Alice

One of the nicer aspects of life at the Happy Harbour Retirement Home is that on those sadly inevitable occasions that one of us relocates to the Great Rest Home in the Sky, a new resident is introduced to us at the dear departed’s wake.

          Taking leave of a loved one, while simultaneously welcoming a new friend might be thought an endearing touch, symbolic of the Happy Harbour’s compassionate philosophy, but endearing touches, compassion, and symbolism are anathema to Miss Starkey, the Havens’ proprietor and commandant, who seizes the opportunity to share the cost of the wake with a welcome party.

          Our most recent departure, Begonia Crump, late of Room 14, was a scarcely mobile, dust-encrusted nonagenarian, whose passing had triggered bitter conflict over control of the remote in the television lounge. Despite the outward protestations of grief, Begonia was generally unloved, and Miss Starkey’s introduction of Alice MacArthur as Room 14’s new occupant, drew a twitter of approval from the residents, along with a stage -whispered “Tart” from Miss Lashley (Room10), which I took as her acknowledgement that it takes one to know one.

          Veronica Lashley is my Intimate Associate, currently estranged, but beneath her expensive smile and immaculate coiffure lurks the dark soul of the street-fighting pole dancer she once was. She speaks as she finds, and mostly she finds wanting.

          “Mrs MacArthur looks quite smart,” I murmured, “vivacious, and with an excellent taste in walking-sticks.”

          “Smart my arse, Georgie, I know her. That’s Alice Homer that was. Rat-Arsed Alice that was barmaid at the Samson, and had to marry Willie MacArthur in a hurry. She’s had a face lift, but it’s her.”

          Alice Homer and the Samson rang bells, and I experienced a sixty-odd year flashback to the dark alley behind the Samson, chips in newspaper and Alice.  And yes, if I squinted through half closed eyes, and made generous allowance for the passing years, Alice it was.

          Close up, she looked a bit lived in, but apart from the walking stick, scrubbed up nicely. She didn’t recognise me, but her eyes widened when I mentioned the Samson, the alley, and the chips in newspaper.

          “Was that really you?” she giggled, “all those years ago?”

          “Sometimes me,” I said, “but by no means exclusively, if what they said was true.”

          She blushed, prettily, tongue-tied.

          “We must have a chat about old times,” I said, “and see if we still have things in common.”

*

          Polish Petra, my named carer and confidante, was sceptical about me moving on Alice, and was firm with her advice.

          “Don t go there, Georgie, she’s trouble on a stick, that one.”

          Petra was right, I knew, but with Miss Lashley off limits, and nothing else in prospect, a dalliance with Alice seemed harmless. Although still hazy about our youthful acquaintance, she was sympathetic towards a liaison, provided it involved no financial outlay on her part.

          “It’s my 75^th birthday Thursday week,” she said, “you can take me to that Cute Crustacean fish restaurant in Pershore.”

          That suited me; fish and chips seemed an appropriately modest investment for a first date, so I phoned the restaurant to book a table and ordered cod and chips twice to save time on the night.  The restaurant guy laughed. “We’ll see you Thursday week. sir.”

*

          Taxis are unnecessary when one possesses a bus pass, and the unexpected surprise of a bumpy half-hour bus ride to Pershore rendered Alice speechless with excitement. She was still emotional on arrival, so I took her for an aperitif first, to restore her equanimity, although I hadn’t reckoned on restoration costing me a bottle of St Emilion. Cod and chips but no pudding, I’m afraid, Alice

          The Cute Crustacean turned out to be that sort of trendy, dimly lit, place that induces involuntary hyperventilation of the wallet. It certainly struck fear in to mine. An impressive sea-life aquarium was set in to one wall, and the waiter seated us at an adjacent table and gave us menus.

          “Skip the formalities, mate” I said, “I ordered cod and chips twice when I booked. Get frying.”

          The waiter lifted a contemptuous eyebrow. “Cod and chips is not an option here, sir. The Crustacean is not a chippy.”

           “No problem then, love,” said Alice, “Fruit de Mer twice, please, with seared scallops to start and a nice bottle of Chablis.”

          Alice was well down the Chablis when the scallops arrived, so she ordered another bottle. She was now totally relaxed but I was in shock because I knew that the bill already exceeded the contents of my wallet, and my credit cards are only for decoration. Then the second Chablis arrived so I poured myself a large one, and decided to go with the flow.

          While we ate, we watched the activity in the aquarium, and Alice became fascinated by a malevolent looking lobster that was lurking in the corner.

