Chapter 17

James scrutinised his new charges with an appraising eye. They were young, very young and at least one looked as if he was about to cry.

"What am I going to do with you lot?" He asked.

A figure at the end of the line raised a hand and let out an 'oh, oh, oh' sound.

"Yes?" Said James

"Can we play mummies and daddies?"

The rest of the line groaned

"Oh that's booooring" moaned the eldest boy. Josh was his name and he was nine. His two brothers, Lenny (five) and Jake (three) nodded emphatically in agreement whilst Rosie their sister (seven) huffed and stamped her foot petulantly.

James scratched his head. Events had certainly taken an unexpected turn. The last thing he had anticipated was to end up being in sole charge of Molly's younger siblings.

Lenny now had his hand up "Mr Bossman, why are you doing that funny thing with your tongue? When Thomas Millet does that at school we have to tell teacher 'cos it means he needs his medicine. Do you need your medicine now?"

"No, it doesn't mean I need medicine, it means I am thinking." Said James defensively "And you don't have to call me Mr Bossman, you can call me Charles if you like"

"But Molly says that makes you sound a bit poncy and stuck up" said Josh with a smile.

"Does she? What does she call me then" asked James curiously

"Sexy bum!" They all shouted and wiggled their bottoms whilst laughing uproariously.

James smiled "ok, ok settle down. We need something to keep you occupied until your parents come back..."

James racked his brains. Despite having a son of his own, he was not that experienced at keeping kids occupied. Four tours of Afghan and various other deployments meant that he had spent a lot less time with Sam than he had wanted. It was something he regretted deeply and resolved to make amends at the first opportunity.

"Ok, how about the park?" He said.

"Yer!" Came the shouted response.

"Right, coats and shoes on, oh and Josh, go to the toilet, you have been jiggling around like a lunatic for the past five minutes"

The kids ran from the room shouting. James shook his head and reflected on the days events. It had all started off so well. He and Molly had travelled across London from the hotel they had stayed in after the wedding and arrived at Rochford Close around mid morning.

Molly had seemed nervous so James gave her a reassuring squeeze of the hand as they mounted the stairs. On entering her home they were met with a chaotic scene, including children running up and down the stairs and Molly's mum Belinda shouting from the front room:

"Dave if you don't take those creased trousers off, so help me I'll iron them while you are still in them, and you know what happened last time I tried that, I couldn't get rid of the smell of singed pubes from the place for... Oh hello love...!"

Belinda had put the iron down and came out from behind the ironing board. "We weren't expecting you for a bit. You must be Charles, it's lovely to meet you"

At that point Molly's dad had come hopping into the room, half out of a pair of trousers and with Union Jack Y fronts in full view " all right woman, I don't know what all the fuss is about, I'm sure Major La-di-da won't be inspecting my...oh, alright Moll"

There was an awkward silence as they all stared at each other and scrupulously avoided looking at Dave's patriotic underwear.

"It's very nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Dawes" said James "I'm sorry we seem to have arrived at an...in opportune time"

"Oh don't worry. Sit down while I put this ironing board away." Then to her husband in an undertone "put your trousers on will you, I think we've all seen enough of your pants"

Dave finished dressing then stood nervously by the door. "Get across town alright?"

"Yes, tube was fine" said Molly.

"Ere Molly put the kettle on would you?" Called Belinda from the next floor, then to the children on the stairs "your sister and her fella are here, go and say hello"

There was the sound of running feet in the hall and four children of varying ages and heights appeared in the doorway. They hovered shyly then the smallest said "hello".

James smiled and said "hello" back which was the signal for them all to turn around and charge up the stairs again.

Molly shook her head and got up to make the tea. "Where's Bella?" She asked her dad.

"Up in her room. She's been in there all morning getting ready"

Molly walked passed him into the hallway. "Bella, what you up to?"

"Nothin'" came the response from above. Then footsteps were heard on the stairs and Bella had walked in dressed in the shortest of skirts and heavily made up. "Hello, you must be Charles" she said extending her hand in a very coquettish way.

James got up and took it "hello Bella, nice to meet you"

Dave looked his daughter up and down "blimey, he said. I hope you're not going out like that. You look like you're on the game!"

"Oh shut up dad!" Shouted Bella and flounced from the room.

Dave looked at James and shook his head "Daughters hey?"

James smiled. Then silence fell.

James had looked around the room then looked at Dave and smiled again.

"Sooo, you been to a match recently?" He had asked nodding in the direction of the nearby stadium.

"No, can't afford it. You a football fan?"

"No, not really... Rugby man myself"

"Oh..."

"You like rugby?"

"No..."

"Oh..."

Silence had fallen again. The clock had ticked on the wall.

"Tea up" said Molly walking in with two steaming mugs. "What you two been talking about?"

"Oh this and that" said Dave.

Just then the phone had rung in the hallway and Belinda had run down the stairs to answer it.

"Hello..., Mum where are you?...oh bloody hell! Ok we'll get there as soon as we can"

Belinda had looked flustered as she came into the living room.

"Everything alright mum?" Asked Molly

"No it's your Nan. She's been caught out with some moody food again and she's having a bit of trouble" said Belinda with a meaningful stare. "She needs some help getting home from the place they have taken her..."

