by J W Cotter
Days quickly rolled into weeks until the weeks had rolled in to a whole month. That was a month of complete quietness; a quietness that James had come to loath as it surely meant that Cerise had more time to plan whatever she was planning. But she wasn’t the only one who hadn’t surfaced in almost a month; James hadn’t seen Ida since he served a pot of tea and chocolate digestives to her and the others in the library. He hadn’t been avoiding the castle, it was almost the opposite as every day after school he would bypass his house and head to the forest, lower the bridge and make his way to the castle all in the guise of discussing Cerise and her plans, however James was more concerned with seeing Anta and she quickly wised up to his visits so when James had finally plucked up the courage to ask her out he nearly died when she said yes. Unfortunately Bunica had gotten wind of the date and she put an immediate halt to it saying that Anta was not to leave the castle. She was not the only one who never left the castle, it seemed that it was only James who freely came and went, and Pip of course who was practically the butler slash cook slash cleaner slash gopher. Pip and he devised a plan for the date and so tonight was the night that he would finally get to spend some time with Anta, away from all the eyes.
The cold snow that had fallen over night had made the room so cold that James dreaded the thought of getting out of bed. The cold didn’t really bother him so much, it was the fact that he was so cosy in his mess of blankets and pillows he didn’t want to come out. But of course he did have to rise as his Dad shouted up the stairs to him. Christmas holidays from school did not mean that he could spend the days in bed, or so his father said. So far he had been given a hearty amount of things to do, from putting up all the decorations on his own to helping Miriam in the pub. Well his help in the pub was more purposed hindrance than help, having broken numerous glasses, flooded the toilets and ‘accidently’ knocking over her Christmas tree smashing a lot of her ceramic baubles. Dad never sent him to the pub again after that. Eventually bracing the cold floors James made his way to the window and looked out; the snow had covered all of the countryside with a pristine white blanket that concealed everything dead beneath.
“Don’t forget to post the invitations” Jack shouted from the bottom of the stairs. James didn’t reply. “DID YOU HEAR ME?”
“YES” he roared back and then the front door banged shut and they walked to their respective cars and were gone. Tensions rose again in the house when it was announced that Jack and Miriam were going to have a small intimate Christmas wedding. This was the first Christmas without his mother, yet all his father cared about was marrying the beer flunking fluzee so naturally James had distanced himself the best he could from them, seeing them only for a few minutes every other day. He had even come extraordinary close to moving into his other grandmother’s house, the one that doesn’t know about him. It was right there over the hedge sitting idol amongst the snow. Valonia had taken up residence in the castle and for one who liked her comforts she didn’t travel lightly and poor Pip made at least ten trips to ferry her belongings all after he ‘spruced’ up one of the largest rooms until it was habitable for a Queen. But James knew it wasn’t far enough away, he might as well stay put then to be twenty feet away.
He dressed himself and had breakfast in peace. Boiling milk mixed with hot oats and sliced cold banana was just what he needed on such a cold morning, all washed down with some orange juice. The best part of the breakfast was that he had it in peace, with no one annoying him or buzzing around the place like Miriam had been doing over the past couple of weeks trying her best to become “pals” with James. She obviously hadn’t got the subtle hints that James would rather be friends with a rabid badger than her. The way the residue of oats stuck to the bowl James didn’t dare place it in the dishwasher, he washed it himself scrubbing at it with the sponge. Losing concentration for a fraction of a second he smashed the bowl to pieces in the sink, his warrior strength getting loose. A minor expletive was shouted but luckily he was alone in the house and a few more expletives were exhaled as he pulled out small shards from the palm of his hand. As the blood dripped down the drain along with the water and porridge he watched as the sliced skin started to pull itself together again until it was like nothing had happened. Healed and a bit disheartened James carefully discarded the broken bowl into the bin, it was his favourite bowl. It held just the right amount of anything and it was tall too so that the milk never flowed out over the edges. The letter box flung open and took James’ by surprise as the mail fell to the hall mat. There were a lot of envelopes there, mostly bills by the look of them with a handful of Christmas cards thrown in. One had his Grandmother’s handwriting, it was unsealed. Opening it James couldn’t help but smile, he could always count on his Grandmother to cheer him up. It wasn’t a Christmas card; it was an appointment card for a dentist. On the back she had written, “Dear Son, scheduled some rather unnecessary procedures on your unnecessary day, Mother”. James didn’t know how she knew; the invitations weren’t even in the post. His Dad must have mentioned it to her, or perhaps Big brother wasn’t really a brother but more of an old woman with glasses and a knack for knowing all. James put the card back into the envelope and placed it on the top of the pile of mail, he couldn’t wait to see his Dad’s face when he sees it, and Miriam’s face when she realises her future mother in law prefers the company of her dentist to her. He placed his grandmother’s envelope on the top of the little pile and placed it on the hall table.
