Escape At Christmas

 

 Escape At Christmas 

By Paul McCann

 

Barbara and Danny once were an item and they lived together happily before Barbara got on hard drugs . 

This was the reason why they broke up in the end .

People often thought they were lifers . Destined to be together forever . With her addiction Barbara became too difficult to handle . Their frequent arguments became more violent and 

 Barbara moved out to live in an inner city flat with some of her drug using friends while Danny remained living in the campus at university .

Barbara had once promising  dancing career that kept her physically fit and  busy .

After Danny and Barbara broke up  their communication deteriorated but every so often they got together to share how things were going .

 

Danny was reserved about his feelings towards Barbara because deep down he still loved her which is sad because Barbara loves drugs more than him and refused to give them away . 

Over a year had passed and Danny never heard from Barbara he had tried several times to contact her but there was no response .  He hoped she was ok where ever she was .

 

Christmas was coming and Danny began to decorate his flat and outside in the town street decorations were on display everywhere . The stores were very busy with Christmas shoppers and airports saw a surge of fully booked flights with people returning home to their families.

Bars were packed with people out celebrating and restraints where always filled with customers wink band dining and sharing music and song as Christmas carols were being played everywhere through speakers and there’s this wine and roses sweetness about life that comes during the season of Christmas .

 

Danny was been out in a sushi bar with a few student friends . He always enjoyed being in their company and the conversation was always stimulating . After a good night he returned home to his flat in the little hours of the morning . 

Still a little peckish he  put the kettle for a cup of tea and a midnight snack when a knock came to the door .

Danny (Mumbles to himself )

“Who is that knocking on the door at this time of the night . 

All right . Hold your horses . I’m coming “ 

Danny spoke from behind the closed  door . 

“”What do you want ? “

 

“ Hello Danny , Its me Barbara .“

was the answer and Danny replied

“Who .“

The voice at  the door continued .

“It’s me Barbs, stop messing about . Open the door Danny . “

 

Danny replied 

“The door is open . Come on in .“

 

Barbara walked into the room with a bunch of keys in her hand .

 

Danny looked puzzled and said , “What are the keys for ?”

 

Barbara held up the keys and sued ,

“They’re for opening peoples minds Danny .“

 

Danny shook his head and replied  “ Ok so n how do they work ?”

 

Barbara pointed to her head saying  

“ Have you ever climbed inside your head to escape from something or someone . I mean have you ever hidden away in there and shut yourself off  from the entire world ?”

 

Danny  replied , 

“Sure I do it all the time . Come on Barbara , you must be kidding ?”

 

Barbara continued , 

“Well then , Danny  . What I have here are a set of keys that unlock doors in the deep corners of your  subconscious mind .”

 

Danny replied ,

“ Barbara I’m really glad to hear that but if you want my advice I think you better crawl out from whatever place you’re in or whatever you’re on and make an escape back to the real world before you get lost in there .“

 

Barbara –answered ,

“Do you have any idea what time it is Danny?”

 

Suddenly Danny notices a hospital  ID band around her wrist and suspected she had escaped from the detox unit . He tried to make out like nothing was wrong and looked  at his watch and replied ,

“Yeah Barbara , it’s Christmas time and I’m trying to have something to eat “

 

Barbara replied , 

“ I can see inside your mind you have some conflict there with me ?”

 

Danny reached out and took her hand and stroked the back of her hand softly as he tried to get a closer look at the tag she was wearing . Then he saw  the name of the facility where she had been placed . He said to her 

 

“ Barbara . Theres no conflict here with you  “

 

Barbara  replied ,

“ Let me ask you something else Danny . Has there been anything left broken in your mind your heart since we separated ?”

 

Danny answered ,

“ I’ve just been wondering where you’re at these days . You’ve put so much into your body I’m not sure who you are anymore . To me 

you’re not really there and all I see is someone who has turned her life upside down .“

 

Barbara nodded her head saying 

“ Danny boy . I think what you have there  is an essence of truth but your life has run dry and that is the reason why I find you like a dull wet rag hung up to die .” 

 

Shaking his head Danny replied , “Ok , you’re in my place now and I’m going up continue to make myself a cup of tea and a snack . Would you like to join me ?”

 

Barbara said ,

Sure I’d like to “

“Ok take a seat . I’ll be back in a few minutes “

Danny left the room and made a phone call to Purdy Heights Mental Hospital to let them

know one of their patients was with him .

 

A short while later 

Danny and Barbara sat down in the corner and started chatting  away .

 

Danny asked “

So tell me what have you been up to this year ?”

 

Barbara replied “

Oh you know this and that . I’ve actually been standing outside your door wondering if one of them might open it up “

 

Danny said 

“Barbara hello , I did say come in . How are you ?“

 

Barbara said ,

“All I can remember is someone gave me a drink and then the next thing I knew somebody handed me this bunch of keys and I was standing at your door “

 

Danny replied  

“ So tell me again , what are the keys for ?.“

 

Barbara  replied 

“I was told that these keys can unlock secrets of the mind ““

 

Danny said 

“Maybe you should try them on yourself then but before you do 

Barbara try and smile . You look like death warmed up . ”

 

Barbara continued “

That would be a welcome change .”

