NO MORE!!!!

A short Follyfoot story by Timb

Ron was in the large barn carefully stacking bales of straw. Dora wandered in after saying 'Good morning' to the horses and was surprised to see Ron at work on time yet again

Being on time and working, most out of character. What she found most strange was the fact that it was nigh on impossible to have a conversation with him.

All the others thought this too. Especially Slugger who was now thinking that he had done something to upset Ron.

"Hi Ron," said Dora.

"Hi," came the reply.

"Everything Ok ?” Asked Dora.

"Fine," said Ron.

"Sure?" Dora said.

"Yup," was the one liner response.

Steve was walking across the yard and quipped, "be careful, Ron , you're giving a distinct impression that you're actually doing some work.."

Ron ignored the jibe and just carried on working. B******s to him thought Ron.

The mornings work dragged on. Then the battlecry, "Breakfast" shouted by Slugger. Ron carried on working pretending he had not heard that imperative yell. Steve and Dora were walking across the yard to the farmhouse and noticed that Ron was still working, when he would usually beat them to the table.

"C'mon Ron " yelled Steve.

"Yes, Ron come on. Not like you to miss your brekky!" cajoled Dora.

"Ok be along in a minute," was the rather muted answer. But Ron had no intention of going anywhere near the breakfast table.

The others returned from their meal and found Ron continuing with his work . Dora asked him why he had not gone to breakfast and said that Slugger was annoyed with him again for the food he had wasted and that he should have told Slugger if he didn't want to eat. Dora, too, could not bear to see good food go to waste.

"I suppose I should say sorry because I had me breakfast before I came to work" Ron said to Dora rather feebly .

"YOU had breakfast BEFORE you came to work!! You usually fall out of bed onto your bike and end up here still asleep! " said Dora in utter amazement to Ron's reply.

Steve carried on. "Yes, and he usually continues sleeping when he gets here!!"

"Have you turned over a new leaf and decided to organise yourself a bit!" exclaimed Dora.

"S'pose," Ron said. "Anyway, not a prob for you is it??"

"No problem at all Ron. It's refreshing to see you actually pulling your weight around here" came from Steve.

"Will you two stop 'avin' a go at me and just let me get on!!" shouted Ron in exasperation. Work hard , he thought , and they still moan at me for something.

# # #

Lunchtime came and went without Ron going into the farmhouse for one of Slugger's doorstops. Dinner time came at 6.00pm and the usual stew, the thought of which caused Ron's stomach to literally gurgle in revulsion. He slipped away home without saying goodbye to any of the others, even pushing his bike well clear of the farm so nobody could hear him start it and then he wouldn't have to say cheerio.

This had been the pattern of Ron's day for some time now.

Slugger ,too, had noticed that Ron had been very quiet and down over the last couple of weeks and was beginning to think that Ron was avoiding him. No cheery whistling or 'singing'. No roaring into the stable yard on his motor bike. No smashing into the gate in the belated hope of opening it. No "Wotcha Slugs me old mate". Slugger nearly dropped his mug of tea earlier this morning when he saw that Ron had actually got off his bike to open the gate! He had just came into work and got on with it as of late, "Cor Blimey, wots up with 'im", muttered Slugger to himself , "e's actchewally workin' an' wivaht me 'avin' to chase 'im to do it".

Dora had also observed that Ron was quite subdued and, uncharacteristically, seemed to be trying to lose himself in work. A couple of weeks ago she had attributed his quietness to excessive binge drinking with his biker muckers but now she thought his silence deafening. Steve was very surprised at Ron's recent spate of hard work at Follyfoot and was thinking to himself that it was too good to last. When the Colonel visited earlier in the week he , too, had commented ,much to Dora's chagrin , "if Ron keeps working at this pace he'll put you all to shame and I'll have to give him a rise !"

Dora decided that she had had enough of seeing Ron like this . "Enough is enough," she said to herself. She went over to him in the large barn and and tapped him lightly on his shoulder.

"Ron, have we all done something to upset you.? You won't speak to us. You won't eat with us. I thought we were friends. Slugger is beside himself with worry about you. Even Uncle thinks you are on something! Steve is concerned too. If anything is bothering you or you are in trouble, you should know that any of us here would help. We all care about you, don't you realise that after all we've been through?"

