Caron Trewby

A man bumps into a woman he knew years before.

                                                     Caron Trewby

It was 1942 when I met her again, the love of my life.  The problem being, she never knew this, and this was half the problem.  The dilemma I faced.  Should I tell her how I felt?  Or would it just be safer to say nothing at all.  My heart ached for her.  Her pretty blue eyes and kind smile, her long blonde hair that reached the middle of her back.  Her name was Caron Trewby, her star-sign was Aries, and as I saw her coming off the train that fateful day, I swear my heart stopped for some seconds.  The day was the 24th of March, and spring was in the air.  The flowers were beginning to bloom, and the leaves on the trees were now a pleasant green colour.  The sun shone brightly, but there was still a chill in the air.  I observed her stepping off the train and remembered thinking, my God, it’s Caron.  The Caron I hadn’t seen for ten or so years.  The Caron that had gone off with my best-mate, and left me high and dry.  I approached her a little nervous, and she looked up with a friendly smile.

“Hello, Caron.  It’s George,” I said.

She replied in a friendly way, “Oh, hello, George.  Long time no see.  How are you, dear George?”

The steam from the train swept across the platform, and the engine roared, as another journey to another station was in progress.

Amongst the chaos and the many people she still looked radiant.  A beauty untouched by the atrocities of war.  A war that was slowly destroying this country.  The bombs would come down and leave the cities in tatters.  On most days soldiers would be seen, waiting for the train to take them to their destinations.  For most to an early grave.  It was heartbreaking, and true.

“I’m fine,” I said, looking deep into her eyes.  “Where have you been, what have you been doing with yourself?” I asked.

She shrugged her sweet shoulders, before she answered, “Not much, you know how it is, years pass you by.”

I found this a strange comment, and laughed it off.  “So, what brings you back?”

“Because of the war, the city hospitals need all the nurses they can get.  So, that’s why I’m back,” she replied, looking about her nervously.

“That’s right, the last time I saw you, you was training to be a nurse.  How could I forget,” I said a little embarrassed.

A thin smile appeared on her face.  “That’s Ok, I don’t expect you to remember.”

I still felt bad, like I’d let her down.  “Still, I should’ve remembered.  Because at the time, it was very important to you.”

She laughed, “Don’t beat yourself up about it, dear George, and I forgot what a lovely man you are.  I must hurry, but let’s meet up next Thursday night at the public house where we use to hangout.”

“That sounds great.  What time would you like me to be there?” I asked enthusiastically.

She gave it some thought, before she answered, “Dead on eight.  Is that Ok with you?”

“Perfect,” I concluded.

I watched her as she walked to the entrance of the station.  She was like a breath of fresh air.  A couple of young soldiers gave her wolf-whistles, and she glanced in their direction and gave them smiles.  Both lapped it up.

I was meeting the brilliant Caron Trewby in the next couple of days, and I couldn’t wait.

Thursday had finally arrived.  All day at work all I could think of was her.  I was so excited, and at the same time scared.  What would this night bring, would I finally bed the girl of my dreams.  Even though I had a lot of respect for her, the thought of kissing her, and cuddling her warm body did arouse me somewhat.  I did promise myself to act the perfect gentleman, and not to do anything uncouth.  

At 8 o clock I walked into the public house.  This was the first time I had entered these premises for years.  The last time was with my best-mate and Caron, before I found out they were involved.  I hadn’t seen my mate in years, all I know from what someone else had told me was, he was a doctor working abroad.  

I looked around to see if I could locate her, she was nowhere to be seen.  This was odd, as it was her idea to meet at this time.  Why wasn’t she here?

I strolled to the bar and ordered a drink.  The barman served me and I took a much-needed swig.  I then decided to sit down at one of the corner tables, away from prying eyes.  Also, where I sat, I could see the entrance to the place.  So if she did walk in, I would know about it. 

I waited and waited.  After about twenty minutes I became irritable, why wasn’t she here?  Had something nasty happened to her?  I began to worry.

All of a sudden she appeared, and she strolled in.  I was just about to greet her, when I was aware of another man.  My heart sunk, I felt ill. 

She looked over in my direction, and she seemed pleased, “Dear George, guess who works in the same hospital as me?”

“All right, mate,” a voice said from behind her.

