Chemical Secret by Tim Vicary. Part 7.
Watch on KineScope.
So Mary went to John’s house. Simon was there too. They had a meal and talked about horses and sailing. Everyone was polite, and there were no arguments. Later, Mary went with Christine to look at her horse, and Simon stayed with John. In the field, Mary began to talk about Simon.
‘He’s a fine young man, Christine. He’s very clever and kind. He makes me think of your father.’
‘My father! He’s nothing like my father! And Dad hates him!’
‘I’m sure he doesn’t.’
‘He does! He says he’s too old for me, and I mustn’t see him! He thinks I’m still a little girl, Mary! But I’m eighteen! I want to get married!’
‘Tell me more about Simon…’
And so for a long time Mary stood in the quiet, lonely field. She helped Christine give food to her horse, and listened to her talk about Simon. Simon, Christine said, was kind, intelligent, very hard – working. He liked sailing and riding, and he wanted to make the world a cleaner, better place. He made her feel important, like an adult, not a child any more. She had met his parents, and they liked her a lot. It was only her father…
‘So what should I do, Mary?’ Christine asked.
Mary put her hand on the horse’s neck. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said. ‘I think you should marry him, but you don’t want to make your father angry, do you? That’s not the best way to start your life with Simon.’
‘No, but I will if I have to!
‘Would you like me to talk to him? Perhaps he’ll listen to me. It’s difficult for him – you’re his only daughter, and he’s probably very worried about it.’
‘Oh, would you, Mary? Please. I want Dad to like Simon, really, but he’s always nasty to him.’
‘I’ll do my best, my dear, but I don’t know if it’ll work.’
Mary did try, very hard, before she moved to Scotland for her new job. She spoke to John on the phone, and sometimes they had a cup of coffee together in town. She was surprised how carefully John listened to her, and how grateful he seemed for her help. He’s really a very lonely man, she thought. It must be hard for him with two children and no wife. He used to talk to his children a lot, but he doesn’t now.
At last John agreed to the marriage. Mary was invited to a special supper because of the good news. Christine was very happy. She kissed Mary when she arrived, and gave her a small, secret present to thank her. It was a pair of pretty ear – rings. At the meal, John seemed a little nervous, but happy too. He tried hard to smile, and thanked Mary, although he didn’t think of giving her a present.
He watched Christine all through the meal. He seemed to be afraid that he would never see him again, and he was very happy when she smiled at him.
Then Simon stood up to say something.
‘Mr Duncan,’ he said. ‘I’ll always remember this night. I know how much you love your daughter, and believe me, sir, I love her too. You’ve been worried about me because you want her to have the best husband possible, and I – well, I can’t promise anything, but I’m going to try to be that man. You’re a rich man, Mr Duncan, and of course, Christine and I won’t have a lot of money at first, but I hope we’ll manage.’
He smiled at Christine. ‘And yesterday, Mr Duncan, I spoke to my employer, and he’s going to pay me a little more than before!’
John looked surprised. ‘Oh really? Why is that?’
‘Well, because he’s given me a new job. He’s asked me to write about the environment. And this is the first one. Look here!’
He pulled a page of newspaper out of his pocket, and held it up in front of them. There were pictures of water, sandbanks, and some seals. The headline read:
SEALS AT RIVER MOUTH HAVE STRANGE DISEASE
Four baby seals found dead.