Writing for Fun
March 2015
The Daily Reunion - Reg Pound
'Hello Bill. You're a bit early this morning aren't you? I usually have to wait for you.'
Harry joined Bill on a park bench set just inside the local churchyard. It was there where they regularly met for a chat each morning before getting on with their other daily business and tasks.
'Yes, Harry. I got out a bit earlier today. Things were getting a little heated back at base, so I decided to come out until things cooled down.'
Bill always referred to any home as being base, a habit he picked up from his being in the Army.
Harry on the other hand referred to any home as being indoors, even though when he was in the services he spent most of his time in a tent. They were old army buddies.
'Well, Bill, if ever it gets too much for you, you could always ask for a transfer over to the place I'm in. The regime is a bit more strict than yours. You have to stick to ten basic rules, but I know there's always plenty of room and I'll put in a good word for you.'
'Thanks Harry, I'll think about it. Anyway, how's your grandson getting on with his homework?'
'Not bad. He's doing history this week. 'World War Two'. The way they teach it I didn't even recognise it as the same war you and I were in, so I couldn't be much help.'
'Well, looking at the state of the country it now seems to have been a waste of time, money and lives. Still as we always used to say 'we've got to grin and bear it'. The bad guys seem to get away with more and more. My idea of a suspended sentence is hanging.'
'I know what you mean, Bill. Anyway, just to change the subject, I was chatting to someone back indoors and they asked why we met here in the churchyard, and not in the park. He seemed to think it a bit macabre. I told him it's better here: no kids running around, the grounds are kept nice by church volunteers and dogs are not allowed so there's no dog mess to put up with.'
'You're right there, Harry. The other thing I've noticed - dogs seem to be a bit more bad tempered these days whenever we pass one in the street - they always bark and back away. Even if we try to be friendly.' Even their owners try to ignore us. Perhaps they think we are a couple of old tramps. Although with all the spit and polish training we had in the mob we keep ourselves all spick and span. Better than sloppy jeans and T shirts the kids all wear nowadays.'
'A good spell in the army would smarten some of them up.'
'It never done us any harm Bill.'
'I wouldn't say that mate.'
They sat in silence for a few moments
'Here, look Bill, there's that little old lady we often see. She seems to appear from nowhere and then disappears over behind that tall monument.'
'Well it's no mystery Harry. I reckon she just comes in through one of the little side gates in the houses backing onto the church and goes out through another alleyway. You don't think she could be an apparition do you?'
'Well we are in a churchyard and when I've shouted out good morning to her she just ignores me.'
'Perhaps she's deaf, you twerp, or perhaps she thinks you're trying to pick her up. There's always a practical reason for things.'
'I just think it's strange.'
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
'What do you think of the new Vicar Harry?'
'If you came to church of a Sunday you'd know what he's like.'
'I don't really like to, Harry, seeing as we're not of the same faith or parish. But I have thought about it.'
'Oh, he'd accept sinners from anywhere. He seems OK but I'm not sure how well he can cope. He always seems to be asking God for help and guidance, whereas the previous vicar reckoned we were all put on earth as a test to see how we could manage on our own.'
'Couldn't you help the present bloke at all Harry?'
'I did try. He was praying for help in raising more funds and I put it into his head, subtle like, that he should ask anyone in the congregation who would be willing to donate an extra ten pounds to please stand up - and then get the organist to play the national anthem.'
'And did it work?'
'Nah. I don't think he really took any notice of me.'
Again they sat in silence for a while.
'Here's that little old lady again. I think I'll follow her just to see where she disappears to.'
'Don't get yourself into trouble for stalking her'.
'Ha-ha.' They both got up from the bench. 'And don't forget our deathday anniversary tomorrow, 27th March. If a bomb hadn't fallen on the front line ENSA concert we were watching just before the comedian had finished his joke, we could have said we'd died laughing.'
'You are a silly sod Bill.'
'It keeps me going, Harry. See you tomorrow.'