          “He’s watching us,” she said, “he’s trying to get our attention.”

          “He’s thinking of making a break,  Alice,” I joked, “he’s discovered he’s on tomorrow’s menu.”

          “Oh My God, Georgie, is he. We should call the RSPCA.” I thought she was joking until I saw tears in her eyes, but it was only when she struggled to her feet and tried to embrace the lobster through the glass that I realised that she was borderline plastered.

           “Oooo, Georgie, I need the loo,” she said, “but my legs have gone all floppy, you’ll have to take me.”

          It’s difficult to look nonchalant when supporting a legless septuagenarian, but Alices’ walking stick suggested disablement so nobody noticed. I got her down the corridor, bundled her into the ladies, heard the door lock and waited.

          And waited; then I knocked; then I called. “You OK, Alice?” No response.

          Bugger, I thought, the old dear’s flaked out.  What happens now?

          I knew I should fetch help; there was no knowing what state Alice was in. On the other hand, the shenanigans involved in extracting her from the loo would make us late for the last bus and I’m too old for rushing while lumbered with a blitzed old biddy on a walking stick. More to the point, fetching help would inevitably culminate in a distressing no-win argument about the bill, and I’m too old for stuff like that as well.

          The notice on the door by the ladies offered a solution. ‘Emergency Exit – Push Bar to Open’, so I pushed the bar and legged it for the bus stop.

*

          Alice arrived back by police car about 1.00am, and the commotion roused the Home . She’d been discovered, moribund, in the ladies, and the police had been called because she couldn’t pay the restaurant bill. Nor could she explain her presence in the toilet or the restaurant, but was adamant that she’d organised the escape of a talking lobster who had appeared under the khazi door and asked her to flush him to freedom down the loo. The police weren’t charging Alice, but wanted to talk to the little old guy seen with her in the restaurant, who’d abandoned her without paying

          “Oooo dear, Georgie,” said Petra. “Lucky for you! I saw you reading in your room earlier when I brought your tablets in.”

          Thanks, Petra, I thought, that’s what carers are for. I owe you one. I just hope I’ll be able to afford it..

The Trail to Cousin Myrtles'

            Fat Abe’s Gas Station was a dirty yard at the far end of Rotting Possum‘s dusty main street. It was littered with oil drums and long-dead tyres and in a corner was a battered pick-up loaded with crates seething with raucous chickens.  It boasted a couple of dilapidated gas pumps, a rickety shed with shame-faced pretensions to being an office, and a wooden bench upon which floundered the gargantuan backside of one of the fattest guys I’d ever seen.

            “You Fat Abe?” I bawled, to make myself heard above the chickens. “I’m Harry Homer, Myrtle Homer’s cousin from England. I’m just off the bus from Memphis and Myrtle’s arranged for me to pick up her vehicle here to take on to Coyote Falls.”

            The fat guy stared through me for a moment, then took a long drag on a huge cigar before thoughtfully delving his fat fingers in to the stubbly depths of his multitudinous chins.

            “Yup,” he admitted, “I’m Fat Abe, but right now Mister I’m closed.”

            “Closed?”

            “Closed,” He waved his cigar dismissively. “Break time, Mister, I’m all closed up.”

            “OK,” I yelled, “so, any one here who can help?”

            “Nope, been here on my own all morning an’ I’m all tuckered out, so y’all have to wait till my break’s through.”

            “Guess you’ve had a busy day then?”

            Fat Abe pondered, before blowing a large, perfectly circular smoke ring, which slowly disintegrated over my face in an evil-smelling fog.

            “Nope, y’all my first customer today, Mister.”

            “Well then,” I said, coughing politely amid the smoke, “how about I pick up Myrtle Homer’s car now, and then you can keep going with your break as long as it suits you?”

            “Nope,” said Fat Abe, “If I do that, I’ll have folk a-turnin’ up here all hours, just to suit their convenience, y’all gotta wait, Mister.”

            “OK, OK!” The long, hot, bus ride from Memphis had left me grouchy, “so just tell me when you’ll reopen.”

            Fat Abe favoured me with another smoke ring. “About half an hour, Mister, if I’m feeling amiable.”                   

            “Don’t put yourself out on my account,” I murmured.

            I heard sniggering behind me, and turning, found a small shifty-looking crowd of townsfolk eying me with curiosity. I decided to play things cool.

            “Anywhere I can get a drink while I’m waiting?”

