Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  He walked the short way to his house and safely inside went into his bedroom, and flopped down fully clothed onto his bed, and lay there thinking. It had been an interesting but long day, and he did have to admit he would definitely miss Peter, although his recent clinginess had begun to get on his nerves somewhat, but in the end he was getting in the way, and it was a matter of survival, pure and simple. Alice was going to be very rich, and he needed to be there with her, without the threat of Peter ruining everything; it was for the best.

  Silly Peter he thought, they could have had it all between themselves, had he not been so stupidly jealous. Obviously, he would have had to sleep with Alice every now and then, to keep her happy, but whenever she was out, he and Peter could have had some fun in secret. He’d miss Peter but had no feelings of guilt at having killed him, just annoyance at having to have to go that far. Having justified his actions in his mind’s eye, he drifted off into a deep sleep, not stirring until nearly noon the following day.

  He awoke with all thoughts of Peter gone. After taking a shower, and putting on some fresh clothes, he picked up his extra-large holdall and another of ordinary size, quickly packed and left to find his old car. He was starving but only had £40 on him, and that only courtesy of what he had found in Peter’s pocket. Around the next corner and there was his car, a tired looking lime green Peugeot 206, definitely on its last legs. A Seagull or perhaps a flock had decided that the only decent thing to do was crap on it, and they certainly had, all over the roof and down his windscreen. He spent the following ten minutes vigorously trying to clear enough of the windscreen to see through, while loudly cursing all and sundry.

  The stolen £40 allowed him to fill up with petrol and off he set heading back to Surrey and Alice. He hoped she would be pleased to see him, and perhaps the sight of his sad little car might stir her enough to buy him a new one.

  Today was Auburn’s first day at the library, and she had been up since 6am preparing herself. She had changed clothes four times, unsure what to wear for her first visit. At length she had settled on a crew neck cotton cardigan in a thin orange and white vertical stripe, with white cropped chinos and black leather ballet shoes. She carefully examined herself in the full-length mirror in her room, not something she normally bothered to do, she normally just picked some bright colours whether they matched or not and that was it for the day. But today she knew was a special day, she must dress to impress, so she had studied several woman’s magazines beforehand and this was the outcome, and for her by chance pretty conservative and well matched. She presented herself to Freddy who with a big grin nodded back at her.

  “Fabulous darling,” he answered in his most camp voice. “They will be most impressed at the library, you do scrub up nicely, my little cousin!” he joked.

  “Of course, I had a long shower this morning, I am very clean thank you!” she retorted most indignantly; humour was an alien concept to her.

  Outside the impressive entrance to the library, an old Edwardian building, Auburn balked. Freddy, by her side and sensing her reluctance, put his left hand out and she quickly slipped her right hand into it. He gave it a friendly squeeze and together they went inside.

  A lovely lady, probably in her late sixties, warmly greeted them both, apologising that Oliver the Library Manager was in a meeting at present, but she would be happy to show Auburn the ropes for her first morning.

  Auburn glanced over at Freddy, before proffering her hand to the woman.

  “Ok, I suppose,” she mumbled. “I am Jennifer Grimley.” She replied more upbeat.

  “Hello, and welcome Jennifer, I am Moira Sullivan, I volunteer two or three times a week.”

  “HI,” Freddy said, also shaking her hand, “I’m Freddy, Aub.. ah.. Jennifer’s cousin and protector!” he laughed. “I’ll leave her in your capable hands if I may. I did have to see Oliver and fill in her working details, but perhaps when I come back.”

  Moira nodded and turned back to Auburn. “Come on Jennifer, we have loads to get through today! No rush but we will be busy, I hope that’s alright with you?”

  Auburn nodded and happily followed her, but then seemed to remember Freddy, and slowed her pace turning back to glance at him.

  She called out to him. “You will come back this afternoon, just for a day or two until I know my way... you will won’t you, yes?” She had now stopped and was staring almost forlornly at the retreating Freddy, and Moira sensing a problem had also stopped and was returning to her side.

  Freddy was almost at the entrance but turned and grinned, “Of course my darling, won’t leave you, promise. Off you go, go on, tati-o toots!” He replied in a kind of stage whisper realising he was in a library.

  With a Royal wave of his hand he was gone and Auburn watching him vanish fought a strange impulse to just run after him.

  Moira put her arm gently around her and led her off, before guiding her behind one of the counters and into a small back room. The sparse room contained a large desk in the centre facing the door, on which sat two computer screens side by side, and two chairs and two tables. One long rectangular table had been placed to one side underneath the large double window, and was empty. The other table was almost overflowing with paperback and hardback books stacked high in untidy piles. Warm sunlight poured in through the double window making the sparse room bright and welcoming even though the walls were bare and painted cream in colour.

  “Sit yourself down Jennifer this is our task today and probably for the next few days. All these books have to be catalogued before we can put them out.”

  “Yes I know.” Auburn said, looking from one chair to the other; she hated decisions.

  Which one to choose, perhaps the one nearest the window and the books, or better to be nearest the wall, oh help this was not fair not on her first day. She was beginning to panic, her bottom lip started to quiver as she fought back the tears.

