Kat’s Caravan Disappointment

Bill could see that Kat was feeling low. He started to plan a surprise caravan trip. Just local, nothing too ambitious, but he felt they needed to get away from the house for a while. He was tired of being cooped up.

He was gone all day Sunday and hadn’t told Kat what he was up to. It would have been nice if he’d been at home. There was so much to do, and he was the one who always wanted to sort through the boxes. Now there was time and she couldn’t do it on her own.

Just as the sun started to set, Kat heard Bill’s car pull up to the front of the house. She looked out the window, past the Christmas decorations still on the lawn, and spotted something large and white parked out on the street. The car door opened and Bill emerged grinning from ear to ear.

Kat pushed open the front door as far as she could and stood there, hands on hips. “Surprise Love!” said Bill, obviously pleased with himself as he pointed to the caravan he’d towed home. At first Kat didn’t know what to make of it.

“But then it slowly dawned on her and she grinned too. Oh Darling, thank you! That’s exactly what I’ve been saying we need – more storage.”

“Oh no you don’t. This is for us to go on holiday. Let’s get away from this crowded house.”

“Bill, you’ve got to be kidding. There’s no way I can leave until after I’ve beaten the council about this ridiculous clean up order they’ve foisted on me. I don’t trust them one bit. If we go away, they’ll just come in and take my things.”

“Kat, you keep promising that things will change. I’m sick of waiting. You and I know they never will change, not as long as you keep buying more stuff and never letting go.” Then Bill announced, “Well I’m heading off in the caravan next Sunday. It’s your choice. You can either come with me, or stay behind.”

“What do you mean? Are you going to just leave me here to fend for myself with the council?”

“It’s your choice. You can come with me and we can have a nice regional road trip, or you can stay here with your stuff.”

Kat huffed and walked away. As each day passed and Sunday drew nearer, she saw Bill’s preparations. He checked the tyres and brakes on the caravan, installed a TV antenna, took crockery, cutlery, tea towels and sheets out to the van. He hung his shirts and trousers in the tiny caravan cupboards, put his fishing supplies in the car, and he pored over maps.

Kat did none of those things. She couldn’t believe he would actually go through with it. Surely he was just bluffing. And surely he could buy new stuff for the van instead of taking hers. It might get broken.

On Saturday Bill asked her again, “Are you coming? I’ll be leaving at dawn to make the most of the day.”

“I told you I’m not ready, Bill. How can I leave now? Can’t you wait another week? I’ve written another request to the council to withdraw the complaint. They’ll reply any day now.”

“No Love I’m serious. I’m going in the morning.”

Kat still didn’t believe him. Her Bill had never really let her down before. He’d wait for sure.

On Sunday morning, just as he’d vowed, Bill got behind the wheel of his car and drove away, caravan following behind. Kat was shocked. First Kylie left, then Violet betrayed her, and now Bill. How could he be so mean? She spent the day alone, with the lights off, and comforted herself by scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, looking for the extra storage she needed.

After dinner, she received a text message from Bill with some photos. They showed him and Tiffany by a river, showing off a trout as long as Tiffany’s arm. And the text message said, “Wish you were here.”

Well, if Tiffany was interested in fishing now, maybe she could have those fishing magazines.