FanStory.com - Compilations of Stories by Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

Part 1

Valerie stood by the door of the outside toilet, almost doubled over with her legs crossed tight, banging, shouting and screaming at her brother, who wouldn't come out.

"If ya don't come out now, I'm gonna go 'n pee all over yer bed...I mean it ya stupid idjit...MUM," she yelled. "He won't come out, an' I wanna go bad. Aaahh!"

Audrey came out into the garden, angrily flapping her apron about. "For Pete's sake, Reggie, wotcha doing in there? 'urry up before yer sister 'as an accident!"

Valerie gave the door a vicious kick just as it swung open. "If ya think I'm gonna say thanks, I'm not!" Her face was all scrunched up and had turned deep purple with rage and pain. She gave her brother a hefty push, shoving him out of the way and went in, slamming the door behind her. "Fer cryin' out loud, wotcha do in 'ere! Yer must 'ave a rat up yer..."

"Enuff!" Audrey shouted, before Valerie could finish. Then turning to her son, "For goodness sake, Reggie, 'ow old are you?" Audrey went stalking back into the house, muttering away to herself and flicking her pinafore angrily.

Reggie watched his mum disappear into the house, then taking some string from the pocket that was full of 'can't throw that away' things, tied the handle of the toilet door to the handle of the coal bunker shed next to it. Then with a big grin, swaggered off to get his bike. He had no intention of being there when she tried to get out.

He just managed to get his bike into the lane when he heard the screaming and cussing from his younger sister. Satisfied, he pedalled as fast as his old, second-hand bike could go, laughing hysterically as he shot off down the lane.

Reggie stopped off at his best mate's house. He leant his bike against the fence, and went up to the door and knocked. "Hi Missus Jenkins, is Trev' around?"

Mrs Jenkins wiped her hands on her apron and looked up the stairs. "TREVOR! Yer mate's 'ere."

She looked back at Reggie then walked off down the corridor, leaving him standing on the doorstep.

"Wotcha," Trevor said, as he bounded down the stairs, "What's up?"

"Nothin', just gotta stay out the way for a bit. Fancy goin' to the orchard? Do some scrumpin'? There's loads on the trees."

"Yeah! ... Goin' out for a bit, Ma," he hollered over his shoulder, "Won't be long." Then without waiting for an answer he slammed the door and picked his bike up off the grass in the front garden.

"If I get enough for Ma to make a pie, she might forget to clip me round the ear." Reggie giggled as a picture of his sister blowing a fuse in the outhouse came into his mind.

The two mates cycled on down the lane till they came to the orchard, and dropped their bikes down onto the overgrown bank running alongside the lane. They had scrumped here many times, and knew just where and how to get in. They'd made a nice neat hole through the hedge, just big enough to crawl through without anyone seeing.

*****

Mrs Coombes lay on the long grass, convinced this was it. No one came to see her anymore. Since Albert's death she'd become a bit of a recluse. The pain in her ankle was excruciating, she couldn't move without almost passing out with the pain. She tried to sit up again, but the way her foot was twisted, any movement caused her to cry out.

A simple thing like collecting a bucket of apples had caused her fall; the grass was too long to reveal any potential hazard, and of course, if there was anything there, she would find it. It was the sound first, that distinct, crack, followed immediately by excruciating pain. Her ankle had snapped.

"Perhaps it's for the best. What use am I now, anyway? Everything has gone wrong, Albert. Why did you have to die and leave me alone?" Mrs Coombes continued rambling away to herself. The sound of her own voice was comforting.

The orchard belonged to Mrs Coombes. Her husband had died a few years ago, and now she lived on her own. At first, she'd tried to keep the orchard together, but it was too big a task for an elderly lady on her own, and pride had stopped her asking for help. She'd heard talk that she might have to sell up. All nonsense, of course. Gossip also had it that all her money had gone, and now had nothing left but the house and orchard to her name. Trouble was, according to those same gossipers, houses weren't selling, and those like this one, run down and needing lots doing to it, wouldn't sell at all.

