Chapter 5: That Was A Climax

‘So, we’re already settling in nicely. The first plan is to lay a mile of track and rebuild the station. Then get an engine and one carriage so we can do rides to raise funds. I would love to be able to drive the engine one day.’ she confided.’

‘Anyway, when I go at weekends, there are always lots of people about. But sometimes I go for a few hours of an evening. I don’t mind being there alone. When it happens occasionally, I lock myself in the office, put some music on, and concentrate on whatever I’m doing.’

‘Away from the containers is an old engine house, currently used to store a large and a small digger. Beyond that there are three old static caravans. They are used as a billet for anyone who wants to stay for a few days. They’re used mainly in the summer months and at weekends, but hardly ever during the week out of season.’

‘A month ago, a new volunteer appeared. Graham is in his early twenties and had lost his job as a JCB driver. He had arranged to live in one of the caravans for a few months in return for driving our digger as and when required and helping out generally.’

‘I don’t know, but I thought he must be well in with someone on the management committee to have swung it. Anyway, he seemed pleasant enough and everyone seemed happy with his work. I used to go down quite regularly on a Tuesday evening for a couple of hours.’

‘Three weeks ago, I was on my own in the office, and someone knocked on the door. I looked through the peephole before I opened it to see Graham standing there. ‘Hi,’ he said as he came in, ‘I saw the light on and just thought I’d check.’

‘Don’t let me interrupt you,’ he said, ‘Shall I make us a coffee?’ ‘That would be nice, thank you.’ I told him. I carried on working on the ledger. When the coffees were made, I thought it only polite to stop working and chat to him as we drank.’

‘He told me the site he had been working on up north had come to an end and he’d decided to try a new area. He wanted a job driving a JCB but would consider anything on a building site. He was about five foot ten and broad shouldered. He looked very strong.’

‘I asked him how he was finding living in the caravan. ‘It’s ok,’ he said, ‘I’ve never been in one before. I had a couple of volunteers staying two nights with me last weekend,’ he said. ‘That was great, but it gets very lonely otherwise.’

‘Do you have any relatives in the area?’ I asked him, thinking he could visit them. He seemed to go a bit evasive then and avoided the question. I wondered if he was related to someone on the committee and didn’t want it known, so I didn’t enquire further.’

‘I hope you don’t mind me saying so,’ he said, ‘But you seem a bit young compared to the other volunteers.’ ‘Yes,’ I told him with a smile, ‘At fifteen I’m the youngest so far. But I’ve loved steam trains as far back as I can remember. I think I got it from my dad.’

‘We chatted a bit more and then he left. I finished my work, locked up and left. The next weekend I was there both days. I saw Graham in passing a couple of times and we smiled and said hi. Then Tuesday evening just after six I was in the office on my own once more.’

‘At seven o’clock there was a knock on the door. I let Graham in and he said, ‘I saw the light on and thought you might need a coffee.’ I decided he was lonely and I was ready for a drink anyway, so I thanked him and carried on working.’

‘When it was ready, I stopped and chatted to him. He asked me about school and told me he hadn’t done well at anything except woodwork and metalwork. ‘Well, all the brainy people would be lost without ordinary folk to fix things for them.’ I told him.’

‘He seemed to like that. ‘I don’t feel quite so useless now,’ he said, ‘Thank you.’ I asked him if he was having any luck finding a job. He told me he had been for a couple of interviews but no luck so far. ‘Well, at least you’ve got a roof over your head.’ I told him.’

‘How are you managing for food?’ ‘I probably don’t have an ideal diet,’ he said, ‘And I’m not much of a cook, but I won’t starve. And MacDonalds isn’t far away,’ he added, laughing. ‘No one stopped over last weekend.’ he said sounding sad.’