Molly looked at James who had taken her hand reassuringly. "Food poisoning can be a nasty business. Go with your mum. I'll be fine here for a little while"

"Errr, ok" responded Molly uncertainly.

"You need me?" Said Dave hopefully.

"How are you going to be any help where Nan is?" Molly asked

"Fair point" said Dave after a moments consideration.

Molly had given James a quick peck on the cheek saying "I'll text you when I know what's going on" then her and Belinda had gone.

Dave and James had sat in the front room again...

"So what you up to now, in the Army I mean" said Dave after a while.

"Oh, this and that" responded James

"I understand, bit hush hush" said Dave touching his nose. "If you told me you'd have to kill me, right?"

"Probably" said James

Dave had laughed a little nervously then fell silent...

Just then footsteps were heard on the stairs.

"Is that you Bella?" Said Dave getting up and walking into the hallway. "I thought I told you to change? You want to be careful girl 'cos cold sores ain't the half of it if you're not careful!"

"Whatever" said Bella and the front door had slammed shut, immediately followed by the shouting of the younger siblings as they stampeded down the stairs.

"Oh great" said Dave " stuck with the baby sitting"

Just then the house phone had rung again and Dave went to answer it "'ello?, oh 'ello mate. Yer, yer. Oh ya jokin' aren't ya? Hang on"

Dave had put the phone down and popped his head around the front room door.

"Ere, Charles, you wouldn't mind if I popped out quickly. It's just that a umm...business associate of mine has asked for an urgent meeting up at the Central...err labour exchange"

"Oh well that does sound important...sure no worries I'll be..."

"There in five" said Dave to his friend and had put the phone down "bye" he shouted and the front door slammed again.

"O-Kay" said James to himself. He had then spotted four small faces staring at him from different heights around the door frame.

"Right you lot let's have you in a line in front of me" he had said...

James surveyed the scrum at the bottom of the stairs as four children tried to put coats and shoes on at the same time in a limited space.

Lenny came groping towards him a jumper half pulled over his head. "I'm stuck, help!" He yelled.

James bent down and pulled it all the way down "there you go. Josh, can you help Jake with his shoes he can't go out with a welly on one foot and a sandal on the other . Rosie, yes you can take your pushchair but you're going to have to leave your dolls house here. Right, everyone ready? Then let's go"

Jake laughed like a drain at this and pointed at James "Daddy Pig!"

They trooped out the door, along the passage and down the stairs. According to Josh the nearest open space was just around the corner and sure enough the gates of the park came into view after only a few minutes. Just as they reached them Molly's muffled voice was heard issuing from James' pocket:

"Sometimes I don't know how I'm able to keep my hands off you"

James put his hand in his pocket and dragged out his phone. Rosie looked over "have you got Molly in your pocket?"

James smiled "no it's just my new text alert" he looked at the screen and then typed a quick message. "right you lot, your mum and sister will be back in half an hour so let's sprint the last 50 metres to the swings!"

The kids charged ahead and they were all soon at the play equipment. Lenny then started running around in circles shouting "aaaargh! I need to go to the toilet, emergency, emergency!"

"Well there's nothing like giving me some notice" said James grimacing "come with me" and he led him over to some nearby bushes.

"Go on then, and make sure you don't pee on your shoes"

Lenny did as he was told and just as he was finishing a rustling sound was heard coming from deep within the bushes. Moments later there was a groaning sound and a figure erupted from the thicket in a long tatty coat. James glimpsed the bloodshot eyes and moved like lightening, impelled by pure instinct.

Grabbing a wrist he twisted and flung the shambling figure over his shoulder then grabbing a large stone went to drive it into the skull of the prone man.

"Sorry gov'ner didn't mean nothing!" Gibbered the would be assailant.

James stayed his hand just in time and, keeping his grip on the man, looked around at the kids. They were all staring at him open mouthed.

"Wow, that was soooo cool" said Josh "like a Ninja!"

Lenny walked over and looked down at the man " its Terry the tramp" he said "hello Terry"

"Shazza says you shouldn't call him that" scolded Rosie "he is a victim of a dysfunctional housing benefit system"

James helped the man up. "Sorry... I thought you were a, a... never mind"

"Not to worry mate. No harm done!" And the man shuffled off.

James watched him go then turned back to the kids. "Right who wants to go down the slide?..."

Twenty minutes later Molly and Belinda arrived.

"How's your Nan?" Asked James

"Fine, let off with a caution" said Molly

"Sorry?" Said James confused

"Errr, by the doctor. You know, warned her about checking the use by date before eating anything" explained a flustered Molly

"Oh, right. Anyway what say I treat everyone to lunch. I understand there is a Wimpey on the Barking Road"

"How did you know that?" Asked Belinda puzzled

"Oh I must have heard it on the telly" said James...

At the same time on a golf course in Surrey an overweight, middle aged man walked up one of the fairways of a very expensive golf club. He stopped suddenly as his phone started to ring. Checking the screen first he took the call:

"Yes Rupert? Ok...ok...yes...I understand"

Hanging up the man then tapped in a number and waited while it rang.

"General Collins please...Jack? Its Bertie, I need a favour..."