Reel the Line Gently

REEL THE LINE

GENTLY

A novel by

COLIN CRUMP

To the memory of my mum,

Lilly Valley

A catalogue record for this book is available from The National Library of New Zealand

eBook Edition: ISBN 978-1-3701131-7-0

eBook edition converted and published by Intrepid Sparks, 2017

www.intrepidsparks.com

Print Edition: ISBN 978-0-9941471-1-0

Print edition published March 2017 by CopyPress Books

141 Pascoe St, Annesbrook, Nelson, New Zealand.

www.copypress.co.nz

© Copyright Colin Crump, 2017

www.colincrump.co.nz

Except for the purpose of fair reviewing, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

Table of Contents

A Word from the Author

Conway Chignal (Prologue)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Other books by Colin Crump

A Word from the Author

Reel the Line Gently is my fifth book and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has bought or borrowed a copy of this or any of my other books. I thought I’d share with you a few details about my writing life and what makes me tick.

My earliest memories of my life time of writing was during the polio epidemic around 1949. It was a bit scary, theatres and public meeting places were closed, likewise the Papakura School where I was just twelve years old.

We were all put on home correspondence and the papers all came to us via the post.

One of our papers asked us to write a short poem.

I had no trouble with that and can still remember the verse which at the time drew attention from the teaching staff.

It went:

The birds and the bees and the murmuring trees

Are calling me out to play

But I can’t go as well you know

For I’ve got to do school work today...

Besides writing, the piano is my best friend and the ivories get a tickle most days. I am 80 years old now, but my favourite hobby still is flying small aircraft. My favourite sport is squash, and I really enjoy fishing.

As for writing, well this morning I managed 2000 words towards my sixth novel. Most, if not all my writing is done at my home office desk, early mornings – 4–9am seems to be my best time for getting it all done.

The best part of writing for me, is coming up with a good story and getting it right, and of course there is the great satisfaction in re-reading the finished manuscript which at times I find hard to believe I wrote.

Then once it is out there on the shelves and the readers’ feedback drifts back, that’s the thrill of it all.

I’m sure I’ll keep on writing for years to come.

I always write with a movie in mind and look forward to seeing some of my books on the big screen and that would be the ultimate prize for me!

Thank you, lovely readers.

Colin Crump.

February 28th, 2017

Conway Chignal

Let me introduce you to Conway Chignal. His rap sheet (minus his criminal offences – I’ll tell you more about them as we go) would read like this:

This good-looking dude’s aptly applied nickname was ‘Con’ – and that he was! A very fit young man who, before he married, swam competitively, played a lot of tennis, squash and cricket, but his most favoured sport was fishing.

His blue eyes drilled right through you. He wore a pencil-thin moustache over a mouthful of perfect teeth behind a perpetual grin. Well-groomed sandy hair, no tats, and a diamond signet ring with a matching Rolex watch gave him an air of personal pride as he flashed about in his designer suits. Even his undies had designer labels. Fancy shirts, always perfectly pressed with starched collars, a range of ties that matched all his wares, thirty-odd pairs of shoes – mostly from Italy or France – finished off his presentation as one of the best-dressed men in town. Besides his fancy clothes, Con had a personality that brought the ladies to their knees and he had the look-alike appearance of Errol Flynn – so much so his mates sometimes called him ‘the Flynn’, and rightly so.

Despite working as a pharmacist, financing his elaborate lifestyle kept him constantly on the alert for more money ... much more. A few dodgy dealings with substances he could easily get his hands on funded his lavish shopping. Nevertheless, hefty, and mostly overdue credit card debts plagued his progress despite the fact that he paid no rent at all: power, rates, insurance, even his cell phone, was attached to his father’s account. Father’s fuel card was very handy and, when the going got really tough, his mother was an easy touch too.

Father, Paul Chignal, was a moderately successful land agent-cum-landlord over several rental properties around town. Paul was well known and well accepted in the community by all who knew him, including the local Mayor and the police. He supported most charities and could have easily made Mayor himself had he so desired. He had seen to it that his only child received the best possible education from private schools and further on through to university, where Con eventually graduated as a pharmacist.

Con’s mother, Clair, was a most worthy soul. Well educated, she held a high position as a Chief Librarian for the Queen’s Own Institute of Literature. A good wife and mother who rationed out any spare time she had in charity work at the Op Shop, or just helping out with the poor and needy as well as the usual spattering of bludgers and druggies.

The family lived in a quiet part of town in an older-style villa with a nice view and quite beautiful garden. So it was most satisfactory all round.

