Perry Scrimshaw's Rite of Passage

by Chris Hannon

  The afternoon drew in, dragging a few grey bales of clouds across the sky with a stiff breeze. It was chilly, but Perry didn’t want to stop watching the coach in front. The coachman was thankfully the quiet sort.

  ‘Keep following,’ Perry said when they reached town. The cab stopped on Briton street and Perry’s charge followed suit. He overpaid the driver and hopped down, concealing himself with the flank of the mare. He patted the side of the beast, peered over her long neck and watched Joel and Eva walk down the street, arms linked.

  He raced after them, picking a route through some pedestrians and saw them further up ahead; Joel was opening the door to a house. Perry fell in behind a couple of maids ambling up the road with a basket full of bread. Joel held the door open for Eva, glanced up and down the street and then went inside.

  So here it was. Their house. Complete with a blue-paint-chipped front door and brass knocker, two-storeys on a reasonable street. He still couldn’t get his head round it. The place was so much better than Ma’s, even if they were just renting a room he had no idea how they could afford it. It was odd, he’d almost wanted to find Eva in some hovel, a place he could rescue her from…but this place was more than he could hope to provide even with his modest means. He paced around unsure what to do. He could knock but he didn’t want to face them both together. He waited, finding a vantage point a little further down the street.

  The air grew chill and evening snuck in. It was shortly after the clocks struck seven that Joel left the house. He looked older, grown over the year maybe, or perhaps it was the long black Inverness coat and bowler hat that afforded him a more adult appearance. When Joel was up the street some, Perry approached the house and thumped the brass knocker down.

  He heard the click of the latch and the door opened.

  ‘What did you forget Joely?’

  Perry bit his lip, suddenly lost for words. On seeing him, Eva’s mouth rounded into an ‘o’ and she stilled and trembled as if someone had thrown a pail of cold water on her.

  ‘Perry,’ she gasped.

  ‘Aren’t you going to ask me in?’

  ‘Of course,’ Eva took a step back and shepherded him through the hallway and through to a sitting room. It was nice, wooden floorboards, a fancy rug with a glowing fire already underway in the fireplace.

  She stared at him a moment and fanned her face with her hands. ‘I can’t believe you’re here. You look different, very handsome. Not that you didn’t before I mean,’ she garbled, looking embarrassed. ‘How did you find us?’

  Us. Perry clenched his fists together and headed straight to the warmth of the fire.

  ‘This whole place yours?’

  ‘Sort of,’ Eva folded herself into a chaise longue by the window, ‘Joely gets it with work from his guvnor. You just missed him actually, he’s headed out.’

  ‘Work? What’s he doing then?’

  ‘Same as before,’ Eva picked up a glass from the floor, ‘there’s sherry on the table Perry, top me up would you? It’s good for settling nerves and the like. And help yourself. Lovely stuff.’

  He did, wondering if he was making her nervous, probably a good thing, he thought. He poured out a generous measure for himself, letting it swirl around the glass carousel and took a sniff. It stung the nostrils, he doubted he’d like it but took a small sip anyway.

  ‘Ugh. Can’t believe you like that.’

  ‘Helps pass the time.’

  ‘So. He’s still doing the same before as in what? Delivering notes from the prison?’ It was supposed to be a joke but Eva didn’t smile, she seemed uncomfortable.

  ‘He’s doing what he did at Ma’s but around Castle Square, for a higher sort of customer if you know what I mean.’

  Perry, sensing her discomfort deepen suddenly had a terrible thought. ‘You’re not… he’s not, you know,’ he scratched his neck, not quite able to say it, ‘bringing them to you?’

  ‘God no! Jesus Perry what do you think I am?’

  ‘Sorry,’ he flushed red with embarrassment, ‘it’s just this house…the sherry. I don’t know.’

  ‘It’s been a while.’

  ‘A year,’ he said. ‘You know that day, I did come to the docks but-’

  ‘Perry, don’t. I was really angry with you that day, but I’ve put it behind me now and things have worked out pretty well. I bear no ill feeling at all and would rather not talk about it,’ she said it all rather hurriedly, liked she’d rehearsed it and then fumbled her lines when the moment came. She raised her glass, ‘Cheers.’

