He needs you too, like I need him. He’s lost his wife. I’ve lost my mother. Look at you. You haven’t washed for days, and you smell like the Thames in Summer. Come on girl.” I threw water over my face, attempted to brush stains and dirt off my blouse and
turned to the exit.
When I walked through the corridor into the bar area I noticed how quiet the bar had become. Then I saw the shutters pulled down over the bar. The whirr of the floor polisher the only noise, then wound down to a stop. The cleaner’s mouth was as wide as a honeydew melon. “Can you be ever so kind and unlock the door please.” Well the cleaner moved slowly towards the door and turned the keys without
taking her eyes of me, or closing her mouth. I headed straight for the station and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the head rest.
The policeman’s fingers hooked up my nostrils woke me. My arms flung in the air. He told me to get up, the last station was approaching. I changed at Crewe for Paddington.
*
“Hello Frank, how are you this morning?” “Not bad love, all the better for seeing you. Where you been? On ’oliday?” “Yes love, on holiday.” I pulled the curtain around and unbuttoned his pyjama
top. “Up over your arms…oops a… there you go…” “Be gentle with me now, won’t cha?” I handed the flannel to Frank, removed his nasal specs, and he rubbed at his
face making a brrrrrrrrrrr sound. He passed the flannel back. I dipped it in and out the soapy water and handed it back. While he went at his chest and arm pits I dried off his face. I felt my mobile vibrate in my packet and fished it out. “Don’t mind me answering, Frank?” “No, no, carry on me love.” He replied continuing with his task. It was a text message…
Hi Princess, Hope U R GD. We Have a Lead on UR dad. L. XXX
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