Growing Pains by Mike Seabrook

Author:Mike Seabrook [Seabrook, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-10T13:00:00+00:00

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Rather to Richard’s surprise, Stephen faithfully observed his promise not to provoke trouble with the local dentist and his cronies. He did occasionally derive a malicious pleasure from stirring up argument over politics when the despised yuppies were in attendance, taking particular delight in dropping odd references into such conversations to the vast extent of his own wealth. On one such occasion he ostentatiously sent Tom down to the capacious and munificently stocked cellar for a bottle of the most expensive champagne in the house, paying for it by lugging a huge fat wad of twenty-pound notes out and tossing several of them carelessly on the bar, and then swigging it from the bottle in front of the astonished and outraged young city types. The tormenting was almost spoiled, because he was quivering so much from internal laughter and excitement that he almost squirted the wine straight back out of his nose; but he managed to contain himself sufficiently to set the bottle down, grin insolently round the glowering faces, and stroll unconcernedly outside before collapsing in convulsive paroxysms of laughter round the back of the hotel. Richard and Tom caught each other’s eye and simultaneously shook their heads sadly. But Richard, at least, was having difficulty in concealing his own grin, and ceased trying when the infuriated young high-flyers stamped ungraciously out of the bar.

At last, one Sunday midway through a fine, sunny June, the great day arrived when Elderton Park were to arrive for their hastily rearranged tour.

Stephen and Richard had driven down very late the night before, after the league match on the Saturday, both in high spirits from anticipation, excitement at the prospect of showing off Stephen’s splendid pub to such men as Bill McKechnie, who were dedicated drinkers but very discerning all the same about the quality of the pubs they favoured with their custom, and from Stephen’s triumphant seventy-odd that day, batting at first wicket down, which he had, that season, made his own exclusive property.

They burst into the bar ten minutes before closing time, and Stephen, impetuous as always, talked ninety-nine to the dozen about the impending visit of his friends, and bought a round of drinks for everyone in the bar — having checked first and established that neither the local dentist and his circle nor the young City broking element were among those present. It was the start of a very happy week, with not the slightest foreshadowing of the calamity that was waiting to happen. The first chance steps towards accelerating catastrophe came, unseen, in the midst of the best fun of the week, and Stephen’s greatest triumph.

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