by A. Archie
Next morning, I went to work, told my line manager that I had to go home urgently. I left the office immediately. I did not know what was to expect. I could kill him. But I did not want to go to jail. I had so much to achieve in my life. I did not want to give into and be held back by petty family problems. I was occupied thinking seated on the bus. Where would I go from here?
I was walking home on the gravel road. I saw two of my uncles coming back towards me. The one who phoned me the previous night on his motor bike and the other closely followed him on his push bike. They carried on without any expression on their faces looking dead straight ahead. They did not bother to turn their heads and look at me. I was insignificant to their petty intentions. Probably they would have gone to see my mum and asked for the key to the grand parents’ house. Soon I would find out. The best option for me now was to retreat. Wisely give in. I wanted to leave the grand parents’ house for the sake of my family’s safety. No other option was left. It was not worth the fight or the loss of another life.
I was relieved to see that everyone was ok. Mum agreed. We decided to vacate the grand parents’ house and move into the small house we owned round the corner. They had reported it to the police as we unlawfully lived there. Both parties met at the local police station. We gave them the keys there but not before I blasted at both uncles in front of the OIC. Then the police also blamed them. I had done with them for life.
PART TEN
The Parting
Chapter One
I went back to work on Monday at 12.00 noon. Faye should get there by 5.00pm after university. I could not wait to see her again. Everyone had this reserved look. They did not try to make it obvious. I knew that they wanted to foil it. They were jealous. I kept calm and never talked a work about Faye with anyone else. It was none of their business. Why could people not mind their own business? The world would be a better place if they did.
Kayleigh at the customer service really did not like Faye talking to me. She was a fat, short and ugly girl. She had been with the company for some time and wanted to get into everyone’s affairs. People who do not want to look after themselves spend their time trying to correct other people. She was one of them. I did not give her a fuck. But she was a threat to me. She would do anything to stop Faye seeing me. I could see a plot unravelling. Still, I did not have that killing desire to ask her out. Until Faye said she was mine, I could not fight others who wants to ruin our relationship. I could only watch and eavesdrop for now registering everything in my mind.
Faye came to work at 5.00pm. I was downstairs doing pickups on lady’s ware. No sooner Faye came down to start work, this coloured manager started talking to her. He was a married man with kids in early forties I believed. He quite did not like me when I met him during my first few days at work. May be he saw me as a challenge to him. He was talking to Faye as if they were having a private conversation. People like advising. I believed he advised her against me. He probably asked her if she was going out with me. I kept watching them without their knowledge. They were however aware that I was somewhere on the shop floor. He appeared to question Faye. Only if Faye told me what was going on I could confront him. If she did not, I could not. I would break his jaw in one roundhouse kick.
Staff there thought I was gay because I did not try to pull any of them. I did not find them attractive enough to marry. They were average middle or working class girls. I was just there to get experience in apparel retail. Besides I did not want to mess about with other girls. I was focused on Faye. I went pass Faye and the manager ignoring their conversation. He looked at me. I pretend to smile but I would rather grin. We got called to do the checkouts and that included Faye. Thank God! That bustard had been trying to poison her thoughts.
Tonight I would drop her back at the university. Then I would not see her for a couple of weeks as I was taking time off for my housemate’s wedding. I walked her to the car and opened the door for her. All the staff including the night staff who needn’t have been there, were watching us. I felt embarrassed and angry. They started doing it since I began giving Faye lifts. Why?
I said to Faye in the car that I was going to a wedding and would not see her next week. Faye remained quieter in the car and pensive. I had to do much of the talking. It was a Friday night. As I dropped her she said to me “See you tomorrow”. I did not work on Saturdays and Sundays. I said to her “I do not work on Saturdays”. I believed she already knew that. Was she expecting a lift? Or did she want me to go to hers on Saturday night? She was shy in a way. She does not talk much, a non-smoker and a simple girl. I loved her long blonde hair.