Suddenly, for the first time since her Albert had died, she felt an overwhelming feeling of loss and self-pity; loneliness now enveloped her, she felt so tired. The tears came, and once they started there was no stopping them. Her frail body shook with convulsions, realising she'd never allowed herself to grieve for her beloved husband. Now, with tears flowing unheeded, the feelings of relief surged through her. Anger, sadness and grief, all the outpourings of her emotions, all finally released in her anguished tears.

*****

"I ain't got nothin' to put 'em in," Reggie groaned. "Never thought of it."

"Take yer t-shirt off 'n' tie it under the sleeves. It'll make a good bag."

"Clever!" Reggie grinned. He looked around, then started going towards a well loaded tree. "This'll do." He took his t-shirt off, and did what Trevor had suggested with more of the string he kept in his pocket. Without another word, he climbed up, and started shaking the apples from the branches.

"Oiy! Careful! That hurt." Trevor scowled as he rubbed his head.

"Well, move out the way then. Didn't tell ya to stand underneath it, did I?"

"Could 'ave told us when ya were gonna shake 'em off though!" Trevor was quite miffed. "I'm not a bleedin' mind reader."

"Ow many 'ave we got?" Reggie asked, ignoring what his mate had said. "Enough for our mums to make a pie?"

Trevor looked at all the apples on the ground, "Yeh, an' some."

Reggie jumped down from the branch he had been standing on, and started piling the apples into his improvised bag.

"That should let me off the hook," he grinned, thinking of Valerie stuck in the lav. "Let's go. Ain't got room fer anymore."

The two lads began to make their way to their bikes when a piercing scream, from somewhere behind them, stopped them in their tracks.

"Shit! What was that?" Trevor looked at Reggie, fear clouded his eyes.

"Dunno." Reggie whispered. "D'ya think we should take a peek?"

"No." Trevor backed away. "Didn't sound human; more like a wild animal ... tiger even!"

"Don't be so stupid, ain't no tigers round 'ere. I think someone's hurt."

*****

Mrs Coombes stopped crying, suddenly not wanting her life to end this way. "What is wrong with you? What would Albert think? He'd be mad as hell with me, that's what!"

She looked around, hoping to see something close by to help her stand up. She spied a rake that had been left down under the first tree. "If I could just make it that far, I could use it as a crutch."

She looked at the way her foot was twisted. She needed to straighten it before she could move. "Well, this is going to hurt you, Mavis Coombes. Are you ready?" Still talking to herself, she answered with a determined, 'Yes!"

Gritting her teeth, she took her leg from just below her knee and tried very gently to move it. The intensity of the pain shooting through her was totally unexpected; there was no way she could have stopped the scream that escaped her lips before she mercifully passed out.

"I knew someone was hurt." Reggie ran up to Mrs Coombes. "She's out of it. We need some 'elp. Get on yer bike, Trev, and go and fetch someone. Tell 'em we need a doctor. I'll stay 'ere in case she comes round again."

*****

Mrs Coombes woke up in the hospital. A nurse came over to her and checked her pulse, and smiled. "Well, you were a lucky lady, weren't you?"

"How did I get here?" Mrs Coombes asked.

The nurse walked over to the door and beckoned. Reggie and Trevor walked in.

"These lads found you and called for help. It was lucky they were passing by when you screamed."

The boys blushed and looked sheepishly at the floor. The nurse didn't know they'd been scrumping Mrs Coombes' apples.

Both the boys' mothers came in then, and went up to Mrs Coombes. "You gave us quite a scare, you know. How are you feeling now?"

"I'm much better, thanks to your lads." Mrs Coombes looked across at the boys and smiled. "It was a good thing for me that you happened by when you did." She winked. "I haven't got much to give you for a reward, but you are very welcome to come and get some apples whenever you like."

Reggie and Trevor both smiled. "We don't want a reward, Missus Coombes. A few apples would be good, though. Our mums make good apple pies."

"Well, you won't be doin' much fer a spell," Audrey told her, "So Hazel and me thought you might not mind us comin' an givin you a hand?"

Hazel, Trevor's mother, came closer. "It'd be no bovver. You must be lonely in that big 'ouse of yours."

Mrs Coombes looked at them all, and tears welled in her eyes. Strange how misfortune can bring about nice things in the end.

Reggie was happy too; he didn't get a thick ear for trapping his sister in the outside lav.

