Someone deadly beneath (part3)

ACT 111
Scene 1

And five, six...five, six, seven eight...After so many years, he still had not told her about his mom’s shocking revelation that her son was not his real dad. It would break his heart to do it. As he was uncertain about how she would deal with it, he firmly resolved that he was faced with a secret that he would have to guard forever among her side of the family, but especially with her.
In another sense, however, it did not even matter, because as far as he was concerned, she was more real to him than any amount of biology could make her. Her son, on the other hand, stood no chance with him. In fact, he did not mind if he did not see his face again.

He awoke with an eerie feeling of dread and trepidation. For the life of him he could not comprehend why after leaving what one of his then colleagues called the Hell Hole, the manager who had given him the greatest grief, had suddenly flitted across his mind.

He had no recollection of having a dream about her. Maybe a nightmare. That is what she was to him. Always having a go, shouting at him and sending home for even liitle misdeeds. He chuckled at the thought of the nick name he gave her; Maggie. If only she had known that everyone called her that behind her back, she would have sent him home for good. The name suited her, he reckoned. She resembled a dolphin. No the shark from the Shark and the Catfish cartoon.

Few hours later he went downstairs to get his laundry from the washing machine. The one upstairs had been out of use for months. Eventually, he had notified the landlord. A professional looking man, according to one of his housemates, had came to look at it the day before but he would have to return with some needed parts.

Anyway, when he got back to his room, he heard the faint but distinctive voice of Rod Stewart's on the radio. He had always loved his music. He hurriedly turned down the volume on the tele and turned up the one on the radio.

However, even though he started to hum along, it took several moments before it occur to him that the song was the one about Maggie.s

Hello Claire

happy to hear from you. i didnt even realize that youre not in england anymore. when did you start your study and what are you studying now?
Can you tell me realy happened in Marlon's case, I been away shortly after the funeral, so I am not sure what happened.
I never forget him. it still hurt like yesterday. definitely gone too soon and too good to went the way he did. But as I said in my liitle speech on behalf of our group, he will never die as long as we are alive, because he will be in our hearts forever.
It mean alot to me to reunite with you all, so i definitely nto gonna let you go.

regards

Billy

Hey Billy,

Well i started last September and I am studying nursing... change of career. It's going good so far and i will actually start doing clinical rotations at he hospital next semester.

Well with marlon now i heard that he shot himself with a gun, but anyone who knew Marlon did not beleive that story. I personally don't see Marlon being capable of doing that to anyone much less himself. I heard he and his father didn't get on so well and his father was also a police so the way i figure it is that they were quarreling and the father shot him and got his friends to 'fix" the scene so it appeared like a suicide. May the lord forgive me if i am wrong, but according to what i heard, this is probably what happened. I really don't know what happened.

So are you dancing professionally in North America now? Are you married? Tell me all. I am not married, but one day....lol

Write soon, Claire

London

hey Billy,

i was wondering if u were able 2 help me out with my school fee, just 4 this semester. i av already paid 4 last semester but now i am owing 4 this one £400. I would jst like a little help cause i am financially constrained at this time and d deadline 4 this is.... So if u r able 2 do so, let me know if not thanks anyhow....

David

David was dad's younger brother. He was working with the Metropolitan Police but was undertaking a Flying course. he always wanted to be a pilot. The present that I got for my birthday that dad mentioned was from uncle David. He had flown to Ireland just for my birthday. He did the same thing the previous year.

Toronto

Bruv, first off I am sorry to hear about your situation. I feel bad, as willing as my heart is to help, I just cant.

if you recall last november when I told you I was in a bad financial situation. I couldnt even buy Gem a birthday card. well, it got worse in december when I lost my job. and all my overdraft was used up.

since than i have been looking everyday, but no luck, had a few interviews but no call to start a job. in the meantime, my rent was piling up, i had Broadcasting training fee to pay. i even i had to stop sending money for Gem, cause i just didnt have it.

it was not until 8 weeks ago, i got a temporary work which ended last week. over that period i was only able to send a quarter of what i used to send for Kaylee, I want to call her and I cant.

All that money i worked went to the landlord for the back rent. i still owe him, still owe the bank, still owe the Training fee

Kaylee is graduating soon and i would like to be able to take care of it financialy. Most importantly, I would like to be there with her. You know all of that is gonna cost loads of money, so right now i am in deep sh beg steal or borrow, i cannot afford to be absent from her graduation or not buy her the things she need.

I really wish I could help you bruv, but I hope u understand my situation. keep your fingers cross, I am here for the better. i may not be able to help you now, but in the future, I will

hope it work for you, try the bank try student loan company, try the local education authority try companies, just dont give up. good luck

Billy

Dad peered through the window as the bus driver gunned the engine and started to move off slowly. Through the corner of his eyes, he noticed two small boys hurried passed him, noisily ,towards the back.

"Your muscles are big", he thought he heard a faint voice said. He was unsure of exactly what was said or to whom, so he ignored it and continued to search for songs on his MP3 player.

