Heidrun

Cadet Inglis McAndrew is ashore in Germany, March 1958. From Book 1 of the 'Flag McAndrew' series.

Inglis is a Cadet on a tanker, ashore in Stade, near Hamburg, March 1958

 

     A slim girl with a dark blonde ponytail caught his eye. His heart skipped a beat as he took in the Bardot-like elfin features and graceful walk, with just a touch of alluring sway to the slim hips. Making a sudden brave decision - very brave for him, in spite of recent developments - he approached her and asked if she spoke English. She did, quite well, with a fascinating accent he could have listened to all day............

 

     Inglis came suddenly back to earth with the realization that she was looking at him quizzically, waiting for him to speak. For the life of him he couldn't think of a thing to say, and blushed scarlet as he searched desperately in his blank mind. She seemed amused at his discomfort, a smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with mischief. This disconcerted him even further, until he blurted out that he would be obliged - obliged, mark you - if she could tell him what sights were to be seen in the town. She smiled again, gently hooking her arm through his.

     "I walk with you a little. I must go to the shop of my aunt, where I am working. We may talk as we are walking, no?"

 

     They walked and talked. Well, she walked; as Inglis floated in the air beside her. She was so full of vitality, and good to be with. It was still not quite 9am, and she was due at her aunt's shop at nine; but it was her early day, and she would be free after four o'clock. The sound of her speech held him enthralled, as she chattered away.

     They passed a cinema on one side of the square. From what Inglis could decipher there was a screening at 4.30 that afternoon. He asked her if she would have tea with him when she finished work, before taking in the movie with him.

     She said yes, SHE SAID YES, ooh la la. He almost skipped the rest of the way to her aunt's shop, which sold clothes, linen and drapery. They agreed to meet outside as soon as he could get there after his cargo watch.

 

     For the next two and a half hours Inglis wandered round town, caught up in his own cloud of euphoria. Heidrun was her name. What a beautiful name - the most beautiful name in the world. He hummed to himself as he strolled through the park. People gave him peculiar looks, and he felt sorry for them. They didn't know his secret - not that he would have minded sharing it with the whole world.

     The park was lovely, the birds were singing, and he ended up back on the sidewalk outside the shop of Heidrun's aunt. What a coincidence. Inglis peered in the window and saw Heidrun sorting through a pile of blouses. She looked up and saw him, smiled, and waved. He waved back as a thrill of warmth and excitement flowed through him. He was lighter than air as he glided off along the footpath.

 

     Passersby turned and shook their heads at the foreign looney in the sailor suit, skipping along with a beatific expression on his face - just before Inglis tripped and fell on it!

 I don't care, I don't care. Clap hands for the looney everyone. Clap hands for yourselves everyone. Make merry on the merry-go-round, swoop and swoon on the swings. Paradise is still not lost for those with eyes to see. For the young and the young-at-heart, the world is yet a wondrous place.

 

     "Excuse me, are you all right sir?" asked the policeman, frowning at him as he picked himself up from the sidewalk.

     "Yes, yes, never been better in my life. Isn't it a wonderful day? Are you in love with your wife? Do you have lots of children? I hope so. Did they get lots of presents for Christmas? I hope it snows again soon."

 

     The policeman tilted his cap and scratched his head as he watched Inglis' erratic departure. How could even a sailor be drunk in this town at this time of the morning, was the unasked question on his puzzled face. Little did he know, poor man, that Inglis' drunkenness was not the result of booze.

 

     He bought a hot dog - a good German hot dog - and dreamed his dreams of romance, walking once more through the park. Drawn back again - and again - to the shop of Heidrun's aunt; where the object of his dreams never failed to notice him and wave. Until it was time to catch the bus back to the ship; and work; and the other world……