by Loui Downing
‘How are you James? Have the lovely young nurses been treating you right?’ spoke Kerry leaning towards his drooping face pointing down upon himself. He is so usually known as Jim by his friends and family that it was his wife that used to call him that in their early days of courting. Jim pondered on the thoughts of his wife and how he missed her so much. After a short while Jim responded with an encouraging nod even though he had no idea what he was nodding at. Kerry saw Rupert fiddling with his fingers and generally looking like he was anxious, so she decided to spark them off in a conversation, mentioning something that Rupert had told her about them both going for walks in the country and sports in the early years. Rupert was staggered to realise that she had rudely brought a conversation when he was clearly ill-prepared for the discussion, being a lot of grievances and hatred pent up inside them both. It was like to balloons inflating at once and it was inevitable that in time one would burst and let their onslaught of wrath, in the search for explanations. Rupert had a really bad childhood, beaten at home, bullied at school, always getting into trouble and most of all his father’s presence cast down on him like a rising shadow. Rupert doesn’t like to confess about having to have a psychologist to overcome this unwanted aura that presented a number of side effects such as nausea, malnutrition, unkindness and also inflicting pain on others to compensate for his. This resulted in nearly costing their marriage, until Rupert confessed his childhood to Kerry. A part of Rupert despised Jim although there is an unknown desire to uncover reasons for his suffering and the reasons behind his father perpetrating the upset.
‘I just wanted to say…’ spoke Jim softly which raised a few heads in the nursing home as he had never really spoken to anyone. This caused Jim agonising pain as he strained himself to speak louder and clearer to ensure they understood. Rupert and Kerry sat unknowingly of this fact as the last time they saw him he was capable of speaking. The two stopped in an air of still fixation as they listened to Jim, along with a few others in the lounge.
‘You…Rupert I apologise sincerely…for your upbringing. I and Frankie were fools, we needed guidance and I should have told you how it all began. Spoke Jim as Rupert’s interests had proven true which pleased him to find reason as he had blamed is behaviour for the treatment his father had given to him.
The door opened from the right of the lounge, where there was a sound of a thud which distracted them from Jim. Rupert looked as he saw an old lady struggle to lift herself off her chair, only to look back at his father as he was slummed casually, bleeding from his neck. In a mass state of panic Rupert jumped up as his father’s body fell to the flood, trying to grab him to speak his final breath. There were gasps as the room filled with alarm, a nurse sprinting to the matron’s office and calling an ambulance. Kerry took Francesca who had become disturbed herself and went outside for some fresh air. Rupert couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He crouched down and turned his father over, unveiling his pasty pale face that looked moments away from death. Jim then opened his eyes in a final attempt and spoke, although it was muffled by the sound of an ambulance arriving at the window.
‘Francesca has told me for you should not to go looking for Frankie’ said Jim, Rupert clinging to his arm.
‘Grandfather…why was you so cruel to me?’ asked Rupert; unsure whether he would have the energy to reply.
