After waking up next to George at around five that evening Gabrielle was told she had a train ticket to Calais the next day. She blinked for a few minuets and then George had to leave to play at the Kaiserkeller. He must have told the others about her mother’s death because sometime around sunrise John popped round.
She was surprised to see the usual guard down. But she wasn’t crying anymore. John handed her a stack of letters put together with a rubber band around it. Letters from the lads, he said, to keep her mind off nastier things. It was nice to see someone who could tell her she would be ok in a bit. But then it was John. Who was said to have put his foot through a window when his mother died.
But now she was running through the train station. Because Astrid’s car stalled on the way there and then once it was back up and running they only had a small amount of time to get there. The sky was appropriately gray and storming. Rain began to patter on the clear open skylights of the roof. It seemed appropriate.
John was dragging her trunk on a push trolley with one am around her shoulder and Astrid had her arm around her as well, carrying her ticket.
“Get her to the platform” she instructed John “I’ll check her in”
John nodded “Come ‘ead Gabby” he said, inclining his head towards the platform. They stopped next to the train and John pulled out a pen. “Gimme your arm” he instructed
She held out her hand and raised one eyebrow with a grin “Why? What’re you gonna do”
He flashed her a smile “I know you’re not in your right mind. You’re doing a very good job of hiding it, but luv, I think that there are at least three people in this world who know what’s going on all to well in your head.” he took her wrist in his hand and watched her face turn blank. And then the smile was back.
“Ok Johnny” she grinned
He shook his head and positioned his pen over her hand “Good girl. Now. I’m reminding here, of what to do”
“What to do”
“Yeah” he drew a several words down her forearm and the held it up to her face so she could read it. All in capital letters. John had horribly sloppy hand writing. It was more legible that way.
It said:
TRAIN TO CALAISE
TAXI TO PORT OF CALAISE
6:30PM FERRY TO DOVER
CHANGE WATCH BACK 1HR
9:00PM TRAIN TO WATERLOO
MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO LIVERPOOL
LOOK FOR PETER.
It took up her entire forearm. She snorted and pulled the sleeve to her jacket down over it. “John” she said “You’re being silly”
He shrugged and dug around in his pockets before coming up with a few French and English notes and some pills.
“John” she groaned “I don’t need money”
“All you have is German money, besides, it’s just ten quid, half English half French. Just incase. Now shut up. Those are prellies. So you don’t go spastic”
She raised her eyebrows “what’s this?”
He grinned “You’ll find out, Gabby. Now give us a hug”
She sighed and put her arms out for John to step into. She didn’t recall ever getting hugged by John ever in her life. At least not seriously. He gave her a fierce squeeze and then laughed like a dirty old man. “Bet you liked that one, you did”
“Gabby! John!” Astrid came running over, waving papers in her hands.
Everything was a blur after that. She was hugged, and shoved towards the plane. Papers were shoved in her pockets and Astrid smacked kisses on her cheeks. John rushed her up onto the train and sat her down and gave her a hug, patted her on the head. And was gone.
She blinked, feeling the train jolt to life. Her eyes traveled to the window where John was waving madly and acting like a spastic leaning on Astrid and rolling his shoulders and being mad in general. Astrid was trying to make him stop and laughing her hardest.
Gabrielle smiled and raised her hands to the glass.
She hoped they would come home soon.