Author Notes Just outside London in the 1950s.
No bovver - no problem

Chapter 2
Valerie Wants Revenge

By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

1950s Valerie and Reggie
2 part 1

"Shush!" Valerie put her hand over Lizzie's mouth. "They'll 'ear ya."

Valerie and Lizzie were crouched down behind some bushes, spying on Valerie's brother Reggie, and his best mate, Trevor.

Valerie had been waiting for a chance to get even with her brother for tying the handle of the outhouse door to the coal bunker door handle while she was still sitting on the toilet. Now that she had the chance to get revenge, nothing and no one was going to mess it up for her. She would make darned sure of that.

On that day, six weeks ago, Valerie had kicked up such a fuss, screaming and shouting until her mother, Audrey, had come and let her out. Audrey was already stressed, it being a Monday and washtub day, and had been angry with her son for starting the rumpus in the first place. Now she was livid. Satisfied that Reggie's bum was going to feel the bottom of their dad's slipper, Valerie had gone off to tell her friend Lizzie all about it. Lizzie had thought what Reggie had done was hilarious, but she wouldn't dare say as much.

"That'll teach 'im," she'd finished with a smug smile on her face, but his punishment never happened. Not only that, her oh, so wonderful brother, had come home a hero for saving old Mrs Coombe's life! So what? Anyone could've done that!

Now, her revenge had presented itself in the sweetest way possible. Valerie could never have planned such an opportunity, yet there it was, just waiting for her to pull it off.

"Ooow, don't think I should watch this," Lizzie said, turning her head away from the scene unfolding in front of them. "It's not right. Me ma would give me wot for, if she knew what I woz doin' ere."

"Well, don't tell 'er then. D'ya think I'm gonna tell my ma? I'm not that stupid." Valerie shook her head while her eyes rolled in their sockets. "Keep yer 'ead down ... they're movin' about." Valerie peeped through the bushes, watching her brother and Trevor remove their clothes down to their underpants, before running into the river for a swim. "They're in the water. Come on. While they're not lookin'."

The two girls got down on all fours and crawled out from behind the bushes. Careful not to be seen, they moved quietly over to where the boys had left their clothes. Then, leaving the shoes, they grabbed the clothes and moved back behind the bushes.

"Now wotcha gonna do?" Lizzie whispered. She looked nervously towards the river, the boys were still swimming and fooling around. "Don't ya fink we should go before they get out?"

"I wanna see their faces," Valerie hissed back. "This is gonna be a scream, 'n I ain't gonna miss it fer anyfing."

Lizzie lay flat on the ground; she wouldn't take a chance on being seen. The lads were still swimming; it might be a long wait. "Wotcha gonna do wiv their clothes?"

"Oow, dunno. Never thought of that."

Valerie thought about it now though. She couldn't take them home; they'd all know it was her. Then again, she daren't accidently lose them, either. Her mum and dad would be really angry. Clothes weren't cheap to come by, as her mum kept telling them when they left them in a heap on the floor.

"I know!" A smile spread all over her face as she looked over at the boys' bikes. They were out of sight of the beach, leaning against a tree behind them. "We'll tie 'em to the 'andlebars, then move 'em up t' the church. They've gotta go 'ome that way."

"S'posen someone sees us?" Lizzy was always the worrier.

"We're gonna make sure no one does. Let's move back a bit, we don't wan' em to see us when we skedaddle outa 'ere."

Just at that moment, Trevor decided to come out of the water.

"Hang on," Valerie whispered.

They watched as Trevor came up to where they'd left their clothes. He stopped and looked around. Seeing their shoes still where they'd left them, he picked them up, still looking around.

"Oiy, Reggie, our stuff's gone," he shouted out loudly. "There's only our shoes 'ere!"

"Wotcha mean, our stuff's gone?" Reggie came out of the water and walked up to Trevor. He looked at the shoes still in Trevor's hands.

Valerie gave Lizzie a dig, "Come on, time t' go." Very carefully, the two girls edged back to where the boys' bikes were, and grabbing them, ran through the woods, towards the church.

****
"They've gotta be 'ere!" Reggie was getting worried. "We left 'em 'ere, didn't we? They can't 'ave got up an' walked away."

"Well, they 'av. Gawd knows wot me mam'll do t' me." Trevor was more worried about that than how he was going to get home in just his underpants.

