Foxy_T

by Tony White

  But fe true man never know what come around the corner is it and them two no different. Them two never knowed that this one night a go be different cause it start off like all them other bad night seen. One a them rainy night in autumn when it just a piss down outside and no damn fool gonna go and check him email in that type a weather is it. And them two had eat something or whatever and Foxy-T was sit there with her feet up on the coffee table and read one of them big software manual and half the time just be staring at the telly but mainly not really looking at what was on just watching the pictures like they was far away and then every now and then she might look back down at this big book on her lap and turn over the page or look back at the end of the last page so she could try and find her place again. Only she wasnt really concentrate on either of them things. Ruji-Babes was sit there and wishing she could read something or whatever like a magazine or something but she took her contacts out because of the Calor gas fire make them feel dry and itchy so like I say it was impossible fe wear them things at time like this and there was no way she could read without them contacts and she didnt like wearing her old glasses cause for one thing they werent strong enough now is it. They was still the ones what she had at school and them glasses make her nose hurt and her head swim like she was back in double geography down Mulberry or something. And she never got a new pair or whatever because she decide long ago that she didnt want fe wear glasses ever again but then on nights like this when she couldnt wear contacts neither it was murder because she just want fe read and daydream like Foxy-T doing. Only cause she have fe wear them contacts all day down the E-Z Call now work a finish she aint go wear them is it. So she was watch the telly from as far away as she could without her eyes hurting even more and listening to the DLR going past in the distance and them kids down Bigland letting off fireworks what have been in the shop for like month already even though is only October and still like three week till bonfire night.

  They wasnt expecting visitors that night or any other because they never got no one coming round in the evenings. Even Ruji-Babes cousin or whatever only come in the daytime init and always phone up first and never come round without arrange it first. So they was surprise to hear someone a knock on the security shutter down at the front of the shop.

  Ruji-Babes look up and catch Foxy-T eye.

  ‘Well I dont care who that is T,’ she says, ‘because I aint gonna open up shop this time of night for no one init.’

  ‘Seen,’ says Foxy-T. ‘They can wait till morning or use the flipping pay phone.’

  Then they both went back to what they was doing or not doing and think nothing more about it.

  But just because they wasnt think about it doesnt mean it gone away does it. And sure enough like maybe twenty minutes later Foxy-T sat up and look over at Ruji-Babes. ‘Did you hear that Rooj?’ she aksed her. But there werent no answer cause Ruji-Babes was now sit up straight in her chair and all because she had hear it and all. And the thing what they both heard over the noise of the telly from up there in there sitting room above the shop was a footstep. And theres nothing strange about a footstep when its outside on the pavement or whatever or running down the street late at night cause thats the kind a thing you hear all the time around here believe me. Theres always someone running away from someone else round here. Some thief with a car radio or a video in a bin bag or whatever. Or just some rude boy a fool around with him mates and run fe catch up after stop and chat with one of him spar. But this footstep wasnt out the front of the shop in the street is it. This one was out the back and come in since the kitchen window a open fe get rid of them fume and the smell of cooking. It sound to the two a them like someone had gone round the back of the buildings and climb over that wall round there little back yard. Which would take some doing believe me because you have fe climb over a couple of other walls before you got there and nuff like barb wire and shit upon them wall out the back a the E-Z Call so it didnt sound like it was no accident that someone had jump over the wall into there little back yard. So they was well shock init. Trust me man would have fe make a big effort fe get into them yard.

  Ruji-Babes made to get up but Foxy-T shush her down and like stared at her for a second like she heard something else and what she thought she heard was some footstep on them steps what went up to the back door what lead into that little hallway by there toilet downstairs. And next to the toilet door was that door they always call the upstairs door what leads from the shop to the flat or from the flat to the shop. And her and Ruji-Babes was just stare at each other right because they both heard that footstep on them steps what lead up to the back door. But it was what they heard next that got them shitting thereselves. Cause someone like maybe some thief or robber or whatever was putting a actual key in the lock and turning it real slow. And them both try and think is all next door init but you know the sound a your own lock init cause you hear them turn every day so aint no mistake is it both a them knowed is there back door what is be unlock. And they both heard that lock going and then they heard that familiar squeak what the back door makes when you open it and whatever oil or whatever Foxy-T might of put on them hinge is still gonna squeak and nothing you can do about it and thats what they heard next. They was really shitting it now for real and Ruji-Babes reach down beside her chair and pick up that baseball bat and same time as that Foxy-T was glancing over at the shelf where she put her machete when they come upstairs and she went and got that machete didnt she and they both just standing there in the middle a the room facing that door what they knowed was surely gonna open up any second. And this like there worse nightmare init some thief a come at night. But it seem like hours they was waiting there both a them shitting it and just looking at the door handle and waiting for it to turn.

  And both a them knowed that some thief or other was coming up the stairs because they could hear that creaking as he come up. It was almost too much to bear believe me and Ruji-Babes being a bit of a weakling like I say was almost fainting with pure fear and half pissing herself probaly while she stood there waiting for that minute that they both knowed was gonna come when that thief open the door fe confront them in there own living room.

