19. Polar Bear's Request
The next morning we, once again, woke up at five hundred hours. We were told we were going to be learning how to drive the army jeeps. I had to say that I was incredibly nervous about this. I wasn't able to pass my regular, civilian driving test never mind driving on all terrains. I didn't say as much as I refused to admit to that fact. We were once again being split up into groups. This time it was three groups of three units. The sergeant was taking A Unit, D Unit, and I Unit where they would be doing parachute jumping.
Then there was Eagle who usually just remained with his guns. But today he was taking C Unit, F Unit, and N Unit was going to teach them about hostage situations. I wondered what he knew about hostage situations. That was until I realized that I along with the rest of my unit, M Unit, and R Unit was going to be taught to drive by my father. And Dad knew I couldn't drive. This was not going to be fun. I wanted to ask if the others knew how to drive. But I couldn't just ask them if they could drive straight out like that.
"So driving the jeeps?" I asked, "Never done that before.:"
"Me neither," Dog agreed. "I usually take the cabs."
"My driver takes me," added Bat.
I rolled my eyes, of course Bat had a driver. I considered asking him whether he had someone to dress him too ,but thought better of it. Before Mum had died she had drilled manners into me. She had claimed that she didn't want me to end up like my father. Dad always protested saying that he could be polite. Mum retorted that could and was, were not the same thing. Mum and Dad always bickered like that. I had no idea how two such different people could end up together. Mum was the vet who saved lives whilst Dad was the dangerous spy who killed people.
"Well, at least I can drive," growled Polar Bear.
"I can't," I said. "I've failed my driving test three times."
"Ouch," Dog winced in sympathy, "No luck."
"Tell me about it," I murmured.
We headed up to the rough terrain driving range with obstacles like cones around. I could see that Dad was already standing there already looking as usual completely calm and emotionless. There were nine of the vehicles behind him. I was not looking forward to driving them. I was feeling more and more nervous as the time went on. I wondered if anyone else was. I could see Dog and Bat were. I looked around to see if anyone else was as nervous as Dog, Bat and I. A couple of M Unit looked nervous but none of R Unit.
"Pair up,' Dad ordered. "One who can drive and one, who cannot,' Dad told us. "And I know who can and cannot so don't try to trick me. I will not be pairing you up. You're supposedly tough enough to be in the SAS," here Dad sneered.
He looked as though he didn't think we were up to joining the ranks of the SAS. I have to tell you that hurt a lot coming from my father. I could remember so many times when I had felt like giving up only continuing going after encouragement from my father to keep persevering. I remembered when I was nineteen and I decided to do the marathon. It was before I had joined the army and even with a life time of fitness enforced from me from my father the training for the marathon had been hard.
One night after a particular hard training session with my group I decided to just give up. I decided I couldn't do it and I wasn't going to try. I dropped my training kit at the door and headed to kitchen that hadn't changed since I was a child. I slumped, tiredly into a table not even bothering working up the energy to get a drink a cup of coffee or tea or water or energy drink or whatever. I put my head into my hands. Unknown to me my Dad had followed me into the room. Dad could walk without making a sense which was a given as he was a spy who could be killed if he was discovered.
"John," Dad said.
"Mmmh," I had murmured into the table.
Dad had laughed at this, "Hey what's my marathon runner doing making nonsensical noises like that."
"Not," I had murmured.
"You are," Dad had retorted.
"I can't do it," I murmured.
"I don't believe in the word can't," Dad had said, "I believe in the word won't of course, but not the word can't."
"It's too hard," I had retorted.
"Are you really going to let this beat you?" Dad had asked. "Or are you going to push through and show everyone you can do it. You're as stubborn as me and Carrie I know you won't give up. Anyway I know you can do it."
And do it I did. I did fairly well for a first timer. I improved my times over the next few years. I didn't do it for the last two years having been off fighting at the time. I realized that Dad was a lot harsher at work rather at home and he wasn't getting personally at me. But it still hurt. I looked around to see a lot of disgruntled faces at this pronouncement of our ineptitude coming from Cub. I think I was the one hit the hardest by the comment. Polar Bear was scowling obviously about as happy as I was with the pronouncement.
"I'm not going to partner you up like a couple of girl guides," Dad growled. "Now to it," Dad ordered.
Bat, Dog and I looked at each other. We had a unit four with only one person who could drive. That wouldn't be too much of an issue on the field if Dog looked after us. But we weren't sure who would end up with Polar Bear. I guessed it wouldn't be with Bat as Polar Bear took offense to everything Bat did and Bat was terrified of Polar Bear. Polar Bear and I got on fairly well and Dog was the kind of guy that ever Polar Bear couldn't hold a grudge against for any length of time. The three of us all turned to Polar Bear.