            Fat Abe pointed down the side-walk. “Zak’s Bar’s just down there apiece; Zak’ll rustle you something, if he‘s feelin’ amiable.”

            “Thanks for all your help,” I said.

            I pushed through the batwing doors in to the Zak’s Bar, followed by the street crowd, and found  more shifty folk clustered around the bar and tables. The bartender eyed me suspiciously.

            “You Zak?” I asked.

            “Guess I’m Zak,” he said

            “Beer, Zak,” I said, “if you’re feeling amiable.”

            Zak reached for a bottle, bit off the metal cap and pushed the bottle towards me. “What brings y’all to Rotting Possum then, stranger?”         

           “I’ve come from England to visit my cousin in Coyote Falls.”

            This statement provoked a buzz of excitement and a pimply woman wearing tattered dungarees shouted, “Coyote Falls? Y’all a-goin’ to visit Cousin Myrtle Homer?”

            I was surprised “Yes, but how do you know that it’s Myrtle Homer who’s my cousin?”

            “Well,” said Zak, “nobody but Myrtle Homer do live at Coyote Falls, an we all a-knowin’ Myrtle Homer, cos Myrtle’s our cousin too. We’re all cousins round these parts, Mister, ‘ceptin’, of course, if y’all a McNamara who ain’t cousins to no-one but themselves an’ all of ‘em downright onery”.

            Zak slapped his forehead, dramatically. “Jeez, if Cousin Myrtle’s our cousin, and this dude’s Cousin Myrtle’s cousin, then he gotta be our cousin too!” This observation provoked uproar, and people crowded around, slapping my back, poking my ribs and shouting ‘Welcome Cousin,’ ‘Dang me,’  ‘Lawksamussy,’ and similar rustic phrases. The pimply woman tried to kiss me, but she was ugly and had B.O., so I ducked. I was extremely shaken by this unexpected outbreak of cousins and thought that Cousin Myrtle might previously have mentioned them.

            "Lawdy" shouted Zak, "I never knew we had an English cousin. There’s nobody in Rotting Possum ever bin further than Catfish Creek, this is more excitin' than a whole mess o' molasses."

            "My hubby Joe always said we come from England way back," said the pimply woman. “Old Zeke Homer, Joe’s Daddy, swore that the Homers was English lords who high-tailed it out ‘cos the King had a mind to be a-sawin’ their heads off.”

            “ Old Zeke Homer died of moonshine poisoning,” scoffed a man. “He talked eyewash mostly. The Homers weren’t never lords, not even in Catfish Creek, but come a-runnin’ up here from Missouri after Huckleberry Homer done shot the Sherriff there.”

            This debate on the Homers’ ancestry was interrupted by the wail of a klaxon. “Hey, that’s Fat Abe’s break time finished,” said Zak. “Y’all better get off quick, Cousin, ‘afore he shuts for dinner.

            I left the bar immediately, trailed by all my new cousins. Fat Abe was still on the bench, puffing a cigar and cradling a can of beer. I sighed. The thought that this elephantine degenerate was probably a blood relative was humiliating..

            “I’ll take Cousin Myrtle’s vehicle, now,” I said, “if it’s convenient.”

            Fat Abe fingered his chins for a moment. “Guess that’s OK, Mister. Looks like y’all next in line, anyway.”

            Fat Abe felt in his dungarees pocket and threw me a key, then pointed to the chicken-laden pick up. “There y’are Mister, all gassed up and ready. Myrtle Homer will be most appreciative of you deliverin’ her chickens.”

            I stared at the pick–up in disbelief. The clucking was deafening and I could almost touch the smell.  The interior was filthy, the upholstery torn, and I was sure I could see daylight on the passenger side where the floor was rotting away.

            “I‘m not driving that,” I said. “Not with all that clucking and chicken stink and anyway that truck’ll disintegrate before it gets out of town. And I understand the road to Coyote Falls is none too good?”

.           “Not exactly a road,” said Zak “It’s just a track as far as Deadmans Creek, then y’all gotta take care you don’t get stuck in the swamp. Them water snakes don’t take kindly to bein’ disturbed, and Cousin Jethro swears there’s ‘gaitors in there . Somethin’ ornery took his leg off a while back anyways. After the swamp, it’s straight over Skull Mountain an’ through the pass, an’ if there ain’t no McNamaras a-waitin to blast your ass, it’s a straight run down to Cousin Myrtle’s.”