It hit me like a bolt out of the blue.  It was David, my best-mate from years ago.  The one that had nicked Caron off me.  The b*****d that I hoped I would never see again.

I answered unconfidently, “Hello, David.  Nice to see you.”

Caron made her way to the bar, and David sat beside me with a grin on his face.  “I couldn’t believe it, George.  After all these years bumping into her again.  Hopefully, my lucks in.  Look at her bum through that dress, she’s absolutely gorgeous.  Wouldn’t you say, mate?”

I wanted to puke.  All the happiness of meeting her again was quickly fading away.  I looked at him with saddened eyes.  “Just leave her be, she doesn’t need your sleazy arse sleazing on hers,” I said angrily.

“You’re still a jealous idiot, aren’t you, George.  Can’t you just be happy for us,” David said bluntly.

I knew what he was like, he would only use her for one thing.  I cared too much for her for this to happen.  “Leave her be, or you’ll have me to put up with.”

David gave a slight smirk, before answering, “Go to hell, dearest George.”

I looked up and Caron approached the table with two drinks.  “Make a space for me, boys.”

I pulled up a chair before David could, and she sat down.  David gave me a cold stare, before saying in his charming way, “You look so lovely tonight, Caron.”

Sleazy b*****d, I thought.

She replied back, “That’s so kind, you are a true gentleman.”

“I second that,” I said, hoping I had said it first, too late now.

David gave me a wink, before he said, “It’s a funny story really, how me and Caron met at work.  I’ll have to tell you sometime, dear George.  It would make you laugh, I know you like a good laugh.”

Patronising idiot, I thought.

I watched with sheer horror as David moved his hand onto hers, and then saying in a lecherous sort of way.  “You have such soft hands.  Too soft and petit for a hardworking nurse.”  Then he gave me a look.  “Don’t you think, dear George?”

I was really beginning to feel uncomfortable now.  Of all the things that could have gone wrong tonight.  Caron being charmed by this arsehole in front of me.  He was playing her like a fiddle, and she was so unaware.

For the rest of the night, I stayed focused and tried to be as easygoing as I could.  If I put one foot out of place, then she would be gone like a flash.  David done his best to wind me up, but once I got use to his game, it didn’t affect me so much. 

About 10 o clock I said my goodnights and left the pub.  While I strolled home I felt a little empty.  I couldn’t stop thinking about her and him.  Out of everyone she could of ended up with, it was so disappointing, it hurt.

Suddenly the air-raid siren blared out, and the people in front had panic looks on their faces.  I knew where the nearest shelter was, so at a running pace I headed in that direction.  Before entering the shelter the last thing I saw was the planes high up above, heading towards this great city with their bombs.  It made me shudder.

Early in the morning we were let out of the shelter, and the light of day blinded me for a second, as my eyes got use to it, I looked about me at the devastation.  The library just a few metres away was now just rubble.  It made me cry.  Then I saw the bodies of three people, and the police were aware of this.  They quickly covered the corpses with blankets.

One of the policemen said, “Move along, you don’t want to see this.”

I nodded to him, and carried on with my journey home.  If I still had a home that is.  Then my thoughts turned to Caron, was she safe?  Please God, please let her be safe.

In the next coming days I received some very bad news.  The sort of news that could send a man insane, and yes, it was to do with Caron after all.  On the night of the bombings, some terraced houses on the East-side of the city had been destroyed.  Through extra investigation I found out that one of the houses had been recently purchased by a woman going by the name of Caron Trewby.  In her bed that night there was a second body found, and trying to find out who it was, came to nothing.  In the newspaper a couple of days later there was a story about a top doctor who had been killed in the 

bombings, going by the name of David Browne.  My best-mate.

I then realised she was gone, and the sadness in my heart was overwhelming.  I cried for many hours, until I couldn’t cry no more.

A month later as I was shopping for groceries, I saw a woman across the aisle.  She was attractive, I didn’t think nothing else of it.  Then the oddest thing happened.  Everywhere I went, she was there.  And then one day I decided to approach her, and ask her out.  Miraculously, she said yes.  

Four years have passed, and I am married to the most wonderful woman that a man could wish for, and we have three beautiful children.  Occasionally I think back to Caron, and sadness is still felt.  But as David always said, dear George, is definitely laughing now.

                                         The End  x