Looking at her feet as she walked Sam could only think of one thing, getting home to her flat and out of her soaking wet clothes, if she had known what the day had in store when she left that morning she would have definitely dressed differently. It was 7.00 am when the alarm went off as usual, Sam reached for the snooze button and sank her head face down in the pillow pretending that it hadn't happened but was resigned to the inevitable repeat in five minutes. She had been on her own for 3 years now and was getting a little frustrated with her daily routine and constant reminders by her friends that being single was not her style, though at times like this having someone to cuddle up to would sure as hell make getting up that much easier. Sam beat the second snooze alert, she reached out for the old LED alarm clock she had owned since childhood and turned the alarm off, the pale off white clock had some of its numbers missing and had seen better days but it still kept good time, Sam had a sentimental attachment to it and for her needs it was quite fine thank you.
She walked to the bathroom with her shoulders slumped and her long mousy brown hair partly covering her face, her pink teddy bear nightie had also seen better days but again it had sentimental value, her dad had bought it for her so many years ago now and it held such precious memories, even more so since his untimely death from cancer of the stomach just 18 months ago. Reaching for the taps Sam cupped both her hands underneath the flowing water and put her head over the sink as she splashed the soul reviving water into her face, she stood there for just a second or two taking in that wonderful feeling of freshness only cold water can manage at such an early hour, it brought her senses alive and she immediately reached for the soft towel and buried her head in that as she had done in the pillow earlier, she put the towel back on the rail and then reached up to the bathroom cupboard for her toothpaste and brush, the routine she always followed, but today was going to be a day that was anything but routine, though as yet she didn't know it.
Downstairs and dressed, make-up on and hair tied back in a pony tail Sam was ready to face the day, she fed Asterix her 5 year old cat before she sat down for her cereal as she did every morning, Asterix was her one true friend and soul mate, they doted on one another, Sam had rescued Asterix as a kitten from a cat sanctuary, he would always be playful and seemed to understand Sam when she was feeling down and knew it was enough just him being there, a friend to be counted on no matter how she felt, that was so important to Sam.
Asterix ate his breakfast then disappeared through the cat flap in the door as Sam grabbed her coat from the hallway and her car keys from the sideboard, her shoes clonked and echoed across the partly tiled, partly wood panelled floor of the flat and as she reached the front door the post slipped on to the mat in front of her, so Sam picked it up and bundled it into her handbag as she raced across the large parking area outside the flats to where her old Vauxhall Corsa was parked. Yet again Sam was a creature of habit with this relic of the motoring world, her father had bought it brand new for her on her 21st birthday and though it was showing its age and cost Sam a fortune to keep maintained, wild horses could not part her from it. She unlocked the door and jumped in putting her handbag and flat keys on the passenger seat as she pushed the key into the ignition and turned it, the car burst into life and then, without warning just stopped again, Sam wasn't unduly worried as this had happened before, so she turned the key again and again, but this time her old faithful was not responding to her gentle coaxing and slowly but surely the engine turned over slower and slower as the life oozed away from the battery... Sam was going nowhere, or at least the little Vauxhall wasn't.
"Oh great" she muttered to herself, just what i needed.
Sam jumped out of the Corsa and locked it up and grabbed her mobile as she made her way out of the car park and on to the streets of the city, it was still quite dark for that time in the morning and the streets were full of delivery vans carrying the newspapers and bread etc, everyone seemed to be totally occupied with their respective jobs, Sam walked around and past the vans and delivery drivers as she made her way down the street to the bus stop just 200 metres away. There was already quite a few people stood waiting for the bus, mostly well suited types and young students, many had their head buried in a newspaper or were busy explaining to the rest of their mates just what a "great night" last night was. Sam stood awkwardly at the side of the bus stop not mingling too closely as she had no wish to become embroiled in the "night before" conversation or have to make small talk with a suit. As she stood there looking down seemingly engrossed in her about turned clenched fist as if looking at her nails a soft deep voice behind her quipped "has your car broken again?" Sam spun round at the sound of a familiar voice, it was Daniel from across the street from Sam's flat, he always spoke and waved or smiled at Sam, this morning however his wonderful smile seemed a little jaded and subdued, "I am afraid so," said Sam rather croaky, "are you OK?, you look a little stressed out" Sam said without thinking.. then suddenly realised that she may have no right to even ask, "Oh well, to be fair I am a little down this morning, I have to go and identify my wife, she was killed by a hit and run driver last night" "oh i am so sorry!" Sam blurted out, "I didn't realise you were married even, what a terrible thing!",
"we were separated" Daniel said softly,
"Oh i see, I didn't think i had seen you with anyone said Sam, n-n-not that I am keeping tabs on you or anything, I -I -just see you most days so I would have noticed"
Danny chuckled and Sam saw that warm smile try and make an appearance for the first time that morning,
"That's OK we have been apart for a good 3 years, we kept in touch, but she wanted her freedom and I wanted to settle down, I guess we grew apart and then she ran off with the bouncer from "Christies Club" on the old Peckham road, "Oh I know the one" said Sam still trying to seem interested as she was not the most talkative person first thing in the mornings anyway, even more so when you are talking about your neighbours dead wife.
