by H P Steven
To find out more about this book
or to contact the author, please visit:
www.vividpublishing.com.au/thedarkshadowofthursday
Copyright © 2020 Phillip Huhu
ISBN: 978-1-925952-43-8 (eBook)
Published by Vivid Publishing
P.O. Box 948, Fremantle Western Australia 6959
www.vividpublishing.com.au
eBook conversion and distribution by Fontaine Publishing Group, Australia
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Version 1.0. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, printing, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Dedication
To AJ Bisset.
Finally, we got to go for our walk.
Contents
1. Long way to Find Freedom
2. 30 Days and Now my Body Hates Me
3. The Gasp
4. The Follow Up
5. To Each Their Own but the Chef
6. The Bird Lady of Putney
7. Back into the Day
8. Where Heaven and Earth Meet
9. The Fields I rest my Head in
10. The Light Before the Darkness
11. Home Before 1:30am
12. Where Would it Lead Me
13. The Last Time I saw Them
14. The Dark Shadow of Thursday
15. Reliving the Nightmare
16. The Longest Weekend
17. That Weird Sunday
18. The Crazy Monday-Tuesday
19. I Shouldn’t Have Sung
20. Taking the Long Way Home
Acknowledgements
1
Long way to Find Freedom
The plane ride didn’t take us very long to get to Croatia from Gatwick. All five of us were needing this adventure more than what we were letting on. It was only while the plane was making its descent that we started to hear whispers throughout the cabin, that some of the passengers weren’t going to arrive with their luggage. My friends all looked at me like I was the biggest tool in the shed, after the air stewardess had walked up to us and told us we were some of those unlucky passengers.
“It’s not my fault.”I attempted to defend myself.
Looking at the others who weren’t happy. Just as Susan went back to reading the on-board magazine. Still they all still stared at me.
“Well, maybe it was. But who knew we would arrive without our luggage. It’s not my fault.” I shrugged at the others.
“Bro, last time we follow you anywhere!” Cam declared.
“Don’t worry Phil, could have happened to anyone,” Susan added.
“Still blaming you.” Devin laughed.
Hannah turned and looked over at me and whispered, “Loser.”
“Ha, it’s not my fault, you guys heard the captain. Either way we are descending and I need my eucalyptus hanky, ear plugs, and Airwaves gum.”
The only thing I had found that helped with my inner ear condition. I experienced when a plane decended for landing.
As Hannah sniggered.
“What’s up Hannah?” I asked.
“You look silly,” trying hard to hide the smile on her face.
Smiling back. “Thanks! You look lovely?”
Before Cam, started to speak. “Hey guys, we’re gonna be picked up by the hotel guest van, should be easy as we don’t have to wait for our luggage.” Shooting a look at me, trying not to laugh before continuing. “One night in Split before our cruise starts, then four nights up north, hopefully with our luggage.”
“Could have happened to anyone of us Phil,” Susan added.
I didn’t hear her as I now had the ear plugs in.
“Hey deaf guy.” Hannah tapped me on the shoulder, and started pretending to sign, while mouthing slowly, ‘you look ridiculous.’
“Thanks.”
I actually signed back. ‘You look beautiful, for a crazy-eyed scarecrow-looking bag lady.’ I then put two thumbs up, smiling and quietly turned away chuckling.
Finally, the plane landed and I took the ear plugs out.
“Wow, that was a smooth landing.”
My friends looked at me pretending to be deaf and trying to unblock their ears. Most of them didn’t succeed, in keeping from laughing.
“You’re all going to hell.”
“Oh calm down bro.” Cam laughed.
“Yeah, it’s not like we don’t have anything other than a top with our name on the back,” Hannah added, still trying not to laugh.
Luckily we had all packed some clothes into our carry-on bags.
“Hey guys, once through customs make your way to the hotel van. Just in case we lose anyone, not looking at you Phil,” Cam remarked, as the plane taxied over to the terminal.
“Could have happened to anyone Phil.”
“Thanks Susan.”
Over the cabin speakers: “Thank you for flying with us today. Sorry about your luggage we hope you have a great time in Split and you’ve enjoyed your flight. We will have you disembarking once we’ve pulled into the terminal. Thanks again for flying Bluestar airlines.”
“I’ll check the travel insurance once we get to the hotel. But, I think we can claim a hundred pounds for being without luggage,” Cam said.
Susan popped her head up from the magazine. “Yeah I think that’s right.”
“Oh sweet,” Devin remarked.
I added, “Cool let’s go check in and then have a look at the local markets.” Everyone agreed. Still not happy with me.
“All right let’s get off this plane. For future reference, I’m sorry. But the lady did tell me to put the bags going to Croatia in that area, I was just doing what I was told.”
“Could have happened to anyone Phil.”
As the other three laughed, and Cam added. “All right let’s get to customs and go have a beer; the first two rounds are on Phil.” Cam joked. Though they all agreed the first two rounds would still be on me
“Yeah I’ll play that. I want to try gelato as well, to see what the fuss is all about also.”
