Scraps’

 ‘We had a ball at your party  ….  ‘ I wrote:  I hesitated:  I remembered.

 It was John’s fortieth and his new ‘girlfriend’… well ‘ladyfriend’ … had devised a surprise party. We all gathered at the Plough Inn a 2pm, and entered the entertainment room – a very large room created from the adjoining barn which was something of a landmark in the village.

 We were under ‘pain of death’ to be silent.

 As John was an honorary member of the Hamily Veterans Rugby Team, they had all been invited and ‘quiet’ was becoming impossible. Soon we were playing a game of touch rugby on the dance floor. It was alright whilst we were throwing a crumbled bit of tissue around, but Eric produced, from somewhere, a small rugby ball. Chaos reigned. At 2.15 we were herded into a corner by John’s Aunt Freda, who was not pleased and told us to keep quiet.

 At 2.30, out of the rain, John and Jackie arrived. “Surprise” we all shouted as one and John was gob smacked. His eyes filled and for a time be blustered words like ‘but you’re in London’ – ‘what are you doing here?’ and to Jackie who was guiding him round with an equally stupid grin on her face ‘I hate you – you know I don’t like parties’.

He moved between the family, which had gathered, and the Rugby team who were now singing, thanking everyone for the gifts, when the large doors opened and a ‘courier’ brought in a huge box. John moved to the box. It was for him, from Jackie. He opened the box and the head of a Golden Retriever puppy emerged – ears wiggling. 

That was it. Tears flowed. It was his dream present. Since his freak accident on the rugby field he had been confined to a wheelchair and had wanted a dog to take for walks - well wheels - along the numerous paths in the country where he lived. The dog jumped out and then seeing the cheering crowd, became frightened and, amazingly, ran straight to John and jumped on his knee.

 The party began in earnest whilst ‘Scraps’ - rather than Percival Sir Goneril Blythe the Second - slept in contentment on John’s knee.

 I smiled in remembrance.

 I looked down.

 ‘We had a ball at your party … ‘I continued. ‘Would you see if it’s rolled under the table?’

 RogerT