Once he was dressed and ready for the outside world James braced the cold wind that was swirling through the countryside. It sent a little chill down his spine and he pulled up his hood over the woollen hat he was already wearing. He checked his pocket just to make sure the invitations were there and he headed out the gates. Hesitating slightly and looking to the right he could see the top of the castle over the trees. He wanted to go up there and see Anta and talk to her, listen to her and see her smile and blush but he didn’t want to see all the others and no doubt if he went up there they are all he would see like every other time. So he turned his back to the forest and headed down to the village as a little flurry of snow started to fall from the sky. Music blasted away the silence as James lost himself in the lyrics as he walked along the country lane down to Little Hamlet.
It was quiet, very quiet; there were very few people about. Mrs. Farrington was just entering the church and she banged the door loudly behind her. Moments later James heard the bell ring loudly, he counted eleven chimes. The bells in the church tower had only recently been reinstalled after an elderly resident left the money in their will to the village with the specific instructions that it be used to repair the bell tower. Following quite a few complaints the bells chiming were restricted to nine in the morning, midday, three in the afternoon and evening. Mrs. Farrington obviously was mistaken, a mistake that would not go unnoticed. Most of the shops were opened but all of them were empty, there were no customers. Then the doors of the church burst open and it seemed everyone was in there. Mrs. Pearl rushed out and covered her head in a massive white shawl that made her almost vanish in the little snow flurry. A dozen or so people followed her and then out came the Vicar who glancing up the road waved at James. He didn’t wave back but instead rushed into the post office which unfortunately doubled up as the local café.
“Be with you in minute pet” the post mistress said as she scurried around the postal counter, which was at the end of the cake counter and just before the coffee machine. James stood and waited, the music still blasting in his ears and his hood still up. Then suddenly he could feel a vice like grip on his arm, somewhat like a snake coiling around its prey. He pulled the earphones out and turned to see Valonia, his heart sank.
“You’re inside dear, take down that hood and take off that hat, gentleman do not wear hats indoors. A pot of tea and two cakes dear and make sure they’re fresh” she said as she turned James towards the sitting area. The café was empty except for a young couple seated in the corner by the window whi
ch gave a full view of the village. They were holding hands and whispering to each other. Valonia arrived at the edge of their table and with James still in her grasp she stared at the two.
“Yes?” the young woman said.
“Morning dear, cold out there isn’t it? Yes, yes it’s cold out there this morning, and I’ve just been for a lovely long walk, mind you my hands are a bit numb now” she replied rubbing her gloved hands together.
“It is winter” the boyfriend added rather sarcastically.
“Is it dear, I hadn’t noticed what with being so old an all. Mind you I did remember to put on my thermals this morning” Valonia said nudging the young woman and laughing. By now James face was reddening and all he wanted to do was post the invitations and go home to get ready for his date tonight.
“That’s good” the young woman replied rolling her eyes to her boyfriend.
“It is good dear but still that cold got right to my bones and you see where you are you’re strapping man there are clung to the radiator like a pair of cats and I was just wondering, seeing as you’re savouring the last drop of black coffee like it were ambrosia, would you mind moving to another table so I might get a little bit of warmth?” Valonia said letting go of James and placing both hands on the table. The two got up quickly when Valonia started to cough and instead of going to another table they grabbed their coats and rushed out the door as she called out after them, “don’t worry I’ll clean away the mess”. She made him sit down first and then she took the seat where the man was seated. “Well he’s like a walking boiler he is, the seat is bloody roasting, his arse must have been on fire” she laughed as she pushed their used plates and cups to the side. James didn’t know what to think, he hadn’t seen her act like this, and well he hadn’t seen much of her but these actions weren’t exactly those he’d expect from a Queen. “Thank you love, you’re very good” she said as the waitress brought their order. “Am, oh no, oh that’s a shame”
“Is there a problem?” the waitress asked.
“Tea bags”
“Yes ma’am we don’t serve leaves”
“Right, right, am, right anything other than a steel pot, I mean its handle is steel do you want me to burn my hand?”
