11. In Which Many Sausages are Eaten, a Flat is Found and we Discover that Pete Wears Pyjamas..

Episode 11

It took only a few minutes to reach their destination, riding at the speed they were doing. They stopped at a small sheltered beach, fringed with rocks and to which they gained access by scrambling down a steep stony path. Once on the beach, they seemed closed in, safe and private. And even more wonderful, it was honeycombed with caves. In one of these caves was stacked crates of beer, cider and even sherry. Tins of Pepsi clambered up one wall whilst a huge sack of potatoes reclined against a box, filled with pounds of sausages. Wood for the fire was stacked in another cave in case of rain but was soon dragged out into the open and rebuilt into a massive bonfire. A portable record player was soon put to work, but when the fire was first lit all sound was drowned in the rush of crackling, sparking flames, springing high into the velvet sky, and shedding an orange glow over the whole beach. For a time the heat was so fierce no-one could get near, but slowly it began to die down until it was possible to roast the potatoes and cook the sausages.

The little bay was filled with music and laughter. There was enough food and drink for everyone, and Alice decided that the giver of this fabulous party must be a millionaire. Another, smaller fire had been lit with the plentiful driftwood that lay around the shoreline. Here people sat, though not too close, basking in the glowing warmth. The other fire was now merely glowing embers and hot ashes in which the cooking was done. Alice sat at the fire trying to hold a hot jacket potato, dripping with butter, in her hand. Most of the food was, of course, being served with sand which did not seem to spoil the flavour one little bit. Pete sat beside her holding a fistful of sausages on sticks, upon which he continually burnt his mouth in the attempt to eat them. They shared a bottle of cider between them and so were just at the happy state, not too far-gone. Pete began to feel hot, he looked belong the glow of the flames to the cool dark sea, catching moonbeams on the swell of it’s waves.

"Feel like a swim?" he asked Alice.

"Ummm, yes," she replied. "Cool me down."

They got to their feet and several other people also thought it was a good suggestion. Alice and Pete quickly took their jeans and shirts off and ran across the cool, damp sand to the sea. The water had not lost the heat it had grasped from the sun, and was refreshing rather than cold. They waded out for a long way, the water creeping past their knees, thighs, waits and eventually rippling around their shoulders. They started swimming, the water streaming like black ink, past them. Some of the others soon caught them up and began splashing and soon everyone was joining in, splashing and ducking each other with shouts and screams of enjoyment. Eventually the water seemed to grow colder than it had first seemed so they slowly wandered or swam back to the beach, where the less adventurous were still partying.

Alice had never felt so wet in her life having been splashed furiously by Pete and also ducked, swallowing what seemed like gallons of bitter seawater. Her hair was plastered to her head, the water running in minute rivers down her face, washing away the last visible traces of make-up.

The fire had been made up again and the flames roared red warmth into the darkness. Someone handed her a large white towel, with which she dried herself, enjoying the rough cleanliness of it against her skin. The cold swim had been invigorating and she tingled all over, her skin glowing in the warmth of the fire. Pete felt the same and they sat close together as close to the fire as possible. A girl gave them both a paper cup full of sweet sherry and as they drank it the warmth flowed through them, like fire in their veins. Alice sighed contentedly and leant against Pete’s shoulder, feeling his arm tighten around her. They sat there for a long time, staring into the strange red country flickering in the fire flames. Someone had brought a guitar and he sat on a nearby rock, singing and playing far into the night. They soon dried out so they put their clothes on again, as well as Pete’s parka and Alice’s leather as the night was cool and whispered a light breeze amongst their hair. They sang along with the guitar and kissed and ate sausages together. Finally, as the night slowly began to change into morning, they fell asleep by the dying embers of the fire. They slept wrapped around one another without quenching the fire in their blood that the sherry had given them.

Alice was woken by Pete kissing her and trying to drag her to her feet.

"Come on," he persuaded, "a healthy morning swim before breakfast."

"Breakfast?" she enquired. "Here?"

"Yeah, they’ve still got some food left." He pulled her to her feet and took her leather off, beginning to unbutton her shirt.

"All right, I’m awake now. I’ll do the rest." She slipped out of her shirt and jeans.

"Ready?" asked Pete, catching her by the hand and beginning to run towards the fresh blue sea, sparkling in the early morning sun. Some of the others were also being ‘healthy’ and in the water. Just as they reached the edge of the sea Pete picked her up and waded out until the water was around his thighs; with a laugh he dropped her into the sea. The water was cold but not unpleasantly so. Alice screamed loudly as the last traces of sleep were swept away by the swelling waves. She caught hold of Pete’s ankles under water, pulling his legs from beneath him. He joined her with a loud splash under the water, where they kissed and made up. Standing facing one another in the blue ocean the laughter suddenly stopped and they looked straight into one another’s eyes. The sun shone warm on their bare skin above the water and Alice shuddered as he gently stroked her back and ran his hands over her shoulders.
"I love you, our kid," he told her. "Are you okay?"

For an answer she merely nodded and then put her arms round his neck, guiding his mouth to hers and beginning a long, long kiss as the water lapped around their thighs and the sun shone down from above.
When the kiss ended they still stood together, arms tightly around one another, waiting for their thudding hearts to calm down.

