Screw Pile Developments

Winter (Year 2) — Veldmeer Airfield

Winter flight training continued for Seb and Raven as the landscape turned white beneath them. Gloves were now not ‘just a cool’ flying accessory, they were absolutely necessary, along with a warm scarf and thermal layers under the flying jackets that had been given to both boys on their birthdays by Grandma Bella.

The boys were consolidating their circuit flying skills, making multiple short flights, practicing take-offs and landings on the same day. After being winched up to around 1000 feet, they would release, fly straight ahead for some distance on the upwind leg, then make a left-hand turn for the short crosswind leg, before turning onto the long downwind leg flying parallel with the runway, another left-hand turn for a short base leg, then turning again to make the final approach.

Seb was on his third flight of the day, and Daan, sitting in the back seat, was progressively handing over more and more of the flying as Seb’s confidence and skills increased. However, Seb still had one flaw — a tendency to fly a little too fast on the final approach and landing. After correcting Seb on the first two flights, Daan decided to let him complete his circuit and land, even if his speed was still a little too high.

Seb briefly deployed his air brakes, small panels that popped up out of each wing to steepen his descent angle and slow the glider. It wasn’t enough. Seb’s speed was still just a little above 70 knots, the ideal landing speed being just under 60 knots.

This time, Daan said nothing.

The glider crossed the threshold of the runway high and fast, finally touching down around a third of the way along the runway. The speed at touchdown: still a little north of 60. Pulling on the blue brake lever with his left hand, the glider eventually came to a stop around two-thirds of the way down the runway. They were now a long way past the hangars and the flight apron. The glider tilted slightly to the left, and its wing made gentle contact with the ground.

Seb had landed long — very long.

Daan still said nothing from the back seat, letting the silence do the work. After a few moments of silence Seb spoke.

Another silence. Seb ran his gloved fingers through his hair.

Raven and Toby were on retrieval duty. They both decided that it was way too far to walk, so they jumped in the side-by-side, taking a glider tow bar and wing dolly with them to haul Seb and his glider back to the flight apron. By the time they arrived, Seb and Daan had moved the glider off the runway leaving it clear.

The side-by-side pulled up and Raven, grinning mischievously, stuck his head out and called to Seb.

Seb, by now feeling a little sheepish, answered dryly.

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The Pantomime

The annual pantomime was a much anticipated highlight of the winter term at Veldmeer Primary, a major community event with the whole school taking part. This year, the pantomime was to be Jack and the Beanstalk. Parts had been cast, and in the considered view of one particular six-year-old, he had landed a very important part indeed. Hamish had been given the part of Guardian of the Golden Eggs, charged with looking after the basket of golden eggs, laid by the golden goose. He was very pleased, because after all — he knew how to look after eggs.

Angus, on the other paw, was not pleased with his part at all. He had been cast as the back end of Milky White, Jack’s cow, and to make matters worse — at least from Angus’ direct point of view — Fergus had been cast as the front half. Fergus, for his part, was quietly pleased that for once he got to be the leader, and his brother had to follow along behind him — literally. This had not stopped Angus from making all manner of arguments why he should be the front, and Fergus the rear. However, when it came to part allocations, Mrs Thompson’s decision was final.

The big day arrived and the pantomime was underway, with Jack leading Milky White to the market to sell.

Fergus had one line — a line which he had practiced over and over for weeks, wearing thin the patience of anyone within earshot. Fully wired with a body microphone inside the cow costume, his big moment arrived.

The sound boomed out over the sound system. A perfect delivery.

But then the microphone picked up another unscripted sound emanating from Fergus’ rear end, which just so happened to be right next to Angus’ face inside the cow costume. The sound was fully amplified through the sound system and speakers to the audience.

PH-RAAAAARP!

Fergus’ body microphone, evidently not designed with this particular application in mind, gave it a rich, room-filling bass it had no right to have. Several things then happened. The audience roared with laughter.

Then came a long, tearing schhhrrrip — the velcroed seam around the middle of Milky White gave way entirely; Angus burst out of the rear half, holding his paws over his nose while still wearing the bottom half of the cow costume, complete with pink udder.

