The Boy I Love (5 page)

Sally had thought hard about all this, and decided it was natural to feel territorial. She and Dora were very close and rarely argued, but they had never lived together since school, and
certainly never worked together in such a closed environment. Sally knew from her drama-school days just how insular actors could be. They were very cliquey, and could make outsiders feel very
uncomfortable. She would obviously ensure that Dora did
not
feel like an outsider – but she could only do that successfully if she was in control of her own surroundings. By the time
Dora arrived, Sally hoped, she would be Queen of all she surveyed . . .

Sally was determined to catch up with her best friend from school while she was at home. Muriel McKinney was a teacher in a school for handicapped children, and Sally admired
her enormously. She was a rare and special person. The response to her telephone call was immediate and excited.

‘Sally! How fantastic to hear your voice. Where are you? How are you?’ Muriel screamed down the phone.

Sally couldn’t help laughing. ‘God, Muriel, that voice could launch a thousand tugs! I am home for two or three weeks so we have to have a catch-up. When is a good time for
you?’

‘Oh, there is so much to talk about. I am getting married in December,’ her friend announced out of the blue.

‘Well, that has shut me up for a start. Married? How long have you known the guy? You haven’t mentioned him to me.’ Sally was taken aback. It only seemed like a few weeks ago
that she had been talking to Muriel and discussing a girls’ night out.

‘Sally, you are hopeless! We have not spoken for months. I feel terrible that I have not been in touch to keep you posted, but you know what it’s like with work and everything. His
name is Dave and he is a folk singer with a band. In fact, he is doing a gig on Saturday night at the Hen and Chickens – remember where we always used to go? Well, he will be there doing his
bit, so why not come with me and Mack. You remember Mack, don’t you?’ she teased.

‘Oh please, come on. How
is
your hunky brother?’ Sally recalled how she had always been a little flustered around her friend’s big brother. Mack had seemed very moody
and mysterious to a young girl like Sally. She could picture him now with his incredibly blue eyes smiling down at her.

‘Doing really well. He is a successful photographer and sculptor. I know he would love to see you, Sal. Shall we meet up at the pub at seven on Saturday then, and you can vet my beloved.
Not that I will listen to a bad word against him!’ Muriel said happily.

‘Great. I will see you there. It is so lovely to hear your voice, my dear friend. Bye!’ Sally replaced the receiver, beaming with well-being. Life was good.

The rest of the week passed all too quickly as Sally put her house in order. She arranged with Douglas to drive up to Crewe on Sunday morning.

‘Is that a good idea?’ ventured Dora. ‘We are all going out on Saturday night, don’t forget. Do you want to be looking for digs with a hangover?’

‘Mmmm. You have a point, sister dear. But I don’t think I will have any choice. Dad won’t want to spend a weekday up there, will he? I will just have to practise
self-control.’

In fact, Saturday night proved very jolly, and not at all as raucous as it might have been. Dora didn’t join them at the pub in the end as she decided to go to the movies with an old
friend. (Or a new beau, if the truth be known!) So Sally met Muriel and Dave and the lovely Mack in the Hen and Chickens by herself. It was strange to be back on her old turf having a night out
like normal folk. Sally always distinguished people who were not in the acting profession as normal. Actors were a breed apart, and a group of them together was like a flock of starlings
continually screeching and pecking and jostling for position. Sitting in the pub that Saturday night was pleasantly soothing, and Sally felt very relaxed. Mack was good fun and very attentive. It
almost felt like a date.

‘So, what do you think of Dave?’ Mack asked when Muriel had gone to the cloakroom.

‘He seems very nice,’ Sally replied truthfully. ‘Why do you ask? And Muriel seems very happy.’

‘Well, he
is
my future brother-in-law, so I have a vested interest in the success of the romance.’ Mack got up to go to the bar. ‘Another cider?’