  Moira slightly taken aback suddenly realised what was happening, and acted quickly by calmly stating, “I’m sitting by the wall, please sit and make yourself comfortable next to me and I’ll show you how we log on. Are you good with computers, I try but I’m from the wrong generation you know! Can you remember passwords; I’m so hopeless at that?” She said sweetly as she sat down, hoping that by carrying on, Auburn might just follow.

  Those calming words did indeed do the trick as Auburn sat down, sniffed a couple more times before being handed a tissue from Moira. She blew her nose very loudly and the problem was gone. Making decisions were a major worry for poor Auburn, she was a creature of habit and order, anything new or different brought up a whole fresh set of issues. She turned her attention to the computer screen; this was her world. She loved computers.

  “Now your password will be capitals BM3,” Moira said breaking into her thoughts. “That’s our library code, then your own personal code which for you is 224. So its BM3 forward slash 224. Can you remember that?” She asked softly.

  Auburn perked up, the drama of a moment ago already forgotten. “Oh yes!” she eagerly answered. “I have a photographic memory you know! I never forget anything.”

  “Sadly at my age, I tend to forget most things, you’re very lucky Jennifer.”

  It only took a few minutes to show Auburn the ropes, and that done she was up and running. By noon the pile of books on the table was down to half, while the table under the window was almost full.

  Moira glanced over at Auburn and smiled at her. “I think it’s time for a break my dear, we’ve done so well. Do you fancy a coffee or a soft drink, I’m for a coffee I think.”

  Reluctantly Auburn looked up and stopped tapping the keys. “Yes ok, coffee.” She replied. “Do we get biscuits; I like biscuits with my coffee.”

  “Biscuits and cake in abundance. You know lots of very kind people bring goodies in for us.”

  Moira took Auburn off to show her thei
r kitchen; she was so impressed with the speed at which Auburn had filled in all the relevant information about each new book. She had done at least two days’ work already.

  Drink and biscuits consumed, Auburn was back at the computer and only stopped when forced to at 3pm when Freddy returned to collect her.

  Freddy had first seen the Manager, and had filled in Auburn’s personal and bank account details. Oli Gregson had told him how wonderful and fast she was, and they were more than happy to have her for three full days a week, if she was happy with that arrangement. Freddy was very proud as he walked back with her, and said they should go out for a meal to celebrate.

  “Can we take Rachel and Peter with us, oh please?” she asked her face surprisingly animated.

  Peter was nowhere to be found, but Rachel willingly came with them. Auburn wanted pizza, so as it was her day, pizza they had.

  The next morning Auburn was up bright and early, in fact it was the same time as yesterday only 6am. She liked to be up before Freddy so she could do things in her own way without distractions. One of her autistic traits was a need for order almost ritualistic in its completion, deviating from this invisible thin line was disaster for her, leading to anything from tears to a full-blown tantrum. Painful and pitiful to observe yet difficult to explain to the outsider unless experienced for oneself. Also the simplest of tasks for a normal individual, to her took an entity to perform, as often one task might have to be performed over and over again until perfect in her eyes.

  As Freddy was still asleep, instead of waking him as she had promised she decided she would walk herself to the library, she could do it on her own, she knew the way, and be there for 8.30 when Oli Gregson opened up. It was only a short fifteen minute walk but nevertheless as she left the flat and walked down the short flight of stairs, she could feel her pulse racing forcing her to stop by the front door to steady herself before continuing. Once outside in the fresh air she felt much better, even though there was not only a brisk North wind blowing off the sea, but in the wind was a hint of rain. Sensibly, Auburn had worn her duffle coat, and although she was not able to button up the coat, buttons like laces were far too complicated for her, she was at least able to pull up her hood. Wrapping her hands across her body tightly, she held the coat together while she quickened her pace into a lope. The wind helped to settle her and she made it into the square with the library set on the far side ahead of her, without further incident; well that was until she began to cross the square.

  In the centre of the pedestrianized square was a statue of some past dignitary of the town. A circular wall, a metre in height enclosed the statue, and allowed shoppers to sit upon it and take a breath. Today it was entertaining a group of six youths, all probably aged around sixteen or seventeen. She slowed to a walk and continued head bowed, eyes focused on the ground slightly ahead of her. It was another of her idiosyncrasies that when she was jogging her motion was smooth, but in walk, she had a peculiar rolling gait. One of the young men, of mixed parentage, noticed her and began to laugh loudly as he pointed her out to his mates.

  Two of them joined the ringleader in laughing at the way Auburn was walking, calling her names like ‘retard and spastic’ and some far worse, and then shouting that an ape had escaped and was running around the square. One of them even followed behind poor Auburn pulling faces and gesticulating wildly.

  Luckily that was all, and she made it to the entrance of the library just as the door opened and Moira rushed out to collect Auburn and berate the youths, who taken by surprise allowed her to have her say without retaliating.

  Safely inside Moira sat Auburn down on a chair while she hurried off to find the manager who was already there, somewhere, and also to make a nice hot cup of coffee for her.