  Perry didn’t raise his. ‘But you don’t understand Eva, that day I was-’

  ‘No!’ she almost shouted it. ‘I don’t want to hear about that day.’

  This wasn’t what he’d expected. If he could only explain, then she’d understand.

  ‘But Eva-’ he tried again but was waved away with a palm.

  ‘It’s history.’

  Perry ran his finger round the rim of his glass. ‘I’ve thought about you every day I’ve been away Eva.’

  She chewed her lip, he wanted her to stay, me too.

  ‘And where have you been anyway?’

  ‘Buenos Aires.’

  ‘Spain?’

  ‘Argentina. It’s in South America.’

  ‘What on earth were you doing there?’

  Perry sat down at the toe end of her chaise lounge. ‘I wish there were a quick answer to that question. There’ll be time for that. I’m back now, that’s what really matters. Look, I know that you and Joel are together now and everything.’

  ‘And?’ There was defiance in her voice.

  ‘And it’s fine,’ he lied, ‘I get that you stuck together. Grew close,’ he hated saying it, ‘but I can’t help who I am Eva. I’m a different man now to the boy who left. Do you remember that kiss, before…that day?’

  Eva’s face didn’t move, it was neither yes nor no.

  ‘I hoped you might just-’

  ‘Just what?’ Eva hunched herself up, hugging her knees into her body.

  He prised her hands off and held them in his. ‘Come away with me Eva.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘We tried a year ago, but this time we can do it, we can make it work! I know we can.’

  ‘But where would we go? What would we do for money?’

  Joy filled him, she hadn’t said no. She hadn’t said that she loved Joel and not him. It was the practicalities. That was all.

  ‘I’ve got the money,‘ he said excitedly, ‘enough to buy us tickets to New York. First ship out of here if you like.’

  ‘New York?’

  ‘Yes, New York, I hear it’s amazing and there’s a man who’s offered me work there, Mr Roebuck. You’ll really like him and his wife, well maybe not his wife so much but-’

  ‘Perry. I’m not coming to New York with you.’

  ‘Why? Why not?’ he demanded, sensing the impending puncture.

  ‘I can’t leave him.’

  And there it was, all his hopes rushing to escape through the fissure. He had to plug it.

  ‘But we were going to once weren’t we? Why not again?’

  She shook her head, beating tears from her eyes and got up from the chair and walked over to the fire.

  ‘Things are different now. And I won’t let you make a fool of me again and risk losing all this.’

  Perry got up and stood behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder and caught a whiff of her hair. Clementine and cinnamon. He squeezed her shoulder gently.

  ‘Eva…please. We can make a life someplace else. We could live in a place just as nice, better even. Look, I l-’

  ‘-No. Don’t say it. I can’t bear to hear you say it!’

  Her words crushed him, his hand slipped off her shoulder.

  ‘You don’t love me back,’ he stated it quietly, as fact.

  She shook her head at the fire. ‘Joel and I…’ she broke off.

  ‘What?’ Perry urged. ‘You and Joel what?’

  ‘We’re promised,’
she faced him anew; her chin lifted defiantly, her cheeks flushed and wet.

  It was like hearing the news of his father’s death again. He couldn’t look her in the eye. ‘You never gave a stuff about me did you? You planned to be with him all along!’

  ‘That’s not true,’ she said, ‘I adored you Perry! I waited for you at the docks! But Joel came instead, brought me back and I realised how awful a thing it was that we were scheming to do – to leave him here on his own, with nobody. We said we’d go together remember? The three of us?’

  ‘Wait. Did you say Joel came and picked you up from the docks that day?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘How long had you been waiting?’

  ‘What does it matter?’

  ‘It matters! How long?’

  ‘I was there all of ten minutes before Joel turned up. But I would have waited longer.’

  Perry pulled his hair so hard it hurt. ‘Jesus almighty Christ,’ he gasped, ‘if he was there so soon. He must have known where you’d be,’ the realisation hit him like a punch in the gut, ‘and he knew we were fixing to leave without him.’

  Eva looked flushed. ‘No he never. How could he? I would have known.’

  ‘It was him!’ Perry grabbed her by her wrists. ‘Don’t you see? He attacked me and stole you for himself!’