 

Danny laughed and said ‘

“What death or getting warmed up ?”’

Barbara smiled and said , 

“Watch me smile and count how many different expressions I have and try to tell me what is my break emotion there. “

 

Danny said ,

“Here’s your tea and a sandwich . Let me take that bunch of keys and hang them up . “

 

Barbara flinched and said ,

“ You know what . That tells me you’ve got too many hang ups . Danny your mind has been shut for too long ”

 

Danny replied ,

“ That’s cool .“ 

He drops something into her cup without her seeing . Then he takes a sip from his cup and watches her do the same . Danny got up and switched the Christmas lights on around the flat .

Barbara says .

“ You still do your  Christmas things . So many lights around the place . .” 

 

Danny replied,

“That’s just what I do , better to shine a few light than catherine’s Barbara “

 

Barbara said 

“I’ll tell you what I would like some of that Christmas snow . Could you unlock that safe in your bedroom Danny ?”

 

Danny “ I just might unlock my temper if you ask me that again . ”

 

Barbara replied ?

“Be very careful of the things you say .Look into your heart and soul Some  people might be listening to you right now on the radio and you don’t know who those people are but I do .”

 

Danny  said 

“So in this  radio world where you live then is that another place that’s  been locked up somewhere today in the present ?”

 

Barbara said  .

“Danny boy , you’ve no idea of what is in my head . “

 

Danny replied ,

 “Maybe I should get those keys  of yours and unlock what’s in there . But then again  to be honest  Barbara I don’t want know “

 

Barbara carried on 

“Why actually that’s a good idea . Grab those keys because it might reveal what is concealed before Christmas day begins or before the new years here . What is the year anyhow ? .”

 

Danny replied 

 ‘”I am serious Barbara you need to get whatever it is inside your head out .“  

 

Barbara scoffed saying 

“Does anybody  really have the answer ?”

 

Danny said ,

“Keep your sanity and leave the drugs alone .“

 

Barbara continued 

“So do I keep smiling Danny or what ? .“

 

Danny said , 

What is it all about you and life . can’t t you see what you’re doing to yourself Eh . Do you know no p

one had got the answer ?”

 

Barbara said ,

“Danny stop it .“

 

Danny replied 

“Barbara stop it , ok Barbara you need to stop it “

 

Barbara (Screams) 

“Will everyone just calm down . Please can’t you see , don’t hurt me .“

 

Danny lowered his voice and said

 “I love you Barbara and wish you would start to see some sense .

It’s really starting to frighten me .”

 

Barbara shook her head saying 

“Stop it Danny . Please stop it .”

 

Danny said it again ‘

“I still love you Barbara .”

Barbara replied 

“I don’t believe that anyone could love me . You are so passive and dumb . The thing is you are not a real man . As a matter of fact you’re a sad mistake and a part of my life that I just wish had never happened .“.

 

Danny held out his hand saying 

“I want to hold your hand , come on reach out and take my hand .“

 

Barbara said ,

“ You’re special to me Danny . Come with me . We can escape from this life by using the keys . Bring me those keys “. 

 

Danny :said 

“ Barbara . I know the reason you keep coming here to visit me and at this moment in time I have no cash left .“

 

Barbara said ,

“ I can see by the look in your eyes that you think I actually believe you but what you don’t understand is that something about me and money .. Life is about money and I’m staying alive .“

 

Danny said  

“Put the knife away Barbara , you’re wrong . Life is about love Barbara , the love we used to have . True love cares and asks for nothing in return other than just to be loved . “

 

Barbara  sounded upset “

I need money Danny . Money makes me feel better , money gets me the fix I need “.

 

Danny said calmly  

“Barbara put the knife away . I’m not giving you money to buy more drugs . Stop doing this to yourself .”

 

Barbara  responded 

“ I swear Danny I’ll kill myself if you don’t give me some cash .“

 

Danny answered .

“ You have to face the truth and embrace the real issues about life .. Accept love back into your life , give me the knife and I’ll give you the bunch of keys ..“

 

Barbara lightheartedly said 

 “ Ok , I promise I will accept love into my life . Now I am so very tired and I think I really need to have a rest . “ 

 

(Barbara stumbles away into the bedroom and falls across the bed .)

 

Danny mumbles 

 lSleep tight my love , mmm, laced camomile always does the trick “ 

 

(Danny picks up the phone and rings a number )

 

“Hello . Is that Purdy’s  Height ‘s House ? It is . Good what’s going on there . Is anyone coming to the address I give ..

What was that . Oh I see , its Christmas in the asylum right listen ..could I speak to the director of nursing there or a supervisor .

 

 

( A few moments pass)

 

Ah yes , Hello , who am I speaking to …

 

“Ah good , Doctor Martin listen this is Danny Goodfellow here , I’m ringing to inform you that Barbara Carol’s escaped again . She here at my flat again . Could you send an ambulance and pick her up please .. Thank you .Goodbye 

 

 

He sits alone looking out the window at the Christmas lights aglow in the street below and walks into the bedroom and sits beside the bed where he covers Barbara with a blanket and waits for the ambulance to arrive .

 

 

The End