Crisis at Christmas

Terry was getting out of prison two days before Christmas. He was glad, of course, but also rather apprehensive. He had nowhere to go; no family and no lodgings prepared. Terry had been brought up in the orphanage. When he thought back to his Christmases as a child, he realized he had been quite lucky. The authorities had always done their best for children like him. They'd had a Christmas party, a nice Christmas dinner and Santa had called with a sackful of presents, though Terry believed it was really Mr. Everage who worked in Social Services at the town hall. Now, Terry was twenty-five, fresh out of the slammer, and his time for burglary had been served. But Christmas, where on earth could he go for Christmas.

* * *

London is a busy city any time of the year but before Christmas it is worse. Everybody is bustling about and no one seems to have time for anyone else. Terry thought he would go to the west end; he had enough money for a meal, but he didn't know where he was going to stay. The cops had given him an address, but he didn't fancy it. Terry was a fool to himself. It was a good place to go, but he was turning his nose up.

* * *

On the tube, it had been very packed; lots of people had brushed up against him, and he had felt uncomfortable. When he got to the burger bar he realized something was amiss. He couldn't find his wallet. Then he realized what must have happened on the tube. He had been pickpocketed. He panicked inside. This was a nightmare. He wouldn't even be able to afford bed and breakfast over Christmas. As for reporting the crime, that just wasn't on for Terry; they probably wouldn't believe him, and anyway what good would it do, the money was gone. The police would never recover it.

* * *

Oxford Street was colourful with the decorations and the lights. And now, at four o' clock, it was getting dark. He glanced into the other world of kid's magic and plenty, when he looked into the shop windows. Some people didn't know they were born. They would be having wonderful Christmases full of everything you could ever want. Terry was left to tramp the streets homeless and penniless. He felt in his trouser pockets. He had a couple of pound coins, nothing else. That wouldn't get him far. Maybe he should go to the address the prison had given him. He looked for the piece of paper with its address on; it had gone too. Terry walked on and on, until he left behind the crowds and the bustle of last minute shoppers. The streets now were deserted and lonely. It wasn't long before he realized he was lost.

* * *

Suddenly around a corner, Terry saw someone selling magazines, but it was lonely there; it seemed to be the wrong kind of pitch. Terry dug deep into his pocket and retrieved the coins. He took the magazine from the vendor, for he thought it just might contain the sort of information he was looking for. He turned around but there was no one there. The vendor had disappeared. On the first page of the magazine it read: FREE HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD. RING THIS NUMBER.
Maybe someone up there was on Terry's side after all. It wasn't going to be the black Christmas he had envisaged, but when he'd turned that corner he'd felt something in his side..... he began to wonder, he really did.

* * *

Terry Loubette : Requiescat in Pace - Christmas 2009.