's my reputation gone."

         I looked at Anne. "I'll come inside in a minute."

         "All right, I can take a hint. I hope to see you again, Alan."

         Anne walked off into the shop. "Well, Alan, I can't see why you won't give me driving lessons?"

         "Oh, not that again. I already said you should be concentrating on you grading. Get your brown belt and maybe we can look at it again."

         "Oh, don't bloody bother. I'll get the lessons off of someone else." I was angry and walked off without even a goodbye.

         "Monica," Alan called, but I ignored him.

         Anne and I were kept busy for a while at The Burger Bar and we were looking forward to the end of our shift. Anne looked at her watch as I tidied up a table that had just been vacated.

         "Only an hour to go,” Anne said. “I don't like this poxy job. I wish I'd never started here. It's not like I need the money anymore, Dave gets right good wages."

         "Well, at least it's quiet now, before the evening rush."

         "That's not our problem." Anne plonked herself down on one of the seats. "So do you think you've heard the last of the nutter?"

         "I don't think so. He's started phoning again, but it's different, no talking and no laughing at me, just the damn heavy breathing. You know I think that's worse somehow."

         "I thought it would have been all over when you changed the number."

         "I can't understand how he got the number. I've been onto the operator and they said they were sure the number wouldn't be given out. It's a mystery. You don't realise until it happens to you. You don't realise how it destroys your will knowing he's out there and he can ruin your day any time he chooses. I get nervous every time a phone rings."

         "Well, at least you can look after yourself. You saw him off that time when you were walking home from karate. He hasn't tried that again, has he?"

         "Oh, yes he has, Anne."

         "When?"

         "Can we just change the subject, I'd rather not talk about it."

         "Yeah, brings it all back I suppose. Talking of nutters, did you hear the news about that bloke up north? Shot that young couple with a gun."

         "Not with a gun surely. Why didn't he use a mop?"

         "Don't take the piss." Anne gave a laugh. "No, he shot them late at night while they were parked near a beach or something. Never took anything, never interfered with them, just shot them as if he were practising or something. Makes you shiver that there's nutters like that about. Still at least your prowler hasn't got a gun, at least I hope not."

         "What, are you trying to cheer me up or something." I looked towards the front of the shop as a man turned to sit down with his back to me; a stout middle-aged man with grey hair. "That's him," I said. "That's the nutter." I made my way down to him. Now I could have it out with him on my own terms.

         “Wait, Monica,” Anne called out.

         I ignored her and confronted the man. "What the hell are you doing here you pervert?" I shouted at the man but he just looked back at me bewildered. "Oh, oh I'm sorry,” I said. “I thought you were someone else. I'm really sorry."

         "Can I order here?” the man said. “Or do I have to go to the counter?"

         "I'll take your order." I took out my pad and pencil as I glanced at Anne who had her hand over her mouth, laughing. I smiled back, but I felt foolish and started shaking as if I were slightly shocked by the mistake. When I had taken the order I walked back over to Anne. "I felt a right bloody idiot," I said.

         "Well, no harm done. He's been in before and I think he's a bit Mutt and Jeff. Probably didn't even realise that you were having a go at him. Anyhow, we're supposed to be changing the subject. I see you've brought your sports bag with you. Got karate tonight, haven't you?"

         "Yes, but I don't know if I want to go."

         "That's not like you."

         "There's a new girl there and Alan is ogling her all the time, ogling and touching and it's getting right up my nose."

         "I didn't know he was an ogler."

         "Oh, yes, he's known for it. Alan the ogler they call him."

         "I think I've read about him in the Readers Digest."

         "I didn't know you could read."

         "Course I can, went to Hay Currie secondary modern school, didn't I mate?"

         "Seriously, why do all the girls make a play for him?"

         "Let me think. It could be that he's a black belt karate instructor, he runs his own karate club, has a flash car, has lots of cash, has a body to die for, and he looks like a film star. Do you think that could have something to do with it?"

         "Don't be daft; he's only a partner at the club." There was a brief pause before I continued. "We're supposed to be going for a Chinese later."

         "Chinese eh! I suppose it's like a celebration for your engagement?"

         "I don’t think so. Are you going to the Bingo tonight?"

         "Yeah, I'm going every Thursday now; it's better money."

         "I think I will miss karate tonight.”

         "What, and miss out on a romantic Chinese meal?"

         "I'm not on the mood. I might come to the bingo with you."

         "You can't."

         "Why not?"

         "It's Thursday, Thursday is members only night."

         "Well, you can sign me in."

         "No, like I said it's members only. No signing in."

         "All right, I'll join then."

         "They won't let anyone join on Thursdays."

         "Well, I've never heard of that before."

         "It's a new thing, all the bingo clubs are doing it."

         "I don't think so. It seems to me as if you're hiding something, as if you've got something going on." I began laughing, but I stopped when I saw the look on Anne's face. "Oh, Anne, you're not?"

         Don't say anything. I'm just meeting that Jeff for a couple of drinks, that's all."

         "Hold it, Anne, don't tell me any more. I don't want to know, I just don't want to know, and you're pregnant as well."

         "Yeah, but I'm not showing yet."

         "And that matters does it?"

         "Hey, Anne," the owner called out. "It would be nice if you were to do something for a change."

         "You what?"

         "Take the rubbish and stick it in the outside bin."

         "Hey, Martin, it would be nice if you were to have a bath for a change. Take your job and shove it up your fat arse."

Monica. Ch18.  (18+) Monica falls out with Alan after she finds him socialising with Jean. #1997402 by Bruce.