  Eva wrenched her hands free. ‘He’s been kind to me Perry, he’d never do that!, how can you say that? And I’m no object to be traded and stolen, decided upon by the likes of you, I make my own choices.’

  ‘But Eva-’

  ‘-No!’ she cut him off, ‘you were always scheming, smart mouthing your way to get what you want, sod anyone who gets in your way. Not this time. Joel and I are doing fine and I won’t have you ruin that,’ the anger in her voice trailed off, she looked at him, a look of pity that sickened him to his core.

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. ‘He’s brainwashed you,’ he paced around drumming his hands on his head. ‘You’re blind to it.’

  ‘Leave,’ she said softly and pointed towards the door. Tears welled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

  All he wanted was to dry them with a brush of his hand and take her in his arms. But she was lost to him. Whatever spell Joel had cast on her was binding and he didn’t know how to break it.

  ‘Fine,’ he said at last. He saw things clearly. This was not her fault, any of it. It was Joel.

  As if reading the shadow on his face, Eva stepped forward and poked him in the chest with her index finger. ‘And you leave Joel alone.’

  ‘Now that,’ he withdrew to the door, ‘is something I will not promise.’

  Before she could respond he stalked outside. The cold bit at his face, sharp and clear, feeding his anger. The night around him was black and he broke into a run.

  42

  The streetlamps on Castle Square glowed the amber of blown glass. A couple walked arm in arm down the street dressed in fine eveningwear. They strolled past a line of carriages chatting, their breath foggy in the chill eve. They arrived at the foot of the steps of the Dolphin Hotel, their appearance taken in by a young man in a black Inverness coat and bowler hat. He leant with his back against the building wall, a cocktail stick drooping casually from his mouth.

  ‘Evening,’ Joel said to the couple.

  The couple nodded politely and entered the hotel. Pacing down the street towards the hotel was a grey-haired man, walking alone and wearing a smart dinner jacket. Joel pushed himself up from the wall and cleared his throat.

  ‘Evening sir, need a lady to accompany you to the dance this evening?’

  ‘Most certainly not!’ The man barely looked at Joel and disappeared inside. Joel sank back against the wall and immediately had his hat whipped from off his head.

  ‘Oi!’

  A skinny street urchin was sprinting down the street away from him, the bowler hat bobbing up and down with his pumping arms. Joel took off after him. The kid took a hard left at the building society, skidding round the corner.

  Perry stood ready, gratefully took the hat from the urchin and dropped a coin in his hand.

  ‘Scram.’ The kid didn’t need to be told twice and ran towards a dark alleyway by the castle walls.

  ‘Wait! Stop him!’ Joel rounded the corner, running fast.

  ‘I’ve got your hat here.’

  Joel slowed and came to a stop, hands resting on his knees, breathing hard.

  ‘Little scamp, I’d have cut him up.’

  Perry held out the hat. ‘No need for that Joel.’

  On hearing his name, Joel stood up straight and appraised Perry, the look of confusion giving way to a broad grin.

  ‘It can’t be, Perry Scrimshaw! Is that you?’

  Perry stepped out of the gloom.

  ‘As I live and breathe it is you! You’re back.’

  ‘Your hat,’ Perry prompted again, Joel took it from him and screwed it back onto his crown.

  Joel clapped him on the back. ‘Good to see you Perry, how long have you been back?’

  ‘Just got in.’

  ‘And where is it you’ve been all this time?’

  Perry stuffed his hands in his pockets. ‘Oh you know, here and there.’

  ‘All mysterious now I see,’ Joel cleared his throat, ‘so you sticking round for good now or what?’

  Perry shook his head. ‘Leaving at the end of the week.’

  ‘Ah,’ Joel nodded, ‘ a short visit then. Pity,’ he mumbled and looking up to the street. ‘I’ll need to get back to my post in a sec, the dance is starting soon.’

  Perry ran his fingers along the switchblade in his pocket. ‘I was hoping to catch Eva, see how she’s doing you know? Assuming she’s still in Southampton?’

  He watched Joel closely, but his face gave nothing away.

  ‘I’ve only got a few days here, but still…’ Perry pressed.

  ‘Yup. Makes sense.’