Ron just stared at Dora unable to find any words.

"Sorry Dora," was all Ron could say, and then carried on working as Dora just stood in front of him.

"Oh Ron, grow up !" shouted Dora now completely flummuxed.

"Sorry," was all Ron could say.

The working day ended on a rather sombre note , Ron sloped off home again without any supper.

Supper that evening was the most subdued it had been for the last couple of weeks, the timespan Ron had been absent from the dinner table.

Slugger asked Dora if Ron's mood had changed and was visibly near to tears when told that there had been no change. Slugger missed Ron's cheery banter, and even his jibes about his cooking !

Steve commented, "Ron will soon snap out it. He's too thick skinned to let anything really bother him."

Dora replied, "Ron is far more sensitive than you think, Steve. It's all a front with him , you know, the devil may care attitude."

"Whatever," said Steve.

Slugger ate his meal in silence. He really did think it was his fault, that he had offended Ron in some way, but for the life of him he did not know what he had done.

"I must admit that I am getting quite concerned about Ron," said Steve, "I've never known him work like he is doing , joking set aside, nor miss a meal. Do you think he may be ill, or could his dad be ill or something?"

"I just don't know," replied Dora.

"Don't know, she says, don't know" said Slugger. "E's sed nuffin' to me fer ayges.You don't know an' I don't know what the 'ecks wrong wiv ' 'im."

Slugger continued, "E's really gettin'on me wick nah, though, if e's got a biff on abaht us e' should come right aht wiv it. No good bottlin' it up."

"Couldn't agree with you more, Slugger," said the Colonel as he walked in.

"Oh Uncle, you've noticed as well. It's beyond a joke now. We are all really worried about Ron. Slugs especially. I think Ron may leave us if this silliness continues for much longer and I don't think I could bear that. I'd feel that we would have driven him away. Do you think that you could have a word with himto find out what it is thats troubling him?"

"Hmm," said the Colonel. "Well , there's no harm in me trying, I suppose, but I worry that he may think that I'm being heavy handed.. Oh why not. I'll catch him first thing in the morning."

Everyone at the table thanked the Colonel because they had all tried to reach out to Ron and all had drawn a blank. If anyone could get through to Ron, they all silently thought, the Colonel could because they knew that Ron had deep affection and respect for him.

# # #

The next morning the Colonel came to Follyfoot at the start of work. Ten minutes past the usual start time and still no Ron. The Colonel was thinking to himself that Ron had slipped back into his old ways and that his cheery self had returned.

Fifteen minutes later Lewis Hammond pulled up outside in his dad's landrover, walked over to the farmhouse door and banged on it, hard. The Colonel was his hideaway office and heard the banging and decided to answer the door. The sight of the Colonel standing in the doorway unnerved Lewis for a few seconds.

"Er , Colonel. Er, yes, er. Good morning, er , Thought that Slugger usually answers the front here?"

"Well obviously he hasn't today. Can I help you?" asked the Colonel.

"Er. It's about Ron, you know , Ron Stryker," stuttered Lewis, "Er ,he's not coming to work today."

"Well, he could have telephoned himself instead of getting you to come here in person to break such earth shattering news!" Exclaimed the Colonel.

"Well, Colonel, sir, er, I , er , also have to say that Ron has asked me to tell you that he won't be coming back here at all. E's finished , you see. Saw no point in giving a written notice, like, so I kind of volunteered to bring the message so that none of you would be wondering why he hadn't turned up for work."

"Whaat !" Exploded the Colonel. "Not coming in again?? You bringing the message because he's too scared to tell me face to face?? Left me right in it, he has. The place is bursting with horses and he leaves me in the lurch after all the help I've given him in the past??"

"Colonel, Don't shoot the messenger," said Lewis who was visibly cowering, but secretly savouring every moment .

Lewis walked quickly back to his landrover and got in and locked the doors. The Colonel was just about to go inside to break the news to Slugger when Lewis added a little codacil. "Oh Colonel, sir, Ron's started to work for my dad now over at our place. In fact he started this morning" And then he drove off like a bat out of hell.