  And they is both just stand there and looking at the door and they could feel the touch of someones hand on the door handle almost before they seen it move. It was like someone a touch them init and they both feel like them want fe just run away as far as they could from that room where they was standing. Both a them would a rather been anywhere else in the world at that moment but there was nowhere for them to go is it because the only door was the one that was just about to open. And thats what happen then. That door just start swing open real slow.

  Ruji-Babes and Foxy-T was pale and shaking with terror by this time and it was Ruji-Babes was spoke first she say just, ‘Who is it?’

  She shout it out real fast and high pitch and the door stop opening for a second init but no thief come in yet.

  And Ruji-Babes says, ‘We is armed! What you want? Who are you?’

  And this thief just say nothing and then the door open and he come in and he was some young man who was carrying one of them thin kind of carrier bags you get from the newsagent but they couldnt see what was in it and him have like a ruck sack on him back. He never have no weapon either is it. He look wet and cold and look first at Ruji-Babes with that baseball bat and then at Foxy-T with that machete what she was holding out towards him. And he could see she was shaking because that blade was shake and tremble even more than she but then him look again at Ruji-Babes and just walk them few step over to where she stand cause he seen the baseball bat init but him figure she aint never gonna use it so him just put him hand out and take hold of it so she knowed that if she try and move it him gonna catch it first. And this thief just stand there right in front of Ruji-Babes like this for a second and look at her like him try and figure something out init and the way them both hold that baseball bat it look a bit like them two is hold hands init and none of them move they all sta
nd there like that for a few second until he say to them ‘Who are you?’

  And they both go, ‘We live here!’ and both a them speak at the same time. And when him hear this him look puzzled and look again at Foxy-T then back to Ruji-Babes and none of them is moved yet and none of them two is even try fe use them weapons is it.

  ‘Who are you anyway?’ Ruji-Babes aks him, ‘and what do you want? You better tell us or we calling the police init. Why you want fe break in here eh?’

  And he take a deep breath this young man standing there with that carrier bag in him hand and Foxy-T can see that him cold or whatever because hes only got on some t shirt and a little black jacket and his hands is all cold looking and all and cause Ruji-Babes so close to him she is like feel the cold night air come off him init. And he goes, ‘What? Mr Iqbal no live here then?’

  At the sound of him voice Ruji-Babes is just like step back and let go a the baseball bat and it drop on the floor by him feet cause he never expect her fe do that and him unprepare. But she aint make a move for that bat is it and him must figure that he have the upper hand there cause him no make a move neither. Both a them girl is pure puzzle init cause him no sound like a thief when him say that. And him no aks where them keep there money or whatever.

  Then him think for a second and remember the key in him pocket and him fetch it out and like jangle it in front a Ruji-Babes and say, ‘I never broke in man. I thought Mr Iqbal live here anyway. Who the fuck is you two?’

  And Ruji-Babes says like, ‘No, we live here init. Theres no Mr Iqbal here and it dont matter who we are.’ She look quickly over at Foxy-T who also look like she about to faint only this aint going the way them two thought it was gonna go is it. You aint normally gonna chat with no robber so Ruji-Babes dont know what to say for a second. Then looking back at this youth she say again, ‘Who are you? You better tell us man or we gonna call the police!’

  And he goes, ‘Well, Mr Iqbal lives here too. Wheres he gone man? He’s my grandad and I use to live here too for a bit. Wheres he gone do you know?’

  Then he drop him bag on the floor and Foxy-T felt completely lost because there she was all ready to defend them against some thief or robber and then there they are with some young man what is obviously lost init. And she was just a bit lost herself at the sound of him voice aksing for him grandad. So she just stood there but she didnt drop that machete she just stood there staring at this young man who was a bit younger than them two. Like maybe twenty or a bit younger. He wasnt nothing special is it just some young man you might pass in the street or down the shop without even look at him. But neither of them had seen some young man lost like this before. Young men was always the ones what was after something from you with there type of cockiness. But this boy what had lost him grandad was not doing none of that. He had a kind a sharp face with a longish black fringe just swept to one side a bit but not so slick and fashionable as them rude boy them round here what do burn ups along the walkways in the Bigland and practise there skids and play there music or whatever and act like dealers and players. And there was nothing particularly crisp about the way him dress is it. She look at him eyes which was bright and dark even by the light of that lamp they had by the telly. She could see them soft hairs on him cheek. He just stood there looking from Ruji-Babes to Foxy-T and back again. Ruji-Babes was wear just her normal kind of smart skirt and a blouse like a young woman might wear to work or whatever and Foxy-T was wear some Reebok Classics and a pair of trackie bottom and some big type of Adidas polo shirt. Boys clothes him think for a second. Then him look at that machete what she was still a hold in her hand. While he was look round at Foxy-T there was a noise as Ruji-Babes sit back down defeated. She was turn away and from the way her shoulder start fe shake it look like she might be crying. It was all too much for that Ruji-Babes.

