ACACIA TREES

Gemma Parry-Paxton

The army had been the making of him.
       His time at boarding school had been unremarkable. He was able to achieve sufficient grades to avoid humiliation, but he never reached the lofty heights of receiving a prize for academic achievement. He had played rugby. He had known that the freezing cold mud and the indignity of the scrum would make a man of him, but he never made captain. He had proven himself to be adequate.
       At university he had met a slim, blonde woman with impeccable manners. She was unlikely to ever make a fuss or to exhibit extremes of emotion. He was relieved to marry her. She was quite clear that he needed to find a respectable career that would enable her to stay at home and raise adequate children. His uncle had suggested that he would make a fine officer. He was well spoken, amenable and could tolerate freezing-cold mud.
       His military career had been exemplary. He had followed the orders of those superior to him and imposed orders on those beneath him. He had braved deserts and sand burn. He had spent days in icy aircraft hangers waiting for flights to other icy cold places. He had returned home on leave to his adequate blonde wife and brood of adequate children. He had moved house on many occasions, each home larger than the previous one, as he crept his way towards the dazzling heights of Brigadier.
       Finally, through acquiescence and a thousand tedious dinners in the mess, he had reached the lofty heights of Commander British Forces. As the Queen’s representative, he commanded respect and obedience.
       He had reflected on the best use of this power. His blonde wife had struggled with allergies since their arrival. She had coughed and sneezed incessantly for days. The sound was irritating and impacted on her ability to corral the children. After careful consideration, he gave the order that all acacia trees on the base were to be cut down.  He was indifferent to the complaints and concerns put forward by the dependants. The trees were destroyed, his wife stopped sneezing, and his life was quite adequate.