Trodds Lane

by Nick Roteman

  He heard her stir and call out his name, and turning to her, gave of his best smile.

  The following morning while Alice was preparing a full English breakfast for her man, he was planning the next thing on his agenda, which was under the ‘urgent’ category, and not only needed to be done today, but also required a modicum of delicate judgement. So while he devoured the delicious breakfast she had prepared for him he thought long and hard about how he would tell her.

  After breakfast Alice busied herself in preparing a shopping list, asking him what he fancied to eat that evening and tomorrow. That done she told him to go sit in the conservatory and read the daily papers while she went off to the local Waitrose. This was excellent, in fact it couldn’t be more perfect, he needed to be alone in the house for his plan to work, and she had just given him the perfect opportunity.

  Alice breezed into the conservatory to see her man, but stopped in the doorway and instead just smiled. He was fast asleep, his feet on a stool, the newspaper over his lap. She watched him for a full five minutes but he seemed so at peace she decided to let him sleep on, and was just leaving when he awoke and called her name.

  “Hey my love, where you creeping off to?”

  She turned back and ran over to him, landing on his lap and on top of the papers, but she didn’t care. He put his arms around her and kissed her and they cuddled. After a while, she got off him and bent down to pick up the torn and crumpled pages of newspapers.

  “Shall I make a fresh pot of coffee darling?” she asked him sweetly.

  “Yes in a moment, Peter rang while you were out,” he replied holding out his right hand to her. She came back to him and sat down in one of the wicker armchairs next to him.

  “Oh good, what’s he got to say for himself. He’s alright isn’t he?” she suddenly added, a look of concern flashing across her face.

  A reassuring smile was required so he smiled back and she was relieved. “Yes nothing wrong,” he said reassuringly. “In fact he was calling from the airport of all places, about to board his plane. Seems a group of them are flying off to Brazil, no less. One of his friends has a very rich dad and I think four of them are flying off to stay at his parent’s house. He’s not certain exactly where, and he says for you not to worry, it’s all being paid for and he will try and ring you, depending on reception and time differences, blah, blah, blah.” He said finishing and looking straight at her for her reaction.

  “It does ring a bell, I do remember Peter saying something about one of his friends being Brazilian, yes.” She thought for a moment before breaking into a grin. “Jammy sod, how does he do it, I don’t know. No money, so a friend’s father pays for him to have a jolly good holiday. And I don’t expect we will hear from him for ages, I know him too well.”

  “That’s boys for you, you should have had a daughter!”

  “Tell me about it. Oh well I won’t worry about him,” she said with a short shake of her head, then her mouth turned into a sly grin. “And look on the bright side, you and me have the place to ourselves to run naked around!”

  “Hey yeah, shall we go upstairs now!” He said.

  Alice smiled as she got up. “Coffee first I think! You stay here and relax, I’ll bring it in and we can plan our day. Oh and I’ve got a pain-au-chocolat to go with our coffee, thought my man needed a treat!”

  She left the conservatory and he could barely contain the huge grin filling his face; the bait had been taken.

  Chapter Three

  It was the morning of Auburn’s third and final day this week at the library, and once again waking up early, she set off alone for work. As she approached the square where the library was, she clearly saw two of the youths from yesterday once again there as if waiting for her, perhaps they were. Suddenly ahead of her, Moira appeared also heading for the library. One of the youths stood up blocking her path, while the other made to grab for her shoulder bag. A kerfuffle was occurring with Moira at the centre of it hanging tightly onto her bag refusing to hand it over.

  Yesterday Auburn had been caught unprepared, she was a creature of order and habit and repartition due to her condition. Any sudden deviation to that order caused chaos inside her brain, but that was yesterday, today the same violent situation evoked a different response. It was no longer threatening to her, she understood it fully and what she must do, so without a second thought she began running straight towards the fray. The youth standing in front of Moira, in fact pushing her backwards while his mate tried to get that bag off, saw Auburn running towards them and shouted out a warning.

  “Shit that bloody retard is coming for you, smack her will you!” He shouted out, then focusing on Moira. “Now lady your fuckin’ bag or I’ll kick your head in right, right!” he screamed at her. “You want some of this!” he growled, curling up his right hand into a fist to emphasise the point.

  The other youth had turned to face Auburn, but she was surprisingly too fast for him, and all he saw before he was felled was a delicate but deadly fist heading for his face. The straight left knocked him onto his bottom, blood instantly flowing down his face from his nose.

  One youth was on the ground screaming in agony, which had distracted the other enough to allow Moira to wrestled back her bag. He was rooted to the spot, unsure as to his next move, watching Auburn standing triumphantly over his friend. Around the corner of the library came the cavalry to the rescue, in the shape of one of the local female ‘Police Community Support Officers.’

  At the sight of the police, the youth next to Moira came out of his trance and took flight, but still managed to shout back over his shoulder as he fled, that he would get them all.

  Orla knelt down by the fallen villain and told him to lie still she would call for an ambulance.

  She looked up at the other two. “Are you both ok? This must have been awful for you.”

