Updated: 17 January 2009

Lusher was the first to arrive, clattering his way in with his wooden crutch under his left arm, and thumping the door and walls with a stick which supported his other leg.  His light-brown hair was in a mess, his clothes a sort of rag-bag of colours and materials, and his expression was decidedly scornful, even superior.

'Right you freshers, you may as well get to know the devil now.  Lusher's the name, James Lusher.  I might be hobbling, but I can still move, so don't mess me about.  My room's next to yours and I don't want disturbing when I'm asleep, when I'm on the nest, or when I'm working.  That clear?'

Charlie laughed, seeming to enjoy this eccentric introduction.  Jaye was less impressed, thinking he was rude and crude.  They introduced themselves.

'Well, Charlie's easy, I can cope with that.  But Jaye, what sort of name is that?  Sounds like just your initial to me.  What's your other name?'

'Bennett, Jaye Bennett.  I've not had a problem before.'

'You've not met me before have you?  Jay Bee sounds better.  That's two initials instead of one.  Charlie and Jaybee, pleased to meet you.  How about a cup of tea.  You'll have to make it, you can see that I've got a bit of a problem.'

Over tea, he continued to dominate, explaining how he had never needed to work hard yet, that in school he had just played about and had still managed a "Reserve State", his way of describing his failure to win the State Scholarship that would have ensured his financial security for three years.  He became slightly more bearable, to Jaye at least, when he answered the inevitable question about his damaged legs.  Yet even this was presented as a cause for glory.

'I had a motor-bike, big thing it was, a Norton three-fifty.  Lovely engine, powerful and smooth, would go all day without effort.  Like me really.'  He smirked, stroking the bit of wispy beard that seemed to extend from his side-burns.  'Pat loved it.  She's my bird, you'll meet her later today.  She would cling onto me when I revved it up, said she loved to feel it throbbing through her.'  There was more smirking and stroking.  'Lucky she wasn't on the back when that fool came round the bend too fast.  I was only doing seventy, on a nice clear road, and this young jerk took the bend too wide.  Caught the foot-rest with his bumper and I went off into a tree, broke both legs and a couple of ribs.'  He paused, looking at Charlie as if he expected applause.

'Were you in hospital long?' asked Jaye, looking uncomfortable in the presence of this larger-than-life student who seemed to feel no pain nor have any regrets.

'Six weeks while they pinned my legs back in shape.  Then another four weeks of physio.  Just before exams it was, so they had to go on my course-work to assess me.  Lucky I'd been to a few tutorials that month, so of course, with what they knew about me, they let me stay on.'  He grasped his stick and heaved himself upright, then placed his crutch under his left arm-pit.  Then he whacked the arm-chair with his stick.  'That's for Lloyd the old sod.  While I was in hospital he had my bird.  I told him I'd get him when I was up and about again.  He's got it coming, the randy git.'

Charlie opened the door for him to hobble out, smiling with admiration at his performance.  Jaye stayed on his bed, wondering if the others living in this hut would be any easier than him.

 

It was a couple of hours later that the two rugby players arrived.  Both were tall, one stocky, with curly blonde hair, and the other slimmer, with smooth ginger hair and freckled features.  They had obviously travelled together for the latter part of the journey and were keen to meet the newcomers, knocking briefly on their door then bursting in.

'Hi freshers', said the blonde giant.  'I'm Lew.  We're sharing the big end room, so we won't disturb you – except when we come in late maybe.'  He laughed, a big easy laugh, throwing his head back and showing a row of teeth with an obvious pair of false ones right at the front.

'I'm Col', said the other, standing slightly behind Lew.  'You'll soon settle in with us.'  There was a thump on the wall from the room next door.  'Sounds as if you've already met Lusher so that's the worst of it over.'  They both grinned and looked at each other, as if to confirm what they knew about him.  'You've still to meet Anthony I expect, John Anthony that is, but he's always late to arrive.  And he might be drunk.'  Col laughed again, glanced at Lew's grinning features, then withdrew and sauntered down the narrow corridor to his end room.  Lew followed once he had reminded Charlie and Jaye to be in the bar at seven.

'Seems like a lively bunch,' said Charlie.

Jaye made no comment.

 

Hut Dwellers

(I was a fresher at Keele University in 1958)