The Burnley Boys

by Drew Black

  That afternoon they bought Tom some clothes and walked for miles. When they returned to the hotel Jack rang Helen. Initially, she panicked but eventually Jack managed to calm her down. By the end of the conversation he thought he could even detect relief in his sister's voice, relief that someone was actually trying to help Tom. Jack then rang Jane and asked her if she would go and stay with Helen, to which she readily agreed.

  "I've had it emptied." Jack informed Tom on re-entering the lounge.

  "Smart-ass."

  "I'll have it re-stocked tomorrow, if that's what you really want. Listen, we better start getting ready for dinner, it's turned seven."

  Tom shook his head, "I don't think I can Jack, not with all those people."

  "Okay," Jack said, "we'll get something sent up."

  Tom picked at his meal, but Jack ignored his fussiness. He cleared their trays on to the trolley.

  "How long as it been now?" Tom asked.

  "Just over twenty-one hours."

  "God, I feel like I'm dying Jack, look at my hands." Tom held them out, they were trembling badly.

  "I can't help you Tom; the only advice I can give you is to stick it out. I know it's not much comfort, but it will get easier."

  Tom rushed to the bathroom and was promptly sick. Some fuckin' use the meal was Jack thought.

  "I met this girl." Tom said

  Jack nodded slowly, "Go on." he said.

  "Oh, this is not her fault by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think it's helped either."

  "You still seeing her?" Jack asked.

  Tom shook his head and sighed heavily, "No, it's over." he said.

  "What about Helen, does she know about it?"

  "I don't know Jack; we don't see much of one another anymore. I've really screwed things up big time."

  "You’re not on your own in that department mate."

  "What do you mean?" Tom said looking up and adjusting his position against the arm of one of the easy chairs.

  "Well, I'm not twenty-six yet but I've murdered, stole, embezzled, gained money through force. It's hardly a glowing track record now, is it?"

  Tom nodded; "What the fuck happened to us Jack?"

  "John Jessop happened to us Tom, that's what. No, I'm being unfair, or weak, or both. Everyone has a choice Tom, and we chose this kind of life. So, we've got to make the best of it. Another couple of years, and we're out of it, I promise you."

  Tom nodded with a smile on his face.

  "I mean it Tom, let's really set ourselves up for life, a couple of million apiece and then we'll fuck off somewhere, but I want you to be around mate because it just wouldn't be the same without you."

  "You soppy git." Tom said with a laugh, "How--?"

  "Don't ask," Jack replied, I'll tell you when you've done twenty-two hours.

  "Do you think I'll make it through tomorrow, on the wagon I mean?"

  "Dunno, you've got to get through tonight first, you've got to approach this kind of thing with small steps, otherwise it just seems impossible."

  "Okay, I'll try to, but tell me something, what makes you such an expert on alcoholism?"

  "On what?" Jack asked.

  Tom didn't reply.

  "So, you finally admit that you’re an alcoholic, do you?"

  Tom nodded and looked down at the carpet.

  "I'm not an expert on alcoholism or any other form of addiction for that matter. It just worked for me when I quit smoking, that's all. I gave up one hour at a time. Whenever, I felt the craving I promised myself that if I could get to the end of the current hour, I'd allow myself a cigarette, and by the time every time every hour had elapsed the craving had passed."

  "How long is it since you gave up?" Tom asked.

  "Just over a year," Jack replied, "but the first day was the worst day, and the first week was the worst week, but eventually it loosens its grip on you. The craving comes back with a vengeance periodically, right out of the blue, but when it does, I go back to my one-hour rule, and the craving passes. I realise though that I'll never be a non-smoker, I'll always be an ex-smoker, and I could fall right back into the habit at any moment. I even dream about smoking."

  "No way!"

  "Yep, many a night I wake up in a cold sweat thinking I've had that first cigarette again and believe you me the relief I feel when I realise that I haven't is worth more than any amount of money."