  She turned her gaze specifically on Auburn, who was now staring at the ground, motionless, as if her motor had been temporarily switched off.

  “You alright love, I did see what you did, but don’t worry, you were fantastic, no one will blame you I promise, I’m Orla Gray.”

  Moira cut in. “She was a hero.” She answered going to Auburn’s side and putting her arm protectively around her shoulder. “More people should stand up to nasty bullies like this young man and his cowardly mate.”

  “Well,” Orla began, “Of course officially I cannot condone violence, even in self-defence, but as a woman I say an eye for an eye, it’s time we took back control of our streets. Now if I could have both your names please?”

  The youth growled, “What about me, she bloody hit me, look at me, it hurts,” he bleated, then in a more defiant tone, “I want to press charges!”

  Orla standing up glared down at the youth. “Shut it until the ambulance arrives, or you’ll have more than a broken nose, ok!”

  The youth struggled to sit up but said no more.

  “My names Moira Sullivan, and this is Jennifer Grimley.”

  Orla turned her attention back to her. “Will you press charges, I do hope you will?”

  Moira nodded. “Look can I take Jennifer inside, we work at the library here, it took a lot to do what she did, but I think she needs a good hot strong cup of tea!”

  Auburn looked up and glanced at her. “Coffee,” she whispered. “I like coffee and a chocolate biscuit... and I like to be called Auburn. My friends call me that.” She said softly.

  Moira and Orla both smiled and Moira took her off.

  “I’ll come in later today and take a statement, if I may Moira?”

  Moira nodded back at her.

  Surprisingly as soon as she was inside the building, Auburn quickly sprung back into life. Over coffee Moira and Oli Gregson asked where she learned to box, but all she said was my dad. Feeling herself again she still completed another fantastic day’s
work cataloguing, and by 4pm she had broken the back of the dreaded backlog. Oli Gregson suggested she and Moira should call it a day, and warmly thanked them both, they had been lifesavers, he said.

  Moira insisted on walking back with Auburn, and she was happy to let her. She decided she liked Moira. She was quiet most of the time and also didn’t talk down to her like some did, but best of all she knew where the chocolate biscuits were kept.

  As they walked back arm in arm from the library they were followed at a discreet distance by Orla the Police Community Support Officer.

  At the entrance to the house Auburn did her usual thing of asking any stranger inside, but when Moira replied, “that’s very sweet of you but I better be getting home myself.”

  Auburn said in a calm matter of fact way, “No, please, I really meant it.”

  Then actually smiling, although still averting her gaze, she added lightly.

  “But its teatime and we have all sorts of teas and of course biscuits,” the words tumbled out. “Oh please do, please come in, you needn’t stay long!”

  How could she refuse, so arm in arm with Auburn, Moira walked up to the first floor. After noting the house number and watching them go inside, Orla walked off quite satisfied.

  It was Freddy’s day off so he was in and happy to make tea, with of course a plateful containing a mouth-watering variety of biscuits upon it.

  He had a very sweet tooth and loved his biscuits and of course chocolate, and delighted in playing host especially to a friend of Auburn’s, curious to hear what she was like at work. Over tea, Moira retold the full story of their eventful day, much to Freddy’s delight and concern in equal proportions, and that then allowed Freddy to tell Moira all about Auburn. Auburn soon tired of the retelling of her life story, and excused herself.

  Back in her bedroom, she quickly switched on her laptop and happily lost herself in the cyber world. Logged onto the internet she felt at peace in a world she could understand and control.

  Moira spent two hours in the interesting company of Freddy before taking her leave. Rachel watched her go before knocking on Freddy’s front door, and he welcomed her in.

  “Come in, come in,” Freddy oozed. “I’ve just met the most interesting old lady.”

  “Oh really I see, how come? Old and female, whatever next!” she tittered following Freddy into the large kitchen from where most of the entertaining took place.

  Freddy ignored her obvious jibe. “Sit my love, and tell me all, it seems to be that sort of a day!”

  Rachel frowned but took her seat at the large rectangular table and smiled up at Freddy who was standing at the head of the table looking at her.

  “Well tea is over I’m afraid Rach but I think it is definitely drinkey time. I fancy an old fashioned G+T, what’s yours darling?”

  “G+T sounds great to me.”

  “Excellent!” Freddy answered already going to one of the large wooden cupboards behind her and pulling out a litre bottle of Gordon’s gin. He busied himself collecting ice from the fridge and of course the obligatory slice of lemon.

  “Besides of course seeing how you are!” Rachel said watching Freddy darting about, “It’s really about Pete, I’m really getting worried.”

  Freddy put the two G+T glasses on the table and went off to fetch some nibbles.

  He sat down opposite her. “Right cheers!” he said. “Now what’s up and how can I help? Tell Uncle Freddy all my love!”

  “Cheers... ooh this is delicious.” She said sipping her drink. “I haven’t seen Pete for a few days now, in fact I can’t exactly remember when I last saw him, which in itself is a worry.”

  “Yeah but he does go off partying from time to time, has he met someone new, why do you think this is different this time?”

