Waiting

WAITING
The boy stood on the platform and waited. he was used to waiting, two
hundred and nineteen days had gone by since he had found out. It wasn't
like he hadn't thought about it; it was just that he needed to be sure.
He had asked the question so many times, it felt like part of his every
day speech. But now, today there would be no more waiting, no more
looking and guessing. The truth was in sight.

Marion ran the bath and gazed round at the white and blue stenciled
tiles, she would have to do something about those, she thought. Bubbles
foamed and popped, the water steamed invitingly. Marion slid out of her
towelling robe and lowered herself in to the bath. It seemed to her
that the steam and aromas could easily wash away the worries that
pounded in her head but that was not to be, as she knew well. Thoughts
raged and fought to reach the surface, each one more jumbled than the
last. Marion widhed it was over, the dreams had been bad enough but at
least she only remembered bits, it was the waking moments that held her
captive now.

How long she stayed in the bath, she could only guess but the water had
gone cold and the bubbles were mere spots floating like dew drops on
grass. She reached for her robe and padded softly in to the bedroom.
Stephen was lying on his side, reading, his head resting on his arm and
his blonde hair falling over his cheek. He reminded her of their son
Jason. Stephen never seemed to age, whereas she felt that she was
carrying wrinkles enough for both of them. He would always tell her
'she was beautifulnow, as she was twenty five years ago' but she never
really believed him.

The bed was a welcoming sight to Marion; she sat on the edge and
brushed her wet tangled hair. Stephen turned and smiled; he closed the
book and sat up. Marion dropped the brush and crawled in to his open
arms, they held each other tightly. No words were spoken, none were
needed, they both knew the others thoughts. Tomorrow would be the end,
a time when everybody would know and hopefully understand. Although
both Stephen and Marion knew that they did not really care what anyone
thought.

The train was pulling in and the boy gazed expectantly at the
carriages, as one by one they slid by him. Slowly the train stopped and
the boy stepped near the first carriage, he looked inside. He walked to
the next carriageand and climbed up the step, he decided it would be
better to have a window seat. He did not want to miss a single field or
street. He had dreamt of what he might see, of the people he would meet
along the way but up until now the dreams had not come true. The dreams
had been of happy bright places, people stopping to wish him 'good
day'but these people were tired and sullen, heads bowed down or reading
the news in the dull evening papers. The boy did not worry, his mind
was racing with thoughts of the adventure that was unfolding at long
last.

As the night drew in Marion felt safe and secure in the arms of her
husband. Sheslept soundly for the first time in months. Maybe it was
the thought that it wold all be over tomorrow, or maybe her mind had
just closed down through exhaustion. Whatever the reason she did not
wake up until half past six the next morning.

As Stephen made breakfast, Marion rang the office to say that they
would both be out today. She told her secretary to cancel all their
appointments and that she would let Harry know when they would be back
at work. Harry had been a partner when Stephen and Marion took over the
company ten years ago. The business was going bust so Harry asked his
old college buddy to step in and save it. Marion had been against the
idea but the venture had panned out and now they were proud owners of a
thriving business.
The secretary was not accustomed to both of the bosses being out of the
office so she was curious. Marion was just about to tell her the
reason, when the phone beeped, someone was on the other line. Marion
politely said goodbye to her secretary and pressed the button for the
other caller. It was Jason, he was on his way home.

The train chugged noisely along the track. It was tuneful and yet
irritating at the same time. Each time the train pulled in to a station
a hiss would sound and the train would jolt. peopole walked silently to
their seats, they sat down heavil., Each one oblivious to the rest of
the passengers. Occasionally, two people would sit together and chat
quietly, not daring to look at anyone else. The boy had watche dall
this with fascination; surely their journeys would be more enjoyable if
they took notice of the person on the neighbouring seat
Each sign he had read, each field he had passed seemed like a step on a
ladder that would take him to the top of his journey. The farmhouses
looked inviting, with their light s burning against the ver darkening
sky.
Suddenly houses were looming up everywhere and he knew he had reached
reache d the first of the three towns. It was going to be a long night.
He was beginning to get a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach. The
hairs on the back of his neck had started to work their way upwards. He
was scared.

Jason would be home at lunch time, he informed his mother. Would it be
alright if Jennifer drove down with him, he had asked. Marion like
dJennifer but today of all days, she could have done without her. She
told Jason that he and Jennifer would have to have lunch in town and
that unfortunatley Stephen and herself would be out when he arrived
home. jason had laughed at that, he thought his mothe rwas
kidding.
Marion was torn between wanting to see he rson and getting today over
with.
After breakfast Stephen and Marion got in the car. Everything seemed
normal, the street and the neighbours, even the cat sat in the shade of
the big oak tree. The trouble was, nothing was normal for Stephen and
Marion, or it wouldn't be in about an hour's time.
They set off down the tree lined street and turned towards the town
centre. Marion looked pale and Stephen wished he could say something to
lighten the thick atmosphere that was building, but his mind could only
think about the boy.People were hurrying up and down the mani street;
they walked blindly, crossing the road without a glance at the on
coming traffic. Marion stared out of the window; she could see shops
and restaurants that she had used all her life but some how they looked
different. Everything looked old and broken down, her perceptions of
people and places had changed. Before, she had only noticed beautiful
things, architecture, children laughing and playing but that had
changed. She saw the old people barely able to walk, she saw the
boarded up windows and the rubbish strewn streets.

