If this was a road movie...
By ghelder
- 390 reads
If this was a road movie¦
Henry switched on the computer and the screen lit up the room. He hadn't realised how dark it had become during the afternoon. He reached for the desk light switch and flicked it. The bulb blinked and went out. "Shit, muttered Henry, though there was nobody there to hear him. It was too dark in the room to work without a light, and the naked bulb hanging from the ceiling didn't give out the right light to work by. He examined the bulb, but he already knew it was the wrong fitting to put in the desk-lamp. The convenience store round the corner would have one. He'd already been there twice today.
He grabbed his coat on the way out and locked the door behind him. The morning's drizzle had become heavier rain, and he pulled his hood up and ran across the road. The trees were bowing under the punishment they were taking, looking like they wanted to migrate to somewhere warmer and drier. But they stayed. Henry put his head down and turned left. The shop window's lights shone out into the gloom, and Henry pushed the door at the 1980s cigarette advertisement that the owner hadn't been able to remove when the regulations changed. Not much in this shop had changed since the 1980s.
Henry bought a pack of three sixty-watt bulbs. He wanted one, but they sold them in threes. He put a pack of chewing gum on the counter, and the shopkeeper silently rang up the total. Henry paid and took his change. "Thank you, he said, more out of habit than politeness, and left. He left the shop and turned up the hill. Just as he was preparing himself for the run across the road, he looked up. One car passed, its headlights illuminating the rain, and passing over a figure across the street. She was lit up just long enough for Henry to recognise her.
"Hey, Sarah, he called, crossing the street and catching up to her.
"Hi. She looked at him. Her hair was plastered down by the side of her face. She looked miserable, but she might have just been cold and wet.
"Are you alright? He knew she was going to lie. She did.
"Yeah. Fine.
"So what are you doing out here?
"I'm going home.
"Is it far?
"Miles. She smiled at him, but only with her mouth. "But I'm as wet as I'm going to get.
"Do you want a lift?
"That would be kind of you. Thanks. A sadness in her voice suggested that this was the kindest thing anyone had done for her in quite a long time.
"Come on then.
Henry's car was parked outside his house. He unlocked the passenger door that was on the pavement side, and opened the door for Sarah. She got in as he walked round to the driver's side. "I'm getting your seats wet, she apologised.
"Don't worry about it. She's not that special to me.
"It's dry.
"Yeah, I fixed the sunroof. He pointed to the brown sticky-tape that sealed up the gap. Henry laughed and Sarah copied him. "Are you laughing at my car?
"No. No, not at all. It's a lovely car.
"It's a fifteen-year-old Escort.
"It goes, doesn't it?
"Good question. Henry turned the key, and with a bit of encouragement the engine started. "Must like you.
"My appeal seems limited to inanimate objects these days.
"Come off it. Henry looked at her. The soaking she'd got hadn't done her any favours. Her blonde hair was a mess, her face was pale and her eyes were bloodshot. But there was beauty trying to get out from beneath all that. He didn't tell her.
Henry edged the car to the end of his street, and checked for on-coming traffic at the junction. It was a one-way street and he turned right. "Where do you live?
"Mill Road. Henry knew the name, but couldn't place the street.
"What's the quickest way there?
"Straight up here, then right after the hospital. Past the park.
"Oh yeah, I know it. He'd find it.
"Actually, can you take the scenic route?
"Sure, which way?
"Any way. I just don't feel like going straight home.
"Sure. He signalled and turned left. With directions like that, he knew he was going the right way. "Do you want a coffee? He asked her. "My treat.
"I don't mind.
"You don't have to. There's a café down here I've not been to for a while.
"Might as well.
"You don't sound too keen.
"No, really. I'd like it. Sounds like the best idea in the world at the moment. She sounded like she meant it.
"You don't have to go that far.
"I mean it.
"Good because we're there. He pulled into a car park, and the headlights swept across the wall of the café. The car park was empty and he pulled up as close as he could get to the door. He switched off the windscreen wipers and visibility was immediately reduced to zero. Sarah was heading round to the front of the café when Henry called her back. "This way, he said, pointing her towards a green wooden door in the back wall. There was no sign on the door. Henry pushed it open and stood back to let Sarah in.
