The Graft

by Karen Woods

  “Mam, I’m not really in the mood to chat. To tell you the truth I’m tired. Jane was gabbing until late and to tell you the truth, I just want to go to sleep.” “Cheeky cow, here’s me ready to shower you with love and affection and you turn it down. You’ll be moaning soon saying nobody cares about you.”

  “I don’t need any love mother, you’re a bit late for that. I’ve grown up now or have you not noticed?”

  Elsie squirmed and lifted her head up from the stained pillow. Where was this coming from? Emily always loved a few cuddles. “Bleeding hell, what’s up with you lately. Your dad has started work today and both of us have sorted our heads out, so what’s your problem? It’s all you’ve ever wanted isn’t it?”

  Emily plodded to the side of the bed and sat down. She looked knackered. “It was mam, but I suppose when you’ve waited so long for something and it doesn’t happen, well, you give up hope, don’t you?”

  Elsie dragged her daughter back onto the bed and kissed her on the cheek. “Orr, does nobody care about my little baby then? Come here while mummy loves you.”

  Emily wriggled free. She was in no mood for fun and games. Maybe a few months ago she would have welcomed this but not now, not now that she had someone special to love. Emily’s mobile phone was ringing and Jane’s name was flashing across the screen. Elsie clocked it. “Bloody hell, you’ve only just left her and she’s ringing you. Are you sure she’s not a lesbian or something? I mean, you’re never away from her house lately.”

  “Eww mam, why would you say something like that? I’m not a rug-muncher and neither is Jane. We’re just good friends, that’s all. Stop saying we’re lesbians when we are clearly not.” Elsie watched closely as her daughter left the room and looked puzzled. Something was wrong with Emily, something she just couldn’t put her finger on at this moment in time. Elsie lay on the bed thinking, pondering her thoughts.

  *

  Tony had a bounce in his step as he approached Sue’s house. He was like Jack the Lad as he walked up the pathway. In his imagination he’d already gone over every scenario. She was going to open the door wearing only her fur coat and heels and suddenly she was going to open the coat and reveal her curvy sexy body. He was ready for that. His cock was clean and he’d even had a quick trim of his pubic hair to give him that extra inch of penis to show when the time was right. Okay, he wasn’t at his best, but he was ready for whatever she had to throw at him. Fuck Elsie and her fat blubbery body, if he had a chance of a woman like this then he was taking it, no matter what. All the blood from his brain had run to his penis and he wasn’t thinking straight. Imagine all the lads’ faces in the boozer when he had this hotty on his arm. He could see their boat-races now, sick with jealousy. Tony knocked on the front door and stood back. He quickly straightened up and ran his fingers through his hair. He was ready to see her again, more than ready. He could hear her voice from behind the door. He cupped his hands together and blew his warm breath inside them.

  Sue answered the door in a cream silk dressing gown. “Good morning,” she said in a sexy voice before she quickly looked at her wristwatch. “You’re here early, honey. I didn’t expect you for at least another hour. Oh, what must you think of me? I’ve just got up out of bed. I bet I look terrible.”

  Tony smirked as he replied. “You look lovely, you have nothing to worry about. I wish I looked like you when I get out of bed in the morning. I look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards. You should see the state of my hair, it’s like a big afro. Anyway, I thought I’d get here early and get a good start on things. I reckon I can sort all the weeds out today if the rain holds off.”

  Sue held the door open. Her cream silk dressing gown was opened slightly, and he got a good look at her long, tanned legs. “You must have a coffee with me first before you start work. I can make you some breakfast too. I mean, you will need your strength today won’t you? You can’t work on an empty stomach.”

  If she could have read his mind she would have been shocked. You could see by the way that he was tugging at his groin area that he was already excited. “If you don’t mind I will. I rushed out this morning without a bite to eat and her indoors won’t make me anything to eat, she’s a lazy cow. Bone idle.”

  Sue chuckled. “Have you been married long?” Sue asked as she led Tony to the kitchen table.