  That night Jack stayed up on guard duty, and he was surprised at how solidly Tom slept. He'd expected the shivers and the shakes but nothing of the sort materialised. He finally went to bed at six am. He's done thirty hours Jack thought as he turned the lounge light off and headed for bed. He was awoken to the sound of Tom being sick. Jack ruffled his hair and reached for his glasses. It was just turned ten, he had had four hours sleep. He was tempted to turn over, but he didn't instead he pulled back the bed covers and got up. He went into the lounge and turned on the T.V. The girl with the clown smiled back at him. He switched stations and was greeted by a wall of fuzz, so he snapped the set off. All was quiet in the bathroom. "You alright Tom?" Jack called out. The toilet flushed and Tom emerged looking pale.

  Jack and Tom strolled along the beach not saying much. It was October tomorrow Jack realised. However, the weather was still really mild. Jack felt exhilarated by the fresh air and firmness of the sand under his feet. How funny it was he thought how the sea made those strange rivulets in the sand. He looked out at its foreboding blackness; a few brave souls were paddling in it. In the distance a trawler moved slowly. Jack breathed in deeply, he could quite easily stay here for ever. It was only on the rare occasions that he managed to get away from the syndicate that he actually realised just how much it dominated his life. Two million each he thought before asking Tom if he was hungry.

  Tom considered the question before answering, "Yes, I am." he said.

  "Okay, come on then, we'll go and grab some lunch.”

  It was a few days before Tom finally felt up to facing the formality of the Silver Onion's (as he liked to call it) restaurant, and he was surprised to find just how empty it was. In fact, there was actually more staff than there were diners which made him feel a little conspicuous. However, the cuisine was fabulous, and the service was excellent if a little overwhelming. Tom felt as though the staff were actually observing his every move waiting for him to finish each course before swooping in to remove the used crockery, but all things considered he thoroughly enjoyed the meal. "Come on," he said, "let's check out the bar, not for a drink," he quickly added. "just to see if there's any life in this place."

  "Okay." Jack said. He left a generous tip, and the pair of them headed out of the restaurant. "Thanks, the meal was lovely." Jack said to one of the waitresses, who duly smiled back at him.

  Tom smiled at him also, "I notice you complimented the fittest one." he said.

  "What do you mean?" Jack asked laughing as they approached the lift. "She was the nearest one, what did you expect me to do go around each and every one of them and give them a hug?"

  They were pleasantly surprised to find there was actually a bit of atmosphere in the bar even if it was nothing to write home about. Tom ordered an orange juice and a pint of lager.

  "No, make that two orange juices." Jack said.

  "Thanks for the moral support Jack, but I'm going to have to get used to seeing people drinking alcohol sooner or later. Sorry love as it was please an orange juice and a pint of lager, sorry to mess you around."

  "That's no problem." the bar tender said giving him a warm smile.

  Tom looked around the bar, there were perhaps fifteen to twenty people in there at the moment, most of whom were under seventy.

  "Thanks, take one for yourself." he said as the bartender placed their drinks in front of them.

  "Thank you." she said putting a shilling in the tips glass. "Are you enjoying your holiday?" she asked conversationally.

  "Oh, excuse me, what did you say?" Jack asked turning around.

  Tom shook h
is head; "Please excuse my friend, he's preoccupied eyeing up one of your work colleagues." Tom said nodding in the direction of the red-haired girl Jack had complimented on the meal who was presently cleaning tables.

  "Oh, you mean Denise, yeah, she’s really nice."

  "Yes, she does seem nice." Jack agreed, "and my friend here as got a really big mouth."

  The girl laughed and went to serve someone else.

  Tom winked at Jack who shook his head before taking a sip of his pint. "You're unbelievable." he said.

  "Aw come on Jack, you could honestly say you wouldn't like to have her climbing all over you?"

  Jack had a quick look to see Denise leaning over and wiping a table.

  Tom smiled at him and waggled his eyebrows. He then had a quick look round before grabbing Jack between the legs.

  "Get off me, you asshole." Jack said a little too loudly. Tom tried hard to contain his laughter, and Jack was distinctly embarrassed.

  "Sorry." Jack said to a woman who had heard his profanity. She acknowledged his apology with a thin smile, before turning away from them.

