Out of Time

A Brief Interlude, Herne Bay, September 2009

A Brief Interlude

Herne Bay,September 2009

 Great aunt Mavis waved goodbye to Anna Bailey as her great niece slid inside the taxi which would take her to the station, a sad numbness descended upon Mavis every time a family visit was over. She rarely saw her own daughter and grandchildren, too busy leading their cosmopolitan lives down in London. They were strangers, Anna was the grandchild she should have had. Mavis thought of Anna and how much she loved it here, she moved over to her desk and checked the details of her homemade will and nodded to herself, Anna would get the house because at least if Anna never found anyone, her great niece would have a roof over her head or money from the house sale. Mavis Caroline Findley opened the back door into the garden and frowned at the potted plants which despite her great niece’s efforts were dying, there was a tinge of autumn in the air and soon it would be winter. Mavis closed her eyes, it had been the most beautiful day but from nowhere the wind had suddenly picked up; she opened her eyes… Mavis knew that the strange man in her back garden dressed in a top hat and tails, leaning against the blue box was the Doctor even though he had a different face. The Doctor smiled, his eyes dancing with life. In fact he looked as though he was about to break into dance.

 “Doctor it’s you!” Mavis half gasped and then giggled, the Doctor dashed over to offer the elderly lady his arm as she looked in danger of teetering over with shock. “But Anna she was just here…You’ve only just missed her Doctor dear.” Mavis quivered, her face clouded over with anxiety as she thought of Anna’s sadness. “I’ll call her…” 

 “It’s okay Mavis.” The Doctor smiled reassuringly. “Anna will meet me again well she just has… But not yet…It’s never goodbye, not really.”

 “I think I understand.”  Mavis nodded with a sudden realisation.

 “Well I’m glad one of us does Mavis.”  The Doctor raised his gaze vaguely towards the heavens, looking utterly perplexed for a moment.

 “Oh with your new face, you remind me so much of my Bert when he was a young lad.” Mavis clapped her hands together, utterly enchanted but then frowned. “But Doctor why are you here?”

 “To see you again of course Mavis Caroline Findley. Why else?” The Doctor exclaimed enthusiastically.

 “Me? Oh my dear but why would you want to spend time with me I’m an old lady.” Mavis shrugged dismissively, a little aghast by the notion but at the same time secretly pleased.

 “Don’t be fooled by this baby face I’m a lot older than I look.” The Doctor beamed enigmatically and then pointed with an extravagant flourish to his blue box. “So Mav where do you fancy going? Though you mustn’t tell your family.” The Doctor quickly added.

 “Oh you naughty boy. Are you running away with me?” Mavis flirted but then caught her breath quickly as she thought of someone she would give her life to see again. “The Dance Hall at Blackpool tower, 1947 the night I first met my Bert… Will I do?” Mavis always liked to dress up whenever her great niece visited, her long amber beads shimmering, she gave a twirl in her silk tea dress. Mavis murmured dreamily. “And then on the way back, maybe the moon…”

 “You look fabulous.” The Doctor breathed coquettishly. “Get you coat Mavis.”

 “Doctor I have to know…” Mavis held up her hand, straightened her shoulders back with a gesture that was very familiar to the Doctor. “Does everything work out for Anna in the future?”

 “Of course it does.” The Doctor clicked his finger and the TARDIS doors suddenly snapped open. “I’ll explain on the way but remember…”

 “I must never tell Anna. But as long as there is a happy ending then that’s all that matters Doctor.” Great Aunt Mavis smiled contentedly, her childlike eyes lit up as the Doctor led her inside the TARDIS.