Defining Dapper & the conclusion of Training

Even though only a post graduate, Reece Davis was already the third line Gym Master, and from the moment the two of us met in the gym, we were in constant competition with each other.

I think at first Mr Davis was a little surprised by my rather unorthodox and aggressive approach to Basket Ball. My opening play was more like a rugby tackle, barging into his shoulder wildly as he took the ball. However, on this occasion I must admit to having grossly underestimating my opponent, and as proof it took him no time at all to reply. The very next time I went for the ball, he was on me in a flash, catching me square in the chest with a shoulder barge. The impact of the barge sent me spinning and sprawling across the Gym, crashing unceremoniously into the wall bars.

The first words from his mouth were.

'Now that's what I call, taking some of your own medicine, me boy oh!'

Passing the ball on, he noticed my windless plight and for a moment looked a little worried, and the glint in his eyes had disappeared, he was probably thinking he'd gone too far.

Moving toward me, he asked.

'What's your name son?'

In a winded husky voice, I squeaked a reply.

'Lane, Sir!'

Dapper

'Are you OK Lane?'

'Don't you worry about me Sir, I'll be fine, just getting me wind back!'

He replied with a barely audible sigh of relief.

'Well done Lane, re-join the game when you're up to it.'

As he jogged back into the game, he was already thinking. What a harden little bugger, I can see he's going to be a hand full, but that was a good start, and I think it put him in his place.

He was right in some respects, but far from perturbing me the ruckus simply encouraged me to even greater efforts, and once regaining my wind, we continued the tussle.

At our next collision, without realising the consequences one word could have, I dubbed him with his nickname. He was dipping and bobbing confidently across the gym, when I issued my challenge, calling out aloud.

'Right oh then "Dapper" let's see what you really have then, me boyo!'

It was obvious from the first moment that the choice of name had dented Dapper's pride, and more than just a little. My smart mouth did not help my cause one little bit, and there was a price to pay. I didn't realise at the time how similar we were, the apparent slight just encouraged him to respond with open enthusiasm to my challenge, and his reply was quick and feisty.

Dapper

'OK Lane, if that's the way you want to play it boyo let's be having you.'

To be honest he scared the shit out of me, and I was momentarily taken aback by the brash adult harshness of his tone and couldn't help but wonder what I'd started.

It didn't take long to find out, and soon Dapper began to take his revenge. Under threat from one of his attacks, I let the ball slip clumsily through my hands, it was as if it was coated with butter. Instantly Dapper was on his toes, springing from side to side and goading me, with what had now become an intimidating Welsh accent.

Dapper

'Come on Blunder boy!'

'Come on Blunder boy!'

'Lost yer bottle, have You?'

The rest of the period became a blur, revolving around our personal battle, and my attention was fully focused on Dapper's every move, and his, on mine.

Laner

'I don't recall the rest of you being in the gym, you just became an inconvenience, unwanted obstacles that got in the way.'

In the changing rooms after the game, our confrontation was the main topic of conversation, well your conversation that was. However, for the most part I was oblivious to most of the chatter, my mind still firmly focused on the game.

It was pretty damn obvious, that all you lads enjoyed seeing me get my comeuppance.

This obviously struck a note of agreement, as they all started laughing their heads off.

Surprisingly it was Tank who chirped in the most.

Tank

'Jesus, we really gave you plenty of bloody stick that day, there's no doubt about it, Dapper had definitely come out on top, he'd really beat the crap out of you.'

Laner

'Thanks for sharing the memory Tank, I can see the joy of that moment is still fresh in your eyes!'

However, my personal memory of those moments is more akin to an out of body experience. I remember being exhausted, and consumed in a kind of trance, as soon as I planted my tired ass on the hard-wooden bench in the corner of the changing room. My elbows rested heavily on my knees, and my sweat drenched red sports shirt was draped around my neck.

As my head drooped forward, it was pulsing in sympathy with my heartbeat, bobbing slightly to its drum, and I could even sense its beat in my eyes. My pupils were swelling and contracting in reply to the surges in my blood flow, giving me the impression that the floor was rising and falling. My brain was racing so fast; it was as if time was stood still. I watched the sweat droplets fall from the tip of my nose into the palm of my hand, where they formed a small pool before spilling between my fingers. The droplets cascaded like a tropical waterfall to the smooth white marblesque floor, where they exploded into a spray of minute replicates. Ultimately, gravity drew the minuscule replicates to earth, merging on the shiny surface they formed a tiny circular lake, fed by small rivulets fashioned from the orphaned droplets desire to reunite with their kin.