  Denise went behind the bar and disappeared into the back. Tom raised his eyebrows again before taking a sip of his orange juice through his straw.

  "God, I can't even speak to a girl without you thinking I'm trying to get into her knickers."

  "Stop being such a stick in the mud Jack, you're on holiday."

  "I wouldn't mind but I don't even know the girl."

  "We'll soon change that." Tom said leaning over the bar.

  "Tom, please don't."

  "Okay," Tom said sitting back on his bar stool, "what are we doing tonight then?"

  Jack was relieved that Tom had suddenly changed the subject. "I don't know, what do you want to do?"

  "We'll stay here if you like, I wouldn't mind an early night, all this sobriety lark is tiring me out."

  "You and me both."

  "What time were you up to last night?"

  Jack shook his head, "a couple of hours after you, that's all.

  "Thanks mate."

  "No problem, the main thing is that you've gone almost forty-three hours now without a drink."

  Tom nodded, "like you said before though, you're never cured, I'll never be rid of it, not totally."

  "I'm no expert Tom, but every day you spend like this the better you're bound to feel."

  Tom nodded and took another sip of his orange juice.

  The week soon passed, and Tom stayed on the wagon. It was an effort, that he couldn't deny, but deep down he felt proud of himself. Jack had offered to spend another week there, but Tom had declined, he was looking forward to seeing Helen. In his present state he felt pretty sure he could make another go of it with her, that is of course if Helen was up for it as well. He'd always loved Helen, even from being a kid, and that realisation made him feel ashamed of how badly he'd treated her. The main question was could he ever make it up to her?

  7

  Helen did welcome the new Tom back, by stopping drinking he uplifted her whole life in a single stroke. She just hoped and prayed that he could keep it up, as much for his sake as well as her own. He was trying really hard though, and for that alone she felt so proud of him. She sighed as she sipped her coffee and gazed out of her kitchen window. His sex drive had certainly come back online, she thought smiling to herself. Life was just like it was in the old days, but would he stick to it? There was no point worrying about it she decided. She thought she'd lost him forever, so now she treasured the time they spent together just in case tomorrow would be the day she'd come home to find him smashed on whiskey, or vodka, or whatever he could lay his hands on.

  Maybe she was being unfair on him, but she'd already decided that this was their last chance. Oh, she was sure she could tolerate the odd slip, she was his wife after all, and she loved him. However, his rehabilitation had highlighted just how depressed she'd become, and she knew she could not go back to that kind of lifestyle again, not even for Tom.

  Jack and Jane were getting ready, they were going out for a meal with Tom and Helen it was an unofficial celebration to celebrate Tom and Helen's new life together. It had been over two months since Tom had taken a drink, and Jack genuinely believed he was over the worst of it, they all did ...

  "He's done ever so well though, hasn't he Jack?" Jane said as she sat before her dressing table mirror applying mascara.

  "Yes, he's done fantastic." Jack agreed crouching at the side of her tying his tie. "We're going to have to invest in a full-length mirror." he said getting to his feet.

  "Jack, we're talking about my brother here, he could've died, and all you can do is rabbit on about bedroom furniture."

  "Yeah, I'm sorry." he said adjusting his tie in the mirror on the wall. A mirror he'd never liked because it was slightly convex and didn't throw back a true reflection. "I think it's great, I really do, not just for Tom, but for Helen as well. It can't've been easy for her either.”

  Jane stopped brushing her hair for a second and then started again. "Well, let's hope it's all behind them now, I don't know what you said to him whilst you were away together, but he's certainly come back a different person.”

  Jack shrugged, "He just needed to get away from it all for a while, that's all."

  Jane pursed her lips, "Which dress shall I wear, the black one or the red one?" she asked.

  Jack looked at the two dresses, "The black one." he said.

  Jane paused for a second and then said, "What's wrong with the red one?"

  "Nothing," Jack replied with a laugh, "you just asked for my opinion and I gave it to you. I'm going for a slash."

  Jane tutted at Jack’s profanity and examined the two dresses, finally she removed the black one from its hanger.

