Charlie And Midge - Chapter 5

Charlie And Midge

A Novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 5

 

Saturday Drinks  

 

Since the move from the farm into their new home by the harbour, there were many changes for Midge and Charlie . Midge had come to terms with her hoarding disorder and had even got rid of some of the items from the sheds on the farm.

Charlie had settled in with his new role in accounts for the custom house auctions and Lucky was now a recognized member of the waterfront along with Charlie and Midge who took him walking every afternoon at twilight . The gemstones  were with Desmond who was working on commission to make some expensive jewellery items that would be sold privately and at auction .Mr Powers had purchased a new car and offered Charie and Midge his old car ..So as soon as Charlie had a few driving lessons he would try to get his driver’s license .

All the unpacking and setting up the new house had been done and Charlie and Midge were happy there . The people of Safe Harbour were friendly and  most of the homes in the estate were finished . Charlie had already got to know a lot of people around as they would often come to the auction every week to barter for the items for sale .

It was one of those Saturdays in their new home and Midge called over to Charlie who was reading through the newspaper .

“Charlie would you go over to the off license shop for a bottle of whiskey . I know it’s  late and its cold outside but if you’re ok to go I’d appreciate it “

She hardly finished the sentence and Charlie was up with his hat and coat and going to get the lead for Lucky but Midge asked Charlie to let Lucky stay home for some company with her  .  .

“No problem , I’m your man Midge. I‘d better be quick as they’ll be closing soon “

She handed him a few notes and he was off like a shot out the door and away dome the street like skater on ice taking a slide now and then on the icy footpath . Just as he was about to cross the road an truck drove around the corner narrowly missing him as he quickly pulled back to avoid being run over . He gelt a shiver run through him , Then he heard some one across the road scream out to him ?” .

“How’s your heart . That was a close one .“

Charlie clenched his fists and started walking double time speed along the lane to the lonely path past the harbour and around into the main road that was quiet now with not many about . Then as he fronted up near the off license on the corner he saw the man there getting ready to shut the door ”

“Just a minute there . I’ve need something before you close “

“What would that be ?” Said the man in the shop.

“ A bottle of Black Bush “ Charlie replied .

“Sure you just made it in time , Come inside . ;Tis a cold night “

“Do you want me to wrap it up for you ? “

“No I take it as it is and put in in the inside pocket close to my heart”

He took a brown bag from under the counter and Charlie said ,.

“Don’t bother . I’m not planning on drinking it on the streets .I’ll put it inside my coat “

“Have a good night  then “ Said the shopkeeper

‘Same to yourself and keep safe “ Charlie replied .

 He walked out the door and started to walk up along the main road when suddenly he heard some voices and footsteps  . It was a couple of tramps walking along together making up a few tunes for no one   .

“Hello there “  They said

Charlie closed his eyes and whispered a silent prayer ,

“ Lord keep that bottle safe where they can’t find it . “

Then one of the tramps said  

“:Don’t worry . We mean you no harm . “

Then they made their way along the road and Charlie kept walking at a fair pace towards home through the streets ‘

“Thank you Lord “ He whispered .

 

Along he went Billy Whizz down the lane and through the side streets . Most of the  street  lights had yet to be switched on so it was dark and hard to see anything or anyone .  Suddenly Charlie heard a cat crying somewhere in the dark . It sounded like a  banshee wailing and the more he listened , the more his mind wandered .

He started to think that somebody he was going to die .So he said a prayer for their  soul whoever it might be ,

Then he shook his head and reminded himself that it was only a cat and not a banshee  . Wondering why the cat was crying , he thought they’ve got a coat of fur to keep them warm . Then he thought maybe the cat had cut its paws on some of the broken bottle tops on the top of the back yard walls . Funny thing , those coloured broken bottle tops . People must think it would deter people from climbing over and wall and taking some of their coal .

The crying cat got  louder and started a dog barking . The wind began to howl and he couldn’t walk any faster . In fact he was out of breath now and needed to stop for a moments rest ., After a few minutes he started to walk and he whistled a tune in his head that he just made up . There was no one around to tell him to shut up so he kept walking and whistling under the full moon shinning up in the sky .

Eventually the streets lights came on around the harbour . Charlie thought to himself “Let there be light and about time too , I was thinking that I was lost somewhere between somewhere and nowhere :

The rain fell down in buckets from the sky into the harbour and puddles formed all over the road . Charlie took shelter in a doorway waiting for the rain to ease off .

He watched the puddles getting bigger and starting to display a picture of corrugated ripples that scattered themselves over the and surface with the street lights all a glimmer , the puddles began to resemble a sequined coat on the back of a hog , rushing around inside a hole  . The puddles were getting bigger and the ripples were now turning into small waves and as a strong wind blew in from the sea , Charlie noticed a lonely figure bravely making his way across the road in front of him  .

The man was hanging on to his hat and finally in desperation he had to hold on to a lamppost to regain his balance and in doing so,  the wild wind lifted the hat from his head . The old man attempted to go after the hat but the wind had other ideas and lifted the hat high up into the air before dumping it over into the waterfront wall and into the sea below . .After a while he tried to cross over the road to venture up the  hill and past the church where the smaller parlour houses were built in the old part of the town , Charlie could see the old man trying to placed his key into the lock of the front door and finally it opened with an assisted push from the wind that almost took the door off its hinges . He disappeared inside the house as the rain started to ease off and the wind died down .

Charlie left the doorway and quickly stepped along the footpath towards his house .

He was soon at the front door and went inside .