On leaving university, Con had secured a job with the biggest pharmacy in town but soon became bored with the drudgery of everyday affairs, six days a week, with little time to pursue his desire for sport and fishing, not to mention his lust for pretty girls. Indeed, Con was a womaniser of the strongest proportions. He stuck to the job for about two years, during which time he slowly became more and more uncomfortable with his boss – who never really trusted him from the word go. His constant flirting with the female staff, and sometimes the customers, eventually led him to move on. This he did – just before he was asked to – and he was quite happy to be free of the constant boredom of everyday commitments and working for someone he didn’t like who, most certainly, didn’t like him. He was pleased to make the change and, as luck would have it, swiftly scored a position as relieving pharmacist for several chemist shops when the managers and owners took holidays, and sometimes for emergency situations, such as with flu epidemics. He not only enjoyed this new approach to earning a living, he also welcomed the time in between jobs which allowed him to play more sport, catch more fish and woo more girls. Life was sweetening up for Con – that is, for the time being anyway.

Chapter

One

A year after quitting his full time job, Con was relieving a manager in a pharmacy on the other side of town when in walked Maxine Miller. Just stunning! Five-foot-nine, long blonde hair, eyes that glowed like green emeralds, and probably the most beautiful teeth and complexion he had ever seen.

She entered the shop with a prescription for her mother who was quite unwell in the early stages of dementia. As they spoke, their eyes met and something was kindled, right there and then.

Con took the prescription, read it and asked her to put her name and phone number on the back. Maxine obliged and said she would wait for the prescription.

About twenty minutes, Miss Miller – there’s a coffee shop next door – I’ll call you when it’s ready.

Oh, thanks so much, Mr…

Ah, Conway Chignal’s my name – my friends all call me Con.

They both smiled and Con moved out back to fill the script while Maxine took up the suggestion of coffee next door.

Con swiftly took a separate note of Maxine’s phone number and the address of her mother. He couldn’t be sure whether Maxine lived with her mum or not but at least he now knew how to find this gorgeous piece of female flesh when and if the opportunity arose.

Maxine finished her second cup of coffee and returned to the chemist’s just as Con emerged from the dispensary with her mother’s medication.

Thanks so much, Mr Chignal – ah, Con, isn’t it? Mother will be pleased to get on with this medication. Bye for now. She turned and walked out of the shop with a slight sway of the hips and a toss of her head – just as models are trained to do.

Con observed this departure with absolute admiration – and there was something else as well.

Indeed, Maxine was a model and held a lucrative contract with an advertising company who, amongst other things, published two leading glossy magazines where she frequently appeared as a model for ‘All Seasons Fashions’.

Just two days later Maxine’s phone rang. She was out, so the answer phone took the message.

Please call Conway at the Central Pharmacy on number 555 9370. Thanks.

Maxine responded the same afternoon.

Thanks for calling me, Miss Miller, how is your mother?

Oh she’s moderately okay and the new medication appears to be helpful. She seems to be sleeping better too.

That’s one of the reasons I was ringing, Maxine – is it okay for me to call you Maxine?

That’s fine, what was the other reason you were ringing?

To remind you to make sure she drinks plenty of water. These new drugs do leave you a little dehydrated, and ensure she avoids grapefruit won’t you!

Yes I’ll do that – thanks. Was there anything else?

Well, Maxine, the owners of this shop are having a farewell party for the retiring Mayor. It’s in that fancy new conference room at the Hilton. I was thinking it would be very nice if you would accompany me there for the occasion. All the bigwigs are invited and they tell me that Helen Reddy will be there too. Should be quite a show. What do you say, Maxine? I hope you can make it – I know it’s not much notice."

I have a fashion show to attend the same afternoon, so if seven-thirty isn’t too late – yes – I could meet you there. I do know the venue. It’s quite a nice place.

That’s great, Maxine – see you there around seven-thirty.

Seven-thirty on the day soon arrived, but Maxine didn’t. Con was disappointed and had started flirting with one of the many ladies who were milling about sipping their champagne. Then, as his fancy wristwatch chimed nine pm, Maxine walked in.

Sorry, Con, she said. Had to go home and shower. I’ve been modelling all afternoon in the hot sun and one of the other girls couldn’t make it so I had to do the lot. Phew. Can I have one of those?

He handed her a glass of champagne. Everything was now fine.

In between boring speeches and the announcement that Helen Reddy couldn’t make it, the evening wasn’t looking too flash. After two or three dances to recorded music, Con sensed that his new friend was not exactly impressed and so he took the risk and asked, Do you not think we should escape all this?

She replied, Why not? What have you got in mind?

Your car or mine?

Maxine grinned. I have my dad’s three-month-old BMW, blue/grey – just the best.

Done! said Con.