‘To keep them away’ injected Jim as his head slumped, becoming heavy for Rupert to support. The room dejected into an utter malfunction as the medical staff entered the room and carried his grandfather away. People were escorted from the room, where all that was left was Rupert deserted and sat alone with his head in his hands. Kerry and Francesca were outside, giving time for him to cope with the disaster, after finally plucking up the courage to reform their relationship. Kerry watched as two policemen entered the nursing home and searched the building, only to be astonished to see Rupert being handcuffed and guiding from the building. Rupert became angry and intolerant with the stupidity of the police as they struggled to control him, manhandling him to the patrol car at the top of the nursing home’s driveway. Rupert’s head was held as he got into the car and they all got in from both sides. Kerry saw the car vanish out of sight, so she strapped Francesca into the front seat and set off, speeding slightly to make up for the time she had taken to get going. The car jerked as she over steered into a muddy bend, missing a wheelbarrow and some clothes that have been obviously ditched there. The backend of the white police car appeared and vanished as Kerry lost her concentration and then adjusted the gear levels, going back into second and then third as the speed increased gradually. She finally caught up with the car indicating right at the roundabout where there were signs for Cambridge and Oxford and also London. Kerry followed the vehicle for around three miles, until the car exited the dual carriageway onto a slip road heading inbound into Oxford, where immediately there was situated a poky police station, with only around three cars parked in the allotted spaces, a randomly placed vending machine that looks vandalised, and an evil eyed man smoking frantically outside the emergency exit door, whilst propping it open with his foot. Kerry took caution and followed the vehicle into the car park, only parking the opposite side and entering the building. When she placed her hand on the door lever she felt a sickening feeling as the place looked like it hadn’t been washed for some time. She noticed the mould in the windows and yellowish net curtain that did little to stop the churning inside her stomach. She proceeded reluctantly into the station, to find a chubby man on the reception desk eating away with his feet on the desk as he was slouched in his chair, laughing hysterically at some old comedy that Kerry could recall her parents watching when she was a child. The office in front of her gave off a potent dust murk that leapt onto Kerry’s clothes making her swipe it away. Eventually the man spoke, surprising her when she least expected it. Kerry informed the man of the situation and he reluctantly left his seat and showed her the room he was in, giving her a look of anguish as he made his way back. The room was through a double door and the second to last room of the left of the narrow corridor. Kerry wondered if the corridor was actually getting smaller as she had experienced out of the ordinary up until now and anything else wouldn’t be an issue. Kerry peeked into the integration room, where she saw two men, one leading on the bricked wall behind the desk that Rupert was behind, and the other sat down casually talking to him. Rupert must have spotted her as he gave a wincing smile which made Kerry feel warm again.
‘What exactly happened in that nursing home?’ questioned the middle aged man sat opposite Rupert, his posture speaking volumes of his attitude towards people who come in here. Rupert stumbled to answer but finally got to a start, going through the details of his father’s house and why he came to see him, although he kept quiet about their hatred as he felt this would look suspicious.
‘We found this…’ said the detective reaching for a tray of goods and extracting a pistol. Rupert stared for a moment as he felt there was an air of tension in the room.
‘And your fingerprint is on it!’ spoke the man aggressively as he stood up, going red in his face with rage. Rupert couldn’t believe what they were implying as he remained silent for quite a while, noticing that Kerry was stood with her hands covering her mouth.
❖
Alexandra lay screaming in her miniature bed wildly, for her teddy had become lodged down the side of the wall and was separated from her cuddle. Eric was the first to wake up to the sounds of her scream, piercing him contagiously as he sat up and positioned his feet in alignment with his slippers; missing them on his first attempt. Eric slumped free of his bed and glanced over to Lensa who was sound asleep, or at least making a good attempt at being asleep for that matter. He noticed the ravishing red rays of the radio alarm clock turn onto four thirty-three in the morning, which make him feel even more exhausted. Eric placed his t-shirt on and headed for Alexandra’s room across the hall, making sure he was quiet on opening and closing doors. He opened the door and noticed that
Alexandra was looking scarily straight at him as she immediately stopped crying and rolled around to get comfortable to Eric’s annoyance. He went downstairs to make some milk and to search for the baby changing equipment as he never normally would remember where Lensa keeps it. Whilst waiting for the milk to warm on the gas cylinder, he switched the portable radio on to a local station which was currently playing panpipe music, something that Eric is very fond of as well as electronic and jazz, remembering the days when he was in the Elrohaus, a band that he was in with a few of his graduate friends. The time whizzed by as Eric was in a dreamy state, when the pan began hissing which distracted his attention entirely. Eric grabbed the bag full of nappies, cream and powder along with the warm milk and headed for Alexandra’s room once more. Lensa woke up to the sound of a bird’s chime, young birds awaiting food from their mother. She rose mundanely from her resting place, stretching various parts of her body and slowly adjusting to the morning’s tranquil beauty.
