- Author
- 09/16/2019
- 1,498 Words
- 2,500 Views
- 17 Comments
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
The Boot - Three Years On - 4. Chapter 4
He felt like he was dreaming, he must be as he felt warm and comfortable. He knew he was ill, feeling like this only proved it, sleeping in an old mouldy sleeping bag under the arches can’t possibly feel this good. Then he felt a warm hand holding his, not a soft hand, not a hard one either, but firm and gentle. Then the voices started, he couldn’t make out what they were saying at first, but they were there. The Major slowly opened his eyes as the voices got clearer. Soft voices as if whoever it was, was trying to be quiet.
“No Ian I’m staying here so don't dare tell me to go home, yes I’m tired but Pop means more to both of us than we ever admit.” Kevin continued as he stared into his boyfriends blue eyes with steely determination, “Now you go and get us both coffee and make mine a strong one I need it. I’ll stay with Pop while you go get it and we'll both sit with him.”
“Ok hun, I don’t really know why I mentioned it, I know you won’t sleep anyway even if you do go home. So do you want anything to eat to go with the coffee?” Kevin shook his head indicating no. “I’ll be back as soon as I can then.” As Ian started to turn they were both startled by movement and the deep voice from the bed.
The Major had regained consciousness and realised where he was while the lads were talking. “Alright you two keep it down, no bickering and just what the hell am I doing in this hospital?”
Kevin let go of The Major’s hand as he jumped up to wrap him in a hug. “Pop you’re awake, how are you feeling, we’ve been so worried about you……” He kept on going a mile a minute until The Major managed to get a word in.
“Ok, ok, I get the message now will you let me go so that I breath.” The Major may be ill but he still liked to be in control. Looking at Ian he gave his first instruction, “You go and get your coffees and while you’re at it I’ll have cup of tea, a strong one with two sugars, not weak and wishy washy like they usually serve in places like this, got it?” Smiling and relieved Ian nodded. Turning his attention to Kevin who was now sat down gripping The Major’s hand as tight as he could, The Major gave his next instructions. “Now can you ease up on your grip, I didn’t realise that you had that much strength I’m not going anywhere, yet! Then while he’s getting our drinks you can explain to me what’s going on here.”
As Kevin began explain the events that led up to The Major being admitted to hospital, starting with being told by Jeff everyone was worried as no one had seen him for a couple of nights, Ian left the room. On his way to get the hot drinks as instructed, he stopped off at the nurse’s station to let them know that The Major had regained consciousness and checking that it was alright for him to have his cup of tea.
About fifteen minutes later Ian was approaching The Major’s room drinks in hand, he saw Kevin stood outside and could hear a commotion inside. Kevin explained that a doctor and a nurse had gone in to examine and speak to The Major. From the sounds they could hear it was easy to guess that The Major wasn’t happy.
Kevin took his coffee from Ian and spoke, “Sheesh am I glad your back maybe you can calm him down, as you can hear he's giving the doctor some grief and he doesn’t want to stay, as Kate’s not here you’re the next best at handling his temper and calming him down.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” On that the lads re-entered the room.
The Major turned his attention to Ian, “There you are, where have you been, did you have to go milk the cow for the milk before getting the drinks?”
“Hey calm down you old bugger, I wasn’t the only one in the café waiting to be served you know.” Ian was trying to be stern but seeing the look on everyone’s face as he spoke made it difficult. “And you can stop giving these people a hard time they’re only trying to look after you, or do I need to call Kate?”
Before The Major had a chance to argue the door burst open and in marched the Ward Sister with a look of thunder on her face. “What’s all the noise in here?” Glancing around the room her eyes settled on The Major, there was instant recognition, she had nursed this man before and knew exactly how to deal with him. “You! I might have guessed with the language I was hearing.” She pulled no punches instantly ripping into him. “You will shut the hell up and not speak to the doctors or any of my nurses like that, do you hear me? Good. Now you WILL do as the doctor tells you AND let my nurses do their job.” She hadn’t finished and continued the rant. “AND FURTHERMORE, what the hell do you think you’re doing behaving like that in front of these two lovely young gentlemen? I’m guessing they are your boys, how they can turn out so nice with the example you’re setting I don’t know. It’s about time you gave up the drink and started to be a better father to these boys, if you don’t you won’t need to discharge yourself because either your liver will pack in completely or I’ll throw your sorry ass out of here kicking it all the way to the carpark, got it?” At that she turned toward the door winking at the lads with a smile on her face as she left.
The room had gone quiet and everyone looked at The Major who was visibly shaken and had gone a little paler.
“Well I guess that puts me in my place. I’m sorry, I just don’t like hospitals and all my stuff is back at the arches, I’m worried someone will take it.” The Major was very sheepish and genuinely apologetic. With a sigh he exclaimed, “God I never wanted to see her again, she reminds me of my old drill sergeant from when I did basic training and she puts the fear of god into me.” Causing everyone to have a giggle at his expense.
Little did they all know they had just met Dr Gary Evans’ secret weapon. Ward Sister Judy Evans was petite and really very mild mannered and caring. But if you upset her then you better move quick, she could explode like a twenty mega-ton bomb and, she was also a very good actor when the need arose as her young doctor son knew only too well.
Smiling, “And it looks like you two have just been adopted so now I’ve got two sons.” Now The Major was laughing and having a coughing fit at the same time.
The lads looked at each other with cheesy grins and nodded, Ian spoke up, “There’s no argument from us Pop and we’re good with that. We’ll stay and have these drinks with you then we’ll get off to let you rest, we’ll get all your stuff from the arches. Then I think we better go home for some rest too. We’ll come back later to check on you and bring anything you need, so any more orders?”
The Major agreeing added, “Take John with you and will you ask him to get my special box for me, he knows where it is, it’s important to me so don’t forget.”
The doctor who had been shaken by the events spoke up. “I think that’s a good idea Mr Oxley…..”
He got shot down by Kevin, “That’s Major Oxley to you and don’t you forget it.”
“Sorry, Major Oxley needs some rest and if I can suggest it, maybe get cleaned up so that you can be more comfortable?” The doctor looked a little uncertain but smiled with relief when the nurse offered to give a bed bath and The Major agreed with a grin.
As the doctor and nurse was leaving John came in. During the night he’d left the lads on their own with The Major at their insistence. This was only intended to be a brief visit. After being satisfied that The Major was on the road to recovery and after nearly splitting his sides with laughter at the telling off he had received John left fifteen minutes later taking the lads with him.
After all, they had been given their orders and you don’t argue with The Major, unless of course if you’re Kate or a certain Ward Sister.
Thank you to those who have stuck with me reading this story and the positive reactions received, comments and thoughts are also welcome they will always read and acknowledged.
I am working on this without the aid of either editor or beta reader as that is my choice so any errors are all my responsibility, if you spot any let me know and I'll try to correct them as soon as possible.
New chapters will be posted about every week or so.
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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