The Red Box

by Laura Sgarella

  Albert and Sylvanus arrived very early in the morning at the shop having to deal with the dispatch of the meat. They entered the changing room and waited patiently for the arrival of the goods. Sylvanus had a brief moment of annoyance when he saw Albert’s notebook together with the paper of the incomes and expenditures. He examined it very carefully and he was attracted by all those different telephone numbers. “Are you crazy Albert? What’s this?”

  “Oh! they are all my attempts to find the contact number of the object of my love.”

  “But you even don’t know her surname. After all, people communicate more frequently through mobile phones nowadays. Come here and help me to check the money we owe to the dispatch people. We are waiting for the pork, horse fillets, chicken and lamb. Everything to be sold in one week.”

  “What are you doing now with that outburst of vanity?” asked Albert to Sylvanus who was watching himself into the mirror of the office door.

  “Do not bother too much. I just keep an eye to the situation since I’m apparently putting on weight. Here my shape looks slimmer. It’s the power of self-belief. The last time I heard about a man who lost weigh without diet or gymnasium it was a case of cancer that consumed all the blood of the man in question. Hopefully he understood it just in time to be operated and deprived of the disruptive organs. My case is much different to this. I do my best to check up. But now hurry up. It’s half past eight and we must open the shop,” said Sylvanus with a grim smile.

  The dispatch people finally arrived and fetched the meat to the two butchers. Albert and Sylvanus gave the dispatch people the money reluctantly and waited to be ready to start the day. They even didn’t hear the roar of the bus when they decided seriously to start working. “But let me know, are you still in love with your blonde baby?” started Sylvanus

  “I confess I am, but I see a certain indifference to me on her side. I don’t know how to approach her and woo her. Why are you talking to me about her with that frozen expression?” said Albert.

  “Because I fell in love once in my life and the story was a total disaster. Anyway, I wish you good luck. Now I firmly believe it’s time to wait for the first customer to arrive. Sorry about my formal speaking, it’s like I have the fear that I can be pulled up,” said Sylvanus.

  Time passed quickly for the two experienced butchers. The usual granny with a vintage style arrived in a rush to buy the fillet for her sick husband. And so was the turn of the posh lady with a crush on the pork. Customers arrived one after the other letting the two friends’ activity grow blissfully. But there wasn’t even the shadow of the object of Albert’s love.

  “Are you sure you are willing to face the trouble of a natural relationship right now?” said Sylvanus trying to calm his anger down and throwing the apron into the office.

  “You are smart thinking but you are missing the point. I wish just half the happiness I have when I see her passing by. I’ll be patient to devise something to win her heart. Now let’s go home, have a shower and try to refresh our ideas. I suggest that we should go to pay a visit to Araon and Jill. They will be so surprised! It’s a long time since we heard from them and it will be a pleasure to listen to any good news, they could offer us,” said Albert to prevent a chat with a groggy effect on the two of them.

  “That’s fine. I’m sure they will be more than happy to see us,” answered Sylvanus and he started again: “Have you have considered buying some mimosas for your baby?”

  “But women’s day was two months ago!” said Albert a bit shocked by the sudden intervention of his friend.

  “Try with some poppies. They are very symbolic. Or, if you are audacious enough tell her she has very beautiful eyes,” said Sylvanus when Albert blushed.

  “I’m discovering the romantic side of myself. Usually women in the past were astonished by my words making me feel guilty of causing a case of harassment. Now get on this bus. We have not to arrive home late. It’s not nice to go to Araon and Jill right now. It will be as if we were inviting ourselves for dinner,” said Albert.

  Once at home they were both out of touch. They had, yes, always been untidy but never like now. They didn’t hesitate to make a comparison with the mad man of the movie they saw the previous day, a strange man who couldn’t keep quiet struggling with the loss of his beautiful wife. They found papers scattered everywhere, bottles of beer and sewing needles on the floor. A stinking smell came from the office and the sitting-room window was wide open. “What a mess!” exclaimed Albert.

  “Thieves must have come today. Just let’s check if there is anything missing. You see the bedside table drawer of the bedroom has the same amount of money we left this morning.”

  “There are no signs of wrecked doors. How could they come in?”

  “It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is that they haven’t stolen money and there is no damage anywhere. Now just go to have a shower. I changed my mind over the visit to Araon and Jill: we should go as soon as we can,” said Albert.

  When they arrived at Luciensteeg Street, they received a warm welcome by Araon who appeared in khaki-coloured pyjamas and Jill in a lovely dressing gown. “What a surprise!” Araon said loudly. A long time has passed since we’ve seen each other. You are always more than the welcome. I guess you are here because of the odour of chastity? I mean everybody falls in love sooner or later. But we have happy news to announce. We are three of us. One is resting in Jill’s womb.”

  “That’s fantastic! Why didn’t you tell us before?” asked Albert clearly agitated.

  “We were enjoying these glorious moments on our own. Sorry about that. Sure we would have informed you at due time. It’s a sign of the kismet that you came here today. Do you want to stay to dinner with us? The turkey is boiling in the kitchen,” said Araon.

