The Show Must Go On by Bernard Ross & Rus Slater

Author:Bernard Ross & Rus Slater
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fun, fair, home, run away, adventure, leisure, britain, 1950s, travelling
ISBN: 9781785380587
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2015-01-27T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Changing Gear

On the last night at Torrington we pulled down the Ark and packed everything ready to move on to Taunton the following day. I noticed Hammerton and Mr Charles in conversation and casting regular glances at me so I was a bit worried when, as we finally tied down the last rope, Hammerton came over, holding something in his hands, hidden behind his back.

“Right, young Bernard, you’re seventeen now and this is a “travelling” show so you know what that means don’t you?”

I had no idea what he was talking about but the hidden something behind his back made me think that this was not going to be good news.

“No, Mr Rose, I haven’t a clue what you mean” I confessed

With a flourish he produced a roll of string and two pieces of cardboard, each about a foot square with a rough capital “L” painted on them in red.

“It’s time you learnt to drive, lad. ‘Travelling’ means trucks and we need everyone who can to drive one. So tomorrow you are driving to Taunton with this on and then, if it looks as if you could pass a test, we’ll get you one arranged as fast as possible. Don’t worry about paying for the test fee, I’ll pay it stop it out of your wages over a couple of weeks to keep it all square.” He handed me the homemade L plate and gestured to the small 30 hundredweight van that was standing nearby. I noticed that it had been uncoupled from the living trailer that it normally pulled and that the trailer was being hitched to the Luton.

Hammerton was standing in front of me grinning like a Cheshire cat and Don and Charlie were about ten feet away, watching the proceedings. At this point the two of them burst out laughing,

“Bernie, Mate! Your face is an absolute fucking picture!” blurted Don

“You look as if you are going to crap yourself!”

In reality I had very mixed emotions; I was pleased that I had arrived at a rite of passage into manhood, and proud that Mr Rose had trust in me driving one of his (albeit beaten up) wagons. However, I was aghast at the thought of having to get behind the wheel and take control of a temperamental and barely serviceable vehicle and drive it on the narrow, twisting lanes of Devon. I was chuffed to be getting a new skill and a new responsibility, but I was not happy at having my wages reduced to pay for it.

I pasted on a smile,

“Thanks, Mr Rose” I said quietly, taking the cardboard and string from his hands. Turning to Don and Charlie, I gave them my most confident and casual expression, “Come on then, girls, let’s get this sign on the van and then get to bed!”

There was much joshing and many descriptions of bizarre road accidents, slipping loads, drivers lost and similar whilst we tied the L plates on to the radiator and what was left of the rear bumper of the van.

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