“No ma’am but you can you use the napkin, like so” she replied folding the napkin and placing it around the handle of the pot.
“Oh look at you full of solutions” Valonia said, but it sounded more like an insult than a compliment. She left on her gloves and poured the tea, James first and then herself. “Oh now look at this, milk in a tiny carton, what kind of establishment is this?” The redness in the face that James had was now again after returning as Valonia beckoned the waitress again.
“Yes ma’am?”
“Have you got any fresh milk, I’m afraid this will not do”
“Well we do but that’s only for” Valonia cut her off.
“It will do, bring it please. And another napkin as mine appears to have been put to better use than guarding my lap” the waitress left and returned with some fresh milk in a steel jug, the face Valonia pulled was hilarious as the waitress slammed it down on the table. “Well someone doesn’t like their job” She said as she poured a drop of milk into her cup. “Do you take milk James?” but before he had a chance to answer she spoke again. “Or should I say Vasper?” James looked at her his eyes squinting.
“What did you call me?”
“Vasper, that is your name isn’t it?”
“No, my mine is James”
“Well your birth certificate says differently” she said placing the jug on the table and pulling out a piece of official looking paper from her expensive handbag along with a pair of reading glasses. “Now let’s read this again, Vasper James Griffin, born to Jack Griffin and Victoria Rueben. Goodness where did she get that name from” she read out the main points and handed the piece of paper to James.
“I go by my middle name, after my grandfather” She tut-tutted and picked up her cup of tea and took a little sip.
“I had my suspicions when I first saw you but I wasn’t sure. You appeared to have her chin and her nose but then she turned her back on her family tradition, only I discovered she didn’t”
“What are you talking about?” James asked trying to play coy.
“I know you know who I am, just as I know who you are although you’ve known for a lot longer than I have so it begs the question why you felt the need not to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“I see we’re going to have to take the slow lane” she said with a sigh.
“Seriously I haven’t the foggiest idea what you are on about, now if you don’t mind I have errands to run” he said getting up from the table. Valonia grabbed his hand and pulled his ear close.
“Listen to your grandmother and sit down and finish your cake” the dance was over, she really did know so there was nothing else to do and he sat back down. For a few moments they just sat in silence eating their cakes and drinking their tea, their eyes not leaving each other’s gaze. On occasion James was about to say something but he resisted, he wasn’t sure what to say, all he wanted to do was leave, he already had a grandmother one that he loved dearly and provided more support than twenty grandparents. “So I imagine you have hundreds of questions burning beneath that beautiful blonde hair of yours” she said dabbing the napkin at the corner of her mouth.
“No, not really” James replied bluntly, eyeing the door for a possible escape.
“Well I’ve got some for you, too many in fact. You know your mother was always very stubborn, did she ever grow out of it?”
“Nope”
“Did she ever talk about where she came from, say anything about her old life?”
“Nope” Poor Valonia really did only want to find out how her daughter fared once she left Nuvarin but James wasn’t exactly in the mood for sharing.
“Well at least she honoured us with your name” that caused James’ eyebrow to rise. “You know the names of everyone in our family begin with V, even I and I married into the family” she said with a little giggle.
“My name is James” he said curtly.
“Ah your middle name is James, but your first name is Vasper, so much better than Harold” she smiled while he looked at her confused. “King Vasper Vadsaria of Pastorious, Emperor of Nuvarin and Warrior of the People, has an exquisite ring to it doesn’t it, better than King Harold” she beamed almost shaking in excitement.
“Who are you calling King, I’m not a King” he said crossly.
“Why you of course, you’re the true heir to the throne, not that stupid fool Harold and his cow of a mother Gert” Valonia whispered, you could see her disgust as she spoke the names.
“Well you better work on Warren because I’m not the one you’re looking for” James said getting up from the table, he had enough of the conversation.
“But he’s not the heir, you are! Victoria was older than Valery, hence in the line you come first” she whispered also standing up and moving closer to James. “You must listen to me James” she figured calling him Vasper would probably vex him a little too much “Pastorious is facing a precarious time and a true leader is needed, a King with the strength of a warrior and the blood of true royalty” she said strongly clutching his arm.
“You just described Warren, best of luck” James replied and he manoeuvred out of her grasp and left the café. Outside he took a deep breath and outstretched his arms when he lowered them they hit off his pockets, the envelopes still inside.
“Damn it” he shouted loudly but instead of going back in there he headed for home, there was time enough to post them, after all it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if no one came to the little wedding.