Gloria

The water on the Somerset coast is not warm even in the height of summer and this was

still the end of May. Gloria and Lola stripped down to their costumes and ran shrieking into the ocean. Toby slowly walked Tilley down to the water’s edge and taking off their shoes and socks he gently held Tilley’s arm as they paddled. Washing away any sins he said. The two young women swam about vigorously, dunked each other, splashed and shouted around for some ten minutes or more before they both ran strongly up the beach to grab towels.

‘Jesus Gloria but I haven’t done that for a while.’

‘Neither have I, well not in salt water. Easier to swim in though, just tastes bloody awful. Look, grab a towel and rub my back. Then I’ll do yours.’

‘Anything you want sweetheart,’ murmured Lola and wrapped her arms around Gloria.

‘Right now Lola I want a dry back and then I’ll towel you. Once that’s done we’ll walk with the towels and dry off in this warm sunshine. We can go and walk with Toby and my mum. He’s got some plan going on. I can sense it.’

Very gradually Toby moved with Tilley deeper and deeper into the water. He talked about the use of water to help people. He even talked about some of the Groups he used to manage that came over from the States.

‘Some of them had funny ways you know Tilley. Even though they played wild music with crazy words some of those kids were church-going, some very tied to Sunday and the washing away of sins. Funny world and you were there as part of that Tilley,’ said Toby. ‘You were there and it was part of your life. You remember those days?’

Tilley muttered something and Toby asked, ‘What’s that Tilley? No, we can’t go back to those days darling. We can never go back love but we can move on. Look at me? I’ve moved on. I’d like to see you move on. Think about washing away the ties on you. Think about washing away the barriers to moving on. Some of the Groups used to wash away their sins and go back out on stage and be great, be fantastic, be wild and girls like you would go wild too. They’ve all moved on now Tilley. We’ve all moved on love. Move with us. Let a little of the water cast off the shackles and move forwards with us.’

Gloria and Lola walked quietly behind listening mesmerised to Toby’s slow but firm voice. It almost lulled you into belief Gloria thought afterwards. Toby the Fixer is going to move my mum. Tilley walked alongside Toby holding his arm as the waves surged in and out around her legs. He held her firmly so there was no lack of balance. Like a rock he was as the water surged around his knees and sometimes higher as he was outside of her and he wasn’t tall. The voice and the water soothed her. She felt emotions drain away and she felt more at peace within herself. Now and then she heard Gloria or Lola say something but mostly all she heard was Toby and his quiet persuasive voice. After half an hour or so they all turned round and started walking back the same way. It was a productive afternoon and the journey home in the car was low key yet somehow victorious. Although Toby suggested it Tilley wasn’t keen on going to the pub with them and so after she had cooked a meal Toby decided to stay at home with Tilley while Gloria and Lola walked down to the George.

‘He’s smooth Gloria. I’ll say that for him. I think he’s halfway there. What did he say about tomorrow?’

‘He’s interested in what Gary and I have found and we’ll all go and look tomorrow morning. There is less likelihood of anyone being around at that time in the weekend and I know Daniel Lord and that Katya will be away. He always plays golf on Sunday mornings and she goes too.’

‘Twiddles his club does she?’ asked Lola and she giggled. ‘Didn’t know American girls did that,’ she added.

‘I reckon. Hell, they’ve been going out now since I came back here and that’s ages ago. He’s not a very passionate bloke if he hasn’t had his leg over by now. Still, that Lord family is a funny lot. They’re all different. The parents as well as the kids that is. Anyway, she’s stayed around and she’s a typical American in some ways.’

‘What about your mum?’

‘Toby reckons that the answer is in the water. Leastways, that is what he said. I asked him what water? In fact I asked him what the hell he was on about?’

‘And he said?’

‘How did I enjoy this afternoon?’

‘And how did you enjoy this afternoon?’

‘Jesus Lola don’t you start going weird on me. I’m having enough problem with my mum and then Toby starts talking in riddles about bloody water and now you’ve gone off your nut.’

Slowly holding Gloria’s chin in her hand she gently kissed Gloria on the lips. ‘You’re special you know Gloria love. You’re special to me and special to Toby in his own way. Toby wants to wash away your mother’s supposed sins. He thinks she has some enormous hang-up over something. He doesn’t think he needs to find out what it is but he thinks he can use your mother’s love of God and the symbolism of washing away sins to help move your mother forwards. That was partly what he did this afternoon. He started the process and your mother reacted favourably. He wants to continue tomorrow.’