Chalk Dust & Broomsticks, Chapter 29

Geoff Padstow returns from Cornwall to visit with Nick B & Shirley plans a zoo trip.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

Geoff Padstow watched the fields go by in a sea of green as his beautiful black Porsche took him nearer and nearer to Langwich. A whole year had passed since he was Headteacher of Primrose Junior School, a time that had ended abruptly when his hopes of becoming the headteacher of Primrose Primary School evaporated. Now he was returning at the urgent request of Nick Blunt. The letter had been insistent: Nick was in trouble and needed a friend. Only Geoff could help and advise him. When Geoff was Head, he and Nick were close, but there was always a hidden agenda.

The church spire of the village of Woodend came into view; soon he would be in the sprawl of Langwich. Geoff felt his heart thump loudly, matching the rock music blaring from his expensive CD player. Thoughts of Nick’s wife, Gina invaded his memory. Some memories were just too raw.

At home Nick Blunt paced the carpet, looking at his watch. He felt as if he would burst if he didn't talk to someone soon. He missed Geoff's company, the golf, and their intelligent conversations. With Geoff gone and Alex missing, his life had taken a downward turn. Even the forthcoming baby felt heavy on his heart. His love for Gina was tepid and worries over the forthcoming birth of their baby were ever present.

As the clock struck noon, Geoff swept onto Nick’s drive with a flourish. The car gleamed black in the sunshine as Nick rushed out to meet him.

"Geoff, it's great to see you again. It's been too long. Bring your bag in. We've put you in The Blue Room. How's Marie?"

Geoff smiled. He recognized the familiar Nick, living life in the fast lane, but detected a new note of agitation. As Geoff lifted his bag effortlessly from the expensive car, curtains twitched across Snowhite Close. The whole of Langwich would soon know the "stud" had returned.

Walking towards The Blue Room, Geoff caught a whiff of Gina's perfume drifting from her bedroom. Instantly, he was back to a very special night, a few months ago, when he and she had discovered each other's secrets.

"Feel free to freshen up, Geoff," Nick called. "The dinner will be ready at one o'clock."

"Great, I'll do that, thanks." Nick sat in his chair and sighed with relief. At last, he could unburden himself of the feelings he had kept bottled up since his lover, Alex, went missing.

Geoff showered and dressed. Gina was genuinely pleased to see him but found she couldn't look at his handsome face without a strong blush flooding her cheeks. She had to learn to control that before Nick noticed.

As Gina cleared the dinner things, she heard Geoff's deep, warm voice: "Don't go to too much trouble on my behalf, Gina, I'm happy just to fit into your routine."

"That's fine, Geoff," Nick interjected. "Gina has to be a bit careful now, in her condition."

"Condition?" Geoff asked, his thick black eyebrows lifting high in the air.

"Yes, didn't I mention it? Gina and I are expecting, and not before time too!" Nick's chest expanded with pride, completely missing the look that passed between the other two.

The second blush that flooded Gina's face was impossible to hide as she turned away.

"Yes, well, as I was saying," continued Nick, oblivious. "She is taking care, aren't you darling? We don't want you to be whisked away to hospital with raised blood pressure."

The embarrassing moment passed. After coffee, Gina asked the men if they needed anything else.

"We'll have more coffee later, my love. We want to be off for a private chat now and leave you to rest for an hour or so."

"O.K., see you later. Have fun," she joked, knowing Nick desperately needed to talk to Geoff, man to man. The men laughed, picked up their jackets, and left the house for the comfort of the Jolly Gardener pub.

As Gina collected the dishes, she felt surprised at the depth of her feelings toward Geoff. I thought I'd put all those feelings at the back of the cupboard, she told herself. It was fortunate she had been standing behind her husband when she betrayed herself; Nick, of course, had other things on his mind.

The Zoo Trip

Meanwhile, in the headteacher’s office at Primrose Primary, Mrs. Phillips, the Acting Head, was enjoying the responsibility and power it brought. She was talking to Shirley about the plans for a forthcoming trip to the zoo.

"I think it was Rogers Coaches," Shirley said. "They took us to Windsor Castle. They were O.K., weren't they?"

"As I remember, yes, but don't forget when you phone up and book that we must have seat belts on every seat. While Althea is in hospital, I am responsible as Acting Head, and I want the trip to be perfect."

"We shall need at least six coaches, maybe seven, to carry everybody, plus parent helpers, one to five children, and one to three for the Nursery Children."

Shirley scribbled in her notebook. "So it's going to be a whole school activity?"

"Yes, everyone on The Dollhouse side, except of course, Gerald. He will have the building to himself."

Shirley leaned on the edge of the desk, enjoying a stray sunbeam warming her cheek. "What date did you have in mind for the trip?"
"Let's go for a Friday. Friday, October 12th looks possible. Best to do it on a Friday, that'll give the children the weekend off to get over it, and us too, of course," she chuckled.

The nearest zoo, only eight miles west of Langwich, was a popular attraction. It was the perfect place to take 350 boisterous children for an enjoyable day's outing. Nothing could go wrong, or could it?

As Shirley was making a mental list of all the events that could turn to disaster during a day at the zoo, there came a tap on the door. Ranjit’s happy, smiling face appeared.

"Ready for lunch?" he asked her. "I thought we could take a picnic into the countryside. I have something special I would like to ask you."
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