"Well, it ain't our fault they've been stolen. Let's take a gander in the trees. They've gotta be 'ere somewhere."

Reggie stomped off towards the trees on the left, all the while moaning under his breath. "I'll belt the livin' daylights outta oow ever's dun this."

Trevor had walked towards the trees on the right. He frowned; something wasn't right. Then, as if a light had just come on and illuminated the scene, he stopped, "NO! No, no!" He shouted, then took off at a run.

"Wot now?"

"Our bikes ... they've gone! Me mam'll kill me!" Trevor was holding his head in his hands, gasping. "Wotta we gonna do?"

Reggie stared at the empty space where the bikes should have been, his mind now doing overtime.

"We're goin' ta the police station, that's wot we're gonna do." Reggie had made his mind up. "There's a thief round 'ere somewhere. We're gonna tell our mam's, it's not our fault. They can't tell us off for somefing that's not our fault, can they?"

"Yer think?" Trevor was not so sure and still worried about his backside. His dad always said it hurt him more than it hurt Trevor, but Trevor couldn't quite understand that. Why do it if it hurt him? He always thought that was a stupid thing to say.

"Yeh, I'm sure. Come on, let's go."

They knelt down and put their shoes on first. At least the thief had left them here. The police station was at the opposite side of the village to where the boys lived. It meant walking past the village store, but Reggie was so angry now, he really didn't care. Trevor continued to slink behind Reggie, hoping no one would see him. His luck wasn't with him today.

Mrs Stanstead was the last person they wanted to see. She was known as the village gossip. If you wanted to know anything, go to Mrs Stanstead, she'd definitely know. So of course, she had to be the one coming out of the store as they walked by.

She stopped and gaped at the boys walking by almost naked! "'Pon my word!" She gasped, "What happened to your clothes, boys?"

"They were stolen," Reggie growled. "We're goin' ta tell the coppers." They carried on walking by, knowing they were causing a stir in the village. More people were coming out and staring now.

"Now the 'ole world'll know." Trevor was cringing. He stared straight ahead, wishing it was a just a dream. "It's a bleedin' nightmare," he whispered. "That old crow is gonna tell our mams before we can get to them." He shut his eyes for a moment. "Then, gawd 'elp me, I'm gonna be a deadun fer sure!"

Reggie said nothing, he just kept walking, his face scarlet with rage, more than embarrassment.

*****

Valerie and Lizzie were sitting in Valerie's front garden, waiting to see the boys when they came up the lane.

"They've bin a long time," Lizzie said, nervously. "Wocha think they're doin'?"

Valerie frowned; they were a lot longer than she thought they'd be. "P'raps they're still lookin'? I dunno. We can't go an' look, they'd wonder wot we were doin' there."

They both sat quietly, lost in their own thoughts. Lizzie was working herself into a frenzy of painful thoughts. She couldn't take her eyes off the lane. Where were they?

"Wot's she want?" Valerie nudged Lizzie and cocked her head over the lane. "Looks like she's comin' 'ere."

Mrs Stanstead bustled in through the gate and looked at the girls sitting on the grass. "Is your mother in, Valerie?"

"Yeh, she's in the back."

Mrs Stanstead carried on round to the back garden and rapped hard on the outside kitchen door. Curious, both girls followed her round.

"Mrs Stanstead?" Audrey was so surprised to see her, she forgot herself and asked straight out, "What can I be doing fer you?"

"I thought you ought to know, your son Reggie, and his friend Trevor, have just walked almost naked, through the village. It was a very distressing sight, I can tell you." Mrs Stanstead, sniffed, which just made Audrey want to smack her one.

"You 'ave gotta be jokin'!" she said angrily. "If this is more of yer nasty lies..."

"I can assure you; I am not in the habit of lying! They told me they were going to the police station because they believed a thief had taken their clothes." Mrs Stanstead pulled herself up straight, and sniffed again.

"Well, thanks fer puttin' yerself out and comin' 'ere ta tell' me. I s'pose you've not 'ad chance t' get t' Trev's mam yet?"

"No, I'm just on my way."

"Well, I'll save ya the trouble and go meself."