All uncertainities were cleared up as soon as he instinctively raised his head and noticed that the smaller boy had perched himself in the seat opposite dad. As if he had just discovered a sparkling diamond, his eyes glowed as he admired dad's biceps.

"Can I feel them? he asked as he edged closer. He always get that sort of attention whenever he wore a vest, especially from girls. But he could not see what the fuss was about. His biceps were less than half the size he wanted them to be.

"Sure", dad smiled. As dad flexed them, the little boy and his slighter bigger brother who seemed equally fascinated, squeezed them.

"Are you a boxer?" the smaller one asked. Dad thought it was ironic that he should be asked that question. He had never considered going into boxing until earlier that day. He was on his way to see the head supervisor for his project, when he looked out the bus window and saw the Toronto Boxing Arena.

The idea came out of his head as quickly as it had entered. He had suffered too many blows in his life that he had little or no control over. He found it objectionable to deliberately put himself in harms way. So insofar as drugs were concerned, he had seen it all but had not done it all. With so much anger and bitterness bottled inside him, he would have been very good at boxing. Therefore, it would have been detrimental to his opponents and sooner or later, he would have been hauled into the limelight.

"No" he replied softly, "I am just an amateur bodybuilder".

"Wow", they gushed.

His first taste of self-confidence and came about when he took up bodybuilding. He had to. Throughout his childhood and young adulthood, he was teased and bullied for being chubby.
Getting rid of the fats and replacing it with muscles made a huge difference to his well being. He basked in the attention he was getting but ignored the encouragements to enter bodybuilding contests.

He wanted so badly for those bullies to see how he had flowered. He had received a call from one his former classmates weeks before. They had'nt seen each other for years. Dad was very keen on reuniting with him and the others. Dad was surprised when his classmate told him that the one who gave dad the hardest time was not interested in reuniting with any of them because he had, wait, put on a little weight over the previous two years.

Dad reasons for having that attitude towards bodybuilding and boxing were similar to those that caused him to turn his back on his passion; arm wrestling. He feared exploitation and viewed the limelight with suspicions and disdain.

Hello Uncle

how are you. I will be inviting Abigail to mine next week. I will also invite some of my other friends who I have'nt seen for ages. they will be seeing my baby for the first time. Please try and make it. I will give u more details in the week. hope you are enjoying the sun. bye Keda

She mentioned Abigail because dad fancied her. The last time he saw her was when she was 18. Like Keda, she had turned 23. He could not wait to see her.

As he approached Keda's house, he noticed a car looking similar to his sister's. He was still upset with her for putting him out of her house two and half year previously. That was the year when he ahd hit rock bottom. He was sacked from two jobs, dumped by his girlfriend and all his so called friends turned their backs on him when he faced hardships with the Canadian Authorities and turned to them for help. It hurt that strangers were cold towards him at his lowest moment, but when his own sister did likewise, he insulated himself from her all his other brothers and sisters by his dad side, even though they did him no wrong.

Panic seemed to have overtake him the last time he was at Keda's when her door bell rang from downstairs and he discovered it was Marie at the door. If he leave then, he would have met her on the stairs coming up so he dashed into the loo and told Keda to close the living room door when Marie enter it, so he could slipped out.

No a good idea he thought. Especially considering that he had time to think of something better.

"Go up to the next floor", said Keda, "as I let her in, you can just come down and go about your business."

It could not have been her car he thought. Keda had told him that she had gotten a big house. She must have changed her car then to something more upscale. With that analysis, he decided to take the risk.

When he saw her in the living room with Keda's friend and a male friend who Keda told dad, she had given the cold shoulder. Apparently they were friends again. Well, dad was not that forgiven. Atleast not so soon.

It was too late for him to turn back so he dart in the kitchen where he greeted Keda and her mom. After that he took out his phone and pretended he was making a call to someone. Then he heard Marie saying that she was leaving because her male friend had to work the following day. She came into the kitchen looking for something. She said nothing to dad. maybe she was upset that dad had recently told theie other brothers what she had done to him. Dad was on the phone anyway and had no intention of speaking to her. So she knew best.

As far as Abigail was concerned, dad was hugely dissapointed when he saw her. Clearly, she had not made an effort in her presentation. She simply appeared dull and plain. He coud hardly believe she was the same girl who had him transfixed not too long ago. So for more reason that one, he wished he had stayed home.

He had a long day so he was happy when he reached home; his sanctuary and nirvana. His soul felt for some hardcore hood music. It always left his spirits and inspire him. Later in the evening, he decided to mellow down, especially for the sake of his housemates.

In advertently, he started tracks from a CD that he and Lua was singing and dancing to on the day she returned to her home. It dawned on him only when a song came on which he admitted that she loved even though she was hearing it for the first time. She asked him who sang it. He told her it was either Babyface or Toni Rich Project.

