Jackanory - Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

It was in the area of Wezham that the cab driver dropped them off as
Buck had asked for cheap and sparse lodgings to be in amongst the
working class people. It was in a cold and damp room above Mrs Miggins
pie shop that Buck and Conny found themselves once again huddled up to
each other just to keep warm. They stared into each others eyes - "It's
just like the groundskeepers shed we used to stay in" Conny said, and
they both laughed. "My God" thought Buck "What have we come to?"

_

Not too far away in a large and celestial place of worship stood a
staunch and upright minister called the Reverend Mark Maisley. A tall
dark and domineering man whose faith was steadfast, resolute and
committed into collecting all the stray unbelievers into his flock.
"His little sheep" as he called them - and boy did they need rounding
up. He bellowed out his sermon on most Sundays with a deep and booming
voice - "Beware the evils of man, the temptations of the flesh - Follow
the Lord, follow Me and you Will be saved".

Just a bit too scary for some of the younger members of the
congregation as they slid down in the pew out of his sight. It may have
been the loud and booming voice of hell and damnation that frightened
them but it was more likely to be the eyebrows. They were huge, they
were massive like unkempt hedge rows swaying in the wind. I'm sure that
there must have been a family of sparrows nesting in one of them. And
those knife-like eyes that seemed to pierce your very soul - you would
freeze to the very spot frightened to move because he was talking to
you. Don't look away now.

There was one such person who loved to look longingly into his eyes
however and that was his housekeeper/concubine. She made sure that his
suits were neatly starched, pressed and ready to slip into as she was.
Public life however demanded that they live in different parts of the
large house in the grounds of the church. Her in the East Wing and him
in the prominent part of the house, although as the evenings ended
their clandestine liaisons were held behind closed doors. A man of the
cloth and a former lap dancer - definitely a secret that must be
kept.

_

As Buck woke the next day on Christmas morning he stroked her brow and
kissed her moist lips. She stirred, smiled and opened her eyes to find
the love of her life staring down at her. "Merry Christmas babe" he
whispered into her ear. "I love you" she replied. As Buck fell into her
arms and their bodies entwined in passion, they became one. Engrossed
in each other and oblivious to the outside world they lay embraced
together as the snow gently fell to make it a white Christmas. Buck
knew in his heart that the Lord had blessed their union, but not with
children. "Surely He must have another purpose for us" he thought. They
had tried for many years to start a family but the fruits of their
loins were not rewarded. This may he thought have been due to the fact
that Connie still drank quite heavily at times. It wasn't quite as bad
as when they both first met but none the less she did tend to binge
drink on occasions.

As the years had passed them by Buck had managed to overcome his
drinking habit and focus his mind on a more salubrious and respectable
lifestyle. Connie from the outside had cleaned up her act and seemed to
be the respectful minister's wife but "behind closed doors" as they
say, the dark side of her nature still lurked. Spirits may have reigned
in the church but in the house it was only the bottled kind that took
part. Even at public functions she carried a small silver hip flask for
that quick secret swig in the ladies powder room.

Christmas came and went - New Year followed and the damp and dismal
months of January, February and March dragged by. These months were
hard for Buck and Connie but they had found a little mission hall
opposite their lodgings at No 4 Melton Road. Mrs Miggins pie shop had
to be closed down due to rat infestation so Buck rented the bottom half
of the house as well to use as his headquarters. Whilst Buck was busy
renovating the hall to be a habitable abode for the new gospel hall
Connie was out talking to the locals trying to convert people to their
mission. It was hard work but she had made a friend call Krys, a tall
dark haired woman who like Connie loved to party and binge drink on
occasions. Most of all Connie loved her little boy Ned - a bonny little
lad with the cutest smile.

As the months went on and the long summer evenings arrived Connie and
Krys were often found out on the town, in and out of the local pubs and
clubs. Buck however was hard at work and his new gospel hall started to
fill out with people as the new members of "The Church of Green
Pastures for Spiritual Enlightenment" took their seats. Numbers of this
new cult had trebled in as many weeks as people liked to party, sing,
have a good time with some meaning to their drab lives.

_

The Reverend Maisley stood high up in his pulpit and looked down on the
meagre amount of people that sat before him in his congregation. He
knew all to well where the rest had gone to. Around the corner to the
blasphemers hall - like lambs to the slaughter. He had to do something
about this desertion of faith from his flock. They may have only been
sheep but they were easily led. This would mean some drastic measures
would have to be taken.

Richard the Lionheart had had his Holy War in centuries past and if
this meant that Reverend Maisley needed to fight to save his Church
from extinction then he would do all in his powers to destroy all and
any invaders that threatened his way of life. His cousin Jack who lived
in Wellord would be the answer. As Mark and Jack had fallen out over a
family feud some years ago perhaps it was time to mend some bridges and
at the same time put Jack and his thugs to some use.