  “Too long if I’m being honest. Our marriage has been stale for years. I only stay for the kids. Elsie is a nice enough person, but the spark has gone. It went years ago.” What a lying bastard. His poor wife had got up early out of bed this morning to make him something to eat and iron his clothes. He was a blatant liar. Elsie lived and breathed her husband and if anything, she did too much for him.

  Sue flicked her hair over her shoulder and sat twisting the gold band on her long slender finger. “My marriage is something like that too. It’s lifeless, he never shows me he cares anymore,” she covered her mouth quickly with her hand and opened her eyes wide. “Whoops, I shouldn’t be telling you about my private life, should I? It’s just so hard sometimes to hold it all in. I just pretend to everyone I’m happy but I’m far from it. Yes, I have a nice home and money has never been a problem but that’s not enough for me. I want affection. I want to be kissed. To be the most important person in his life.” Sue dipped her head, she was sad. Years of frustration reaching the surface.

  Tony reached over and touched her knee softly. “Tell me about it Sue. It looks like we are two lost souls, unhappy in our marriages. Fate always finds a way and one day you will find someone who makes you happy. Happiness might not be where you expect to find it, it may just sneak up on you.” Tony studied her, watching her body language. Maybe, he should kiss her now, grope her tits, stick his tongue down the back of her neck? He watched her leave the room and head into the kitchen. His blood pressure was sky high, he blew a laboured breath and closed his eyes slowly. Maybe, the time wasn’t right after all.

  Tony and Sue sat at the dining table in the conservatory. It was lovely here. The morning light seeping inside, the calming colours, everything about it making him relax. He visualised himself living here, looking out each morning onto the green lawns, sipping tea, reading the newspaper. Yes, he could live here given the chance. Tony looked over at his employer. Just the way she was eating was sexy. She was teasing him for sure. She nibbled at the end of the long thin juicy sausage. It was driving him wild, he so wished it was his penis she was nibbling. He was drooling with every mouthful she ate. Sue crossed her legs and flicked her silken locks over her shoulder. She finished her mouthful of food and smiled over at him. “So, tell me more about yourself Tony. I’ve heard a bit from your wife, but it would be nice if you told me some things too.”

  He gulped and emptied his mouth as quickly as he could. Nobody had given a flying fuck about him in years and here he was with this beautiful woman eager to know about his depressing, sad life. But what was there to tell her? He couldn’t tell her the truth that he was a smack head, a thief, a liar and a piss-head, could he? He took his time before he answered. He had to think about this first before he messed it up. Tony licked his lips slowly and sat back in his seat. “I’ve been a little bit ill lately as you can see by looking at me,” he stuttered and hung his head low. “I had cancer, but I’ve had Chemo now and I’ve been alright for the last year. It took it out of me it did. I shit myself if I’m being honest. I thought my number was up. I just knew I had to be strong and fight the disease. I wasn’t giving up for love nor money. I’m a survivor.”

  Sue covered her mouth with her hand. She was shocked. “You poor soul. You’re such a brave man. I’m so glad you’re alright now though. Your family must have been worried to death. I could only imagine what your wife was going though, bless her soul.”

  His voice was low and he choked up. He was pretending to wipe his eyes with the cuff from his jumper. “My children were devastated. They were brilliant, honest, they did everything they could to look after me. I’ll never forget that. It b
roke my heart. I suppose you take a lot of things for granted don’t you, until something like illness happens.”

  “You never know the day, do you? Like I said, you’re one of the lucky ones who pulled through. I’ve lost a lot of family and friends to cancer. It’s a wicked disease. It doesn’t care who you are it just takes you and there is nothing you can do about it.” Tony wriggled about in his seat. It was the way she was looking at him again. Sue leaned over and patted his thigh. “I love finding out about people. Do you have any hobbies Tony?”

  He nearly choked. His hobbies were shoplifting, popping pills, taking drugs, and watching porn but he couldn’t tell her that. He lied again. “I like playing football and snooker. I love DIY too. I like to create things. I’m good with my hands.” Oh, you had to hand it to Tony, he was a class act, the lies were just rolling from his tongue. What a lying bastard he was. “I could help you around the house if you wanted me to. Bang a few nails in here and there, put some shelves up. You know, basic stuff.”