  Jack came back into the bedroom, "You look great." he said as Jane stood adjusting the dress this way and that. Her hair shone like silk. "Thanks." she said smiling at him.

  Tom drove and they arrived at Quakos Restaurant just after nine pm. It specialised in Greek food but also served traditional English dishes as well. It was situated about ten miles north of Burnley in a place called Nelson. The restaurant paid protection money to The Burnley Boys but got off lightly on account of it being Helen's favourite eatery.

  They were greeted at the restaurant's entrance by its owner Dimitri Dazlo. "Good Evening, how is everyone?" Dimitri gushed. "It's so nice to see you here again, it's been a long time." He snapped his fingers and a young Greek girl, his daughter probably Jack thought came over and took their coats.

  "Oh ladies," Dimitri said shaking his head, "I'd forgotten just how beautiful you both were. Your dresses are gorgeous." He kissed first Helen's hand and then Jane's. Jack felt the urge to burst out laughing but just about managed to restrain himself. However, the girls appeared to be lapping it up.

  "What do you want Jack?" Tom asked.

  "No, I'll get these, what is it an orange juice?" Jack said wishing he'd left the choice to Tom.

  Tom scrunched up his face; "Yeah great, isn't it?"

  "Keep at it Tom, it's worth it, just seeing Helen these last few weeks. Well you know what I mean."

  Tom nodded, “Yeah, I know."

  They sat down and Dimitri brought over the menus.

  "Cheers." Jane said raising her glass. They all clinked their glasses together. Jane gave Tom a kiss and then hugged him Helen smiled.

  "Hey, what's all this in aid of?" Tom asked.

  "We're all really proud of you Tom," Jane said, "it can't have been easy, and I probably wouldn't be strong enough to do it, so well done." she bent and got her purse.

  "Oh God, don't start Jane, you'll set me off." Helen said.

  "I'm filling up as well." Jack said in a tearful voice.

  Tom leant over and clipped him across the head. "Shut it wise guy," he said, "or you will have something to cry about."

  "No seriously Tom, as Jane said we are all proud of you mate."

  Helen did shed a tear and Jack pulled her to him.
She put her head on his shoulder and laughed. She sighed deeply and said, "Sorry Tom we're meant to be here to enjoy ourselves and look at us."

  Tom shook his head, "If you feel like crying go ahead, but I'd just like to say this to all of you. I've been a bastard over the last twelve months or so, it's took me long enough to admit it but I'm an alcoholic."

  Jane shook her head.

  "There, I've said it, no Jane I am. It almost killed me, and I know I'll never be cured even ten, twenty years down the line, but what I also know is that I'm going to fight it. I've done two months so far - big deal,"

  Now they all shook their heads.

  "but there were times when I couldn't go two hours without wanting a drink. So, I've made a start. I don't know what tomorrow holds, with this disease you can't always see that far ahead, but what I can see is the difference it's made to all our lives since I've been sober. I don't want to go back to how I was, I really mean that, and with you lot behind me, I think I've got a chance. I know that ultimately it's down to me, but I'd just like to say thanks to all of you for helping me, I won't let you down, I promise."

  Jack winked at Tom.

  "Anyway, enough on the drink front, what's everyone having to eat?"

  They had great fun, the four of them, they talked about the old days when they were kids. They lost count of the number of times that one of them would remind the others of someone or something that they hadn't thought about in years. It had been a long time since all four of them had had such a good chat with one another. Especially one without the syndicate sitting in the shadows, or Tom's drinking having to be carefully negotiated. Helen felt just as happy as she had on her wedding day.

  "Tom, there's a call for you," Dimitri said approaching their table, "Jimbo?"

  Tom nodded, "I won't be a minute." he said wiping his hands on his napkin and tossing it onto the table.

  Helen smiled but as soon as Tom turned away it faded.

  Jack put his arm around her "Are you happy?" he asked.

  "Yes, I am Jack, I must admit Tom and I haven't had the best of times these last twelve months or so, well you both know that, but he's really trying to beat this thing for both of us. It's just this damn syndicate, it rules all our lives. I'm sorry Jack, but it's true."