With a look of complete mortification and panic, Angus then fled the stage, announcing to no one in particular — “Nobody ever sees it coming…cows are really cranky!”

Meanwhile, the front half of Milky White stayed on stage, standing with its remaining front legs — albeit missing its rear end. The mysterious old man who was about to trade his pawful of magic beans for Milky White, then said:

“I wanted the whole cow, not half a cow!”

The audience roared and clapped loudly, thinking it was all part of the show.

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After-Show Refreshments

The after-show crush and scramble to reunite parents with pups, some still with their stage make-up to be washed off later. A light supper of finger food had been laid out on trestle tables, with each family ‘bringing a plate’ of food to share. As families gathered, Angus, Hamish and Fergus appeared from backstage, having divested — and in the case of Angus and Fergus, more accurately extracted — themselves from their costumes.

Fergus said nothing; the satisfied smirk on his face conveyed his feelings on the matter perfectly well.

The whole Headwall family had come to see the show, including all the boys, Grandpa Jake, Grandma Bella, Rebecca, Daan and Marta. Timo, Hans and Toby had also turned up, not normally their demographic, but once again Hamish had insisted on their attendance, by direct request.

Families were busy taking photos with their pups, asking others to take their phones so no one in their group would be left out. The whole Headwall family, including Timo, Hans and Toby, was quite a picture, twenty-three in total, and it took some time to organise everyone into position, so no one was hidden.

“Budge up everyone!” the parent of the pup who played Jack said. “Is everyone here?”

A small paw tapped Grandma Bella’s arm.

Momentarily caught off guard, Grandma Bella looked down at Hamish, drew him in and gave him a hug, all the while her heart quietly breaking.

Angus and Fergus simply looked at each other, keeping their thoughts to themselves.

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After Dinner — Scullery

As usual, Grandpa Jake was in the scullery helping with the drying up. It was his time to talk to the boys about whatever they might have on their minds. Tonight he was with Lewis, working their way through the pile of plates and cutlery.

Grandpa Jake paused for a moment mid-wipe. He knew the subject of the pups’ parents couldn’t be ignored forever.

Grandpa Jake’s ears flattened slightly.

Grandpa Jake placed a dried plate on the stack.

Lewis nodded thoughtfully.

It was then that Seb, who had been at the sink the whole time quietly listening to the conversation, handed Grandpa Jake the last plate to dry directly, rather than putting it in the drying rack. As Grandpa Jake took the plate, Seb held the plate just a moment longer than necessary, making full eye contact as he did so, before letting go.

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Later that Evening — Den

Grandpa Jake had retreated to his den, which also served as a library, with shelves full of books lining the walls. He sank into his chair, and took the stopper out of one of his favourite bottles of Scottish whisky, the only one he had managed to take with him on their hurried departure from Earth two years before. He carefully poured out a single measure, and added just a little water to smooth out the edge. He sat quietly and sipped as he thought about Hamish asking about his parents at the pantomime, and then Lewis asking directly about Duncan and Clara in the scullery. It was at that moment his phone rang — the time, 20:00 exactly. He needn’t have looked at the screen; he knew who it would be.

Jake then proceeded to give a rundown on each of the boys, how they were doing in school, and their current interests. Of course Huxley was most interested in how Seb and Raven were doing with their flying.

There was a moment of heavy silence before Huxley answered.

Huxley’s answer was unequivocal.

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Next Evening — 20:00

Lewis was ready and waiting in the den, for Grandpa Jake’s phone to ring. At precisely 20:00, Grandpa Jake’s phone, lying on the desk, began to vibrate and ring; Marvin Huxley calling, showing on the screen. Grandpa Jake picked his phone up and answered the call.

Grandpa Jake handed the phone to Lewis, and gave him an encouraging nod.

There was a short pause on the line as Lewis processed this new information.

As the call ended, Huxley couldn’t help breaking a small smile. He usually insisted on hard data, but there was something about Lewis and his ‘funny feelings’ that he couldn’t explain, but deeply respected.