"Well, if you must." Mrs Stanstead was not happy with that. She loved to watch the distress cloud their faces when she told them what she knew. Of course, she was really doing them a service. What if they found out some other way? And what thanks did she get? None.

Valerie and Lizzie looked at each other. Neither had thought the boys would do that.

*****

"Well, what 'ave we got 'ere then?" PC. Jones, looked over his specs, eyeing the two lads up. "Did we forget to do something before we left home today?"

"We was robbed." Reggie said, flatly. "We went down t' the river fer a swim, and left our clothes on the rocks. Someone took 'em."

"An' our bikes!" Trevor blurted out. "Me mam'll kill me, an' it ain't our fault!

The sergeant looked at them now, seriously. "Your bikes too, eh? And you came straight 'ere?"

"Yes." They both replied.

"OK. Let's 'ave a description. First yer clothes."

The boys answered all the questions the sergeant asked. "Right then." He looked at them standing there, shaking. "Best be getting you lads 'ome then." He turned and called a young police constable and told him to mind the desk. "Come on you two, can't have you upsetting the neighbourhood any more, dressed, or should I say, undressed, as you are." His mouth twitched as he tried to conceal a smile.

The drive home was mortifying. Everyone looked at the police car, it didn't come out much. To see Reggie and Trevor sitting in the back seat was something that would be spoken about for months to come. The boys tried to slink down into the seats, trying to hide away.

*****
Audrey was just about to go and see Hazel, when she saw her coming up the lane.

"Ahh, I see you've been told then?" Hazel said, looking directly at Mrs Stanstead. "Didn't take ya long, did it! Bleedin' gossip."

"Well! I don't need to stay here and be insulted." Mrs Stanstead, sniffed and with a snooty look, turned round and marched off down the lane.

"You heard then?" Audrey said.

"It's all around the village," Hazel said, sighing. "What on earth were they thinkin' of?"

"I think we are about to find out." Audrey moved towards the gate and waited for the police car to stop.

Valerie and Lizzie came round to the front garden, just as Reggie and Trevor were getting out the car. Neither said anything, just stood watching. Audrey went over to the boys and ushered them indoors.

"Go upstairs an' put some clothes on, and give Trevor somefing t' put on too, 'e looks the same size as you. Then come back down 'ere."

The Police Sergeant had a chat with the two mothers, and told them they would do their best to find the missing clothes and bikes. "Can't be far away. Probably some kids just 'avin' a larf."

"I'll give 'em sumfing to larf at, if I gets me 'ands on 'em!" Audrey told him, angrily.

Lizzie nudged Valerie and walked around to the side of the house. "What we gonna do now?" Lizzie had turned quite grey when the policeman came to the house. "That weren't s'posed to 'appen! An' yer 'eard yer mam, she's gonna give us wot for!"

"Just keep yer mouf shut, an' they'll never know." Valerie said, sharply. Secretly, she wasn't at all happy the way things were going. She had to think of something.

"What about the bikes an' clothes? They're still at the church. Oooh, I wish I 'adn't dunnit."

"They'll be OK, specially seein' they're in the graveyard." For a moment, Valerie saw the funny side of it and grinned.

"Wot's so funny?" Lizzie demanded. "I don't think there's much to larf at!"

"No, you never do." Valerie was to wound up to take Lizzie's groaning any more. "Look, it's gonna be alright. Wot can they do ta us? Kill us?"

"Let's go to the church. Jus' ta see if they're still there." Lizzie said quietly.

Valerie sighed loudly, "Come on then."

"We can jus' 'ave a look, don't need t' stop." Lizzie whinged, as she tried to keep up with her friend striding off in front of her.

*****

Father Thomas looked at the clothes tied to the bicycle handlebars, and frowned. "Where on earth did you come from?" he murmured softly. He stood there just looking around. There was no one but him in the graveyard. He untied the clothes and had a look inside. He hoped there would be a name marked in them. There wasn't. "Oh, dear. What to do? What to do?" He carried on looking around, but not moving.

"Father Thomas!"

The voice brought him back from his thoughts. Turning, he saw Mrs Stanstead, waving her hand and coming towards him. "Good afternoon, Mrs Stanstead. Lovely day."