            “I can’t drive that,” I whined,  “don’t you have a car I can rent?”

            “Nope,” said Fat Abe. “Had one, but the McNamaras’s shot it up on Skull Mountain. Cousin Elmo Homer got lucky that day, the cougars finished him off afore the McNamaras got to him. Now Mister, y’all better get them chickens a-movin’, cos Myrtle Homer’ll be dang-blasted ornery if they ain’t in Coyote Falls by nightfall.

            “Best take ‘em, Cousin Harry,” advised Zak. “Cousin Myrtle do get badly riled when she’s crossed and there ain’t no accountin’ what’ll she do when she catches up with y’all.” 

            I left Rotting Possum with the cheers of my new cousins scarcely audible above the noise of the chickens. The pick-up lurched and bounced alarmingly along the deeply rutted trail and the gear stick had a mind of its own, often preferring a different slot to the one I’d selected. The dust was choking me, and the constant jolting was exhausting. However, when I reached Deadmans Creek, an hour down the trail, the  ruts became a quagmire concealed beneath standing water,  Several times I left the vehicle to check if it was safe to proceed, and was subjected to attacks from squadrons of mosquitoes, cheered on by the chickens.

            It was late afternoon before I cleared the swampland and commenced the winding ascent of Skull Mountain. The trail had reverted to its rutted state, making progress slow, and the sun was setting when I eventually drove through the pass and began the descent to Coyote Falls. I hadn’t got far when I saw a notice by the side of the trail:

WARNING

This heres McNamara country!!

HOMERS SHOT ON SIGHT

Yall got that?

So high tail it out RIGHT NOW!!!!!

            Although the notice was intimidating, I was more concerned about the pick-up parked beside it, the tall bearded man sitting on the bonnet with a shotgun over his knees, and the three armed, bearded men who were standing grinning at me with malicious anticipation.             “My oh my,” said the man on the bonnet, “if that ain’t Myrtle Homers old pick up. Are you in there, Myrtle Homer?”

            One of the men sauntered over and peered in at me “Sure don’t look like Myrtle Homer, lots purtier than Myrtle Homer.”

            Everyone except me laughed.

            “Not Fat Abe come a-visitin, Padraig?” asked the man on the bonnet.

            “Nope, Shamus” said Padraig, “lots purtier than Fat Abe, too.”

            Shamus slid off the bonnet and strolled over, his hand cupped round his ear. “Now, what’s all that cluckin’ there, Padraig? I do believe I’m hearin’ chickens.”

            Shamus examined the chicken crates, casually poking at the protesting birds with the barrel of his shotgun.

            “Well now” he said, sorrowfully, “looks like Miss Myrtle got some new chickens, so soon after we hijacked the last lot, too; some folk don’t never learn. And who might you be, Mister?”

            “I’m Harry Homer, Myrtle Homer’s English cousin, just passing through. Sorry to be a nuisance; if you could point me in the right direction...?”

            “ Oh my,” said Shamus, “here’s us all a-lyin’ in wait for Homers and one drives up and surrenders.”  He looked at me, thoughtfully. “Don’t seem right to be a-shootin’ him straight off, though, him bein’ a stranger an’ all, an’ not knowin’ our ways, t‘ain’t hospitable. Not much fun for us neither.”

            “OK, Harry Homer,” he decided. “Myrtles place is down the trail a-ways. You get goin’ now, real quick, cos me and the boys are a-countin’ to ten, then we’re a-comin’ after you and gonna shoot y’all stone dead afore y’all get to Myrtle Homer’s. One……….”

            I didn’t hear “two”, as I was already careering wildly down the trail with the Mcnamaras, whooping excitedly, chasing me down in their truck. In my mirror I could see Shamus on the back of his vehicle, firing at me over the cab. Shot was peppering my pick-up, and hysterical squawking from the chickens indicated that they were taking heavy casualties. Then, unaccountably, the McNamaras’ pick–up swerved and overturned, catapulting Shamus head first in to a bush. Down the trail in front of me a small figure was brandishing a large rifle and jigging about triumphantly.

            I drove down and stopped beside the figure, a tiny grey-haired woman, who seemed to be incredibly angry with me.

            “Lawd save us, Harry Homer, y’all got my chickens shot, yer dang dumb fool.”

            So this was Cousin Myrtle. Padraig had been right, I was lots prettier than she was.

                I followed Cousin Myrtle in to her house and was astounded to find Fat Abe, reclining in an easy chair, drinking beer and blowing smoke-rings.