The Colonels' jaw hit the floor.

# # #

Dora felt that Ron had betrayed her and everything that Follyfoot stood for. She was incandescent with anger and hurt and felt like horse whipping Ron if she could get hold of him. Dora disliked intensely having such negative feelings about a person but couldn't help herself for the moment. She felt sooo angry!. However, after about an hour she could feel her emotions calming a little.

"If I see him again, I'll shove that loud bike exhaust of his where the sun doesn't shine," said Steve when he found out what Ron had done "How could he work for Hammonds? He knows how they treat their horses. I can't believe that he has worked here all this time, caring for the animals and obviously feeling for them , and then change attitude so completely," added Steve, "it just doesn't add up!"

"I know , Steve. I can't begin to comprehend why Ron should do this, because it most certainly can't be for the money. Hammonds pay is probably worse than here at Follyfoot!", replied Dora.

"Dora, I'm going to over to see Slugger," said Steve. "He must be absolutely devastated. He looked on Ron as a son."

"I'll come with you," added Dora.

Slugger was sat at the table in complete silence, clutching his usual worn out tea towel. He could not believe what the others had just told him.

"C'mon Dora, issa wind up innit! Yeh, you lot really got me goin'with that one. Where's that Ron? E must be 'idin' somewhere. I'll throw a bucket of water on 'im when I get 'im, young devil!"

'No, Slugger. It's all true. Ask the Colonel if you don't believe us. He's the one who spoke to Lewis Hammond."

"Sheesh!" was all that Slugger could muster as a reply.

"Are you alright", asked Steve.

"Yeh, fine - just got to get around to acceptin' it thats all. You two go back to work . There's all the more to do now" said Slugger

Dora and Steve went back to the stables to continue mucking out. Slugger just sat at the kitchen table as before in complete silence because he was utterly devastated. He felt he couldn't let Steve and Dora see that because, he thought, they were already upset enough.

Meals were consumed in an awkward, sad silence that day.

# # #

Ron was having to work hard in this new job. Hammonds wouldn't stand for any nonsense. Quite a dramatic change when compared to Follyfoot but Ron was prepared to stick it out because of his love for the horses. He knew that he got away with murder with Dora , the Colonel and Slugger but he couldn't help himself. Ron was so sad and down in the weeks before his departure from Follyfoot . He couldn't bear the prospect of not working with his close companions and the horses and when Lewis came up with his offer he couldn't believe his luck, even if it was working for the Hammonds. At least, he thought, he could make sure that any horses he looked after were treated properly and that he was near to Follyfoot so he could see everyone.

"Crikey", Ron said to himself, "I really am a softy at heart, aren't I" . However, he felt very guilty about not saying why he had left Follyfoot . Ron felt that the others would have considered his reason for leaving to be silly and unfounded, that

At Hammonds, the end of the working day was fast approaching when Lewis came up behind Ron and yelled a very loud "Boo" behind him. Ron literally left the ground in shock. He'd been carrying some horse shoes.

"What the 'ell do you think yer doin!!" Ron cried out.

"Just havin' a bit of fun Ron, just a bit fun. Chill out, man!" said Lewis.

"I could've dropped these bloomin' things on me toes yer goon," Ron shouted.

"Hey Ron, me old son, you really shouldn't talk to your new boss like that, now, should you. After all, I did you a favour in taking you on because your of 'little' problem, didn't I . Remember how cut up you were when you told me in the pub a few weeks ago an' I took pity on you. Well, I suppose you didn't tell, really. I shoe horned it out of you din I."

"Ok, sorry, Lew. Hey, it's your dad who's boss, not you!" Replied Ron.

"Just a wind up, Ron. Cool off. Hey, do you fancy goin' to the pub after work?" Asked Lewis.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm shattered after me first day here actually doin' some work. Makes a drastic change from Follyfoot," said Ron, "I'm gonna 'ave me dinner an' hit the sack. Oh, by the way, don't forget that I'll be in a bit later in the mornin' . I'll make up the time during the week as agreed"

"Ok Ron, I've remembered. I'll remind me dad too. Thought you could handle yer beer, can't you take the pace here?" Lewis replied. "You do a mate a favour an' he can't even 'ave a beer with yer."

