Page 37 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
Night had fallen during the performance, and Jennifer realised she had forgotten to bring any kind of jacket. Most of the other spectators were heading out of the doors and around to a car park in Sycamore Park’s northwest corner, but she was faced with a slightly nervy walk along the tree-lined paths to the southern entrance. She was about to take her chances when a familiar voice hailed her.
She turned to see Tom striding across the lobby. He looked totally different from the man she knew as the park’s caretaker, in black trousers and freshly polished shoes, his unkempt hair pressed beneath a thin-brimmed hat that was almost dapper. He wore a smart casual jacket and had a big grin on his face.
‘Jennifer. Glad I caught you. Thanks for coming.’
She stared at him, unable to speak, giving just a brief nod of acknowledgement.
Tom spread his arms. ‘What did you think? I fluffed a couple of lines, but it’s an adapted version so I don’t think anyone will have noticed.’
Jennifer swallowed. ‘I didn’t know you acted,’ she said.
Tom smiled. ‘It’s only local. A bit of a hobby these days.’
‘These days?’
He shrugged. ‘I had a few small roles going back a while.’
‘Small roles?’
‘Some TV work. A bit of West End. I got tired of the industry, which is why I do what I do now.’
Jennifer started to say, ‘A bit of West End?’ but realised she was beginning to sound like a parrot so clamped her mouth shut. ‘Oh,’ was all she could bring herself to say. ‘That’s nice.’
Tom smiled, and Jennifer felt her starstruck heart melting. ‘I didn’t know you were into Shakespeare,’ he said.
‘Neither did I until now. I just came along to get some inspiration for the teachers’ play.’ She gave a nervous laugh. ‘I’m a minstrel.’
‘Well, if you like, I could stop by to one of your rehearsals sometime to give you a few tips. If you think anyone would be interested … I don’t want to intrude, but I’m happy to help.’
Jennifer nodded. ‘I think that would be great. Amy wants us to put the Royal Shakespeare Company to shame, but I don’t think we’re going to pull that off. If we manage not to embarrass ourselves I’ll be happy enough.’
Tom smiled. ‘Sure. Just let me know a date and I’ll check my schedule. First, let me drive you home. It’s dark and getting chilly. I can’t have you walking home.’
‘Drive?’
‘Yeah.’ Tom lifted an eyebrow. ‘I have a car, you know.’
‘So you don’t….’
His face shone with amusement. ‘Live in that shack? Er, no. That’s just a shed. I have a place across town. You didn’t really think I lived there, did you?’
Jennifer gave a shy smile and shook her head, wondering how red it was possible to turn. She muttered an acceptance to the offer of a lift just to get away from the glaring lights in the theatre lobby as quickly as she possibly could.
Tom led her through the car park to a shiny Toyota that looked just a couple of years old. With another smile, Tom opened the passenger door for her, but it took Jennifer a couple of seconds to get her legs to move.
‘Uh, thanks.’
‘This is my car,’ Tom said with a chuckle. ‘I didn’t steal it.’
‘I know. I’m just struggling with this.’
‘Being the park caretaker isn’t my only job,’ Tom said. ‘In fact, it’s more of a hobby than anything else. I like being out in the open air. I do a couple of other things that mostly involve sitting at a computer. Some voiceover work, stuff like that. Just to pay the rent.’
Jennifer got into the car. Tom climbed in and they set off. A couple of minutes later, they pulled up outside Jennifer’s building on Willis Lane.
‘Ah, thanks,’ Jennifer said, opening the door. Still feeling starstruck, she said, ‘I’d, uh, invite you up but you know, the cat and the dog might get jealous.’
Tom laughed. ‘And this is a double yellow. Thanks again for coming to the show, Jennifer. It made my night seeing you in the audience. See you around?’