The song spoke of love and breaking up and whether one of them had thought about each other since they were no longer going out. He had played that song countless times before but he had never stopped to listen to the lyrics. He was amazed at how perfectly it described his situation.

He believed that she loved him, but obviously not enough to stay with him. Therefore, he had no doubts that he must have crossed her mind sinced she ditched him a little over three months previously.

There was no denying it. He thought about her all the time. he missed her a great deal and sometime he wish he could call her up and talk to over. Not him, his pride would not allow him to do it. he had never done it before. Not even with Nash, his former squeeze who dumped him a little over three years before. This is despite the fact that he had never dated any other as long as her and he felt that they had a future together.

Despite his deliberate attempts to prevent it, he accidentally bumped into Nash the previous November. She admitted that she was foolish to let him go but questoned why he did'nt even try to get back with her. For a fleeting moment, he felt like such a fool. If only he only did that, they would have probably starting seeing each other again.

On second thoughts, he had done everything he possibly could to convince her to give him a second chance, but she was cold and adamant that she had had enough.

Suddenly he remembered the CD with two off his favourite songs that he had introduced Lua to. She loved them instantly. The danced to them over and over again. They just could not help repeating them.

He had not listened to them since that day. Since he was in the Missing Lua Mood, he decided that he might as well have a go that time. But for the life of him, he could not understand why he could not find the CD. He went through each and CD that he had but he still did not find it. it was only then that he entertained the idea that she had taken it.

He thought about it again. No, she wouldnt have done that. He had bought a Kenny G specially for her. Besides, if she were to take the CD, he would have noticed somehow. So he went through the CDs once again. Good thing he did.

The moment he started playing those two songs, memories of the times he had with Lua, flooded his mind. He had to admit she was fun to be with. They had loads of interests in common which made them enjoyed each other company even more. Apart from that, she was very inteligent for someone who didnt even finished high school. He wish they were still together, but apparently she didnt think so.

Two days later, he picked up a abandoned newspaper on the bus hoping to find a job inside. There was none, but he found and interesting article about present and past television producers. He found some of them quite remarkable. However, the one that stood out had recently lost her battle with cancer. She was a mexican and had worked for NBC and was also a producer for the Mexican broadcaster... Her name was Luan.

Dad was spending the holiday weekend with aunty. On monday, he two telephhones were inundated with calls. On one occasion, as she ran to pick up a call while speaking on the other one, dad made the following remark:

"Everybody loves you". She had no idea where he was going. "But only two people love me", he joked.
Aunty laughed out because she understood what he was on about. The previous night he received a call from a girl. When he finished the conversation, he explained to aunty that the girl was married and he had met her the previous week in Walmart. She wanted to visit him before her husband came home from work.It was impossible because she said she could only spend and hour and a half with him, but thats the time it would have taken him to travel back home.

Shortly afterwards, another girl called him. Aunty overheard the conversation about camping so when he ended the call she asked him if the girl attended the Seventh Day Adventist church. Aunty was a member of that church.

"Yes?"

"Our church is camping now, so I guess that's the one she was telling you about."

"They are in ALberta".

"Same one then."

"Have you gone to church with her."

"No", he laughed, "that would be the boring bit."

He was amazed and overwhelmed to finally getting a letter from Lauren. Ever since he went back to London for dancing school, he had been writing her and sending her cards, but she never replied. She was only ten years old then so he reckoned that he coud not expect her to understand the importance of keeping in touch with friends. But even as she got older, her attitude towards letter writing did not change.

When he returned to England three years earlier, he was just in time to see have her first child. That occured a week or so later. He took the first pictures of the baby. Some with just him and the baby and the others with all three of them. When he returned to Toronto, he sent back one of the latter to her in a letter. She called him later and announced that she had made him the baby's Godfather. It was understadable because he knew her from she was just eight years old.

On Liam's first birthday, dad sent him some clothes and asked Lauren to send some new pictures of the baby for him. She promised that she would but she did'nt.

The letter had a written instruction on the outside: PLEASE DO NOT BEND.

Bristol

Dear Billy

What up? Liam and I are fine and in the best of health so far. I know you must be quarelling with me about those pictures that are long overdue but things havent been so bright with me since migrated.

This is the hardest that I have experienced life but I just take it to the lord in prayer. Liam is now attending school and doing well. Hopefully by September, I will get something that suits me so I can invest more on him because he is no ordinary child.

Right now I think he's been slowed down at school because the things he is learning know, I thought him them before he started school and he does'nt forget anything.

....I want to thank youfor all u have done for us so far. Even if we dont act like it. We really do. I have included some photos. it is'nt much but I took them on his birthday.

He has'nt received his present his present from Alison and Mom as yet but he wants a laptop computer and they are planning on giving it to him.......

If you recall, Alison is Lauren's older sister that dad was in love with as a teenager. But she migrated to the U.S shortly afterwards. It was then that dad met Lauren on a bus towards Bristol's city centre. Dad became the big brother she never and her friend.