Scott
8th February
Well, the proverbial has hit the fan now, and that's for sure. This morning Dad had gone down to Thunderbird 2's hangar with Virgil and Brains to discuss some modifications, leaving me in charge in the lounge, so I took the opportunity to call John. His first question was to ask after Elizabeth
I told him that she had worked out who I was. When I went to see her yesterday her first comment was 'It must be cold in the North Sea at this time of year'. I can't say I'm surprised I thought she'd work it out eventually: she's pretty bright. He asked what I was going to do now.
Then I heard Dad's voice saying, "He's going to start by telling his father what the heck is going on" and I turned to see my father standing in the doorway, wearing the expression that means someone is in Big Trouble.. He'd come back to get some plans and had heard enough to realise that something was up. He broke the link with John, then proceeded to give me the sort of rollicking I hadn't had since I was a teenager (and come to think of it, that one had been over a girl as well). OK, I know I've broken one of our strictest rules, but when he started to say things like 'jeopardising the secrecy of the organisation' I felt I had to defend myself. I hadn't told her anything, I protested. She'd been all alone, and she'd needed me. If I never went to see her again, then all she would know was my name - she didn't even know what I looked like.
To which Dad replied "Are you willing to do that - never see her again?" and I said "No! - that's the last thing in the world I want to do." Then I heard myself saying "It's all right for Alan - he's had his own girl lined up since they were both knee high, but what are the rest of us supposed to do? We're all going to meet a girl we want to settle down with eventually!"
That seemed to halt him in his tracks. '"You're serious about this girl? You want to marry her?"
"Yes," I replied, only realising as I said it that that was the truth.
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It's now nearly midnight and I've come to a decision. I'm flying out to the hospital tomorrow morning and I'm going to tell Elizabeth how I feel about her. I don't know why it's taken me so long to realise that she's everything I ever wanted in a girl - beautiful, charming, intelligent, funny - I'm not usually that slow on the uptake. I just know that when I'm in her company. I feel more alive than I do at any other time - except possibly when I'm flying Thunderbird 1 - and I know that I want her by my side for the rest of my life.
Should I ask her tomorrow if she'll marry me? Is it fair to ask her now, before she even knows what I look like? I know I'm not exactly unattractive to the opposite sex, but it's asking her to take a lot on trust. Suppose she doesn't like what she sees when the bandages come off? Suppose she turns me down? I'm pretty sure she feels something for me, but what if I'm wrong?
Have I got the right to ask her to share the life I lead - the isolation, the secrecy, the constant danger? What if she doesn't like my family? (and much as I love them, even I can find them irritating at times) What if they don't like her?
God, I haven't felt this nervous since I took off for my first rescue mission to save the Fireflash.
Still, one good thing - at least I can stop writing this damn diary now.
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8th February
Well, the proverbial has hit the fan now, and that's for sure. This morning Dad had gone down to Thunderbird 2's hangar with Virgil and Brains to discuss some modifications, leaving me in charge in the lounge, so I took the opportunity to call John. His first question was to ask after Elizabeth
I told him that she had worked out who I was. When I went to see her yesterday her first comment was 'It must be cold in the North Sea at this time of year'. I can't say I'm surprised I thought she'd work it out eventually: she's pretty bright. He asked what I was going to do now.
Then I heard Dad's voice saying, "He's going to start by telling his father what the heck is going on" and I turned to see my father standing in the doorway, wearing the expression that means someone is in Big Trouble.. He'd come back to get some plans and had heard enough to realise that something was up. He broke the link with John, then proceeded to give me the sort of rollicking I hadn't had since I was a teenager (and come to think of it, that one had been over a girl as well). OK, I know I've broken one of our strictest rules, but when he started to say things like 'jeopardising the secrecy of the organisation' I felt I had to defend myself. I hadn't told her anything, I protested. She'd been all alone, and she'd needed me. If I never went to see her again, then all she would know was my name - she didn't even know what I looked like.
To which Dad replied "Are you willing to do that - never see her again?" and I said "No! - that's the last thing in the world I want to do." Then I heard myself saying "It's all right for Alan - he's had his own girl lined up since they were both knee high, but what are the rest of us supposed to do? We're all going to meet a girl we want to settle down with eventually!"
That seemed to halt him in his tracks. '"You're serious about this girl? You want to marry her?"
"Yes," I replied, only realising as I said it that that was the truth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
It's now nearly midnight and I've come to a decision. I'm flying out to the hospital tomorrow morning and I'm going to tell Elizabeth how I feel about her. I don't know why it's taken me so long to realise that she's everything I ever wanted in a girl - beautiful, charming, intelligent, funny - I'm not usually that slow on the uptake. I just know that when I'm in her company. I feel more alive than I do at any other time - except possibly when I'm flying Thunderbird 1 - and I know that I want her by my side for the rest of my life.
Should I ask her tomorrow if she'll marry me? Is it fair to ask her now, before she even knows what I look like? I know I'm not exactly unattractive to the opposite sex, but it's asking her to take a lot on trust. Suppose she doesn't like what she sees when the bandages come off? Suppose she turns me down? I'm pretty sure she feels something for me, but what if I'm wrong?
Have I got the right to ask her to share the life I lead - the isolation, the secrecy, the constant danger? What if she doesn't like my family? (and much as I love them, even I can find them irritating at times) What if they don't like her?
God, I haven't felt this nervous since I took off for my first rescue mission to save the Fireflash.
Still, one good thing - at least I can stop writing this damn diary now.
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