"I was just passing and saw you standing there," Mrs Stanstead wheezed. "Ahh. You found the boys' bikes, I see. That will save the police some time."

"The police? Whose bikes are these, Mrs Stanstead?"

"Reggie's and Trevor's. You haven't heard what happened then?" She happily told him about the mystery of the missing clothes and bikes, and how the boys had to walk almost naked through the village. "We think there are some practical jokers in the village. Would you like me to go and fetch the boys?" Mrs Stanstead would like nothing more than to be the one to tell those rude women that she had found them. "It won't be putting me out at all."

"You are very kind, Mrs Stanstead. That is very neighbourly of you." Father Thomas smiled graciously.

Everything happened at once then. Valerie and Lizzie saw Mrs Stanstead talking to Father Thomas, who was standing by the boys' bikes. They quickly walked back to Valerie's house, and waited. Then Mrs Stanstead came back, and with a smile of satisfaction, told everyone she had found the boys' clothes and their bikes.

Everyone went down to the Church, and the police sergeant took a statement from Father Thomas, who told everyone how he had found them there. This totally upset Mrs Stanstead, after telling everyone she'd found them, but of course she couldn't say anything.

The boys had their clothes and bikes back and were happy again. Valerie and Lizzy just stood back and watched and listened. Their names had not been mentioned, so they hadn't been seen. But what really got up Valerie's nose was the way Reggie and Trevor had been treated like victims of a malicious plot aimed at getting them into trouble.

"He comes up smellin' of bleedin' roses every time." Valerie raged inside.

Chapter 3
Valerie and Reggie 1950 UK

By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

"Wotcha doin'?" Lizzie asked as she walked round to Valerie's back garden.

"Not a lot. I just pegged me mam's washin' on the line. D'ya fancy walking down t' the river with me?" Valerie put the tin bucket down that had held the wet washing. "There ain't much else t' do."

"Yeah." Lizzie was bored and would have gone for any suggestion. Ever since they'd taken Reggie's and Trevor's clothes, and made them walk through the village in their underpants, they had been very careful in case the boys guessed it had been them that did it. "We could go winkling!"

"That's a good idea. I'll ask me mam if I can 'ave a pot t' put 'em in." Valerie dashed into the house. Moments later, she returned, her face wreathed in a bright smile, waving a large pot with its very own lid. "Come on, then!"

The river could be quite dangerous when the tide came in. Although it looked far away, it could creep up on you before you realised it. You have to have your wits about you at all times. That was drummed into the children from an early age.

Today, the sun was beating down and a nice walk would do her good. She'd had a pain in her tummy after eating a sharp apple a couple of days ago. When she mentioned it, Lizzie immediately told her that she had one too. Valerie should have known that was coming. Whatever she had, Lizzie had too. "Come on, let's get goin'. It'll be good if we can fill up this pot."

It was a good 10-minute fast run to the shore, and both girls' faces were beetroot red and sweaty by the time they got there. Valerie walked straight down to the water's edge, and crouching down on her heels, she scooped up several hands full of water, splashing her face and soaking her hair.

"That's better. It ain't arf 'ot today." Valerie grabbed the pot and went over to where Lizzie was already looking for a place where there were lots of winkles. The smile and thumbs up told Valerie she'd found it.

They'd been busy for a while filling the bucket with winkles, when they heard shrieks of laughter coming from a small wooded area that all the kids called the 'jungle'. Turning to look who it was, Valerie frowned when she saw it was her brother Reggie and his mate, Trevor.

"Ignore 'em," Valerie told Lizzie. "We don't want 'em comin' over messin' with us."

Lizzie turned her eyes away, even though she secretly wished they would come over. She had a bit of a crush on Reggie, but wouldn't dare tell Valerie. Her life wouldn't be worth tuppence* if she did.

Valerie continued filling the bucket with winkles. She wanted to fill the big pot up. Her tummy ache was still playing her up, but she wasn't going to give in to it. If she told her mum, she would give her a large dose of syrup of figs. All that would do was keep her sitting on the lav for hours. Anyway, she weren't bunged up. She went this morning.

As she bent forward to get the last of the winkles, an intense, searing pain sliced her insides, completely engulfing her. She doubled over, dropping to her knees, releasing a scream so chilling, those near-by, turned to see what was happening.

