Part four
"No, I don't know who it is" said Dora.
"Me neither" replied Slugger. Steve looked thoughtful.
"What did he want to ask me?" said Dora.
"Oh he wanted to know if he could have tomorrow afternoon off to go to the dog track wif his best mate."
"Of course said Dora, tell him that's no problem."
"But isn't it your day off tomorrow Slugger?" said Steve. "Yes" replied Slugger.
"It doesn't matter Steve" said Dora. "We can manage for one day." Dora took the plates through to the kitchen.
"Well I hope you have a nice day at the races tomorrow Slugger with Ron" said Steve.
"Nothing much gets past you Steve does it" replied Slugger. "No, nothing" said Steve."I work things out. Fast."
Dora came back in. "Right" said Steve, "I'll go and give Alex a bit of exercise," and off he went.
Ron was in the kitchen. Callie walked in. "Hello Ron" she said," I've come to see if Steve can help me with my
homework but I've just missed him. You look a bit fed up." Ron gave a sickly smile. "Do you think you could
help me?". Ron stuck his tongue out at her.
"Oh be like that then. What about Slugger, is he about?" "I didn't know boxing in the 1940's was on the syllabus"
said Ron sarcastically." Slugger came into the kitchen. "Someone mention a silly bus" he said." Oh, hello miss."
"Hello Slugger" said Callie, "There's a few questions on my homework I can't do. Do you think you could help me
Slugger?" Slugger scratched his head. "Er well, I'll try Callie" he said.
"Right" said Callie, what King was born about 849 and burnt the cakes?"
"Oh Slugger should know that one" Said Ron." Probably one of his ancestors."
"Cheeky" said Slugger, aiming a swipe at Ron.
"No, I don't know any King who was born just before 9 o clock" said Slugger. Ron put his head in his hands.
"Mind you, my mate Alf read books about Kings." "That's it," said Callie, "You've got it Slugs. Alfred. Well done."
"Eh" said Slugger. Ron looked on disparingly.
"Right, next one. What connects Afghanistan and Pakistan and is 33 miles long."
Slugger shook his head. "Pass" he said. "Of course" said Callie, "The Khyber Pass. Thanks Slugs. Knew you'd
know it." Ron looked up to the Heavens. Slugger folded his arms and smiled, as if he knew the answer all along.
"Right, last one" said Callie,"What word means an informer, 4 letters, starts with an F and ends in K."
"Mmm, lets fink" said Slugger.
"I'll just check that in the dictionary-Yep, you're right Slugs, it is Fink. Thanks a lot, you are clever."
Slugger had a smug expression on his face. Ron sat speechless.
Callie left, just managing to avoid tripping over Ron as he stuck his leg out deliberately. This time it was her turn
to stick her tongue out.
Into the house came the Colonel.
"Dora" he said, "I'm so glad to see you. How are you?"
"I'm fine Uncle" said Dora, "I've decided to stay. My home is here at Follyfoot".
"That's marvellous news" said the Colonel, "Glad someone knows what they're doing. Just passed that idiot in
the yard, spoke to him, he didn't even hear me, his mind was somewhere else, in a world of his own, he walked
straight into the lightning tree, almost knocked himself out".
"Oh don't worry about Ron" said Slugger,"That's normal for him".
"Ron, Ron, who's talking about Ron" said the Colonel, "I'm talking about Steve".
"Steve" said Dora laughing, "Oh I do hope the trees alright." The Colonel looked baffled for a second, then laughed too.
Slugger was looking out of the window.
Steve was at one end of the yard on Alex, Ron was at the other end of the yard on Socks. Thet were glaring at each
other. Glaring at each other as if looks could kill.
Just like two Knight-Errants on chargers, both wanting to be the Knight in shining armour.
They moved closer together, till they were just a few feet apart. Then Ron spoke.
"It's always you Steve isn't it. Always you who gets the girl. Never Ron. Poor stupid Ron. He's one of lifes wasters.
Useless." Steve looked at Ron.
"I'm sorry" he said. "Let's be friends". "I'm sorry too" said Ron. "Sorry I said those things about you. Mind you,
it was funny, seeing you hobbling away from that table."
"Right" said Steve, "That's it", and he dismounted, gingerly. Then he went over to Ron, grabbed his leg
and pulled him of his horse. Ron went down in a heap on the floor. They started grappling. Slugger was still
watching through the window. "Quick. Steve and Ron are fighting" he said to Dora and the Colonel. They all ran
outside and pulled them apart.
"Right, what's going on here?" said the Colonel.
"It's my fault" said Dora. "What do you mean?" replied the Colonel.
"I know what's going on" said Dora to Ron and Steve. "I'm not stupid".
"Well, whatever it is......good Lord, said the Colonel. What's that smell? Like a cross between disinfectant and
turpentine. Anyhow, it seems to be keeping the flies of the horses. Sorry, you were saying Dora?"
"There's something you need to know" said Dora. "When I was at The Old Mill House this afternoon, I wasn't
on my own all the time. I met someone. I was sitting there upset, looked up and there was a lad on a horse
a bit older than me, looking at me. He seemed to appear from nowhere. He could see I was in a state. He
talked to me, about life, and death. In horses and people. his words were comforting and I felt better. Then,
just as quickly as he arrived, he was gone. I don't know where he came from or where he went" said Dora.
"What was his name?" said Steve.
"You'll laugh" said Dora "If I tell you".
"No we won't" said Ron.
"Percevale" said Dora.
"Percevale" said Ron and Steve together, sniggering. "I said you'd laugh" said Dora.
"Well actually" said the Colonel, "Percevale is a very interesting name. Sir Percevale was a Knight. A Knight of
the Round Table. And he rode a large black horse".
Dora's mind wandered a few hours back to the afternoon at The Old Mill House. She could see herself sitting
there, alone and confused. She could see herself looking up at the rider on the horse in front of her.
He smiled at her. He was very handsome. Dora fell for him straight away. And now she would never see him
again. And he was riding a large horse. A large black horse.
And as he rode away he blew her a kiss.
A single tear trickled down Dora's cheek.
"You're right Uncle, he was a Knight" she said.
"A Knight in shining armour".
THE END