After Word

AFTER WORD

A few weeks after I'd left the Army, I got a letter from the Taxman.

He said he'd overcharged me and enclosed a cheque for thirty pounds.

Wizard.

Sadly he wrote again in three weeks time. He said he was sorry. He'd made a mistake. Would I return the money.

I felt bad anyway. This made me worse. But my spirited Mother said 'you won't let them get away with that'.

Thus, the next day I replied. 'I was sorry, but I had drunk the thirty pounds. Out of work, and now only ever likely to be a student, I didn't know what to do.'

He replied with sympathy, even kindness. he said he would have to recoup the money later when I was earning. But he never did.

He was a gentleman.

I was learning how to be a good civilian.

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