"Oy Lew, you know I ain't been too clever lately and you know why. An' you know where I'm goin'," said Ron

# # #

At around 8.30am the next morning , Ron parked his bike up in the centre of the village. He glanced quickly both ways just to check that nobody was near and ran quickly into the doctor's surgery. Forty five minutes later he scuttled back to his bike clutching a prescription form and hoping again that nobody had seen him. It was a small village community in these parts and gossip travelled fast. Ron was concerned that his visit to the doctor would get back to Follyfoot, and then everything would come out.

He needn't have worried about an intelligence leak in that manner. Dora was just leaving the tack shop and the surgery entrance was opposite and she saw Ron come out running towards his bike. But Ron had not seen Dora.

Dora was utterly shocked to see Ron coming out of the doctors and immediately thought the worst. She was now scared witless that something may be seriously wrong with Ron, or maybe his father, and that he had been too frightened to confide in anyone at Follyfoot. Indeed, Dora thought, how could Ron have told Lewis about such a thing knowing what an uncaring yob he was when he should have known that he had true friends at Follyfoot.. Dora felt intense hurt at this last thought.

Dora was now of a mind to confront Ron and nothing was going to stop her. Well, nothing could stop her when she was in this frame of mind. Ron was just setting off when Dora ran out in front of him, arms waving, screaming.

“Ron .Stop Stop. Stop now. Please. I want to talk to you".

Ron slammed his brakes on and stopped just inches from Dora. He looked at her very sheepishly. He knew she had seen him at the doctors and that she would not be fobbed off. He knew he had no choice but to tell her everything, but he winced at the thought. At that moment Ron's dad drove by in his E-type, frantically waving hello at both of them. Dora then knew instinctively something was wrong with Ron.

"Ron, I want the truth. No lies. What's up?" said Dora looking Ron straight in the eye

Ron then looked at the ground, twiddled his neckerchief and replied in a very low voice. "Er nuffin, Dora"

Dora quickly lifted his chin with her hand, "Nothing , you say. Well Ron, I don't believe you. I know how much you hate doctors and the like and how squeemish you are at the sight of blood. So what has made you go to the doctor? Whatever it is must be pretty bad. Has this got anything to do with why you left Follyfoot?" demanded Dora. "Have you any idea how much you hurt us all when you left like you did, and do you realise how much you are missed . You are part of our family. I thought you knew that. I thought you knew that if you had a problem then you come and talk to any one of us about it. Running away isn't an answer. Problems have to be faced."

Ron resigned himself to the fact that he would have to come clean. He couldn't bear to see the hurt in Dora's eyes. He quietly replied.

"Dora I'm so sorry about the way I left, but I just couldn't say what was up. It's Slugger. He's me best mate. I just didn't want to hurt him and I knew he'd be hurt if I told him. I know he does his best. I thought it better if I just went away. I didn't think for one minute that I would be upsetting everyone by doing that and that I would be missed, all of you were always goin' on about me slackin'. Thought you'd be glad if I went, an'all that."

'Oh Ron!" cried Dora, " what on earth has Slugger done to you? He wouldn't hurt a fly. He loves you like a son. How can you say such a thing??"

"Er well, Dora, like it's not so much Slugger as a person," Ron replied in a very subdued manner. He did not like one bit having Dora's disapproval.

"Right. Out with it. I want to get this cleared up. If we can sort things out will you come back to Follyfoot? What do mean by 'not so much Slugger as a person'?" asked Dora.