  “I don’t know, it’s just he normally tells me he’s off to a party or something like that, and if he had a new love, I’d certainly know about it. You know him, nothing is private, he’s just vanished and hasn’t rung... I’m probably being silly but for once I am worried Freddy...”

  “Does he have a partner you can call?” Auburn interjected as she walked into the kitchen to join them.

  Rachel turned to smile at her. “Hey Auburn, didn’t know you were home, how’s you?”

  “I’m always home, this is where I live, anyway,” she continued with a shrug of her fine shoulders, “I’m fine but thirsty too. Can I have a drink Freddy?”

  Freddy jumped up, “Of course my love, what’s it to be?”

  “Fresh orange juice with lemonade and lots of ice, and a slice of lemon too.”

  “Coming right up sweetie-pie!”

  “In answer to your question Auburn, no, he’s very single,” she assured her.

  Freddy butted in. “What she means politely is that he’s a tart, never stays with anyone too long! Maybe just a night!”

  “Isn’t that a bit harsh, he is your friend you know,” Rachel responded. “But he does have a large group of friends he hangs out with. I’ve rung several to check but they know nothing either.”

  “Well!” Auburn replied, “I think you need to ring his parents, he does have them?”

  “Yes his mother lives in Surrey, I was thinking whether I should ring her. I don’t want to alarm her...” she paused, and a silence fell.

  Auburn was first to break the silence.

  “Then I think we should go and see her,” she decided. “Just pop in and say hello, then you can ask her where he is.”

  “Just like that!” Freddy laughed, but Rachel actually nodded in agreement.

  “Yes that’s a good plan, we’ll just drop in as if we were passing, good idea.” she said. “How are you fixed Freddy, oh and you of course Auburn if you want to come along too?”

  “Yes I do, and I’m free tomorrow morning Rachel.”

  “Bully for you!” Freddy commented. “Sadly I am at the shop all day.”

  “I knew you worked, I did, well I thought probably, but I don’t know where?” Auburn blurted out.

  “Thanks, yes even I have to work. I thought you knew, never mind, I work in the main shopping centre The Square in Fat Face. You know what that is?”

  “I’ve shopped there, thank you!” Auburn replied slightly peeved. She didn’t recall him telling her, but she knew the names of all the shops and their locations, and in fact really liked the bright colours of the clothes in Fat Face, especially their t-shirts, and she liked the shop name, slightly rude.

  Rachel turned to look at Auburn as she rose from her seat. “Right it’s you and me,” she said. “I’d better go. Shall we say I pick you up about ten, then we should be in Weybridge for lunch, my treat.”

  Auburn nodded excitedly, she was beginning to like Rachel, and she loved her food.

  Freddy also stood up, “I’ll see you to the door Rach, good to see you.”

  He opened the front door but hesitated before standing aside to let her out. “Are you sure about this, you ok with Auburn?”

  “Oh of course don’t be so silly, she’ll be fine and good company; just a girl’s day out!” She said. “You know about them, don’t you darling?” She added cheekily.

  “Hoi, that’s twice you’ve insulted me. Girls can be so cruel, it’s no wonder I turned to boys for comfort!”

  Freddy re-joined Auburn, who was washing up.

  “Oh great thanks, hey you hungry?” he asked.

  Auburn stopped and with plate in hand turned around from the sink.

  “Will Rachel really let me go with her, I will be alright, we need to see Peter is ok, don’t we?” she asked almost nervously, waiting for the ‘no’ word.

  Freddy just shrugged. “If you want to go, that’s cool, it’s nice you care about Pete, he’s one of the good guys you know!”

  “Oh good,” she simply replied,
before turning back to the sink and carefully rewashing the plate again, as she had been stopped in mid flow. The plate had to be washed and rinsed in one go before being placed in the drying rack. That was the correct procedure.

  Freddy watched her and grinned, she was cool he decided.

  Chapter Four

  They drove down to Alice’s house in Weybridge almost in silence. Rachel had repeatedly tried to make conversation, but Auburn was intent on just staring ahead, her eyes wide open and fixed like those of a rabbit caught in the glare, so she gave up.

  They had just come off the M3 and turned right onto the M25 heading for the final part of their journey onto the A3, when Auburn suddenly came out of her self-imposed trance state, making Rachel start.

  “You know I think I could drive, what do you think, it seems quite easy really, I’ve been watching you! How do you get a licence to drive, you have one don’t you Rachel?” She said excitedly.

  Rachel was somewhat taken aback but delighted that Auburn hadn’t been sulking, but actually watching the road.

  Grinning she agreed. “Yes I have a licence, but why not, I think you’d make a great driver. There is quite a lot of actual studying, because you have to take a written test and pass before you actually do the driving part.”

  “How is the written test done, do I have to go to class, I wouldn’t like that...”

  “No, you can do it online, so that would be great for you, wouldn’t it.”

  “Yes... good... that will be my project, then I can get a car of my own, a bright red one I want. Are we nearly there I am famished you know?”

  “Not far, we have to turn onto the A3 in about a mile, then we go off at the Cobham turning almost right away.”