Inside it was bright. The strip-lighting was harsh, but the warmth was welcoming. The café was empty. On a day like this, they didn't get many passers-by. "Coffee? asked Henry. Sarah nodded. "I'll bring it over, he told her, and she went to sit by the window. Only one table showed signs of being used recently. Two half-empty mugs the only evidence that Henry wasn't the only person who knew this place existed. Sarah sat down and brushed her still wet hair away from her face. She looked over at Henry who had his back to her. He couldn't know how kind he was being to her.
She was looking out of the window when he approached. "I thought you might want something to eat, he said. He had bought chocolate cake for both of them. "It looked good.
"It does. Thanks. She didn't start eating straight away.
"I didn't know how you liked your coffee, so I brought everything.
"Lots of cream, lots of sugar.
"Help yourself. Henry poured out two cups and took one. He blew on it and took a sip. "Not bad, he commented.
"Just black? asked Sarah, busy filling up her cup with sugar from a stainless steel bowl.
"Yeah, I can never get those little milk pots open. Sarah smiled and poured cream into hers, filling it just too close to the edge.
"Try the cake, said Henry. "It's usually pretty good here.
"Is this your kind of place?
"I used to come here a lot when I was a student. I had more money in those days. We lived just round the corner. They used to have a pool table. We'd come in for breakfast after a night out. It made a change from the pub. They do some good food.
"Like chocolate cake.
"Like chocolate cake. Eat it. It'll cheer you up.
"Is it that obvious? Henry didn't want to answer that question.
"They say chocolate is a substitute for love.
"I've heard that.
"I think it's the other way round. Love's a substitute for chocolate. Sarah laughed and looked at him, her head tilting to one side, waiting to see if there was any more to come.
"I bet you're quite romantic deep down.
"I don't know. I've never looked. Eat your cake, or you don't get any pudding.
"What's for pudding?
"More chocolate cake.
"You know the way to a girl's heart. She took a large spoonful of cake and put it in her mouth, and started chewing slowly.
"Through a load of clogged up arteries, if you eat too much of that. She started laughing, and had to put her hand over her mouth.
"It's good. Really good. Thanks. She was suddenly serious. "Thanks, Henry.
"Don't worry about it. All part of the service. He started eating his slice of cake, and there was a brief silence between them.
Sarah broke it. "This feels like a scene from a film.
"What kind of film?
"I don't know. It's the start of a film.
"Yeah, but is it a good film?
"Something British, low budget. A black comedy. No stars.
"Thanks. And there was me thinking how you ought to be a film-star. She took the compliment with a smile, but without further comment. There was another pause, while they both thought about the next scene.
"What were you planning to do this afternoon?
"Nothing much, I expect.
"So I'm not keeping you from anything important?
"Well, yes, but I probably wouldn't have done any of it anyway.
"I won't feel guilty about it then.
"Of course you won't. You're a girl. He looked up at her, and didn't like the look she gave him. "Sorry. Joke.
"I guessed. Are you bitter about something?
"Just about everything at some time or other. You?
"Nothing that won't fix. She looked down at her coffee. "Nothing much. Henry didn't know if she was adding to her previous statement, or qualifying it.
"Do you want to follow the scenic route for a bit longer? He hoped she would say yes. He didn't want to take her home just now.
"We'll see where it goes.
"Anywhere you fancy?
"Just wherever.
"There's a few South American countries they won't let me into, but apart from that, I'm open to suggestions.
"I wasn't thinking quite that far.
"Which way shall we head?
"Turn right, keep going until we hit the edge.
"I think right takes us North.
"That's a long drive. Henry mentally crossed off any thoughts he had of completing any work that afternoon. It wasn't much of a dilemma.
They were heading north on the A1 at a steady fifty. Even if it hadn't been raining so hard, Henry's car struggled to pass fifty. Today it would have been dangerous. Cars were passing them doing twice that speed. The police weren't going to stop anybody on a day like this. Let them take their chances. The further they travelled the worse reception they were getting on the radio. "Do you want to try and tune that in a bit better? asked Henry. Sarah moved the dial, but couldn't improve it. "Get a tape out of the glove compartment. Sarah opened the glove compartment with a tug, and everything inside rattled around.
