Flabberwocky

16 - The incredible flying caravan

The next day started abruptly, with Dad knocking on Molly and Panda's door, "are you awake girls, you've got to come and see this." The girls drowsily grabbed their dressing gowns and followed him into the kitchen area where he was looking intently out of the window. A police car had pulled up next to the caravan opposite and three policemen were walking up and down chatting to other residents who were also wearing dressing gowns. "What's happened then Dad?" yawned Molly. "Well, you know how bad the storm was last night, one of the caravans actually blew away!" Panda laughed figuring he was joking. "No, seriously," protested Dad, "Lawrence and Barry have gone with your Mum to look over the cliff, loads of the caravans over that side of the campsite have blown off their standings, and one went plummeting over the edge." Molly found it all a bit hard to believe, "have you talked to the police, or is this just a trick to get us to go outside in our jim jams?" Dad agreed it sounded like he was making it up, "but there's only one way you'll find out." Panda completed his sentence, "go outside in our jim jams?"

Cautiously Panda and Molly walked to the cliff holding their dressing gowns closed against the wind and stepping over bits of debris and litter along the way. Whilst the rain had stopped, the wind was still blowing hard enough to make standing close to the edge worrying. Mum told the girls how the poor family had woken up when their caravan started moving and jumped out onto the grass just in time. They'd now been taken to the seaview bed and breakfast around the corner to recuperate. Even while staring at the scattered mountain of broken wood and metal strewn over the rocks below, Lawrence still secretly wished it had been their caravan that had blown over the edge. Panda spotted Nan and Barbra amongst the crowd further round the cliff top path and waved to them. "What did you do that for?" moaned Molly as they waved back and made their way over to join them. "Exciting isn't it," enthused Nan, "it reminds me of the war." "I knew this would happen," added Barbra, "the policeman said we were lucky our caravan is so uncared for, the only reason we didn't end up down there was because the axels are rusted solid." Molly took another peek over the edge, imagining Barbra's arms and legs sticking out from underneath one of the kitchen units now squashed into the sand. Lawrence wondered if anyone could have survived if they'd still been sleeping inside the caravan during its descent. Predictably Barry wanted to go and hunt for valuables and it was only Nan's promise of two extra rashers of bacon that persuaded him not to rush down to the beach and rummage through the wreckage.

Once they got back to the caravan Nan scraped two scoops of lard from a cup in the fridge into the frying pans on the hob. While they didn't tell her so, her breakfasts had already become a holiday highlight, though Dad secretly thought his Saturday specials were much better. Barry declared Nan's sausages the best he'd ever eaten, though he covered them so thickly in brown sauce it was doubtful he could even taste them. Today Lawrence found it hard to stop gawping out of the window while he was eating. It was quite strange how the caravan park settled back to normal once the police had gone away. Molly suspected it was because this wasn't a particularly unusual event in Shortbeach.

Once their plates were cleared Molly told Mum and Dad about their plans to spend the day in town. Annoyingly Barbra overheard and suggested that as she and Nan were also heading into town for the morning, they could walk along with them. With Mum nodding at her expectantly over Nan's shoulder, Molly had little choice but to agree. Lawrence and Barry waited outside the caravan while the girls grabbed their coats. Then they all waited a bit longer while Nan helped Barbra down the metal steps.

Lawrence and the girls were used to walking slowly when they were with Barry, his pace was similar to that of an overweight dog with three legs, and he always seemed to walk slower if he was talking at the same time. However, compared to Barbra, Barry moved like a cheetah. "Are you going into town for anything special?" asked Panda. "Just a look round the shops, give the old noggin a nudge," smiled Nan. "Are you sure it's worth it?" interrupted Molly, "it's nearly half a mile Barbra, and with your stick, it's going to be a struggle, not to mention the long walk back." Barbra paused to think for a moment, allowing Molly to hammer her point home, "I just worry about you having to use your walking stick all that way." To her surprise Barbra agreed, "that's very kind Molly dear, thank you, there aren't many young girls who'd offer to hold an old lady's arm." She then stood there like a grey haired human tea pot waiting for Molly to link arms with her. Molly looked towards Nan for help, but she just proudly smiled back, full of admiration for her kind granddaughter. Backed into a corner Molly begrudgingly slipped her arm under Barbra's and supported her every step of the way on their extended journey into town.