‘Yes, please.’ Sally passed him her glass and watched him lope off to get the drinks. He really was very attractive – and such a lovely man, she thought to herself. How good
would it be to find someone like him to share things with? But she knew it was pointless even considering a relationship while she was pursuing her goals in the theatre. She was going to need every
ounce of concentration to do a play every two weeks, and work on the stage management team. At drama school they had had a few classes on stage management, but nothing much. The biggest challenge
had been to build a set to scale with all the scenery and furniture. It was fun, but no one took it very seriously. Certainly Sally herself had never expected in a million years that she would be
employed as an Assistant Stage Manager, for goodness sake! Like most actors her ego was sufficiently healthy that she had assumed she would be playing roles, not making props.

‘Penny for them?’ Mack startled her as he sat down and put the drinks on the table.

‘Oh blimey, you gave me a fright. I was miles away,’ Sally told him.

‘In sunny Crewe, by any chance?’ he asked.

‘Yes, as a matter of fact. How did you guess?’ Sally asked, taking a sip of her cider.

‘Well, I do know you a little bit, Miss Thomas, and as I recall you are a very committed young lady. Therefore I would imagine that you are already trying to work out what it is all going
to be like up there.’

Sally grinned sheepishly. ‘Well, yes, I am a bit distracted. Sorry, but it is all rather scary.’

‘Of course it is, but you will be great. By the way, have you got a spare hour next week for me to do a photo and a piece about you? The local rag is very keen to support their first true
celebrity.’

‘Oh, please don’t embarrass me!’ laughed Sally. ‘I am hardly anything near that status. But I would love to do the article with you. Thank you for putting it
together.’

Their conversation was halted by the opening number of the band and Dave’s voice filling the room. He was rather good actually, and Sally looked round to see where Muriel had got to. She
spotted her at the front of the stage, joining in the chorus with great gusto.

By the end of the evening, Sally was singing along to ‘Come On, Irene’ the big hit by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. It was the perfect end to a great night. They all ended up in the
local Indian and then Mack offered to walk her home.

‘Shall I ring you Monday, to set up our photo opportunity?’ he asked as they reached Sally’s front door.

‘Yes, that’s fine, but could you make it at the end of the afternoon because we might not be back from Crewe?’

‘Sure thing. Maybe we could go and get something to eat afterwards if you fancied it?’

Sally was suddenly very aware of Mack’s lips. They seemed very kissable. How much did she want him to kiss her? Before she could answer that question, Mack had pulled her to him and was
giving her the answer. He tasted so good despite the curry and beer.

She returned his kiss with more passion than she had intended. Finally they broke apart.

‘That was very unexpected,’ said Sally breathlessly.

‘Not for me. I have been longing to do that all night, Miss Thomas. However, I know you have to get up early so I won’t detain you. I look forward to Monday.’ He winked, then
turned and walked away, leaving Sally in a bit of a tizz.

She let herself into the house, went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea and sat at the table there to gather her thoughts. Why did this have to happen now, on the eve of her big adventure? Here
she was, going off into the unknown to seek her fortune – and all she could think about was her next date with Mack. Maybe it was because he seemed so solid and secure and she was feeling the
exact opposite. Sitting here now in the family kitchen, surrounded by all the familiar objects from her childhood, the girl was aware of just how much her life was about to change – and she
had little choice in which way it would turn.

‘What will be will be,’ she sighed, as she switched off the lights and tiptoed up to bed. Roll on tomorrow – and let the play begin!

Sally was up early on Sunday morning and doing breakfast for everyone when her father appeared in the kitchen doorway.

‘That’s what I like to see,’ he said, ‘enthusiasm. Good on you, girl. We will get you sorted you out in no time.’ He sat down and tucked into the eggs and bacon
Sally had placed in front of him.

‘Is Dora awake?’ she asked. ‘I wasn’t sure whether she was going to come with us or not today.’

Before Douglas could answer, Dora herself came bounding down the stairs, saying, ‘Course I am coming with you. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Ooh, breakfast! Did you make me some,
Sally?’