"It's 'is stew! There. I've said it. I can't eat it no more!! It turns me guts inside out! Don't know how you all still do! Took a sample to the quacks an' it turns out that I'm allergic to it, or summin' 'e puts innit. I told Slugs time 'an time again that 'is cookin' would get me eventually. But I didn't think it would really happen. I had to stop eatin' the stuff. Me guts were just about recoverin' by breakfast but I still didn't dare eat anything, so I missed breakfast as well. Anyway, I've got some medicine which works now and calms me belly down. How could I say to Slugger 'Oy Slugger me old mate you've poisoned me!' He'd be hurt beyond words and I couldn't bear to upset 'im like that. Didn't know what to do. You were all thinking I was bein' strange, which I was, so I legged it so's to say. Also it wouldn't do me street cred any good either, you know, bein' allergic to a bit meat even if was as tough as old boots! "

"Oh Ron, Ron!", exclaimed Dora, " Is that all it is, really? But how can you bear to work at Hammonds. You know their reputation. There of all places. Why, Ron?"

"Yep" said Ron, "that's all it is but it is ruddy embarassin' for me nonetheless. I went to Hammonds because Lew said they needed more staff. Also, I wanted to keep workin' with 'orses. I know I moan about the mess I have to clear up in the stables but you should know I love things, really. Couldn't bear to be away from 'em. So Hammonds was better than nothin'. Oh yeh, I knew I could perhaps keep a check on 'em if they started bein' mean to the horses an' it is near to Follyfoot. You know I've really missed you all. Shouldn't have gone like that. Wished I hadn't gone at all now."

"Right. Is that really all it is?" asked Dora.

"Yup." Ron replied and at the same time thinking that had he told everyone about his issue with Slugger's stew, then a lot of upset could have been avoided. He rebuked himself for being, in his mind's eye, so silly.

"Meet me at Follyfoot in 20 minutes. I won't take 'No' for an answer. Steve is picking me up in a few minutes so get yourself there. No' ifs 'and 'buts'. Blow Hammonds, Ron," Dora replied in an uncharacteristic imperative tone. .

Ron knew he had no choice but to go to. He couldn't refuse Dora. Anyone else, yes but not Dora. But above all he wanted to make amends.

# # #

Dora hustled Ron into the farmhouse. Steve and Slugger were already sat at the table. The Colonel was in his 'hideaway'. Dora knocked on his door and went in.

"Uncle, do come and join us in the kitchen. Ron has come to visit and he has something that he needs to tell us," said Dora quite casually.

"What!? He's got the nerve to turn up here after what he's just done? I'll give him what for now. Where is he?" shouted the Colonel.

"Oh Uncle please. Calm down. Let Ron explain then I'm sure you will see things in a different light," remarked Dora.

"Well .umm. Alright Dora. You seem prepared to give the blighter an opportunity to explain, so its only fair that I do the same," said the Colonel.

Ron had just sat down at the table and was staring at the floor then the Colonel and Dora walked in. He hadn't reckoned on the Colonel being there and he was extremely anxious now . So much so that his stomach started growling. He thought that he was going to have to run upstairs to the loo but the feeling passed as soon as Dora began to speak.

"Hi Ron" said Dora quite calmly, " now you are here could you kindly explain why you behaved so strangely over the last few weeks and also why you left us in the way you did."

Ron took a deep breath and repeated what he had said to Dora, more or less. He also said he was sorry for the way he had left and for not having the courage to tell them that something was wrong.

Steve nearly fell off his chair laughing, the Colonel was stifling a giggle, Slugger just sat there mouth open and speechless. Dora looked at them all in complete surprise.

"Ron left us because he thought that he wouldn't be taken seriously and you lot laughing when he has plucked up the courage to tell all hasn't done much to dispel that thought. Shame on you all!!" shouted Dora.

Ron pulled out a letter from his leather jacket. It was from the local hospital, "If you don't believe me look at this letter I got the other day. It says I'm allergic to substances unknown in the sample provided !"

The letter was handed to the Colonel who confirmed what Ron had just said. All who were laughing stopped and then apologised to Ron for their insensitivity. At this point Slugger got up and slung his ratty tea towel over his arm as he walked over to the fireplace. He leaned on the mantlepiece.

"'Allergic to MY stew', he says, 'allergic to me stew'!. What does 'e fink I'm tryin' to do?? Kill 'im," muttered Slugger in his usual way. He felt upset because he always tried to provide good food for everyone and now he felt he was being criticised in the worst possible way, and Slugger was now blaming himself for Ron leaving Follyfoot. He had really missed Ron. Slugger started to think that he should attend cookery classes if his meals could do that to someone. He also thought that Ron might have been serious when he used to tease him about his stew. All in all , Slugger was not too chuffed after Ron have finished speaking.