            “What the hell are you doing here,” I asked.

            “I’m a-visitin’,” said Fat Abe. “Myrtle Homer is my Mummy, Cousin Harry.”

            So Fat Abe was my cousin; my humiliation was confirmed. “But how did you get here before me?” I asked.

            “Cousin Young Sherriff Seth brung me in his sheriffs helicopter, Cousin Harry; cuts out all that crap with the trail, the swamp an’ the McNamaras an’ all.”

            “You came by helicopter,” I yelled, “and I drove the pick up? Couldn’t you have brought me as well?”

            “ Sure could,” said Fat Abe, “but if we’d had given y’all a ride in the helicopter, who in hell would’ve brung Mummys chickens?”

1988 words, plus 

ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

I’ve always found the senior citizens cinema show on Wednesday mornings to be an ideal venue for widow-shopping. It’s a cheap morning out for an elderly widower, £3.50 for a top feature film plus coffee and biscuits, and is generally patronised by that better class of widow who seems to be particularly susceptible to my old-fashioned charms. One needs to be alive to one’s opportunities, of course, and it was my quick thinking, watching a screening of ’Atonement’, that enabled me to pull Daphne Murgatroyd.

            The situation arose during that scene in which a lucky fellow was tangling steamily in the library with Keira Knightley. The audience was engaged in a tense bout of communal heavy breathing when the moment was shattered by a loud embarrassed giggle from the woman next to me which elicited much foot shuffling and self-righteous ‘shushing’ and ‘tutting’, causing my unfortunate neighbour to attempt to fold herself up inside her tip-up seat. I seized my opportunity and patted her arm comfortingly. “Please don’t distress yourself, my dear” I whispered, “you are obviously a lady of some refinement, so please don’t let the reactions of these uncultured people distress you.”

             Daphne, as she later introduced herself, smiled at me gratefully through the gloom, and I followed up my first advance at intervals throughout the film, so that afterwards she enthusiastically accepted my offer of a two-for-one pub lunch, a speculative investment on my part of £12.30, (plus tip) and afterwards she agreed to come back to my room at the Happy Haven Retirement Home for coffee and cake. I smuggled her in through the side door to avoid confrontation with my close friend, Miss Lashley, (room 10) who for reasons I do not understand,is under the misapprehension that she exercises proprietorial rights over me.

            I should explain that I have harboured unrequited fantasies regarding Veronica Lashley since she took up residence two years ago but, disappointingly, she sees herself as the Happy Haven’s Virgin Queen. with me as some sort of Walter Raleigh figure. Sadly, I have realised  that my ship has no chance of dropping anchor in Miss Lashley’s harbour which is why I occasionally indulge in a little buccaneering on my own account, hence lunch with Daphne. We reached my room undetected and I put the kettle on.

            My lack of progress with Miss Lashley has persuaded me that at eighty three I have neither the time nor the attention span to faff around with the niceties of wooing, or whatever they call it now. I also had my lunch investment of £12.30 (plus tip) to protect, plus the £3.50 outlay for the cinema, so I made my move even before the kettle had boiled, tentatively embracing Daphne as she stood gazing through my window.

            To my surprise, her response to my embrace was so positive that the passion of her kiss dislodged my upper denture at the very moment that I was gulping for air. The denture shot to the back of my throat, temporarily choking me, and Daphne, alarmed by the discovery of an unrestrained foreign body in my mouth, sprang away from me with a frightened cry and toppled backwards over my footstool.

            Our cries of distress attracted the attention of Polish Petra, one of the carers, who burst into my room followed by a furious Miss Lashley and a twittering gaggle of rubbernecking residents.

“Ohmygod, Granpa Georgie,” said Petra, as she surveyed the carnage, “you’ve really done it this time haven’t you?”

            I had

            The paramedics put Daphne in a surgical collar and carried her to the ambulance on a board. Although she had by now regained consciousness, she didn’t wish me goodbye, so I assumed that our brief relationship was at an end, as was my association with Miss Lashley. That’s another £15.80 (plus tip) down to experience, I suppose.

            Miss Starkey, the Happy Haven manager, now has me on 24 hour lockdown, only leaving my room for escorted toilet breaks.My case has been referred to the local council and social services, but they couldn't find anywhere else to take me after the last incident and I guess they won't have any better luck this time so Starkey is stuck with me, like it or not. I'll lay low for a while until the dust settles or at least until I get a better-fitting denture.