  “It’s awfully kind of you but I do not think it’s the right moment to disturb you,” said Albert pretending to be a bit offended.

  Sylvanus didn’t intervene. He followed with his eyes all the books on the shelves instead. He noticed a piece of paper which read: the hen and the mud. “What’s this?” he asked astonished.

  “It’s just the title of a book that the nephew of a man I met at the barber is going to publish.”

  Sylvanus’ backbone became suddenly icy and he didn’t know how to hide his emotions. “Sorry, we have to go now. We wish you a good dinner,” he added soon after.” We will organize a meeting at the end of the week,” he carried on.

  Araon and Jill hadn’t the courage to complain about their choice to stay there for dinner and they let them go.

  “Bye, see you soon,” improvised Albert.

  “See you soon,” was the immediate reply of Araon and Jill.

  Once alone, Jill was free to speak. She pointed out to her partner the weird expression of Sylvanus when he came to know about The Hen and The Mud notice in the bookshelves. “It seems to me he has something fishy to hide,” she said eventually.

  “I don’t think so. But let me know: do you want to enjoy a good movie? I have the videotape of The Count of Monte Christo. I love the story of Alexander Dumas and I adore the name Monte Christo. It’s a powerful word.”

  “Sure. Dumas is one of my favourite writers. I’d also like to go and visit the island off the coast of Tuscany. Definitely we will go there with a cruise,” said Jill visibly quieter.

  “I’ll take you there very soon,” said Araon holding her hand with affection. The night soon arrived and they were ready to face a new day.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Van der Baast was up to his neck in papers which included blood analysis, urine tests and faeces tests. He was alone in his office, groggy and frightened by the huge amount of responsibility his duty was calling from him. After that man with diabetes had been dismissed from hospital things seemed much quieter until a lady who had been diagnosed with gall bladder cancer arrived. It was supposed to be his day off and he was ready to leave the hospital giving the responsibility of the patients to an assistant w
hen a certain phone call reached him and he became surprisingly agitated. He assumed it could be his cousin from Britain that had pledged to call him to have an encounter in the summer as his dream told him to do. But on the other side of the handset there was Araon. “Hi, Van der Baast. It’s Araon calling.”

  “Araon? What a blessing. How are you?”

  “Fine, thanks. It’s a long time since I heard from you. There is good news about my private life: Jill is pregnant.”

  “That’s fantastic. I was just thinking of this right now. I’m also nosey if there is news about your own investigation on our secret case. Tell me,” said Van der Baast.

  “The situation is firm. The more time passes the more difficult it is to find evidence of the disappeared corpse. I believe that the story of the prostitute who has disappeared about three months ago to join a better life abroad is a false way. Prostitutes are protected by the government through their own boss.”

  “After all nobody would besmirch himself with blood committing a crime like that.”

  Araon had a steady heart beat at the doctor’s words. He induced calm through his senses to carry on the conversation in a clear way. “Van der Baast,” he started, “I heard the other day about a building site where it has been brought to light a skeleton with a gold ring and a silken scarf. The carbon dating went back two hundred years. How many digs should be done to find a skeleton of a person who died over three months ago?”

  “This is a surreal situation. Nobody would hide a dead body in a place which is easily intercepted. Prostitutes are such witches! One day during one of my strolls in the surrounding of Plaza Dam I was enchanted by a twelve years old girl exposed in those bloody windows. She was awe-inspiring but when I turned out of the street, I watched out of the corner of my eyes and I saw her laughing to tears. These ladies are too cunning to finish marred in such a way.”

  “You are right. But time, as you said, is running quickly and we are despising the chances to go back to the truth. I wish to be more helpful in the foreseeable future. Sorry, now I have to go. I close the office and I go to enjoy my day off. See you Araon.”

  “See you Van der Baast. To chat with you is always a pleasure.”

  Araon was sipping a cup of coffee waiting for Jill in the bar at the end of St Luciensteeg Street. He was wandering around steadily. He couldn’t miss the occasion to imagine the day of Jill’s labour with him next to her to cut the umbilical cord and to help her to attach the baby to her breast for the first feeding.

  Jill arrived on time. She was sort of disruptive like never. Anyway, from that moment on Araon stopped dreaming with eyes wide open. She was dressed in jeans with comfortable sneakers. “Hi darling, as you see I am on time.” Araon answered her attaching his lip to her own one. It was his usual bewildering way to enjoy his partner companionship. “Have you found anything interesting?”

  “Eventually I bought this maternity dress only. I didn’t want to stay longer in the shop. because I accidentally saw the colleague of my knitting course who always bombards me with stories of her own niece. Hopefully she didn’t see me and I was free to go out,” said Jill exhausted.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  “No, thanks. I prefer a fresh orange juice with a little sugar.”

  “It will arrive soon. Why don’t you take a seat?”

  “Sorry sweetheart, there are so many things on my mind. I was thinking of a TV program where they simulate shrieks of birth delivery to help women overcome the fear of the pains. How stupid!”