Finally, through customs we headed off through the doors and saw the driver from the hotel. Holding a sign with Cam’s name on it.
“Ah, sweet as bro, there he is,” I told Cam.
As he turned and spotted the others.
“Hey guys we’re over here.” Cam pointed to the driver to direct the way.
“How are we taking you seriously with that perm bro, I’ll never know,” I remarked.
“Cut it out.”
“My bad bro.” I laughed. “But, it looks ridiculous.”
Cam being a little over six foot and fairly-skinny looked absolutely-ridiculous with a perm.
“What are you laughing at?” Hannah asked, as the others caught up to us.
“Oh just Cam’s perm Hannah.”
“Oh, I think it looks good,” Hannah said.
Susan just shook her head and tried not to laugh.
Devin laughed. “That’s what happens when you lose a bet mate.”
Anyway, we walked over and introduced ourselves to the driver, luckily holding up a sign that read: Cam Edwards, Party of five; who asked us about our luggage. We explained to him what had happened. He told us not to worry about it; if our luggage arrived. The hotel should be able to look after it. In case it arrives after we had left on our cruise.
“Yeah we’re gonna head to a market and buy a few things before tomorrow, so we should be sorted.” I explained to him.
“Okay? But first let’s get you all to the hotel and checked-in. So, that you can get sorted and into holiday mode,” The driver insisted.
&nbs
p; Checking to make sure our names matched the ones on his list, as none of us had the surname Freely.
“Cool dude, let’s go,” Devin remarked.
Smiling away as we all followed the driver to the courtesy van and zoomed off to the hotel. Far-out there seemed to be a lot of building work going on, but I guess after the war there would have been a need to. We drove through the middle of town and noticed the bullet holes in the buildings.
“Oh wow.” I whispered before asking the driver, “So where bouts, is this hotel?”
As the name of it wasn’t on the side of the courtesy van; not that I was feeling a little suspicious.
“Oh it’s just up here on the right once we get through this set of traffic lights,” The driver replied.
Cam could hear me talking to the driver in the front. “Take it easy Phil.”
“Hey man, just asking.”
“Yeah, calm down grandma,” Hannah said. Still annoyed her luggage hadn’t been on the plane.
“There it is, just there on the right,” the driver said.
“Oh sweet,” Cam remarked.
Susan looked out the window of the van. “Wow, this looks nicer than what you showed me on their website, Cam.”
“Yeah, should do us for a night and they have a pool. Wasn’t sure how hot it would be once we got here,” Cam said.
“A pool?” Devin and I asked.
Knowing we had to check out the pool. “Okay change of plans: check in, beers, then a swim.”
“Still got plenty of time to head into the city,” I added. Everyone else agreed, still annoyed and excited at the same time. The van pulled into the hotel. As we jumped out carrying our carry-on bags. Walking into the hotel lobby rocking up to the front desk. Must have looked a little weird with the four of us following Cam and his new haircut, I noticed the smile on the drivers face in the reflection of the hotel. As for Devin, he was sporting a flat top after going to a Polish barber’s, in London. Having asked for a trim. Still he was a little bit shorter than me and I was only under six foot. Though we all looked like we needed this trip away. And would always stick out in a crowd, like a bunch of rugby players. Hannah was a little bit taller than Devin, with short blond hair and a long slender body. We had all become great friends while doing day trips with her and Devin. Noticeably the trip we all took to Stonehenge. Susan, had grown up in England and from nine she was in a boarding school where she had been bought up as a proper English lady. Why she slummed it with Cam, always made Devin and I laugh. She was the shortest of us all and became our English princess over the time we had all lived together. Though the four of us had lived together in Ealing since I had first arrived in London with two other Australians we didn’t really-get along with. Another reason for the trip away was we had all decided to move out.
As we checked in and Cam put his credit card on the rooms. Devin and I smiled at each other trying not to laugh and Hannah shook her head at us. Quickly placing hers on the counter as well. Making us all laugh, so we put ours up as well.
“Take it easy guys they only need the one,” Cam snapped.
Devin taking the chance to look helpful. “Hey bro just offering man.”
“It’s here if you need it bro,” I added.
Hannah shook her head at us, while trying to hide the smile on her face. “You’re both idiots.”
“Hey Susan, while these idiots are drinking and swimming. I noticed a pharmacy over the road do you want to go check it out?” Hannah asked.
Susan looked over in agreement, “Yeah, that’ll be great.”
I quickly added, trying not to laugh. “See if you can find some Soul Glo for Cams head.”
As we all broke out into laughter at the front desk, even the ladies at reception had a smile on their faces, we never asked if it was the joke or the haircut.
“Funny guys, let’s meet up at the mine and Susan’s room in ten minutes,” Cam said, while taking the room cards and handing them out. “Looking forward to that beer Phil.”
“So am I, if I’m telling the truth, can’t wait.”
Heading off to our rooms. Chucking our stuff just inside the rooms and followed Cam and Susan to their room that was right next door to mine, in fact Devin and Hannah are on the other side, so somehow I was stuck in the middle.
“Let’s get this party started, Cam.”