It was early February and surprisingly warm, the sun taking over the landscape, accompanied by a clear broad blue sky. Lensa lifted the window; allowing fresh air to circulate the room that felt riddled with dead air. A potent aura started to etch its way into everything it touched. A gust of wind was appreciated, making her feel awake and alive to the day ahead. She tidied the abundance of clothes that had accumulated from the week, placing them into the criss-cross straw basket; that gave a disconcerting wobble as she placed the clothes inside. She could hear shuffling downstairs which she assumed to be Eric either cooking something painfully grotesque or his conversation was inferior both prospects made Lensa’s stomach quibble. She began thinking of an excuse to avoid it, although she felt a flicker of guilt as she smelt the delicious fresh eggs.
Lensa’s bad mood lifted as she eagerly pilled on the food that shone so invitingly. The outside windows and supports yawned as the sun moved over; shining brightly onto their lawn and roofing. The orange zest erased the early morning frost that scattered the surroundings and allowing the materials to relax. The smell of fried bread swam towards the next door neighbour’s window where an old lady called Margaret lives. She prefers to be called Maggie after taking a shine to Eric one occasion after he said it. Lensa selected a few mushrooms and other delights as she watched the outside activities pass by; noticing a circling crow and a man in the distance up on a ladder fixing cables. The cry of the crow agitated her, causing her to sway into the lounge area and changing the station on the portable radio, Eric giving a look of disbelief.
Lensa became swallowed in by the settee as she slumped into its arms. The soft sounds from the radio soon cooled Lensa’s temperature, as she ate her breakfast and thought of what she was going to do later. Eric started tiding up and getting ready for work around ten minutes later. Lensa really hoped he would find another job as she hardly saw him and he was always away at the weekends, although it gratifies her to know that she has the time to herself and she isn’t constrained, which she found repugnant.
Half an hour had past and Lensa was now alone with Alexandra and Jessica who were in the process of waking up from the muffles and creaks heard above. Alexandra was wide awake and contributing to the radio conversation with her interpretations of words, some of them Lensa could remember saying in her childhood which made her chuckle. Jessica jumped down the stairs, fully dressed and ready to go outside and enjoy the sun. Lensa looked at her and raised her eyebrow at the complex selection of colours she had chosen. Jessica stood still and sleepy, wearing a purple and white woolly hat, long Wellingtons that were staggeringly long as well as having a sky blue cagoule and a pair of violent violet jeans on. Not forgetting the obsessive number of bracelets, necklaces and rings on nearly every finger. Lensa realised after a few seconds that she had promised to take them both to the park and get some fresh air and exercise. Lensa tidied away and held the thick dark back door open as they walked past Margaret’s house and then took a left soon after down a semi-circle archway that lead to the street, filled with detached houses and a block of redeveloped flats a stone throw away.
Alexandra drifted asleep on the bank of the grass beginning, to the annoyance of Lensa as she wouldn’t remember visiting the park and would beg to return in the latter. Jessica ran over to the swings, one of them was being bullied by the breeze as she grabbed it and propelled herself onto the muddy black seat and swung with her legs pointing to the heavens. The park was deserted apart from a man in the distance walking his dog that was jumping around in the air biting its lead as they walked along. Lensa eventually went over to Jessica and assisted her in her swing, making her go higher and higher as she screamed with anxious delight. Lensa noticed the bulletin board and she decided to leave Jessica playing with Alexandra and swinging along going faster and faster which amused the sleepy eyes of Alexandra.
