Summoned

I sip my polystyrene cup of coffee pensively. Another day’s play going pear-shaped; we are not having a good season. The clouds have blown over again and all I can do is pray for rain. Politely, I clap the end of the over: another maiden for the opposition bowler.

 

Owen slides into the seat next to me. It is most unusual for him to arrive unannounced.

“Hector wants to see you.” No hello, no how are you, no little hug.

I frown. “Any idea why?”

He shrugs. “I’m only the messenger.”

“Bugger. I wonder what I’ve written that’s offended him?”

 

I abandon my coffee and follow Owen through the members’ bar and up to Hector’s private office. If we were a football club, Hector would be the owner. In English cricket things are more genteel; instead, he is our chairman and chief source of cash. I have met him only twice before.

 

As Owen punches in the combination to the private area, I ask him if he’s OK. His head is down as he replies, “Just busy, that’s all.” Now I am sure I’m in for a major bollocking, maybe even being told never to darken the club’s doors again. Owen must know, and he is too kind to tell me. Perhaps I’ve even dragged him into the mire as well.

 

I have never been in Hector’s office before. It has a grandstand view of the pitch, and gives an over-riding impression of black. Black leather sofas, black desk, dark grey smoked glass table. The carpet’s probably dark grey too, but I don’t look at that – I have decided to look Hector in the eye.

 

He extends his hand towards me. “Willow! Sorry to drag you away from the game – although it’s not exactly edifying cricket.”

I shake his hand enthusiastically. “I don’t know what’s happened to us this season.”

He laughs hollowly. “You do, you’re just too polite to say!”

 

Hector gestures to one of the sofas and I sit down. “Can I get you a drink or anything? Gin and tonic maybe?”

“No thanks. I’m driving.”

“Sensible girl.”

Why is he making me feel about two inches tall? I’m sure it’s deliberate.

 

He sits down in an armchair next to me and we chat about this and that. I feel myself relax a little; he wouldn’t be this friendly if he was going to tear me off a strip, but my mind is working overtime, trying to work out what he does want. It can’t be my scintillating company; I feel as though I’m acting like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

 

In the end, he comes to the point. “Are you very busy at the moment? Do you have the bandwidth to take on a major project?”

Actually, I am very busy, but I’m still interested.

“It depends what it is.”

“And how much it’s worth!”

It’s my turn to laugh now. “It won’t be worth much if it’s to do with cricket.”

“Well it is. I want you to write a kind of history of the club.”

I’m puzzled. “Hasn’t that guy from the members’ committee already done it?”

“Only up until 2000. I want something more up to date; something that’s more off the field than on, and you’re good at writing about that.”

 

I get it now. The club history, starting from the moment Hector rode up in his Jag and became our knight in shining armour. Actually, despite the downsides, I’m up for it. I need a major project to consume my mind and stop it wandering. I lean forwards. “What exactly would it entail?”