"Ron, would you come back to Follyfoot? We do need you here, you know and you are missed, " asked the Colonel

Ron quickly replied. "Of course I'll come back. Never wanted to leave really. But I can't eat Sluggers devil's brew!"

"Heeeeeey" said Slugger who promptly threw his tea towel at Ron, "watch it. You ain't to big to get a clip around the ear'ole , you know." Slugger continued, "of course ay will aff to get 'is Lordships approval of the daily menu, won't I?. Ay can cook uvver fings besaydes stew."

Steve chirped up, "like bacon and eggs , eh??"

"Wotch it" said Slugger.

Slugger went on. "I s'pose I've been a bit lazy wiv the cookin'. You know yer get into a set way of doin' fings. Eggs and bacon for breakfast cos eggs is a proper breakfast eggs is, and stew at dinnertime sometimes wiv luvly dumplin's but I'll do different fings now Ron lad. Sorry about yer belly, son. Come on yuv got to come back. It was daft leavin' like."

"Course I'll come back me old mate, after all, I got to make sure that fings get done properly round here now, aven't I," Ron said cheerfully. The Colonel and Steve shook their heads and smiled . Dora went up to Ron and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll have run off more often, Dora, if I get a kiss when I come back," said Ron with his mischievous grin now in full action. Steve just looked at Ron in disbelief.

"Be here on time at 7.00am tomorrow morning, Ron," said the Colonel.

Suddenly Ron remembered. "What about the Hammonds? I'll have to give 'em some notice," he said.

"Like you gave to us?" quipped Dora.

"Steve, would you care to drive over to Hammonds in the morning to tell them that Ron has come back to us?" asked the Colonel.

" Yes please!!" said Steve at the thought of what the look on Lewis's face was going to be when he broke the news. Ron cringed.

Dora was quietly very happy that things were now back to normal. Ron was glad to be home.

Slugger came up to Ron and put his arm around his shoulder.

"You must stay for dinner Ron. Its almost time you know," said Slugger with a hint of menace in his voice. Steve, Dora and the Colonel looked at each other and then at Ron and Slugger. Ron knew better than to refuse.

"Are you sure?" asked Ron, "I mean 'ave you got anythin' other than stew?"

"Fink so," muttered Slugger as he went over to sink.

Ron was silent and was worried about getting sick again.

"Come on Ron, let's go and say hello to the horses. You must tell them that you're back," said Dora as she grabbed Ron by the arm and almost dragged him into the yard.

# # #

An hour later and the time honoured battlecry again " Dinner!" echoed across the yard. Everyone made their way to the farmhouse. Even the Colonel was staying for dinner tonight because he was curious as to what Slugger was going to cook. He had only ever known Slugger to cook bacon and eggs and stew.

"Come on, you lot. Wash yer 'ands and sit down. Its ready. The Colonel is eating with us tonight," said Slugger cheerfully.

Everyone was sat down and Slugger began bringing in the food . He began to dish up the stew he had prepared. All looked aghast and said nothing . They just looked at their plates as it the stew was put on it. Ron looked in complete disbelief but was too taken aback to say anything. Then came Ron's turn to get food. Slugger looked in his saucepan and remarked "I'll just 'ave to nip into the kitchen to get some more for Ron. Come you lot, eat up. I spent ayges makin' that . It's a special one tonight, extra carrots! Give me yer plate Ron lad." Ron just grimaced but remained silent.

Slugger returned very quickly and put Ron's plate down in front of him. On it was a generous serving of bangers and mash. All at the table began laughing loudly.

"''Ad yer goin' a bit there din I?" Remarked Slugger with a big grin on his face. He said he was sorry that it was only bangers and mash but that was all he had extra in the larder and that a more varied shop would be done the next day.

"You crafty old so and so," said Ron as he joined in with the laughter.

During the course of the evening Ron reflected on what he so nearly lost. Yes, he was so glad to be home.

# # #

Copyright Tim Benson Jan 2007