  Perry ran his hand through his hair. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got any idea where she might be?’

  Joel’s expression was statue still, betraying nothing. He looked out again onto the road where a coach rumbled past.

  ‘Possible punters going by there,’ he mumbled, ‘I really should get back to my post.’

  ‘Joel,’ Perry was surprised at the sternness in his own voice, ‘if you know where she is, please, just tell me. I’d love to see her before I leave.’

  Joel nodded, rubbing his chin. ‘I’m sorry mate.’

  Perry braced himself; only the truth could spare Joel now.

  ‘Sorry? Why?’

  ‘I’ve not seen hide nor hair of her since the day you disappeared.’

  Perry could barely contain his rage. ‘Shame,’ he stammered.

  ‘Yes,’ Joel’s eyes narrowed. ‘Still. Better run, good seeing you mate.’

  Perry ground his teeth together, unable to contain it any longer. ‘You damn liar!’ he roared and pulled the knife out of his pocket, flicked the blade out.

  ‘Perry what’s gotten into you?’ Joel edged backwards, his palms out.

  Perry swished wildly with the blade, but Joel dodged back, the swipe cut through the air. Perry couldn’t find words in his throat that would do justice to the ills Joel had caused him, the betrayal, the heartache; it was so beyond anything he’d ever known. All his anger allowed was a low growl, like some savage beast, advancing forward with the knife held at belly height.

  Joel spun on his heel and sprinted.

  ‘You get back here!’ Perry took off after him, pushing his feet into the ground, springing each foot up fast and gathering speed as quick as he could. He remembered Joel was swift; the flaps of his coat billowed like bat’s wings as Joel darted around the corner.

  Perry tore after him and saw Joel running with one hand on his hat, already building a slight lead on him. Perry pumped his legs and weaved around a couple outside the Dolphin Hotel. Ahead, Joel leapt over a crate of greens and glanced back at Perry. He had a fair lead, Perry wasn’t much practised at ru
nning these days but he was determined to run Joel down if it was the last thing he did. He leapt over the same crate and dodged a woman pushing a pram.

  ‘Oi!’ she yelled after him, but he didn’t stop, didn’t break stride, his focus was just on the thudding feet in front if him.

  Joel took a sharp right towards St. Michael’s, Perry still remembered every twist of these streets, he’d run them a hundred times over, chasing or being chased as a boy – but never like this. With the church looming ahead, Joel was starting to pull away and turned right again. Was Joel leading him in a circle to tire him out?

  ‘Come on!’ Perry urged himself, he couldn’t lose him in the shadows now, and took the corner at a tight angle brushing the brickwork with his sleeve and then his boot caught something and he flew, suspended in the air for the briefest of moments, arms flailing, feet scrambling to find purchase on the ground while his body’s momentum still carried him hurtling forwards, further until wham! He hit the dirt landing on his hip, knees ripping, skidding and then rolling over, jagged stone and pebbles tearing at his body.

  ‘Argh!’ the pain lanced him, raw at first and then the sting came. Holes in his jacket at the left elbow, along the left side of his leg and on his right knee the fabric hung off in tattered flaps. Through the rips, deep dusty grazes were already blooming dark with blood.

  He looked up. A group of people circled around, intrigued passers-by with their heads cocked looking at him, murmuring things like ‘Oh my,’ and ‘Silly fool,’ and then from behind him, a sarcastic ‘Oops.’

  Perry twisted to see the silhouette of Joel, still breathing heavy, standing with his back against the wall.

  ‘You tripped me!’

  Joel rested a hand against his chest. ‘Oh I am so awfully sorry,’ he said in a mock lady voice.

  Perry pushed himself up, half-expecting to fold again with some break or sprain, but his legs held steady.

  ‘You’re dead.’

  Joel pushed himself off the wall and casually skipped away, walking quickly towards the seafront. Perry staggered after him, slowly at first, with leaden feet. He ignored the pain, quickening to a trot. Joel shot a nervous look back and seeing that he was still being pursued, started to jog. Perry began to jog too and then broke into an awkward, limping run. Joel must have heard his quickening steps for he too began to run, a yard or two ahead of Perry and soon they were back running near as fast as before.