Last Updated on June 3, 2024 by Tom Kane

Chapter Seven

A Dishonourable Discharge

Catterick Garrison, England, March 1930

Nev Fordham was indeed still alive. And it only took six months for Albert to discover his brother was alive and on his doorstep in Catterick.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“Well, that’s a fine greeting from a brother?”

Albert Fordham held his door open, but didn’t invite Nev in. “Have you been released from prison?”

“Sort of. Dishonourable discharge. They kindly gave me some cash, five pounds, and a limited travel warrant. So, here I am.”

Albert was slowly shutting his door, shaking his head. “You cannot stay here? The camp commander, when he hears about it, will go mad.”

Nev placed a large, booted foot over the doorstep. “I must stay here. We have unfinished work. Our friend in Dover said I should visit you, brother. Seems only natural, don’t you think?”

Albert pulled the door open at the mention of their friend in Dover. “Inside, now. Before anyone sees you. Ruth is not well. She’s upstairs having a nap, so please, be quiet.”

The two men moved into Albert’s home, into the kitchen, and Nev sat at the table while Albert made two cups of tea.

“So, where do we go from here?” Albert asked, as he waited for the kettle on the gas hob to boil, looking out the kitchen window as storm clouds gathered, readying for a good old fashioned Yorkshire downpour.

Nev couldn’t help but notice his brother’s tapping fingers on the kitchen worktop.

“Are you agitated, Albert.”

Albert turned around. “Agitated? Agitated? Of course I’m agitated. My wife is ill. The doctor wants her to go to the hospital for tests. And now you have turned up on my doorstep and Brocklehurst wants us to live together? Is that what he wants?”

As Nev shrugged his shoulders, a high-pitched scream pierced the air.

“Uncle Nev. Uncle Nev,” Jessie Fordham shouted as she entered the kitchen.

“Jessie, my dear girl,” Nev grunted as Jessie flung her arms around Nev’s waist.

“Jessie, go and play outside,” Albert said, making it clear he was annoyed with his daughter.

“Aww, why?”

“Don’t question me. Do as I say, girl. Go on. Outside, now.”

Jessie looked up at Nev and Nev winked back. “I’ll come outside shortly,” he said.

Jessie nodded and opened the back door to the garden and raced outside to play on the swing in the garden.

“Brocklehurst is in Dover,” Nev said. “It’s all right for him to pontificate. I had one brief telephone conversation with him and he told me to come here.”

“Told you?”

“Yes, dammit. I’m doing as I’m told. What’s your excuse?”

The kettle boiled and Albert Fordham made tea and prepared to have his brother stay with his family for the near future.

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Chapters 1-2: http://fictionbooks.online/walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapters-1-2

Chapter 3: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-3

Chapter 4: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-4

Chapter 5: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-5

Chapter 6: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-6

Chapter 7: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-7

Chapter 8: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-8

Chapter 9: http://fictionbooks.online/historical-fiction-walking-away-from-midnight-sample-chapter-9