In sympathetic memory I swivelled my head from side to side, just as I did to clear my mind in the gym that day.

Laner

'I'll bet you don't want to remember how I sent that spiral of cold sweat spraying over you gloating asses'.

'And how you reeled back in disgust?'

They looked at each other, pretending they didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

'I know what you're up to and you're not going to deprive me the pleasure of reminding you out loud.'

'So, here's how it went.'

It was my turn to gloat, and I was showing some of my old cockiness.

'Well it was probably the best Basket Ball session I'd ever had.'

Laughing, I added.

'It beats playing with a bunch of wet drips like you, any day.'

A loud extended 'Oohing' ensued, just like it had echoed around the old tiled changing room when the lads first united to mock me. Try to imagine the scene on that day, when the laughing Tank could not contain himself.

Tank

'Wet drips hey!'

'Well who's a Blunder boy now then?'

The words rolled from his lips like thunder, from where he laid, sprawled out on the changing room bench. His barrel shaped belly rippling in sympathetic response, to his fits of laughter.

I'd just pretended to ignore him and carried on talking as if he hadn't spoken.

Laner

'Yes, I think I am going to really like this guy.'

What a buzz, these are really great memories, I can even remember the smile of anticipation growing on my eager young face, when sensing that Dapper may have been developing a similar regard for me.

However, his instinctive opinion was shaded by the warnings he received from the senior masters, when he later discussed the session, in the smoke-filled master's room, which he disliked intensely, but had little option to attend if he wanted to fit in.

The Masters

'Beware, he flatters but may well deceive you.'

'He is a reasonable lad with a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it's rarely realised.'

'And you'd better believe me.'

'When he's over this little love affair with you, and is getting bored, he and his mate Scaasi will be bunking off games as usual.'

'What a waste of potential, on both accounts, but then that's typical of the pupils in this school.'

'It must be in their Genes!'

'And, as they say.'

'You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.'

'Its unlikely, either of them will amount to much.'

Dapper, thought to himself.

'hat doesn't surprise me they're hardly going to be inspired this bunch of apathetic slobs, poor kids, and said.

'That's hard to image.'

The Masters

'Ask Nigel, he'll tell you all you need to know.'

'He frequently spots them dodging out of sight, thinking he's not seen them.'

Dapper

'Why doesn't he stop them?'

The Masters, replied disdainfully.

'That's an interesting question.'

'Let's ask you a question.'

'Would you like to spoil your lunchtime dalliance, by gathering up a few wayward pupils?'

'I don't think so, and beside that he always likes to keep one step ahead of the little buggers.'

'He's not smart enough to outwit them in school time, this gives him the opportunity to give them a good spanking every now and again, without having to put it in the Book.'

'Like we said, have a chat with Nigel.'

They all behaved like they knew something he didn't, and obviously loved having a laugh at another teachers expense, which they did loudly, before returning to their drinking and smoking.

A Hard Day

Luckily for Gio and me the rest of the day was right up our street. The old ex-army wagon had taken us to the sports ground at the local social club. It was here that we were going to be put through a series of exercises to determine our overall fitness and capability.

Gio and me cruised the day, and only Dapper could compete with us!

Mind you, having said that, Torchy was a bit of a dark horse during the cross-country, even though weighed down with a full kit bag, he was right there with us.

Dapper took up the rear of the column encouraging, or should I say terrorising Tank and Owl.

However, we were all glad to see the end of the day, and when it was all over Gio and I were just as crushed as the other lads. We'd gone for broke giving one hundred per cent in every discipline, the others thought we were bonkers. It was an unusual experience for us, our commitment and unbridled competition, went down well, especially with Dapper.

You could almost hear him thinking aloud.

'Thank god, for small mercies.'

'At least I can feel confident, that at least two of these boyos are up for the challenges of the journey we have planned.'

He quite clearly, had no idea what was ahead.

Next

Who's, who, is to follow, this is where we begin to see some of the historical interaction of the characters and their families and one of the stories pivotal characters.