Signs of activity could be seen on the beach so they eventually waded their way back to the sand and helped to cook the remaining sausages and potatoes over, and in, a tiny little bonfire which was all that was left of the wood from the night before. The food, if a little burnt and ashy, tasted good in the fresh morning air. A slight haze hung in the sky through which the sun lazily pierced. It promised to be a wonderful day. And it was!

                                          *****

On Monday morning they were woken by a Stone’s record played full blast on a rather unreliable old record player. They had stayed with two mods they had met on the beach. They rented a flat – if it could be called that! It was down one of the numerous side-streets and towards the back of the town and consisted of one large room with a rather thin partition down the middle. One half was a kitchen cum living room and the other was a bedroom which could however be used as an extra room during the day as it had divan beds and did not look much like a bedroom. The bathroom was shared with three other flats as was the loo.

Pete and Alice had slept in the living room on a couch that turned into a double bed after a lot of persuasion and a few exasperated kicks. The two rooms were very sparsely filled [or not filled] with furniture. Two divan beds and an ancient cupboard in the bedroom and a couch, stove, table and three wooden chairs in the living room as well as a sink with a cupboard beneath it, which could hardly be classified as ‘furniture’.

Alice started and opened her eyes as Mick Jagger’s voice pierced the air. A few seconds later Pete lazily opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Wondered where I was for a minute," he yawned, "better get up for work I suppose."

"And me!" groaned Alice, as one of the mods walked in.

"Hi. It’s a quarter to eight if you’re interested." He looked at Alice. "You can get dressed in there if you want. Brian’ll be out in a minute." He beckoned towards the bedroom.

"Thanks," replied Alice just going to get out of bed and then realising just in time that she had nothing on. Pete and the other boy were highly amused at the embarrassed expression on her face. Pete leant out of bed and groped around on the floor until he found the top of his pyjamas which she usually wore. He gave it to her and she vanished under the sheets to put it on. It was a dark blue and just about decent on her. She got out of bed, grabbed her clothes and vanished quickly into the bedroom where she walked into Brian putting his shirt on.

"Ooops! Sorry – I thought…." she stammered.
"I’m not!" he replied. "You should have come a bit earlier." She laughed and sat on one of the beds waiting for him to finish.
"All yours now," he said over his shoulder as he left the room.

She dressed quickly in a sleeveless skinny rib jumper and a skirt, throwing perfume, deodorant and talc over her as she did so. She had to make do with a wash in the sink but as she had had a luxurious bath in the damp, green bathroom the night she felt fresh and clean.

After a hurried breakfast of cornflakes, eggs and chocolate cake she, Pete and the two boys left the flat to go to their various jobs. Alice and Pete arranged to meet in the dinner hour and they parted company.

Alice found the other waitresses friendly. There were only two other young girls, both a little older than she was. The rest of the staff consisted of more elderly women. They were all kept very busy and it was slightly confusing for her at first but by the end of the afternoon it seemed a little easier. She had to wear a pink and white checked overall with a white apron and matching pink check hat. She managed to get through the day without dropping anything, although she slopped quite a few drinks onto the tray. What she had been worrying about the most was avoided. The handling of money! Alice had always been hopeless at maths and got flustered if she had to add up quickly. All she had to do, however, was to hand the customers the bill and they paid at the desk. She had plenty of time to add up the items, without them standing looking over her shoulder. The customers were mainly holiday makers and nearly all left generous tips so by the end of the day she had over fifteen shillings in tips for herself.

Pete came out of work an hour later than Alice, and she spent the time wandering along the seafront and finally sitting on the wall, dangling her long, slim legs over the edge. For almost the first time since she had left she began to think about home. She wondered what they were doing and what they were feeling like. Had her mother changed her mind and decided to let her go out with Pete or was she still stubbornly sticking to her point? What was her father thinking about it – did he understand, she wondered. And her two little sisters, did they understand? Did they miss her? At the thought of little Debbie she nearly cried. She had not realised how much she was missing her. And her friends and teachers at school, what were they all thinking, especially her friend Pam with whom she shared every secret. Pam, with whom she had cried and been comforted over various boys until Pete had come along. Since then they had not seen so much of each other out of school, but they still remained the best of friends. Pam was going out with the bass guitarist of a group which was beginning to get quite popular locally. There was even a rumour of a record in the air but no-one was sure yet.

She rested her chin on her hand and gazed far out to sea where the two blues of the ocean and the sky met and melted into infinity. She thought about all that had happened to her in the last few days since she had run away. So far they had been lucky and had always found somewhere to sleep and food to eat – but how much longer could their luck hold she wondered? She wished she could write to Pam and get her advice, but that was impossible for Pam’s mother would see the postmark and the police would be onto them in no time. And what would happen to them if they were caught? Approved school – prison or a huge fine for Pete? She didn’t know. Maybe she was pregnant, she would know in about a week, and if she was than what would happen to her ………… she started suddenly as someone caught her around the waist and kissed the back of her neck.

It was Pete of course, and at the sight and feel of him her mind flooded with joy, pushing out all the fears and worries she had. She had Pete, what else mattered? He loved her and would look after her whatever happened. They would live for today and not worry about yesterday or tomorrow – especially not tomorrow. Tomorrow could be frightening.