Engaged

Doreen Sinclair

There were no jewellers in the North Isles, so getting engaged meant a visit to the mainland of Orkney. We chose the annual trip day when the boat went directly to the main town, Kirkwall, in the early morning and back in the late afternoon, avoiding the normal overnight stay.

The day of the trip dawned breezy but fair, with the usual crowd of well-wishers and husbands on the loose to see us away.

Two and a half hours later, just as I felt I could not keep breakfast down much longer, the boat docked at Kirkwall pier and we went to pick up the car which we had hired for the day. Our intention was to go to the other large mainland town, Stromness, where we could choose the ring without arousing the interest of half the population of the island who had come in with the boat that day.

But first we had to visit Great Aunt Jeannie. The lunch invitation had been in the nature of a royal command as she wanted to view the latest potential addition to the family. She opened the door when we knocked and the smell of mutton and barley broth came with her to meet us. We sat down to large platefuls of the broth, followed by cold mutton, clapshot and bullet peas. The heavy boiled pudding and thick custard were accompanied by the regular injunction to eat up bairns. Then, in case we were still hungry, the cup of tea was served with home baking which we had to sample out of politeness.

I was feeling pretty ill by the time we set off for Stromness and the speed of the car on the winding roads did nothing to help. Up and around the back road we went and down the library brae. Two children were crossing the foot of it as the cars front suspension collapsed. I do not know yet, how we managed to avoid hitting them.

The long screech of metal on stone was followed by silence, then concerned voices and a cup of tea in a nearby house. Another car was produced with a muttered apology and a garbled explanation about this being a fault of that particular model.

We were almost back at Kirkwall when I said,

I suppose we wont be getting engaged today then.

Oh Christ, I forgot all about it, said the session clerks son.

A three point turn and a very fast trip back to Stromness.

Going into the jewellers, we met another isles couple coming out, business done.

We need an engagement ring, he said, looking at the trays which were still lying out.

I fell in love with a beautiful diamond ring. It was perfect in all but the price. I had to settle for one from the budget tray, the one that fitted as we had no way of getting it altered.

On the way back to Kirkwall he stopped the car at a field gate near the town. He gave me the ring with the words,

Youd better likely wear it now Ive bought it.

The kiss, like the stop, was brief as we needed all our time if we were to catch the boat.

Going home I kept my hand in my pocket, still shy of my new status.