  ‘Is he dead do you think? My grandad?’ the boy aksed after a bit.

  ‘Well, we been here a couple of year now,’ says Ruji-Babes who is not crying no more and pulling her self together and figure out this aint no thief just some lost boy or other.

  ‘Yeah?’ he says, ‘Shit man I been away for about four year and he was here when I left. Shit man a couple of year? For real?’

  ‘What use to be downstair in the shop in them day then?’ aks Ruji-Babes. She start fe get her strength back init and decide fe test him a little.

  ‘Was Cannon Street Car when I live here. My grandad use to rent this flat off them.’

  Ruji-Babes almost sigh with relief init and say, ‘Is it? No I think he die init that old man what live up here back then. Me uncle tell me them Cannon Street Car move out after that init.’ Then she look at him and go, ‘Sorry man I …’

  ‘Shit man. Dead?’ aks the young man again.

  ‘Yeah. I think so,’ says Ruji-Babes.

  ‘Seen. Seen,’ says the young man. He was still staring at them with this same kind of expression like half totally baffled and half like curious about them two and what have we got here then in him sharp young mind cause even though him a bit lost he was still a young man init and that side of him a start fe come out more and more with every second.

  And Foxy-T was still just stand there with that machete in her hand and look at him that same way what she look at the thief a few month back on that summer evening. She saw him that same way no matter how hard she try fe think, ‘Well its just some lost young man.’ Seem like the air in the room go thick init like she cant breathe and nothing she can do about it.

  Ruji-Babes was like, ‘How comes you dont know if your own grandad dead or not then?’ Because she was back to her normal fussing self and had start fe doubt this young man story by now. Everyone know it use to be Cannon Street Car downstairs. That aint prove nothing is it. Just mean that him could a pass this way before dont say that him must a fe live here or whatever. Any fool knowed this use to be Cannon Street Car init.

  ‘I been up Feltham for about four years,’ say the young man. Then him look a bit sheepish like him maybe regret a say that since going up Feltham aint something you is gonna admit to people what you dont know.

  Both a them girls knowed what Feltham is and they stiffen a bit cause perhaps him a thief after all and out fe rob them but he says like, ‘I use fe nick cars and stuff when I was a kid but I aint gonna do that no more is it. I aint going up Feltham again. Its a nightmare up there for real especially fe them young Asian man with all them racist and shit. Man I aint going back there for real believe me.’

  ‘Is it?’ says Ruji-Babes taking charge again. ‘So when you get out?’

  ‘This afternoon man. Me just reach init.’

  ‘Seen,’ say Ruji-Babes. ‘So what you get the train back? Feltham up pass Harrow way init.’

  And hes like, ‘Yeah them give you like a ticket home and tube fare and the stuff you come in with init then plus I got a giro fe cash tomorrow up Whitechapel post office. I just got the tube down from Kings Cross man.’

  In fact him no take the tube him walk init fe save the fare since Kings Cross aint that far if you go up Pentonville and down City Road. And by save that tube fare him have enough money fe buy a pack a Lambert and Butler. Only he aint gonna admit that to them two girl is it.

  No one said nothing now they just all stand there and stare at each other.

  ‘You have somewhere fe stay then?’ aksed Ruji-Babes.

  ‘I don’t know man maybe I can check me spar init and if not theres them empty flats down Shadwell,’ he say. ‘I figure me go and stay there then see if I can find my sisters place out Dagenham in the morning.’

  ‘Is it?’ aks Ruji-Babes.

  This young man just don’t say nothing but just look from one a them to the other and then back again and Ruji-Babes imagine how him feel just find out about him grandad like that. Then he break the silence and say, ‘Well I don’t know man. I just plan fe check me grandad init. I don’t know. Me a go find somewhere.’

  ‘Sit down for a bit man,’ she say and point at the chair.

  He
pick up him carrier init then sit down and put it on the floor by him trainer. That baseball bat just left on the floor there.

  ‘What them a call you?’

  ‘Zafar.’

  ‘Zafar! Shit we knowed a Zafar once init. Him a fool!’

  ‘Well I aint no fool is it,’ say the young man. ‘That just me name seen. Zafar Iqbal. Same as me grandad init.’

  Then him check both a them woman init and him aks them the same question.

  ‘Man call me Ruji-Babes,’ say Ruji-Babes. ‘And this Foxy-T …’

  And this Zafar laugh and say, ‘Shit man them sound like tag init. So them you real name? Shit man.’ And him a laugh again init.

  Ruji-Babes look at Foxy-T and raise her eyebrow. ‘When you ever meet someone with name like that eh?’ Then she laugh and all. Is just Foxy-T no laugh.

  ‘I’ll make some coffee,’ says Ruji-Babes then she look over where Foxy-T stand and say, ‘I think you can put that down now T.’