A Frame of Mind

By M N Gardiner

In a world where all is not as it appears to be, it is time to take off the blinkers and embark upon a cerebral journey through fractured minds and augmented realities in a tale of suburban survival. Chronicling more than fifty years of history, fates collide, presentiments are realised and prophesies foretold in a gripping and intense narrative revealing the interdependencies which are often hidden within the roots of the human condition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398410671

M N Gardiner

M N Gardiner is an inaugural writer living in the South-West of England. He can often be found walking the coastal paths and woodland areas with his dog Spock, a three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Book preview

A Frame of Mind

M N Gardiner

Austin Macauley Publishers

A Frame of Mind

About the Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

Acknowledgements

About the Author

M N Gardiner is an inaugural writer living in the South-West of England. He can often be found walking the coastal paths and woodland areas with his dog Spock, a three-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Dedication

In memory of my parents.

Copyright Information ©

M N Gardiner 2022

The right of M N Gardiner to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398410664 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398410671 (ePub-e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Sonia Curtis for inspiring the work; Francesca Bollani for kind assistance and Ed Gaskell for further encouraging the work.

The following tale, however incredulous it may appear, is based on real events. The year is 1953. The contrast in size could not have been greater between the diminutive forms standing on the quayside and the mighty ocean liner S.S. Andromeda. Launa Taylor and her new-born boarded her at Quebec, disembarking three thousand and twenty nautical miles later at Glasgow. It had been Launa’s intention to marry a rich Canadian. Unfortunately, she had to jettison this aspiration after discovering her boyfriend to have an intemperate disposition. Upon her proposal of marriage, she received a punch to the eye.

Practically destitute when they arrived and largely at the mercy of welfare services, after a brief period in emergency accommodation Launa and Richard were relocated south of the River Clyde, to a tenement building. Notwithstanding rising damp and cockroaches, taking up occupancy of number nine Saint Leonard’s Road presented an infinitely better option than remaining subjected to a megalomaniac.

Within a few short months, Launa secured employment at an ice cream company. Six evenings a week she accompanied the driver on his round, selling various wares to the residents of the local community. Initially, Richard made the task of acceptance easier for Launa. His shock of black hair and bright blue eyes rendered him very endearing to practically everyone whom he met. However, there was one aspect to Richard which particularly troubled Launa. At times he could be very wilful. Launa hoped her son had not inherited his father’s temperament.

Each morning Richard armed himself with a dustpan and brush and collected the roaches which had amassed overnight. He was remunerated half a shilling by Launa for every roach he was able to dispose of. His method entailed burning them on the open fire. Besides the whistling and popping, he was endlessly fascinated by the multifarious colours produced as their bodies sublimated before him.

Through observation and perseverance, Richard taught himself to swim. Attending the baths after school was his favourite pastime. Every day before leaving he would make sure his trunks were packed tightly into the bottom of his school bag.

Richard wasn’t the only child missing a dad in the area. His best friend, Graham Hixley, had a dad but very rarely was he home because he spent much of his time in prison. However, this was one such rare occasion when he was not incarcerated. Recently released after serving three years for armed robbery, Steve Hixley was the closest approximation Richard had to a dad.

Richard, Graham and Steve shared a mutual passion. A love of Rangers Football Club. It was a crisp January morning. As they filed through the turnstile Richard’s excitement increased. For the first time, he felt part of a collective whole. As the players entered onto the pitch, the atmosphere became tangible. The first half of the match was largely devoid of any demonstrable skill. Richard and Graham became restless. They turned to Steve. The scowl depicted on Steve’s face invigorated them both, resulting in a resumed interest. Eight minutes into the second half: Rangers scored. A tumult sounded within the stadium. Twelve minutes later and another goal – a cracking header to the back of the net.

Richard almost leapt from his own skin, so unable was he to contain himself. Furthermore, he proceeded to jump up and down before turning to embrace Graham and Steve. Once the final whistle was blown, Richard and Graham ran onto the pitch. With wild abandonment, they waved and cheered as their heroes made their way toward the tunnel.

The beginning of a new week saw Richard calling on Graham. This was customary. It was whilst walking to school together that Richard first