Troy and Caroline ~ (an Essex
Tale)
By Grace
Petersson
David Gordon Phipps never discussed his early life with
anyone – not even his wife of twenty years.
He was brought up in central Southend in a terraced house with three
sisters and working class parents. Once
he was twenty-one, he changed his name, taking the Gordon from his father and
the Phipps from his mother. Pretentious
perhaps, but the name opened doors in the financial sector.
David had a fair education and would consider himself a self-made
man, although as the only boy, he was afforded rights and privileges not deemed
worthy of his three equally intelligent sisters. If David wished for Oxbridge, the family made
sure he got there. But David Gordon Phipps had a secret. A secret that would decimate his family.
Stockbroker status was afforded to David. By age thirty he
was skilled at playing the market. His
considered choice of a wife, Gloria brought up in Thorpe Bay; a sincere and honest woman who loved David
unconditionally. The couple had just one
child, Caroline, who at seventeen was studying for A levels at Southend Boys
Sixth form college with an ambition to study at Harvard USA and serve as an
environmental lawyer to challenge big corporates as they may endanger flora
fauna in their clamour for money and power.
Gary Taylor was also brought up in a small terraced abode
just a few streets from David Gordon Phipps although the two never met. Gary
loved and still adores motorbikes. He
started life as a bike mechanic and eventually bought his own shop before he
was thirty. Gary also had a good head
for business and within ten years, the down to earth Gaz had seven shops around
Essex; all doing excellently with reliable managers and contented staff. Gary’s
wife Marina became a fashion designer inspired by Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne
Westwood. Her creations featuring studs, spikes, and grungy leather jackets were
hugely popular in Gary’s shops; elevating Gary and Marina
to a rather embarrassing millionaire status given their ‘humble beginnings.’ The couple had a single offspring, Troy; his name was inspired by Marina’s love for Troy Tempest, captain of
the submarined Stingray. Troy was teased all
through primary and high school by his mates who constantly reminded him he was named after a puppet.
Troy and Caroline were destined to meet as they
were both passionate about saving the earth and studying in the USA; MIT and
Harvard respectively. They were also
fated to cause chaos, uncertainty, and ultimately growth in their parents’
lives. As children, Troy
and Caroline knew of each other at Thorpdene Primary; particularly as Gary would bring Troy
to school on the back of his Harley Davidson, causing all the kids, including
Caroline to utter “wow” in envious union.
Troy inherited his love of bikes from Gary, who
revered Richard Abry, The Dark Knight, riding the Kursaal Wall of Death in the
1960s. Once he was seventeen and had his
licence, Troy’s
parents gave him a Farsta Electric motorbike, which he rode to school each
day. He knew about the bad boy image
associated with bikers, but didn’t care.
He was safe and always followed the rules. Boom!
As soon as he laid eyes on Caroline at Southend Boys’ Sixth Form College, he was smitten. As they conducted science experiments together, they laughed, had fun
and made plans for their future together.
But to Troy, Caroline was
‘posh.’ He had subconsciously picked up
from Gary that
posh people were snobs and up themselves.
But Caroline was not like this, taking after her mother, Gloria, who
would help anyone. However, Troy believed he would only be acceptable to David, and
happy, when he got good exam results, had Caroline out of Rayleigh and off to
the US,
where they could both pursue their ambitions without David’s judgment.
Later, as Troy, Caroline, and her folks went to the Roslin hotel for afternoon
tea, Troy knew immediately he was right;
As soon as Troy uttered the word motorbike, David Gordon Phipps (what
kind of phoney name is that, he thought),
had a face like thunder and Troy knew he
was whipped. The moment David and Gloria met Troy, Caroline sensed there would be
trouble. Yet she also knew he was
anything but a bad boy. To her, he was
kind, respectful, polite and brilliant.
Then, just one week after the Roslin hotel debacle, Caroline’s world as
she knew it fell to pieces. Her mother
picked up David from Rayleigh station as usual and as he entered the house in
Great Wheatly’s, Caroline knew something was very wrong.
“I’m so sorry, baby, Harvard just isn’t possible anymore.” The words gushed out of David’s mouth and
Caroline stopped breathing. “What?” she
softly said nonplussed. “It’s all
gone. I’ve lost everything.” David said, “The stock market took a bad turn and it’s all
gone.”