  Sue liked that, she opened her eyes wide. “That would be great. There are lots of little jobs that need doing. I’ll pay you for them too. I’m not a charity case. I don’t expect anything for nothing.” She giggled and reached over for her cigarettes. She didn’t really look like a smoker, but there she was popping a fag into her mouth. She raised her eyes. “My husband thinks I quit two years ago, but what he doesn’t know won’t harm him… will it? I only smoke a few a day anyway. I just can’t stop. God knows I’ve tried.”

  She was talking to the right person here regarding addiction. Tony could have talked all day long about the struggles he’d faced in every day life, but he kept schtum. She hesitated as she passed him a cigarette. “Sorry, how rude of me, do you smoke?”

  Tony was gagging for a bifta and quickly took her up on her offer. “Yes please. I’m like you. I’ve tried to knock it on the head, lots of times, but I’m struggling. Like you said it’s so hard and after me having cancer I feel like a hypocrite. It’s like I don’t care about my health.” Sue flicked the lighter under his cigarette and watched as he sucked his cheeks together. The two of them had a quiet few seconds before they spoke again.

  Today was going to be interesting, very interesting indeed.

  *

  Emily lay on her bed and closed her eyes. Last night was amazing and one of the best nights she’d ever had in her life. Okay she loved the “Take That” concert she’d been too last year but this was so much better. This was real life. Emily had stayed with Mark all night. Alex offered them both a bed for the night and it just made sense to stay there rather than getting a taxi home. What a nice man Alex was, he let most of the guests stay at his pad. Mark was steaming anyway and way over the limit to dive, so it was a good choice to stay. Today Emily was a woman, she’d lay in the arms of her true love all night long. He never pressurised her to have sex with him. It was what she wanted to do. He was tender with her, never rushed anything, it was magical. Even his kiss was gentle and sweet. Her mobile phone started to ring. It was Jane’s name flashing across the screen again. Emily answered the call and rolled on her side. She smirked and kept her voice low. “I was just going to ring you. Wow, relax will you. Mark rang me last night and wanted to see me, so I got ready and went to meet him. We had a great night together. I spent the night with him.” Jane started shouting down the line. Emily held the phone from her ear. “Shut up going on will you. You can come to meet Alex tonight. He’s Mark’s friend and he let us stay at his house. It was like something from the TV; there was a jacuzzi, a steam room, the man is minted. Honest, it’s the nicest place I have ever stayed in my life.” Jane seemed to be calming down as Emily continued talking. “Just let me get some sleep and I’ll ring you back, but get your best dress on later. Mark said we’re going to a posh restaurant tonight. He wants you to come along too. He said he has a friend who wants to meet you.” The call ended after a few more minutes and Emily dropped the phone from her hand as her eyes started to close. She was weary, absolutely knackered.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Jordan sat in his mother’s house and he looked bothered today. Something was lying heavily on his mind. He was standing up, sitting back down, itching at his skin, fidgeting, checking the clock every few minutes. Tony dunked his chocolate biscuit into his coffee and nodded over at his son. “What’s up kid? You’ve got a face like a smacked arse. If it’s a woman making you feel like this, then bin her off. Nothing but trouble they are. There are just a few chicks out there who are alright but the rest of them are fucked in their head, bleeding psycho’s they are, nutters.”

  Jordan sighed. “Nar dad. I wish it was just woman trouble. I could probably deal with that. It’s nothing that I can’t handle but yeah, you’re right, I’m stressed out. I hardly slept a wink last night, tossing and turning.”

  Tony sat munching his biscuits and spoke with his mouthful. “Come on then, spit it out. I might be able to help you.”

  Jordan dropped his head into his hands. He had to get it off his chest, maybe get some advice. “My grafter got lifted last night by the dibble and now it’s left to me to clear the debt of ten grand. The firm want their money back and I’m on my arse so I can’t pay them. I can’t get any more gear to sell either because they won’t let me tick any. They want the money up front, so basically I’m fucked.”

  Tony licked the chocolate from the end of his fingers. His chest expanded like a pigeon and he sniffed up hard to clear his nasal passage. “Fuck em son, tell them to whistle for their money. They can’t have what you don’t have can they? Tell them they can kiss your arse.”

