When the gypsy met the gorga

Chapter 31: Millie

We managed three more people to help. I thought it was best to forget the whole thing then and there. But Gran was determined to fight. I couldn't do anything more. It was going to happen the next day. Today we were camping out at the meadows. Gran had come even though I agreed to pick her up on the morning. I had taken extra pillows to pad the sleeping bag. She had just gone to sleep. I couldn't manage a wink. I kept on thinking about Stefan. Why couldn't we get back together? He was innocent .....my ego didn't want me to admit that I was wrong. But I knew very well that I was.

"MILLIE!!!!", called Ben. What the hell was he doing here? I got out to see him and Lauren along with a bunch of other people.

"What do you...",I asked feeling a bit harsh. Ben smiled sheepishly.

"We've changed our minds", he said.

I took a deep breath. I felt calm. I smiled. "Nice."

Ben was about to say something but then his face shrivelled. I turned to see the gypsy clan led by Stefan. I swallowed my pride. He came and stood in front of me. " What are your lot doing here?", I asked blank.

" We signed up and we're not backing away." He used the same tone with me. I didn't like it.

"Well I think we have enough..  "

" So do I."

"The more the merrier", said Karl.

I stared at Karl about to say something. The gypsies gathered around the trees at the precise moment. There was nothing I could do. Stefan walked away and got things with his aide ready. I noticed some people I had never seen and a man who looked a bit too delicate to be doing things like this.

The two groups sat away from each other. The delicate man looked back and forthe between the two groups with a big question mark which made me conclude that he certainly wasn't a gypsy.

Stefan was talking to a girl....pretty girl I had never seen around. They laughed about something. He ignored me like I wasn't there at all. We heard the tractors coming and so it started.

We stood outside the meadows and waited. The tractors came and behind them were  some other workers of Mantle corp. They got out and came over to us. I recognised Stevens, Mantle's secratary.

"We have a warrant to clear the area", he said. We were about to start the slogans but then Stefan spoke up.

"And we have a reason to fight!!!", he said holding a paper up stepping forward. We all stared at him.

" The meadows are now a heritage site because they are home to an endangered herb called the Wicker fern. You try anything with the meadows and you won't just have to face us but also the botanical society."

The elegant man came forward. "I'm Dr Gregory. I represent the botanical society. He's right, you try pulling this down and even the UN will get involved so I suggest that you people leave."

Some one began clapping. I turned to see Gran clap. Every one else did too. I did too. "STEFAN! STEFAN!", cheered his gang. The girl who talked to him earlier was whooping along with them.

Stevens called up Mantle who insisted they go along with it. "But...", started Stevens and then he put the phone down.

" We're still going on with this."

"Right..places", I said.

Every one formed rings around the trees. The tractors came up hoping to scare us. The teeth of the first tractor was just inches from Iaan. He looked a bit dazed but didn't move.

"MOVE!!!!", screamed the driver. Iaan looked unsure but shook his head. The other tractors were at other people in the same manner and were revving the engines every now and then but surprisingly everyone stayed put even thpugh it did seem a bit scary. The drivers gave up. Stevens made some calls. The police came. The doctor talked to them and it was it. No one could do anything. The press had come by the time. A lot of our lot waved to the cameras. A couple of people came.

The police ordered the corp to leave. The tractors left. Some one cheered. We all did. The cameras were taping the whole time.