Club Foyer>Rainwear Vignettes>John's Armless Fun
Jubilee Celebration
It was fifty years since the Coronation and the Great Central Railway were holding a special event to mark it. The theme was to be 1950s and people were asked to dress accordingly. Clothes came out of mothballs and, miraculously, some still fitted.
John and Jackie had both been under ten on the day but Kackie remembered some of her mother's clothes. She remembered her mother's dark green mackintosh cape and had longed to have one like it one day. Over the years, her mother had passed down some of her clothes,which had eventually put away. Luckily her cape was still intact after a long time stored away so it was part of her 'getup'.
The great day came and, as it had fifty years ago, down came the rain. John looked good in a wide lapelled suit and Jackie was in a red period dress.
As it was raining, she was well protected in her green cape with the hood up and John's umbrella for further protection. They walked to Loughborough station and joined the throng. All around were burberried men and the women sporting a vast range of rubber macs and capes. Jackie was so relieved she wasn't the only one in a cape and it was funny how all the women in capes seemed to gravitate towards each other. They were all buttoned and hooded as the rain still poured down.
The moment came to board the 'Jubilee Special' for a gala meal as the train chuffed sedately into Leicester North. John and Jackie found their table and shed their raingear. The meal was splendid, with Coronation Chicken as part of it. They picked a good sparkling wine, enjoyed their meal and enjoyed the convivial company of like-minded diners.
On the outward journey it was still raining but on the way back it tailed off. On reaching Loughborough it had ceased and a watery sun had appeared. Before alighting they retrieved their outer wear and Jackie, when asked if she was carrying her cape, said she wanted it on so John dropped it on her shoulders whereupon her arms quickly found the slits and she fastened the buttons, telling John that she felt it looked neater done up than undone, and she wanted her arms inside.She looked very attractive with the hood down and the afternoon sun shining on her. She told John it had been a lovely day and having her cape on made it even better.
When they arrived home (only a ten minute walk) they embraced and Jackie enjoyed the delicious sensation of having her cape undone. Later, they went for a walk,and once again Jackie sported her cape. She told Jon she'd become quite attached to it and loved being encapsulated in it. From that day on, her late mother's cape was seen frequently, and friends saying how neat and dignified it was.
John
Original photo of Loughborough Central Station courtesy Ronstar