"where was she hit ?" Sam said still trying not to pry but finding it increasingly difficult to choose the right words,
"Just outside the night club apparently, the car never stopped, it was only a small car but she apparently she didn't stand a chance as it was speeding"
"Oh dear, sounds awful" Sam said softly, "when is this damn bus due!" she said quickly changing the subject and seemingly rather annoyed at how her day was already developing,
"It will be another 10 minutes yet" said Danny, "would you like a lift to work in my car?"
"Oh...would you mind ?" Sam said in an instant "That would be brilliant, I work at...." "you work at Delaneys the accountants, I know" Danny said once more using that wonderful smile to great effect, "But..but how did you know that? Sam exclaimed, "It's easy" said Danny " I own a company that you do the accounts for, my assistant Rachel deals with you, I am Managing director for two other companies so I don't get to see who does my paperwork but i recognised you on the company Xmas card they send over every year",
Sam seemed quite flattered and for once was lost for words that Daniel had actually taken the time to notice her even, let alone talk to her at a bus stop.
"Come on" he said, "I have to go by your place on the way to the morgue, I will drop you off as i pass through".
Sam jumped in Danny's warm car and placed her handbag on her lap, as she reached behind her for the seat belt Danny grabbed her bag and placed it on the back seat of the car as he got in, "save you nursing that all the way to work, it will be OK in the back" he quipped, Sam now felt a little uncomfortable with no bag on her bare knees, her short tight pencil skirt was not designed for sitting in cars next to hunky neighbours, her heels made her legs uncomfortably high in the seat and she was acutely aware of her knees sticking up and way too much of her thighs on view, though she had to admit to herself she felt excited at the same time as a little embarrassed.
.....Part two and the conclusion to be continued ...
She walked to the bathroom with her shoulders slumped and her long mousy brown hair partly covering her face, her pink teddy bear nightie had also seen better days but again it had sentimental value, her dad had bought it for her so many years ago now and it held such precious memories, even more so since his untimely death from cancer of the stomach just 18 months ago. Reaching for the taps Sam cupped both her hands underneath the flowing water and put her head over the sink as she splashed the soul reviving water into her face, she stood there for just a second or two taking in that wonderful feeling of freshness only cold water can manage at such an early hour, it brought her senses alive and she immediately reached for the soft towel and buried her head in that as she had done in the pillow earlier, she put the towel back on the rail and then reached up to the bathroom cupboard for her toothpaste and brush, the routine she always followed, but today was going to be a day that was anything but routine, though as yet she didn't know it.
Downstairs and dressed, make-up on and hair tied back in a pony tail Sam was ready to face the day, she fed Asterix her 5 year old cat before she sat down for her cereal as she did every morning, Asterix was her one true friend and soul mate, they doted on one another, Sam had rescued Asterix as a kitten from a cat sanctuary, he would always be playful and seemed to understand Sam when she was feeling down and knew it was enough just him being there, a friend to be counted on no matter how she felt, that was so important to Sam.
Asterix ate his breakfast then disappeared through the cat flap in the door as Sam grabbed her coat from the hallway and her car keys from the sideboard, her shoes clonked and echoed across the partly tiled, partly wood panelled floor of the flat and as she reached the front door the post slipped on to the mat in front of her, so Sam picked it up and bundled it into her handbag as she raced across the large parking area outside the flats to where her old Vauxhall Corsa was parked. Yet again Sam was a creature of habit with this relic of the motoring world, her father had bought it brand new for her on her 21st birthday and though it was showing its age and cost Sam a fortune to keep maintained, wild horses could not part her from it. She unlocked the door and jumped in putting her handbag and flat keys on the passenger seat as she pushed the key into the ignition and turned it, the car burst into life and then, without warning just stopped again, Sam wasn't unduly worried as this had happened before, so she turned the key again and again, but this time her old faithful was not responding to her gentle coaxing and slowly but surely the engine turned over slower and slower as the life oozed away from the battery... Sam was going nowhere, or at least the little Vauxhall wasn't.