Their eyes met, just for the moment, and both of them knew – yes – I think we are going to make it.

During another dreary speech, the pair slipped out the side door, both pleased to leave in favour of anything that offered a chance to recover whatever was left of the evening.

It was too late for a movie and after a couple of not-so-nice drinks at an overcrowded cocktail bar it was Maxine who made the suggestion. You know what, Conway?

No. What?

My parents are away for the weekend. I’ve got a very good sound system and I’m sure I can find us a better drink than anything we’ve had tonight. What do you say?

They never even finished their drinks and were soon on their way in Dad’s new BMW. These two were already underway to a long-lasting friendship, and as a couple they certainly looked the part.

Maxine and Con were soon recognised among friends and family as a perfect couple. They visited each other’s homes, met each other’s relations, shared one another’s interests and looked very much on track to sharing each other’s futures. All quite blissful, and happiness reigned over all. Maxine’s parents were more than happy with their daughter’s choice, while Con’s parents were a little more optimistic about this very close relationship, knowing how their son’s past conquests had never made the distance but this one felt different. Indeed, Maxine’s future in-laws absolutely adored her and welcomed her into their family with eagerly awaiting arms.

Con’s job as relieving chemist was taking his full attention and would continue to do so for at least another half year – the owners were on a world tour and it wasn’t a short one. Meantime Maxine’s career as a model absorbed most if not all of her time, preparing for the coming season’s change in fashions, so the couple had only limited time together. Nevertheless, when they did meet, it was always frustrating and fiery stuff.

Haven’t seen you for three weeks, Maxine said.

Had to spend half the nights making up prescriptions. Why can’t we just live together, Maxine? I’ll get a flat and at least we can be together at night.

My parents wouldn’t hear of it, Con, and neither would yours, so get real! That was the first confrontation. It went on for quite a while until boy phoned girl with good news.

Well, what is it, Con?

I was giving my dad a hand to erect a ‘for sale’ sign on a property up the Cliff View Hill and that gave us the chance to have a chat – you know, that father-and-son stuff.

‘Yes, yes go on."

You know the cottage next to the Memorial Park Gardens – well my dad owns that. It was left to him by his mother who said before she passed on it was her wish that her sister would live there at no cost for as long as she wanted. So, my love, my great-aunt died last week and, while we were erecting the sign I was telling you about, Dad said, ‘Come on let’s have a look.’ So in we went as he had a key. The old lady was fastidiously tidy and had spent a lot of her own money modernising and improving just about everything that could be upgraded…. He went on to tell Maxine that his dad’s father-to-son chat also included the offer for Con to move in on the same basis as his aunty. He couldn’t actually own it because it was in a Family Trust but he sure could use it. Dad had said too, that when he and Mom did hit the bricks, it would come to him anyway. Maxine was elated with the offer, and they agreed to meet on the following Saturday when she returned from a short trip to the London Fashion Show.

Saturday came round and Maxine went straight from the plane to her meeting with Con. She was of course used to tight schedules and this one was no different. Con was a bit late, there were a lot of virus-type influenzas around and the dispensary had never been busier. They were working late most nights.

They embraced, ordered two bourbon and cokes and sat down in the most private corner of the Smuggler Cove Restaurant, where they were the last of the night to order a meal. It was now almost closing time; still thankfully they made it, though only just. Con retold his story about father’s cottage and added a few bits here and there that he had forgotten, and Maxine could plainly see that he was quite excited. So was she and she listened attentively while he raved on about the possibilities. So it’s ours, Maxine – from this moment on – that’s if you agree, of course. And if we can talk our parents around!

Maxine paused as she sipped the last of her bourbon and coke and pushed the glass forward for another.

Better make it a double.

Come on, Maxine, what do you think? Say something will you!

Con, of course I agree – how could I not? It is a wonderful, considerate dad you have. They toasted the event with raised glasses and just then Maxine’s hand found his. She matched her eyes with his and said, I’ve got some news for you too.

What is it, my love?

I’m two months overdue, and this morning I almost missed the plane spewing in the bathroom loo, so I’m pretty sure you’re going to be a dad – a bit sooner than you expected.

Con was shocked – at twenty-five he was very keen to move in with Maxine, but that was the extent of ‘domestic bliss’ he had in mind. How could this have happened?

You want to keep the baby?

It was Maxine’s turn to be shocked. I would never.… How could you ask that? She looked near to tears.

I didn’t mean an abortion, Con hastily explained – although that was exactly what he had meant. I just meant that you will have to look after yourself properly if you intend to be a mother. He pushed her unfinished drink away from her.

He ordered another double for himself, and a coke – no bourbon – for