The train had pulled in. His stomach tightened as he stepped down off
the step. Train guards were shouting, 'keep clear' and the train began
its journey once more. The night had been broken by a beautiful
morning, the boy breathed in the cool refreshing air.

The doors to the station swung closed as he stepped in to the bussleing
town. He checked his money, for the tenth time and wondered over to the
bus queue.

He was tired and hungry, the food on the train had been no better than
cardboard so he had thrown it away, now he wishe he'd eaten it. The
queue for the bus contained three people, none of whom spoke to him. He
wondered if he was invisible, he giggled.

The bus was turning the corner, a few more minutes and he would be on
it, then it would be over.

Stephen pulled up in front of the house, he let the engine tick over.
Marion asked what they were going to do. Stephen laughed out loud,
Marioj thought he had lost his mind. He bent over the seat and kissed
Marion gently on her cheek, everything would be alright he assured
her.

Eventually they both got out of the car and slowly made their way up to
the front door of the house. A woman, who looked decidely older than
the last time Stephen had seen her, nswered the door. Stephen hugged
his mother. Marion stared past them at the man in the wheel
chair.

Stephens mother took them in to the living room. Stephen did not
acknowledge his father, Stephen Senior.

Marion smiled at the both Stephens, she felt uncomfortable; the
atmosphere between the two men was electric. She went in to the kitchen
to help Rose, Stephens mum.

When Marion carried in the tray of tea cups, her husband made room on
the already over flowing coffee table. Marion sat on the settee next to
Stephen junior, she held his hand.

At first everyone just stared at each other then they all tried to
speak at once. Marion was the first to be listened to, she wanted to
know why nothing had been mentioned before. She told Rose that she was
sorry that she had had to live a lie for all these years, she looked at
rose and could see a tear forming in the corner of her eyes. Stephen
could not bring himself to look at his father, instead he took hold of
his mothers hand and asked her why she hadn't said anything, he said he
would have understood and helped her through it. His mother held his
cheeks in he r hands and kissed his forhead. They both cried.

After what seemed like an eternity the were startled by a loud
knockning on the front door.

The bus drove down long winding streets. He wanted to explore every
nook and crevice, every garden and out house.He wanted to know about
the people who lived in the houses, he wanted to meet the children who
played on the street corners; but most of all he wanted to meet the
person he searched for, for so long.

The bus came to a stop and the boy got off. He saw the street name and
looked for the number of the house where his troubles would end.

The door looked ominously big, the bell seemed toohigh to reach, of
course it wasn't it just felt that way.

He rang the bell, no one answered, he knocked and then knocked again
louder.

The door was opened by an old looking woman, she held out her hand and
he gave her his bag. Rose stepped to one side and gestured for the boy
to go in.

He just stood where he was, he couldn't speak, maybe he had the wrong
house, maybe it was a different street that they lived.

Eventually the boy stepped up and held his hand out to the woman'hello'
he said 'I'm Micheal'.

The house was just as he had expected, beautiful. His mother had told
him how nice the people were who lived there and what they were called,
he expected that the lady in front of him was Rose.

Father and son looked horrified as the room door opened and in came
Rose with Micheal behind her. Everyone stared at the boy, he could feel
his cheeks turning a deep crimson. He looked at each person in turn,
wondering.

When no one made a move to speak, Rose took hold of the boys arm and
led him over to his father.

Stephen senior held his sons hand for the first time in fifteen years.
He began to cry. The boy knelt down and held tightly to his father's
shoulders.

Rose felt ashamed, she thought that too many years had gone by to make
amends. If only her husband had stayed faithful, then none of this
would have happened. There was no mistaking Michael was Stephens son,
the resemblance was quite extraordinary.

Rose stepped out in to the hall, Marion followed. They held each other
and wept. Rose explained to Marion that it had been her decision to not
have contact with the boy and his mother. When the young girl had left
to have Roses's husbands baby they made sure that she would be taken
care of financially, but that Stephen senior would no longer have
anything to do with her. After what seemed like forever they went in to
the kitchen and made more tea.

Rose swore she would do all she could to make it up to Michael.

Stephen junior looked at his father and at the new brother that had
suddenly come in to his life. The boy reminded him of himself at
fifteen. He stood up and took Michaels hand in his, 'Welcome home
Michael, its been too long.'