"You've got a lot of junk in here, she said, moving it around looking for tapes.
"I know. I sometimes wonder if the Holy Grail isn't in there somewhere.
"It wouldn't surprise me. There's all sorts of shit. She held up an old, leather, driving glove.
"It's a glove compartment. He shrugged. "Just be grateful. If this was a film, you'd find a gun.
"If this was a film, I might have taken you hostage with it.
"But in a twist at the end you'd find it didn't work, which I knew all along.
"I'd have switched it for a real one at the services.
"And then I'd rip off my mask, and you would find out I was your long-lost brother.
"Now you're being stupid. Are these all the tapes you've got?
"What's in there?
"Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, REM.
"What's wrong with that?
"Hardly party music is it?
"We're not having a party.
"What do you like?
"I like them all. Obviously.
"I'll give the radio another go. She leaned over to turn the dial. Eventually the interference gave way to a record that sounded like an advertisement, being talked over by the DJ. "I preferred the interference, muttered Henry.
"Alright, said Sarah, with an apparent air of resignation. "I'll put on REM. Best of a bad lot, though.
"If you don't like it you can get out and walk. Henry tried to sound angry, but he was smiling. He wasn't sure how far Sarah could take a joke.
"My dad used to say that to us all the time.
"Mine too. He carried out his threats once, as well. On holiday. In Spain. Hell of a long walk back. When I was five they abandoned me to be raised by wolves.
Sarah laughed, but Henry didn't know if it was with him or at him. Either way she looked a lot happier than she had earlier that afternoon. She looked at him with a bemused smile. "You live in a complete fantasy world.
"Yes, and I'm happy there. Maybe you should try it.
"Maybe I will. She looked outside. "What beautiful weather we're having. I love all this sunshine. She sat back. "It's not working.
"Try with something you can control first.
They had arrived on the outskirts of Edinburgh late the previous evening, and had found a bed and breakfast for the night. Fortunately it wasn't high season, and there was plenty of room at the inn. The landlord didn't ask any questions, but seemed a little surprised that they didn't have any bags when they checked in. They didn't talk about their plans. Henry thought they would stay overnight and head back the next morning. Sarah had a bath, but had no clean clothes to put on afterwards. Henry averted his eyes when she came out of the bath wrapped in two towels, but she told him she wasn't going to get dressed, and he relaxed a little. "Looks like we're sleeping together tonight, she said. The bed and breakfast only had double beds.
Henry woke first in the morning and stood up. He was aching all over, the result of spending the night on the floor. Sarah had fallen asleep on the bed, and she had looked so peaceful, Henry hadn't wanted to disturb her. In the night, she hadn't moved. She woke up when he came out of the bathroom, and saw the blankets on the floor. "Did you sleep there?
"On and off. It was too early for him to be too polite.
"I'm sorry. You should have pushed me over.
"No. You looked like you needed the rest. He tried to hide the disappointment in his voice. "It's done you good. You look well.
"I feel better.
"Good. Did you have happy dreams?
"Yes. I did.
"Good. The sun's shining. Henry opened the curtain slightly, and Sarah had to shield her eyes from the sun. "I knew there couldn't be much more rain left.
"So what shall we do today?
"I don't know. It seems a shame just to turn round and go back.
"Yeah, I still don't feel like facing reality just yet.
"So what if this was a film?
"If this was a film?
"Yeah, what would we do?
"Get married, rob a bank, run away to Mexico and live happily ever after.
"Sounds good. But the police would be on our tail, we'd be followed and die in a hail of bullets in our beach house. All in slow motion.
"I prefer my ending.
"Me too. I've always wanted to go to Mexico.
"So what are we waiting for?
"I'm hungry. Fancy breakfast?
"Okay. Give me a minute.
Henry called out. "Sarah?
"Yes, honey? came the reply from somewhere inside.
"Are you coming outside?
"I'll be out in a minute. Have you seen my watch?
"The cat ate it. Come on. I'm going for a swim.
"The cat ate it? Sarah came out of the beach house and down the steps. "The cat ate my watch? she repeated, laughing. "I think the sun's getting to you. You live in a complete fantasy world.
"I know, he smiled and kissed her. "And don't you love it?
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