"Oh great" she muttered to herself, just what i needed.
Sam jumped out of the Corsa and locked it up and grabbed her mobile as she made her way out of the car park and on to the streets of the city, it was still quite dark for that time in the morning and the streets were full of delivery vans carrying the newspapers and bread etc, everyone seemed to be totally occupied with their respective jobs, Sam walked around and past the vans and delivery drivers as she made her way down the street to the bus stop just 200 metres away. There was already quite a few people stood waiting for the bus, mostly well suited types and young students, many had their head buried in a newspaper or were busy explaining to the rest of their mates just what a "great night" last night was. Sam stood awkwardly at the side of the bus stop not mingling too closely as she had no wish to become embroiled in the "night before" conversation or have to make small talk with a suit. As she stood there looking down seemingly engrossed in her about turned clenched fist as if looking at her nails a soft deep voice behind her quipped "has your car broken again?" Sam spun round at the sound of a familiar voice, it was Daniel from across the street from Sam's flat, he always spoke and waved or smiled at Sam, this morning however his wonderful smile seemed a little jaded and subdued, "I am afraid so," said Sam rather croaky, "are you OK?, you look a little stressed out" Sam said without thinking.. then suddenly realised that she may have no right to even ask, "Oh well, to be fair I am a little down this morning, I have to go and identify my wife, she was killed by a hit and run driver last night" "oh i am so sorry!" Sam blurted out, "I didn't realise you were married even, what a terrible thing!",
"we were separated" Daniel said softly,
"Oh i see, I didn't think i had seen you with anyone said Sam, n-n-not that I am keeping tabs on you or anything, I -I -just see you most days so I would have noticed"
Danny chuckled and Sam saw that warm smile try and make an appearance for the first time that morning,
"That's OK we have been apart for a good 3 years, we kept in touch, but she wanted her freedom and I wanted to settle down, I guess we grew apart and then she ran off with the bouncer from "Christies Club" on the old Peckham road, "Oh I know the one" said Sam still trying to seem interested as she was not the most talkative person first thing in the mornings anyway, even more so when you are talking about your neighbours dead wife.
"where was she hit ?" Sam said still trying not to pry but finding it increasingly difficult to choose the right words,
"Just outside the night club apparently, the car never stopped, it was only a small car but she apparently she didn't stand a chance as it was speeding"
"Oh dear, sounds awful" Sam said softly, "when is this damn bus due!" she said quickly changing the subject and seemingly rather annoyed at how her day was already developing,
"It will be another 10 minutes yet" said Danny, "would you like a lift to work in my car?"
"Oh...would you mind ?" Sam said in an instant "That would be brilliant, I work at...." "you work at Delaneys the accountants, I know" Danny said once more using that wonderful smile to great effect, "But..but how did you know that? Sam exclaimed, "It's easy" said Danny " I own a company that you do the accounts for, my assistant Rachel deals with you, I am Managing director for two other companies so I don't get to see who does my paperwork but i recognised you on the company Xmas card they send over every year",
Sam seemed quite flattered and for once was lost for words that Daniel had actually taken the time to notice her even, let alone talk to her at a bus stop.
"Come on" he said, "I have to go by your place on the way to the morgue, I will drop you off as i pass through".
Sam jumped in Danny's warm car and placed her handbag on her lap, as she reached behind her for the seat belt Danny grabbed her bag and placed it on the back seat of the car as he got in, "save you nursing that all the way to work, it will be OK in the back" he quipped, Sam now felt a little uncomfortable with no bag on her bare knees, her short tight pencil skirt was not designed for sitting in cars next to hunky neighbours, her heels made her legs uncomfortably high in the seat and she was acutely aware of her knees sticking up and way too much of her thighs on view, though she had to admit to herself she felt excited at the same time as a little embarrassed.
.....Part two and the conclusion to be continued ...
No comments:
Post a Comment