They Never Expected That by Elizabeth Obadina

They stood watch over  at least fifty Heckler & Koch HK MP5 Submachine Guns,

Maybe more

And a flask of holy water.

Three white coaches had rolled into the town – tourists, perhaps, out for some fun

Maybe more

Probably a crop of old codgers.

With a hiss and a sigh the coaches wheezed to a stop. This day-out promised sun

Maybe more

For three coachloads of, perhaps, walkers.

Opposite the coaches a bakery selling Easter treats: simnel cakes and hot-cross buns

Maybe more wares

Just waiting for coachloads of visitors to savour.

Out taking a break, at least three or four shopkeepers broke into a run

Maybe even more traders

Were sprinting to get back behind counters,

They needed to sell stuff, piled up by the ton,

Maybe much more,

Lots of stock awaiting keen souvenir hunters.

Everyone watched and waited to see who’d disembark when the coach doors slid open.

Maybe more business?

Such custom as any small town would chase after.

The coaches swayed as a hundred or so passengers got up a chattering hum

Maybe more sounds drifted through over the sill

One sound - quickly stifled then all was still – had that been laughter?

A company of soldiers with one or two medals glinting on their number ones,

Maybe some with more medals, disembarked.

The townsfolk weren’t expecting that sort of tripper.

 

The troopers assembled and marched off to the beat of at least one drum

Maybe more

Silent and solemn, these were not pleasure seekers.

A company of infantry, maybe two platoons had come

Maybe more

Armed with rifles, with fingers on the triggers.

They marched up to the church and shocked two ladies waiting to welcome

One, two or maybe more visitors,

Day trippers – not soldiers – just sightseers.

“Look after these please,” said the captain to Mrs Smith and Mrs Young

And ignored more church ladies

Gathered behind them to wonder

 

For they hadn’t been warned what was going on

That they would have to guard fifty guns,

Maybe more,

They never expected that

When they reported for duty that morning.

But more was to come.

When the soldiers were seated, when the nave was filled with the beat of a drum

Solemn, steady

The vicar left the church to meet pall bearers who

Solemnly and steadily

Would bear their comrade to his rest.

And as the vicar passed by the open-mouthed ladies standing sentry duty

Over an arsenal of Heckler & Koch HK MP5 Submachine Guns,

He called on Mrs Young

To hold the flask of holy water until the service was over.

And as the fallen soldier passed through the ancient archway

On his last journey

The oaken door swung shut:

The soldiers inside:

The two ladies guarding Heckler & Koch HK MP5 Submachine Guns,

AND a flask of holy water outside.

It was their first-time volunteering as visitor guides in their church

And, they never expected that.