  Jordan blew his breath in frustration. “Dad, you know more than anyone how it all works. They’ve given me until the end of the week to get the money together otherwise I’ll be put in a boot of a car and taken somewhere. You know the score dad. It’s Jimmy The Chop and his mob who we are talking about here. He’s a fucking lunatic.”

  Tony bolted up straight and sat cracking his knuckles, nobody threatened his family, not on his watch anyway. “I know Jimmy. I’ve shit bigger than him, son. I’m mental me when I get going. I’ll machete the fucking lot of them, him and his brothers. They call me Tony the fucking tornado,” he sniggered.

  Jordan squirmed; his dad was so full of shit. He had to calm him down. “Just leave it with me for now. I’ve got this guy who wants me to do some work for him so I could earn a few quid there. It’s easy money really, just driving some brasses to punter’s houses and picking them back up when they’ve finished.”

  Tony’s mouth was wide open. “What, and they pay you for that? Get it done, it’s easy money. Plus, you might get a few free sucks.”

  Jordan’s voice changed. “Dad, it’s horrible. It’s young girls who are off their nappers on drugs. Pretty girls, who’ve just got messed up along the way. Honest, it’s a shame for them. I do have a conscience you know. This would be my last resort if nothing else turns up.”

  Tony plonked back in his seat. “Yep but ay, if your neck is on the line, then you have to do what you have to do, don’t you? Keep me posted on these muppets. If any of them give you any shit, I’ll sort it out. I swear on your life, I’ll do the cunts in.”

  Jordan had switched off and his mind was elsewhere. It was his mess and he’d be the one sorting it out, not his father. Elsie came into the room after a short nap. She had bed hair and she made no attempt to straighten it. It looked like she’d been electrocuted. Plonking down on the sofa she nudged Tony in his waist. “Come on then, cough it up, you got paid today, didn’t you?”

  Tony held a sour expression. “That money is getting put away for our holiday. You can have a tenner out of it, but that’s it.”

  “Tony, I don’t have any money. The holiday can go on the back-burner for now. We have to live you know.”

  “Fuck me woman. I’ll never be rich with you, will I? You can have a score and that’s it. Twenty quid is enough to get some shopping, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose it will have to be,�
�� she squawked. Tony seemed on edge today. He had a doctor’s appointment in a couple of hours, maybe it was that making him nervous. Being without drugs seemed strange to him. He had no reason to get up early anymore. The only reason he was out at the crack of dawn each morning was to feed his habit, but now that was gone, he felt empty. He never saw his friends anymore either. Tony got bored very easily and Elsie knew this was a time when her husband was weak. She could sense it. “Shall we go for a walk in the park with the dog. It’s been ages since he’s had a good run?”

  Tony stretched his arms over his head. “No, I’m going to chill for a bit. I might nip around and see Mickey later too. I’ve not seen him for moons.”

  Straight away alarm bells were ringing in Elsie’s head, she had to put a stop to this straight away before all his good work was ruined. That was the trouble with Tony, money always burnt a hole in his pocket and he had to spend it. “Don’t be going there, love. You’ve been doing so well, don’t spoil it.”

  “Will you fuck off pecking my head. Listen, I’m having a bad day and I don’t need your droning voice down my ear. Fuck off round to Tina’s and give me a bit of peace. You’re like a fart lingering around me everywhere I fucking go.”

  Wow, he was in a mood today. He lay down on the sofa and folded the cushion under his head. He flicked the TV on and stared at the screen. Elsie was upset. Half of her wanted to punch his face in for talking to her like that and the other half knew she had to keep her trap shut for now because he was looking for any excuse to go on a mad one.

  Jordan left his parent’s home and his spirits were low. He’d fucked up for sure. That rat who was dealing for him should have been more careful. He’d told him time and time again about being clever and never dealing where he could be seen. The prick had served a copper up. Yes, a police officer in plain clothes had nicked him there and then. Bang to rights he was, he was going down for this for sure. A few years in the big house for the number of drugs they found on him. Daft, stupid, prick, there was no other word for him.