My Dinosaur Era Chapter 52 (Epilogue)
By beanzie
- 22 reads
ginny never really did go back home
her and patrycja went places
sticking pins in maps
local at first, the hinterlands of sussex
branching out to northern france, wales
managed to keep going to work somehow
orchestrating the cleaning from afar
how the fuck do you do your job remotely, I asked her
fear, timmy, pure unadulterated terror, she said
how so, I said
my little army of cleaning fairies know that I’m out there, that I could appear at any time, that’s the same as me being there, she said
and the owners are fine with this, I said
of course, the rooms are fucking immaculate, she said
silly question, imagine having to tell her off
patrycja worked the hotel bar all weekend
then, by monday night they’d disappear
show up on friday
with stories about the the places they’d been
after a couple of months I asked her
why she even had her flat anymore
fuck knows, costs me a fortune in rent and I’m never there, she said
give it up, we’ll share my flat and the van between us, I said
shit, that might work, timmy, she said
and so it did
friday became changeover day
ginny and patrycja would turn up in the morning
put their washing on, shower
stroll off down to the hotel
we would hang the washing up when done
petula would fold it beautifully into piles
ready for their return from work that night
patrycja had not been joking about testing my driving
the first time she let me take it out
she handed me the keys
my hands shaking, sweating on the wheel
her eyes flitting from the road to me
my neck pulsating with panic
held it together to get a pass
you drive ok, timmy, she said
my whole body let out a breath
friday night, we’d take the van
make our own adventure
at first
nervous to take patrycja’s gleaming baby far
we stayed local
brighton marina, less than two miles away
free parking, asda and wetherspoons adjacent
eventually we spread our wings out to
lewes, ashdown forest
a four wheel visit back to shoreham
summer nights sat on the beach
still just about holding hands
the financials worked out well
all this shared four ways felt easy
petula took a placement at the hospital
sorted her physio registration out again
landed a part time job there when she was done
at first I was the housekeeper
of my own house
the only one with no work
I went shopping a lot
daydreaming around the aisles
remembered how to cook again
played music loud as a chilli spat at the ceiling
ginny called me her house bitch
I’d scowl at her, smile deep inside
after a while
I took a job in the hole
part time
wednesday and thursday nights only
me and alan slinging beers around the tiny bar
petula sat up on a stool
watching me make a mess
if someone ordered a cocktail
one time jonny walked through the door
she had her back to him
he saw us, turned right around
never to be seen again
we never talked about him
all that went on before
it seemed like a long time ago
he didn’t deserve mourning
we just lived our funny little lives
scooting around the country
in a ford nugget
getting admiring looks from other nomads
she’s a beauty mate, in such good nick
how many miles, drives like a dream I bet
we went to see my mum, all four of us
she was overwhelmed, all this company
these two are so tall and that one is only little, tim, she said
yes mum, that’s how people work, some are bigger than others, I said
which one is your girlfriend then, she said
one of the tall ones, I said
I’d never called petula my girlfriend
it seemed redundant, glib
actually funny coming out of mum’s mouth
oh good, I do like the little one but she’s too small for you, a bit loud too, she said
she’s my best friend in the world, mum, but yeah, she does have a noise on her, I said
so which one is it, out of the tall ones, the scary one or the one with the big eyes, she said
the one with the big eyes, I said
oh good, she looks nice, lovely face, I said
a big weird face, I said
oi, don’t be so bloody rude, she’s too pretty for you, she said
I’m joking mum, that’s just a thing we say, but yeah, she is way too pretty for me, I said
did the little one just kiss the scary one, she said
yes mum, they are in love, I said
that’s nice, shame about the height thing but they do seem happy, she said
I think they are very happy, I said
and you, son, are you happy, she said
yes mum, I think I am, I said
- Log in to post comments
Comments
Quite a few people struggle
Quite a few people struggle at endings but this is a good one, well done
- Log in to post comments