Sally smiled and presented her sister with a plate of eggs and bacon.

‘Oh, great! You really do cook the best “full English” in the world. If you don’t make it as an actress you could always open a café.’

‘Hmm, it’s good to know I have a talent for something,’ replied Sally, finishing her mug of tea and clearing up the pans. ‘Where’s Mother this morning? Is she still
in bed?’

‘Good Lord no,’ snorted Douglas. ‘She has gone off to teach a water-colour class. She sent her love, wishes us luck and says she will see us back at the ranch. Come on then,
girls, we had better get a move on or we won’t make it up to Crewe before lunch.’ He swiped his plate with a piece of bread, devoured it hungrily and then placed the plate in the sink.
‘Delicious. Thanks, Sally. See you outside.’

The girls rushed round doing the final clear-up in the kitchen, and Sally made sure she had all her addresses and phone numbers, and the maps and sheets of theatrical info she had been sent, and
then they were off.

It was still early so the roads were clear, and by ten o’clock they were bowling up the M6 making good headway. It only took them about two and half hours and by ten thirty they found
themselves outside the theatre.

Thank God the sun is shining, thought Sally because Crewe was certainly not the most welcoming town on a Sunday morning. The street was deserted and the theatre looked very shut, although Susan
had assured her when she had rung that the stage door was always open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day.

‘Let’s go round to the stage door,’ Sally suggested. ‘You can leave the car here, Dad. Come on.’

Dora and Douglas followed Sally down the alleyway at the side of the theatre. The big red sign was still there, pointing into the doorway, and Sally pulled on the handle, relieved as it
opened.

‘Hello! Anybody around?’ she called out.

‘Hello, dearie, you must be Sally Thomas. Susan said you were coming today. Welcome.’ The greeting came from a cheery, round-faced lady who filled the entire cubicle that was the
stage-door entrance. ‘Lovely to meet you, pet. I am Mrs Edge – Gladys – and I am mostly front of house but I fill in – you know, when needed. We all muck in here.’

Sally took her hand and shook it, saying, ‘Lovely to meet you too, Gladys. This is my sister Dora and my father Douglas.’

There was no room to shake hands so Sally backed up to the outside door and let Gladys come out to them.

‘Now, dearie, have you got a list?’ Gladys went on. ‘I can give you some recommendations if you like, but the trouble is, most of the good stuff has gone. We have a couple of
leading actors who come back every year, you see, and obviously they take the same places each time. Let’s look at your list.’

Sally handed her the digs list which she had marked up herself with possible addresses near the theatre. Gladys peered at it.

‘Well now, I can tell you straight away, luv, none of these are any good because they are either taken or no longer available.’ She looked up and saw Sally’s face drop.
‘No, don’t despair. ’Cos I knew you was coming, I have had a ring round, and there are a couple of “possibles”. Would you like a flat eventually, do you think? Because
there is a very nice two-bedroom up near the station. It’s only fifteen minutes’ walk away, and the lady who owns it is very decent and won’t overcharge, and she prefers females.
She has got someone until October, but if we can get you in a room until then that would suit, wouldn’t it, dearie?’

‘That would suit perfectly, Gladys. You see, my sister Dora here is hoping to come and join me in October, so it couldn’t be better.’

‘Can we go and see it now though, do you think?’ chimed in Dora, who was hovering excitedly.

‘Well, I can ring her and see,’ said Gladys. ‘I have also got the number for a room in a house in the next road. I don’t know the people, but you could go and see it now
while I sort out the flat.’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ joined in Douglas. ‘But before we set off, do you think I could use a toilet, Gladys? It has been a long drive this morning.’

‘Of course, dearie. Silly me, I should have offered you the convenience sooner. Go in and follow the passage down and round the corner. Do you girls want the Ladies?’ Sally decided
she had better go in case the opportunity did not arise again, and left Dora to Mrs Edge’s administrations. By the time she returned, Dora seemed to have the whole plan down pat.