“Tell you, what a wild night it is there Midge  “

Midge looked at Charlie and said

 “Charlie what’s the matter . Didn’t you bring a  hat .”

Charlie stood there speechless and then he said ,

“Me hat , don’t talk about me hat Midge , I‘m glad I didn’t have a hat for it would have ended up like your man’s hat far away at sea and I’m glad I never took Lucky for God knows where he would have ended up .”

Midge replied ,

“Charlie, don’t tell me you got into another fight with someone did you ?

He took of his coat that was wringing wet and the water dripping all over the floor and said ,

“Didn’t you hear the wind and the rain Midge . It has nothing to do with a fight . It was a hurricane blowing in from the sea . Sure I could have been taken up and no one would have known or seen a thing . “

Midge looked a little troubled and replied ,

“Charlie what do you mean ?”

He went over and sat down and said ,

“I don’t mean to worry you , but the wind Midge. it was wild and it took your mans hat and nearly blew it to America like  .“

Midge started to laugh a little .

“Calm down now Charlie , your back home now . I‘ll make you a cup of tea.”

H e started to laugh and say

”I don’t want a cup of tea Midge . Didn’t I go out for a bottle of whiskey for us ?.”

Midge laughed as well and said,

 “Don’t be like that Charlie , you make me feel  like I’m loosing my memory  .“

Charlie responded ,

“Wait ‘til I tell you Midge . You’ve no idea . I f I had a memory like you it would have been blown away in that wind tonight half way and forgot how to get back home “

Listen to me now Midge ”

“I’m listening Charlie” she replied .

“I’m going to pour us a wee drop of whiskey before I forget where the glasses are “

Midge laughed and said ,

“Go ahead Charlie and grab those glasses and pour us out two glasses of that black bush ?”

He looked at her with an happy face and said .

“ Well I’ll do my bestest just wait there Midge  “ 

“ Awe now that’s what I’ve been waiting for Charlie.. You and me having a wee Saturday drink in our new home  “ .

“Now its time to relax and make the night our own”

Midge just sat there smiling as Charlie quietly went into the kitchen and  took two small glasses from the kitchen cupboard and poured a measure of whiskey into each of the two glasses . Then he took them out to the living room where Midge was sitting with her hand out and he said to her

“Here’s to our love and good health .“

She turned around with a great big smile beaming out all over her face , Charlie handed her the a glass and they both  took  a sip of the whiskey and then Midge said

“ Our love is always here under the roof of our home .”

Charlie replied ,

“Sure we deserve to have a wee drink every now and then Midge .“

They both drained their glasses and Midge asked .

“ When was the last time we had a drink  together Charlie ?”

Charlie looked at her and replied .

“ Well now ,it was that night when the travellers came and the bottle of Poitin was handed around and that remind me Midge . Give me one of your songs “

Midge went to get her accordion and when she returned she started to play an old song and the two of them began to sing .

“  Musha-ring dumma-do-damma-da whack for the daddy-o
Whack for the daddy-o , there's whiskey in the jar.

 

“I’ll need another drink to help me forget what I should remember Charlie  “

Charlie did the honours and poured out two more measures of Bushmills into each glass .

Charlie asked ,

“Play another one of your songs Midge “

“ Here’s another one for you Charlie ? “

Midge started playing again and Charlie topped up their empty glasses .

The night was happy and they were both captured in the wonder of the moment . The bottle of whiskey was slowing emptying as the night grew longer .

The songs got easier to sing and they were in fine form .

Charlie asked ,

“I haven’t heard that song before Midge “

Midge replied ,

“That’s because I just made it up Charlie”

He replied ,

“Did you really Midge ?“

And she replied ,

“I did , see that’s the music of hat happens Charlie “

““Is it really just like that Midge?”

She replied ,

“It sure is  . Sure what good is life with music and I would love another drink Charlie”

He looked at her and said .

“ I’ll top up our glasses Midge . See the way you play that accordion. It’s like a passion and its strong and warm to the ear Midge “

She replied ,

“See the way you pour that whiskey Charlie , its like the touch of sunlight in the  winter chill . Sure I don’t know what I’d do without you Charlie .“

Charlie and Midge both drained their glasses . Then he half filled them again .

Then he lifted up the bottle and looked inside the bottle saying .

“ I don’t know what I’d do without you . It’s true , its almost all gone now Midge , maybe we have enough for a half a dozen more glasses each” :

Midge had another sip and said ,

 “ That’s enough now Charlie . Maybe we should call it a day “

.Charlie responded ,

“Tomorrow may never come , so stop thinking about that .“

Midge replied

“ Thinking about what Charlie ?”

Charlie said ,

“Thinking about stopping drinking Midge ?”

They both burst out laughing then Midge said ,

“I’m thinking about that but I might need another little drink to help me make the right choice Charlie. ”

They both emptied their glasses and Charlie refilled them saying 

“ Another one and then we’ll stop drinking “

Midge replied .

“Another one and I’m thinking we’ll call it a night .“

“You know what I’m thinking Midge ?”

Charlie said and Midge replied .

“What are you thinking Charlie “

“Well Midge the thing is you know what they say , tomorrow never comes . So I’m thinking we may as well just finish the bottle before we call it a night “

‘That makes good sense to me Charlie. “

Midge replied and Charlie topped up their glasses .

“Here’s to us Midge  “  

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End Chapter 5

Charlie And Midge

A Novel By Paul McCann

 

Link to chapter 6

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/charlie-and-midge-chapter-6

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