  Oli Gregson took his responsibilities as the manager in charge very seriously and immediately telephoned the police, who said they would try to send an officer, but of course none showed.

  After her coffee Auburn was fine again and eager to continue her cataloguing of the latest novels. When she finished at 4pm, she found Oli Gregson ready to walk her home.

  As they were about to exit the library and keeping her eyes focused on the statue outside, she quietly said, “They won’t do that again, it was cruel, and I will show them so next time.” Oli glanced across at her. There was a cold steely glint in her eyes and a determination in the way she jutted out her chin that made him decide not to comment. They walked in silence to her flat and up the stairs and stopped outside her front door.

  “Thank you Mr Gregson, that was very thoughtful to walk with me, will you come in and take tea, or coffee if you like?”

  In truth she didn’t really want him to come in, not that she didn’t like him, in fact she found him quite handsome, but she wanted to get onto her own computer. Unfortunately, it had been drummed into her to always be civil, and if someone was doing something or going out of their way to be helpful she must thank them and ask them in, if of course they were at her front door.

  This had led to a few awkward moments back living with her sister, who had frequently come home to find various sales representatives, and once even a Jehovah’s Witness, sitting in her living room, while dear Auburn had retired to her bedroom to surf the net.

  “That’s very kind of you Auburn, and please, call me Oli or even Oliver, but I think I’d better be heading back to the library, but we will see you tomorrow as your final day this week, if that is still alright with you?”

  “Yes it is, goodbye, thank you!”

  Having said that she opened the door and walked inside without glancing back. Oli Gregson smiled and shook his head gently, but he wasn’t annoyed, in fact he was really warming to her. She was an amazing worker and his darling bunch of volunteers could learn much by her example. He set off back to work with a definite spring in his step.

  Auburn had to admit she was quite exhausted, it had been a long day. She had not only spent the whole time today in cataloguing and numbering hundreds of new books, but in also memorising them and which shelf they would be placed on, she liked to know where everything was, such was the extent of her memory.

  She walked straight into the living room hoping to find Freddy, but the room was empty. She called out his name several times, as she left the room and headed for the kitchen, but there was no answer to her calling; it seemed he was out. This was most inconvenient, she had had a busy and tiresome day and she needed his presence right now. Not so much because she was lonely, the concept of loneliness was not one she was familiar with, but she wanted to share her day with him. He must be working too, she finally decided at length. This would have been so obvious to most people, but she had never really thought about that before now. She would have to make a point of asking what he did, so she would know where he was next time she needed him, he was most inconsiderate leaving her on her own today of all days.

  Alice was delighted to see Tom when he arrived and warmly greeted him, showering him with tiny kisses and hugging him close to her. He happily responded, and planting his mouth firmly over hers, they kissed long and hard. Breaking free of his strong embrace, she took his hand and led him upstairs, she could feel her heart beating furiously, and wondered if he could feel the thumping through her body as they ran up the stairs. He obviously couldn’t, but secretly he was very pleased that he was actually becoming aroused. He was used to having to perform with women, and by using the trick of conjuring up a mental picture of some young man he had seen and fancied recently, was able to please even the most discerning of them.

  To be quite honest it wasn’t that repulsive for him, in fact sometimes he really enjoyed pleasuring a woman, it was just he preferred the touch of a firm young man, and their tight buttocks made him tremble. That was it, all this thought and he was now as firm as a rod and ready for action.

  For Alice, she felt she was floating on air as she pulled him up the stairs, he
r whole body was quivering delicately, she was desperate for his manly touch; it had been such a while since a man had wanted her. Tom was more than happy to oblige. Alice was about three years older than he was but she had kept herself slim and fit, and if he couldn’t have the real thing then this firm and boyish woman was the next best thing.

  Their lovemaking was wonderful, as far as she was concerned, and passable by his standards, although he did resist the urge to take her from behind, and show her what a man like him could really do. He would have to find another young man soon, but in the meantime, she would do nicely, he must think of the bigger picture for now.

  They fell asleep soon afterwards with her locked in his strong arms. About an hour later, he awoke with a start before relaxing as he realised where he was, he was safe and there would be no need to sneak off. Gently untangling himself from her arms so as not to wake her, he got up. She moaned lightly but continued to sleep as he walked naked to the window, and stretching his body and arms, stared out. The main bedroom situated at the rear of the house looked out over the sprawling gardens of at least an acre in size, which in this over-crowded part of Surrey was immense, a third of an acre being quite the norm. The garden was laid to lawn, enclosed by thick bushes and trees to afford some privacy. Down the centre of the garden cutting the lawn into two, ran a covered path of vines, which finished at a small fountain of some goddess.

  He felt good, in fact to be honest, he felt great as he surveyed the neat garden. He was ensconced in a more than comfortable house with a classy woman, and if he played it right, he could have it all; it must be like winning the Lotto he mused as he stared thoughtfully out. And all he had to do was smile, play the gentleman, and appear attentive, and finally service the lady of the house every now and then; yes he could do that, providing he could sneak away to find fun with a young man ever so often.