Reggie felt the hairs on his head stand up. He turned and stared at Valerie, just in time to see her slump unconscious into the wet boggy water.

"Valerie!" he screamed, and ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. His sister had passed out, and the fear he felt overwhelmed him. "What happened?" he shouted, dropping onto his knees and taking hold of one of Val's hands.

He looked up at Lizzie expecting an answer, but she didn't reply, or move. She stood numb, watching what Reggie was doing. The fear in her eyes was a small reflection of the fear she felt inside. People began running over to see if they could help.

The water was coming in fast. "We need t'get me sister away from the edge," he told them, standing up.

One of the women knelt on the wet muddy sand, ruining her lovely dress. She put her hand on Valerie's forehead. It was hot and clammy.

"We have to get her to the hospital immediately," she said. "Can one of you go over to that pub and get them to ring for an ambulance?"

Two men ran off, and the woman giving the orders looked up at Reggie. "You're right, lad. I don't want to move your sister, but we must.' She looked at the remaining men. "Can one of you, very carefully, lift the child up?"

One came forward. "Aye. Let's get her up to the pathway." He took off his jacket, and very gently wrapped her in it.

Reggie stood back, letting them help his sister. His face was white, he was scared. "She's gonna be alright... Isn't she?" Now, big globules of tears rolled unashamedly down his face as he saw his sister's head loll back.

He glanced across and saw Trevor standing back, watching. "Trev?" he yelled out. "Go 'n' get me mum!"

His friend nodded, turned and ran off. The man carrying the unconscious girl decided to take her into the pub and lay her on one of the cushioned benches.

After that, everything happened fast. Valerie's mother, Audrey, had used her bike, and was soon there, rushing over to her daughter. The ambulance was next on the scene. After a quick examination, Valerie was stretchered away, with her mother going in the ambulance with her. Before they closed the ambulance door, Audrey called over to her son to go and tell his dad who worked at the farm nearby.

Pleased to have something to do, Reggie dashed off, using his mother's cycle. Once on the road, his tears were streaming down his face. All he could think of was Valerie's white face. Was she going to die? Why hadn't he been nicer to her? She can't die!

"Dear God, I know I ain't talked t' you much lately, but please don't take me sister. I promise you I won't be askin' yeh for a new bike again, or anyfing else. If'n you'd just leave me sister here. In case yeh didn't know it, I'll be doin' yeh a big favour. You don't know what she's like, 'onest! She'd make such a racket up there; you'd get lots of 'eadaches! She'd be best off stayin' wiv me!"

At the farm, Reggie dropped the bike and raced over to where his dad was working, shouting his name as he ran.

"Wot's all the noise ... Wot's up?" Then he saw Reggie's tear-stained face, and dropped his hoe and rushed towards him. He grabbed his son's arms and held him away from him. "Come on, lad, it can't be that bad," he said, but already knew it must be if Reggie was crying.

"I fink Val's gonna die! She screamed so loud an' dropped like a rock. She wouldn't wake up, Dad!"

Mr Thwaites felt his heart twist. "Slow down, and tell me everything. Where's yer sister now? Where's yer mam?"

As they rushed over to the old van his dad used, Reggie told him what he'd seen and heard. His father took a deep breath and tried to get control of his thoughts. "Okay, I'll drop you off at home an' then I'll go to the hospital."

"No! Dad, I wanna come wiv yeh. I've got t' see her. Please Dad."

Mr Thwaites studied his son's face. He'd never seen him this upset before, especially when it was about his sister. "Okay. Get in."

*****

When Reggie and his father arrived at the hospital, the first person they saw was Audrey. Mr Thwaites rushed up to his wife, and pulled her into his arms. "Any news?"

Audrey took in Reggie's worried face, and told Sam what the doctors had said.

"Valerie's appendix burst, it's touch 'n go." Audrey started sobbing. "She must've had such a bad pain in her tummy fer ages. Why didn't she say somethin'?"

There was no answer to that question.

"Where is she now?" Sam appeared to have aged ten years in the last few minutes.

"She's still in the operatin' room." Audrey gave another shuddering sob. "She's been in there fer ages!"

Reggie moved closer to his mum. "She ain't gonna die, is she?" His eyes flicked from his mum to his dad, pleading with them to say Valerie would be alright.