“What do you mean?” Caroline frantically asked. “You have lots of savings right? You told me I could have Harvard. All my life you told me and I believed you.”
“I’m so sorry Caroline” David now sobbed. “I had to use it all to pay my debts and even
then it wasn’t enough. I’ve done so many
bad things, bad decisions. I even had to
remortgage the house.”
Now Gloria joined the fray.
“David, are you telling me we don’t own the house anymore?” He nodded at his wife not knowing what else
to do.
All Caroline’s plans were torn asunder.
Hers and Troy’s
dreams were shattered. At school the
following Monday, Caroline told Troy
the ghastly news. Trying to keep hold of
herself she said, “You go to MIT as
planned, but I can’t come with you. I’ll
go to SEEVIC and see you in the holidays.
“No!” Troy
shouted, “I thought your dad had pots of money from the way he talked.” “Well” said Caroline, “That’s all it was,
talk.”
At home, Troy
told Gary and Marina the dreadful news.
I knew my parents were a bit skeptical about David’s claims of tons of
money, but to their credit, they said nothing.
“It’s a big shame, but not a tragedy,” said Mum “But you can still go to
MIT and maybe when Caroline’s dad gets himself sorted, she can join you.”
Feeling like screaming aloud, Troy
shouted “You don’t understand Mum, David’s lost everything, literally”. After a long minute, Gary and Marina looked
at each other seeming to know what the other would say.
Gary cleared his
throat before speaking, “I’d like to put an idea to you son. I – we, he looked expectantly at his wife,
would like to help you and Caroline financially. Now before you start your tirade Troy, please listen to
us.”
Through his frustration and angst, Troy
paid attention without comment.
“What we’re proposing is a loan – not a handout – to fund Caroline’s
Harvard fees and a flat for you both. We’re
assuming you two will live together, so in a way, the loan will help you as
well, Troy.”
What about the “esteemed” David Gordon Phipps?” asked Troy sardonically. “What’s he going to say?”
“Well” interjected Marina,
“That why we insist it’s a loan. David
is honourable and proud of his ability to provide for his family.”
“That’s a joke. If he’s so’
honourable’ he wouldn’t be a scumbag shark” derided Troy,
“Now, Troy”,
said Marina, Caroline would be aghast to
hear you speak of David that way.”
“Well,” said Gary
with a long sigh, All we can do is try.”
With that, Gary
invited David and Gloria to dinner the next night, knowing the registration
date for Harvard was looming.
Once the quartet were seated with coffee and liqueurs, Gary put forward his proposal regarding the
loan.
“We can’t allow that,” puffed out David.
“I’ve promised Caroline I’ll get her to Harvard somehow, even if it’s
next year.”
Now the usually reticent Gloria found her voice. “David, darling, it could take years for us
to have that kind of money again and I’ll be much less worried about Caroline
if she’s living with Troy.”
“As Gary
says, “she continued, “It’s a loan, not a gift." David ran his palms over his balding head
looking so dejected that even Gary
felt sorry for him.
With that, Gloria asked Gary
if she and David could have a word together, alone. After thirty minutes, Caroline’s parents
returned with David appearing less purple and apoplectic.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Gary and Marina for your kindness.” David uttered quietly.
“Just say yes,” Gary
simply replied.
Epilogue. As predicted, Troy and Caroline were exemplary students,
passing with honours. Both sets of
parents travelled to Massachusetts
to see their children graduate and take up their new positions as environmental
lawyer and space researcher. The
lovebirds paid off the loan within two years and now live in a beautiful
condominium in Fremont, halfway between San Francisco and the NASA HQ in Silicone Valley.
Meanwhile, Gloria gained Qualified Teacher Status in two years; teaching
English Literature at Southend High School for Girls. David surprised her with his unstinting
support; a changed man it would appear, as a result of his fall from grace.
David had always loved decorating their home as a means of escape from his
pressurised London
career, surprising everyone by renovating and decorating homes for a living.
His first commission was Marina and Gary’s sitting room, for which he
took no fee. Troy’s folks were delighted with the result.
Copyright Grace Petersson