"Tiger, come on," growled Polar Bear.
I shrugged at the other two not completely surprised that I had been chosen by Polar Bear. I just hoped that his opinion of me didn't plummet because I couldn't drive. I knew that Polar Bear didn't show anyone he considered below his expectations as worthy of his attention. And unfortunately for Bat he felt that Bat wasn't worth it. Or maybe it was jealously. I didn't know much about Bat's personal life but I guessed that it wasn't as full of wealth and riches as Bat's. But who was. I knew nobody at my private school with wealth like Bat.
"Polar Bear are you jealous of Bat's wealth?" I asked.
"No," growled Polar Bear.
"Because no one's got wealth like Bat," I said. "And I went to private school," I began.
"Well bully for you,' growled Polar Bear.
"I think it's because Dad feels it was safest," I said. "I guess that we're always targets."
"At least you know who your parents are," growled Polar Bear.
"You don't?" I asked.
"Orphanage from when I was six," growled Polar Bear. "Turned up in Edinburgh covered in scars."
"Your family?" I said.
"Must be," growled Polar Bear. "I just remember being locked in a room."
"I'm sorry," I said sincerely.
"You didn't torture me," Polar Bear growled in response.
"I know," I replied.
I sighed. Polar Bear must have been alone for a long time, I guessed. That was probably why he was so harsh and why he didn't let people in easily and was jealous of Bat. He had grown up with no one and nothing whilst Bat had grown up with everything. Then there was the fact that Bat rejected his family for some reason that he hadn't yet told us. I had a feeling that Bat had as much family troubles as Polar Bear had. Maybe I could get Dad to find out about Polar Bear; if Polar Bear wanted his past researched.
"Do you want Dad to try and find out who your family was?" I asked.
"Why?" growled Polar Bear.
"Friends help each other," I replied.
"Friends?" asked Polar Bear in surprise.
I shrugged, "Yeah."
"Ask him," growled Polar Bear.
"After this," I said.
"And Tiger, thanks," Polar Bear said.
"No problem," I smiled.
I had a feeling that this would strengthen our relationship. Out of all the people in the Unit Polar Bear was the person I wanted to continue working with if we got into the SAS. I liked Dog and Bat well enough but I had to say that it was Polar Bear who was the most interesting character in our unit. I was the only one who seemed to think that or maybe that was just because his character was quite similar to my father. He was only about five years younger than Dad anyway. It was funny to think I was training with someone close to Dad's age.
I glanced back to see where Dog and Bat were. Dog had ended up with Kingsnake or R Unit. I didn't know the tall, older blonde at all but apparently the two were deep in conversation about something. I didn't think they looked like they had anything in common. They certainly didn't look anything a like but then again the same could be said about Polar Bear and I. I turned my attention away from Dog looking for Bat. I hoped that Bat wasn't being pompous and making it difficult to find a partner.
Bat too was with a member of R Unit. Bat was with the leader Stag. Stag was looking calm and didn't look upset at Bat's attitude. That was good all things considering. Polar Bear and I were waiting for the last two to – Ox and Otter – to get together. Being the last two they had to end up together. Then we waited to be told what to do. Ox and Otter too stood. We then all quieted down and waited for Dad to give us our instructions. Dad looked around glad that we were all together. He looked and nodded obviously us non drivers had all managed to get into partners with a driver.
"I want you to man the course," Dad said. "I want everyone to be able to do the course by breakfast. Get to it," Dad ordered.
Polar Bear and I got into the closest jeep. Polar Bear was in the driving seat. I watched him nervously. I really hated being unable to drive. I hoped that Polar Bear wouldn't explain what he was doing. I knew the theory of driving just not the practice. I was awful at parking and turning and staying within the speed limit and checking the mirrors. I knew I would be able to do it if I was the only one on the road but unfortunately as I lived in London that was never possible. Polar Bear started out course.
Polar Bear completed the course without so much as a hitch. I did more or less the same even if I skidded when we parked and messed up the U-turn. I really hated U-turns but I hadn't managed to crash the jeep like Terrier. Dad had to pull both him and Mouse out luckily neither had been badly hurt – a few scrapes and bruises. Dad had lectured them icily for about half an hour afterward. Then he made Terrier do the course all over again with a saying of "practice makes perfect". I had no chance to talk to Dad about Polar Bear because we were dismissed quickly.
What do you think of Polar Bear's back story? Was his latest revelation still in character? I have plans of where to go from there. Please review.