His mum pulled him into her arms, and stroked his hair back off his forehead. "It's all in God's hands now, luv."

It was another two hours before the surgeon came out to speak to them. He looked drained, but gave them a smile, which the family took as good news.

"Your daughter has come through surgery, but now it's a waiting game. She is a very lucky young girl. Had she not been brought here immediately, it might have been a very different story." He reached out and put a hand on Audrey's arm. "You can go and see her for a few minutes, but she's still sleeping the anesthetic off. It might be a day or two before she comes out of it completely. Your daughter was a very ill young lady."

After the doctor had moved on, the family were taken to where Valerie was in recovery. Without any warning, they walked into the room and stood facing their daughter wired up to monitors. Her face was chalk white. Reggie stood back, watching his parents go over and kiss their daughter. He could feel the tears welling, and turned away.

*****

The following morning, Reggie cycled to the hospital on his own to see if his sister was awake yet. When he walked up to the reception area and asked to see her, the lady told him it wasn't visiting time yet.

Reggie pleaded with her to let him see Valerie. "I 'ave t' see her! Please. I won't stay long."

Just at that moment, the doctor they had seen yesterday walked along the corridor, and stopped when he reached the reception area. He gave Reggie a quizzical look, then looked at the receptionist.

"This young man wants to see his sister. I told him it's not visiting time."

The doctor looked at the clock on the wall. "I think we can make an exception. You mustn't tell anyone, or we'll be inundated with people wanting to come in early." He smiled, taking the edge off his words.

Reggie was nodding his head, his eyes sparkled. "I promise not to say anything."

"Come along then, I'll take you to her room."

Reggie grinned at the lady behind the desk, and she shook her head and smiled.

Valerie didn't look much different to how she looked the previous day. Reggie looked up at the doctor.

"It's early days, so don't start worrying. I'll let you have half an hour. Okay?"

Reggie nodded, then went over to the bedside. He bent over and kissed her; confident she'd never know. Then he pulled a chair up and sat, taking hold of her hand. He studied her face. She looked pretty as she slept, not frowning, or in a temper with him.

"Look Val, I just want t' say sorry fer all the times I was 'orrible t' yer. I won't be anymore. But only if yeh wake up an' come 'ome." He looked closer to see if her eyes or mouth moved. Neither did. He took a deep breath.

"It ain't the same wivout yeh at 'ome. It's too bleedin' quiet! Mum is moochin' around tryin' t' look busy, but really she ain't doin' nuthin'. An' Dad? He didn't go t' work this mornin'. I can't bear it, it's 'orrible without yer." He stared at her again, still nothing.

"Look, it ain't somefin' brothers say to their sisters, but ..." He took another deep breath. "But ... look ... Are yeh sure yer still unconscious?" No movement convinced him she was. "Well, fing is, I luv yeh, see? An' I don't wanna lose yeh. Please wake up, Val!" He squeezed her hand, and stroked it with his thumb.

Tears were pouring down his face. For once, he wouldn't mind if she woke up and saw him. He could always deny it later. But she had to wake up first.

"Will ya write all that down fer me?" Val's voice was croaky.

Reggie's head snapped up. He saw her lips move very slightly into the tiniest smile, and her eyes were trying hard to open.

"Me mouth is so dry."

Reggie quickly put a small amount of water in the glass they'd left beside her. Then, lifting her head to rest on his arm, he gently put the cup to her lips.

"Careful now. Just a sip at a time."

Valerie's eyes were wide open now. "What 'appened t' me? Where am I?"

Reggie told her all that had happened and how he came in early to see her. "Mum 'n Dad'll be 'ere soon," he told her. His face was wreathed with smiles. "Don't yeh ever do that t' us again! Yeh 'ear?"

Val just smiled. In a weird way, she had just got him back for locking her in the outside lav. Her smile grew.

Author Notes *Tuppence.. two old pennies before we went decimal.

I was asked when I would post part three of this story. It's been almost ready for quite a while, but I had no energy or inclination to check it over. But, here it is. I hope you like the ending.

I don't know when I'll post the next Gerome Giraffe, I can't get my head in gear at the moment. Thank you for reading this one. xxx

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