Page 60 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

future and sadness, as we all began to realise that within a few days we
would go our separate ways, perhaps never to meet again.

As I sat in the students’ bar with mixed emotions coursing through my veins,
Sergeant Tom Trickett came up and sat beside me. He was for once, in
civilian attire.

“How are you son?” He asked. I was taken aback by the care in his voice,
totally contrary to the treatment he’d subjected me to over the ten weeks.

“I’m ok Sergeant, a bit mixed up leaving here and starting something new” I
said.

If I was taken aback with his opening comment, I was flabbergasted with
what came next.

“You can call me Sarge now”. He said, “Unless we’re on parade then it must
be Sergeant. But if no-one is in earshot, my name’s Tom”.

Such was my emotional state at this point I could have become
tearful, but I held it together because there was something, I
wanted to ask him. Despite what he had said, I couldn’t bring
myself to call him by his name.

“Sarge, you made my life hell on the drill square the first
week, then I felt so stupid on the traffic practical. Was I
really that bad?” I asked, I suppose finally seeking his
approval.

“Was that you on the first day and you again on the
practical?” He said.

I was gobsmacked that he even felt the need to ask and I just nodded.
“Listen son, so many recruits pass through here, this week your lot are passing
out, in a few weeks’ time it will be the turn of another lot. So many faces, I’m
lucky if I can remember any of them. I only remember names for a day or so
there are so many. Ten weeks ago, yours was the face I picked, not because
you were the worst, but for the job I must do, I must pick someone to put the
fear of God into everyone if we are to get the best out of you all. If you were
to sit in on the next traffic practical, you’d see me saying the same to some
other poor bugger. None of you have done this before, so I bank on
someone cocking it up. The day everyone turns out like Guardsmen and
controls traffic perfectly, I’ll have to hang up my boots.”

I’ll never really know whether he was being truthful about my experiences,
but it didn’t matter, his explanation was good enough for me.
Page60