I drove home thinking of what she meant by “See you tomorrow”. Did that mean she liked me? I would have gone to pick her up on the Saturday night. I was doing the evening shift at Cargill’s. She did not know that. If she knew that I worked crazy hours like mad, what would she think of me? My health, wellbeing and social life, I had put at risk for making such low paid money. Silly really. I went to bed thinking about her. I dreamt of walking with her hand in hand, visiting places, travelling around the world, adventure, explorations, trying out foods from different countries in the world, buying our own house and starting a family. I would take her out shopping, buy her designer clothes and sexy lingerie. We would go for leisurely drives in the car, in the country side, on the coast and up in the mountains. We would cook together, bake cakes and jump in the bath naked.
I fell asleep dreaming only to wake up in the morning. I wish I were rich. Then I do not have to go to work at night. I wanted to be a man, a gentleman but without the security of money, I did not feel comfortable.
Chapter Two
Iwent back to work the next day. Faye was not in. I kept the cake in the car till I saw her again. It was not going to be till another week or so now. I hoped the cake would stay fresh. I drove home on my own.
I went back to work after a restless night. Faye was nowhere to be seen. Has she gone? I have her number but should I ring her and find out? That would be the last resort. I should wait for few more days. No one at work talked to me about Faye. I was not in a position to ask anybody either. There were few other girls interested in me. I noticed. I could only have one choice and that was Faye. Alicia was about sixteen. She always talked to me. She was a bit shy but I was sure that she was into older guys. I had thought about her quite a few times. No but it has to be Faye. Another day without her, I drove back home alone.
I missed her dearly. What if she does not come back? It took nearly two weeks before she came back to work again. I asked her where she had been. She said “I went home” thoughtfully. I did not want to ask why. I did not want to get into her personal life. It must have been a family matter. There was no half term. She was waiting for me in the staff room. I went ahead and collect my bag from the staff lockers and gave her the gesture with my head to show that I was ready. I followed her downstairs. She usually walked down with her female colleges. I did not want to disrupt it. I only wanted to talk to her in private.
I walked to the car first. She was saying good night to her female colleagues by the main entrance. Her colleagues talk to her more now. They wanted to stop it. They did not want her to go out with me. They were just jealous. They tried their best to be better friends to her than I could possibly be. I only knew.
What could I do. While they all were gazing at us, I did not know if they were mocking, I opened the passenger door for her. I once again ignored them and drove off. They must have discomforted Faye. I could only ignore them. I would not bother. As I passed them, I opened the glove compartment and gave her the much awaited wedding cake. It was just a wedding cake. I did not mean or intend anything upon it. How would she take it? I said to her “I have been to the wedding. Here is your cake”. She knew that I was going to it as I had already told her. She took it. Said nothing. I expected her to ask me about the wedding like “How did it go?”. I like the two-way dialogue. May be she was shy. I did not know. Was this the end?
&nbs
p; I dropped her off.
I would not see her for another week. I was busy as usual over the weekend. I did not think much about how Faye took the wedding cake. I believed she enjoyed it. That was all what I intended.
Tuesday. I started work at 12 noon. Faye would be starting at 5.00pm. I was so excited to see her and take her home after work. I could not wait till 5.00pm. From 5.00pm to 6.00pm I had to cover the fitting rooms that day. It was moderately busy at the fitting rooms. Faye came towards the fitting room wheeling a rail with cloths that needs to be sorted and go back on the shop floor. I look in her face to greet her. She did not look at me. She was angry. She completely ignored me not giving me a change to say hello. She left as soon as she had pushed the rail into the fitting room area and taking a sorted out one back out. What? That was not typical of her. Something serious must have happened. Stupid girl must have listened to the lie of a jealous colleague as I suspected and believed it would happen one day. I knew that it was coming. If she was gullible enough to listen to others and not even try to reason it with me, she was not for me after all. You could not build up a relationship without truth.
I went into the car after work and waited. She came out with her female colleagues and was walking towards another car. I would try her for a last time. I took my phone out of my pocket and rang her. She answered “I am going home with Ellie”. I said “Ok” and put the phone down.
Very disappointing. This idiot does not want to talk to me now. I do not know the reason. This had never happened to me before with any of my friends. Would I go behind her and beg? No. If I was not worthy enough for her even to talk to, then good luck to her.
I drove home shaken, collapsed on to my bed on my back, my arms spread wide, I turned my head to the right and left, then again, I could not think. The process of thought had just stopped. I could not eat for a week.
Everything happens for a reason. One thing leads to another.
The End.