  “I see you very relaxed and I’m happy with this. I was thinking of the name we could give to our baby. Do you think we should consider the suggestions of Albert and Sylvanus? They would make us stammer a posh word, I’m sure. They would be able to find a name which is suitable either for baby girls or for baby boys.”

  “Yes. They would suggest such unusual names such as Rokin or Amstel. I don’t know why they are so attached to the environment surrounding us. Everything will be clearer as soon as we see them.”

  “It should be fine.” Araon closed his eyes for an instant and opened them again soon afterwards. “How beautiful you are!” he muttered softly bewitched by Jill’s warm smile.

  Eventually the waitress arrived. “Here is your fresh orange juice. Enjoy it.” And she left.

  “I don’t remember what we were talking about” said Araon with an awkward expression.

  “Foolish. You were enchanted by my beauty. You love me so much that you find it hard to use proper words with me.”

  “That’s quintessential!” retorted Araon.

  Jill changed mood all of a sudden. She picked a packet of cigarettes from her handbag and shouted: “What are these? I found them in the drawer of your bedside table.”

  “Err… I left them there on purpose because I hadn’t the courage to confess, I smoked one of them but I am not addicted to them any more. I feel nervous because I don’t know even how to hold a newborn baby, how to teach him to walk or to talk. I ask myself what parent can I be.” Jill started to smile again:

  “I didn’t want to make you feel guilty. I’m just concerned with your health. This juice is terrific but it’s time to go. I have some plans for this evening. There is an exhibition of still life at the Rijksmuseum. It starts at five pm. That’s perfect for me. Waitress can we have the bill please?”

  And they left the bar arm in arm. The afternoon arrived quickly. At the museum, Araon and Jill admired the paintings with amazement. Jill made a gesture of fainting as if she needed to be revived. It was the first sign of an interesting pregnancy. Everything went normal again soon. Araon noticed with the brink of his eyes a visibly familiar figure. He turned to his side and he recognized Doctor Van der Baast. “Good morning, Jill.” He approached them before they could do it themselves.

  “Do you know each other?” said Araon visibly shocked.”

  Yes, your lady came to the hospital recently to have a look at the maternity unit. She asked, among other things, f she could book an epidural in advance right now. Are you her husband? Congratulations!”

  Araon didn’t know what to say. That moment of embarrassment was interrupted by the loudspeaker that was claiming a doctor was needed in the museum because of a guy who fainted. Van der Baast hurried up to his duty. He re-animated the guy who was sick three times. “What happened to you?” asked the doctor.

  “Well, I took some amphetamine today,” answered the guy, overwhelmed by the situation.

  “What an idiot! Don’t do it any more” Van der Baast seemed to be the master who inflicted corporal punishment. He then left the museum without saying hello to Jill and Araon.

  Nelly Britt arrived at Heathrow airport on time at six pm with her twenty-four hours suitcase. She was holding her passport with a brand-new picture and she showed it at the reception desk officer on her arrival. Nothing to say. She was free to go and take a taxi towards Regent Palace Hotel. Once in her hotel room, she undid the bag and took another passport which said she was Samantha Vox. She left the document at the reception and went immediately to her room. She went back downstairs after a while. “Sorry, I forgot to ask you at what time breakfast is served,” she asked kindly of the receptionist.

  “From half past seven to half past nine am. Enjoy your stay,” the man answered with a hoarse voice.

  Samantha didn’t hesitate to go back to her room to enjoy a well welcomed nap. She was still suffering the pain of the jet lag though her journey was quite a short one. Anyway, she placed herself in the soft bed and gave life to her own inspirations and emotions as a routine in those kinds of moments. She relaxed just for a while and went on the balcony with a cup of black and hot coffee. From up there she could admire one of the most crowded and trendy streets of London. It was the end of spring and the weather was not blistering hot as anticipated. She spent a few minutes in awe and then she went to open the case and take some jewels. There were golden necklaces, diamond and topaz rings, pearl earrings to the value of one million pou
nds. She had been lucky to pass the customs examination successfully at the airport. Now she was Samantha Vox, forget about Nelly. She was a wonderful woman, seven feet tall with gorgeous, smooth, very black hair and glittering green eyes. She had an appointment at Versace shop in New Bond Street the following day. She was supposed to work as a shop assistant for a while as a start. She had a diploma in chemistry and had joined internet courses about photography. Once established in London she would look for a better and appropriate job.

  The following day, still dozy she introduced herself to the main assistant at the Versace shop. A womanish guy welcomed her with teasing manners and handed her the copy of the contract immediately. “You have to work here for at least six months from half past eight am to half past eight. p.m. You have always to wear our clothes and never wear too heavy make-up. Have you got any questions?” the guy said promptly.

  “Yes, of course. How much is the salary?”

  “It’s one thousand pounds per month. Do you agree?”

  The woman nodded and went into the dressing-room to change her clothes. She was a perfect size ten. She picked a stunning black sheath dress, a pair of dizzy heels and started work. At a beginning she pretended to enjoy the job a lot. She felt it underestimated her skills though. But that was a secondary matter. She had to focus on the boss’ orders now.