“Yeah man, we already?” Devin quickly asked. As we all went to walk inside Cam and Susan’s room.
“Yeah guys come in, I’ll be two-seconds,” Cam added.
“Cool.”
“Ah man, my ears feel iffy,” I sorely explained, while I walked over and helped myself to a seat on their couch.
“Do you want us to try and find some ear drops for you Phil?” Susan asked.
“No, it’s all good Susan, I should be fine in the next few hours.”
“Then stop complaining,” Cam angrily suggested, trying to get me back for the Soul Glo and perm comments. Though the sound of no one laughing might have hurt him more.
“It’s all good bro, I thought it was funny, you just need to give it time to, just let it shine.”
We all started laughing at Cam again which he wasn’t too happy about it.
“All right let’s go have a swim and a beer,” Cam replied trying to get us out the door and end the onslaught as we were still laughing at him.
Quickly he went over and talked to Susan and we left the girls in the room talking to each other. Luckily as we were walking down the hallway to the lift we came up to the cleaner’s trolley and we helped ourselves to some towels.
“Should have grabbed them from the rooms?” Devin mentioned.
“Yeah, but what luck,” Cam eagerly replied.
“All right what floor is the pool on? Oh, and there’s a bar there?” I asked as we stepped into the elevator.
“Beers on me and swimming, living the dream guys.”
“Yeah man let’s get that beer,” Cam said.
“Sounds good to me,” Devin added.
Finally, as we got down to the pool level, and quickly left the lift and v-lined straight to the bar, the pool looked awesome. So, I dipped my toe into check the temperature.
“Feels pretty warm guys.”
“Yeah, buy the beer bro,” Devin impatiently said.
I rocked up to the bar and ordered three Keltenbergs which was a local beer. I thought to myself, though when in Rome.
Right as the bartender handed me the bill to sign and told me, “We will bring them over to your table sir.”
Putting them on my room, which might have been dangerous, I thought.
“Ah man I’ve been looking forward to this for ages,” I announced as I approached the others.
Cam agreed with the massive smile on his face. “Yeah man, don’t forget we need to get reef shoes while we’re in the city later.”
“Might get a couple of Hawaiian tops and a couple polos, and some shorts and togs, should be sweet for a week on a cruise, swimming eating and drinking.”
Pulling out a chair at the table and joining Cam before he sniggered,
“Don’t forget that top with your name on it bro.”
As both Devin and Cam laughed at Cam’s call. Leaning on the table acting a little hurt, trying not to laugh. “Well, you had to get a laugh at some stage bro, aye.”
Cam feeling pretty stoked with himself, finally thinking up a comeback.
“Yeah thanks man.”
Finally, our beers turned up, and we basically inhaled them. So, good to get the first one under our belts.
“You guys up for a swim, or another beer, before the girls get here and we head down to the town?” I asked.
“Yeah man that sounds like us, one more then head into the city,” Devin added.
“Nah stuff that.”
Cam said. As he took off his shoes and top and jumped straight into the pool. Immediately got a warning. Devin and I laughing our arses off
“No jumping into the pool bro, did you not see the signs?”
Devin asked.
“No, I didn’t aye.” Cam looked a little confused coming back up, thinking he had just performed the greatest pool bomb of all time.
“Oh well, I’ve ordered more beers, but they took a while last time, so a quick dip could be the way to go,” I remarked.
Both Devin and I, slid into the pool tutting Cam for trying to pull off a bomb that was a little average we both thought.
My eyes lit up before I said, “We’re not in New Zealand anymore Doctor Soul Glo.” Devin started choking on pool water as he tried not to laugh. “Oh man this pool is awesome,” I said.
Looking around it had an incredible view straight out to the Adriatic, looking out towards some islands, it was a great way to start our trip, swimming in a pool in a foreign country with nothing to worry about. Just then Susan and Hannah turned up.
“Hey, I thought you would have been much longer,” Cam said.
“Nah, didn’t take long to get what we needed,” Susan replied, looking around at a table with a fair amount of empty and now full bottles of beer on it.
“Sorry Phil and Devin, we couldn’t find any Soul Glo for Cams head,” Susan added, bowing her head to try and hide the smile on her face.
“Oh well, I hope the boat has a big enough power source to power Cam’s hot rollers,” I said.
Cam shook his head as he tried not to laugh at that one himself. He tried to add without the smile on his face, “We’re just gonna have another beer and then head down to the city.”
“Yeah we were going to see if you guys were keen to do that,” Susan said.
“Oh man, beers here,” I quickly jumped out of the pool, and walked over to the table. “Hey Susan, Hannah, do you want a quick drink as well?” I asked.
“Yeah I’ll get them,” Hannah said, as she looked through the bar menu.
“You can put it on my room if you want,” I added.
“Nah it’s all good, it might come up on your bill that you bought a couple of girly drinks,” Hannah said, looking at me like that might’ve been quite funny.
Just then Cam went to open his mouth to say something.
I looked at him and told him. “Don’t go there bro.”
“All right so we need reef shoes and some clothes to get us through the week, what else? What’s in Split?” I asked.