Lensa was part of the local community and kept fit on a regular basis, of which she happened to be looking for on the notice boards, advertising general events such as sporting and leisure activities, travelling, arts and crafts and some advertisements for local charities like cancer research and heart foundations. Jessica was tired from all the swinging action she had just had and wanted to go for a stroll around the park and skip around even though the ground was unpleasantly stiff on every pounce of the foot. Jessica noticed something in the undergrowth that made her put Alexandra down and goes forth to investigate what it was she had spotted. She bent down quickly and retrieved what looked like a heart shaped key from the soil; eroded at the edges and brittle at the slightest of touches. She felt a strong bond between the object as she placed it into her cardigan and skipped back to pick Alexandra up. She walked on further into the long grass as the temperature increased; warming her back considerably.
Arthur remained frozen for a few seconds as he looked curiously at the door that was ajar in the far corner of the room. The door stood around six feet tall and was covered with a droopingly dull sheet that overhung the top of the frame and the sides. As well as being accompanied by an ancient chair that gave a look of shear desperation at the thought of someone daring to take seat. Sweets and inventions scattered the rooms, along with scientific décor and famous inventions such as the light bulb, the spectroscope, the television, the satellite and books containing interesting facts and mysteries to encourage the children to read and take a moment to ponder on. Arthur, feeling very brave tip-toed cat like to the door he had so masterfully created to uncover what had just happened a moment ago. He reached for his pocket and pulled out his spectacles, as he placed them on his head he could see out of the corner of his eye the contents behind the door. Arthur pulled back the open door in one quick motion, to reveal what he deemed as ordinary.
The room was still as it had always been, full of the best sweets he had invented, books and prizes for the winner who successfully answers the riddle. Arthur held his forehead and let out a gasp of freedom, as all the adrenaline calmed down and he felt calm again. He wondered whether he was going mad for a second, as the thought phased as he recalled his workload for that week and blamed it upon that. Arthur climbed the stairs and proceeded down the spacious but short hallway, where Henry’s bedroom was immediately on the left and the bathroom opposite, with his room being the directly in front of him. Even though Arthur wanted a bigger house, he couldn’t bear leaving his beloved sweet shop he created. Arthur decided to check on Henry on the way up the stairs, he never normally does as he works late and he may disturb him. He opened the door to find an empty chair to which he was about to speak to, stopping as he saw it was empty. The desk was untidy, scrolls everywhere, globes and spectroscope’s positioned next to the window with its curtains open midway. The moon lit the floor of the room with the skies being perfectly clear and such a crisp night. The top window was open which sent a small drift into the room making Arthur feel cool on the inside, as if it penetrated his skin instantly. Arthur wondered where he could be, Henry’s duvet covers told him that he had made a swift exit and he could see that his coff
ee mug was still steaming elegantly up into the air. Arthur entered the room to only tread on a spiky instrument that gave excruciating pain to the sole of his foot. The instrument was that of a common twelfth-fifteen century medieval key, bearing the shape of a heart shaped bow and rugged and eroded key shank that Arthur guessed had prodded him beneath his foot. He picked up the medieval key and placed it kindly on his son’s desk, feeling the pain surge through him he decided not to be angry as he knew how much these artefacts meant to Henry. Henry’s room was like going back and forwards in time, containing various archaeological and astronomical finds that were so rare that he had managed to obtain and study. Arthur noticed a complex equation on Henry’s desk, debating whether he actually formed it or not. However, the equation was that of Alexandra Friedmann and George Lemaitre which provides the basis for the theory of the creation of the universe and the ‘Big Bang’ theory. Arthur picked up a journal that Henry had started writing which entailed
‘One’s imagination on the Big Bang theorem may seem simplistic, although the means that will uncover the perils of the theorem are closer than ever. After discovering more on Messier 81, we now know that the boundaries of the universe are incontrovertible and that to think of the universe as an only form clearly identifies the human mind to resolve when the unknown is unclear. In decades to come more shall be known about how the universe was created and tackle issues that test religious contexts. For now, we must not believe that the universe will not change, based on the principles of how humans adapt on Earth and if some of the basic calculations and atmospheric conditions were altered life may have not formed at all’
