Creature Comforts Part One

A Story In Seven Parts.

 

 

 

What had been a balmy Summer's night in August, was about to change as conditions became erratic like the calm before the storm, drifting clouds moved fast across the midnight sky from a gusty breeze that was now slowly picking up. A full moon played hide and seek as it appeared then vanished from sight between gaps in the threatening, stormy mass.

 

At the very top of a ridge above the sleepy village of Pipit, an owl perched high on the branch of a tree, it hooted in a distant copse where many creatures nestled beneath the darkness. Wise owl sensed that unsettling conditions were coming, feeling compelled to send word out of the impending outburst that was on its way.

 

It had been threatening to rain all evening and late into the night, as further down in the valley a couple stopped for a long intimate kiss, their lips locked as they embraced, not interested in whether there would be showers or a storm. Nor for that matter were they mindful of fox darting across the road, but the bushy tailed creature was aware of them and scarpered away quickly, even now after so long she was still weary of some humans and their unpredictability.

 

At the gate to the girls house the two figures said their goodbyes, while vixen made her way up the steep, hilly path to where three cubs were waiting for some scraps of food. Mother fox would return to her den up on the ridge-way empty mouthed this night, she'd not managed to find her usual source of food at the back of the local Supermarket, where normally there were many scraps to be found, but the creature knew to never allow herself to give up on her pups, if unsuccessful this time she would try again somewhere else after a rest.

 

As the couple parted company, the guy turned and waved to his girlfriend making his way along the tree lined street, contented after a good night and whistling as he went on his way. A police car's siren could be heard somewhere off in the far distance getting fainter as a current of air picked up speed, carrying the sound and shifting its direction.

 

Wendy put the key in the lock of the front door and entered the hallway kicking off her sandals by the coat hooks on the wall with a sigh of relief, she swept her long, dark wavy hair back out of her eyes a big grin on her face, pleased that she'd had such a good night with boyfriend Chris.

 

Just lately they'd not been getting on, because he couldn't understand her long working hours at the college, but tonight had changed their mood. Just as it looked as if their five month long romance was over, along came a great evening at their local folk club that neither of them had wanted to end.

 

Her favorite local band: The Shifting Tides had played so well that night, letting Wendy get up on stage and play her guitar. She had felt so good playing to a large audience in her creative long skirt of many colors she'd made herself, and black skinny top that showed off her slim waist. She was so wrapped up in her love of music, that it seemed like her and Chris were drifting apart, but tonight all that changed and their love was as strong as ever.

 

Entering the kitchen and feeling tired, Wendy yawned sauntering over to the kitchen cupboard. Opening the door she reached in and took out a tumbler, then made her way over to the sink, turning on the cold tap and letting it run for a few seconds, then she filled the cup with water, taking a quick slurp of the cooling liquid.

 

Licking her lips she made her way into the hallway, not stopping to notice the note her mother had left her about food on a plate in the oven. Tiptoeing upstairs and avoiding the creaky steps not wanting to hang around, Wendy noticed her mother's light was still on, but felt too tired to have any form of conversation which normally ended in a quarrel anyway, so she crept across the landing to her room.

 

She'd been so busy of late, what with her job teaching music at the local college, then spending evenings at the folk club, she hadn't really got around to speaking to her mum in a while, but even when they did get together all they seemed to do was argue about her never being home. No, it was a blessing that her mum hadn't come out of her room to interrogate her.

 

~~

 

Alice Johnson sat at her dressing table in her light blue cotton night dress, gazing into her antique mirror while brushing short, dark curly hair behind her ears, not really concentrating on what her hand was doing though finding the grooming relaxing. Alice's mind was too befuddled staring at the reflection of the top of the very old tall wardrobe that stood next to the bedroom door.

 

The key to her husbands wine cellar was perched high up there next to the clay mermaid that sat on a rock beside it. This had been a gift from one of her very talented friends in Cornwall, the pal had created the mermaid out of clay in Alice's likeness from a photo sent her. Alice had really wanted her much loved model to sit downstairs on the living room mantelpiece, but she was afraid it would get broken, a risk she wasn't prepared to take.

 

Placing the brush down on the dressing table beside a wooden jewelry box, Alice exhaled managing a deep cavernous yawn as she came to standing. Ambling in her beige slippers over to the bottom of the bed, she plonked herself down on the edge, then lay back on her floral bedspread, clawing away at the material as if her life depended on it. William her husband had hated that coverlet so much, but Alice loved the red and yellow roses combined with the greenery that intertwined.

 

Again staring up at the wardrobe, she was amazed at her resolve not to get the stepladder from out the garage immediately, claiming the key to where all the red wine was stored that she was so desperately in need of. Her husband had put the key up there, not realizing his wife had stood at the top of the stairs watching him before returning to his ship where he was a naval officer.

 

William liked order, and would say, “everything has to be shipshape and Bristol fashion.” When it came to tidiness and things being in there place, this was partly what Alice loved about him. She'd always needed a strong man to look after her. When the children were young, never once did she feel downtrodden, it was her opinion that he'd always given her the lifestyle she'd craved, even then becoming accustomed to being chastised sometimes.

 

But now her son was gone Alice felt downcast, like she was no longer needed. Wendy her daughter had her own life to lead and was so very independent. Tears filled her eyes causing Alice to feel drowsy as she thought of all the dramas that occurred when the family got together.

 

Wendy could be overbearing at times, also really patronizing when complaining, if only her daughter would have more compassion and sympathize that her mother had an addiction, then Alice wouldn't feel so depressed.

 

Wendy never revealed her feelings, nor congratulated her mum at the fact she'd not drunk for three weeks, she simply just avoided any confrontation by staying away, the consequences resulted in neither parties accepting the others opinion.

 

William was no better, it was like a collision course when they spoke about alcohol, Alice might just as well have been an illusion, he never gave her a chance to speak and even when he did, William wasn't really listening. Alice wondered if their relationship would have lasted twenty two years, had he not spent so much time away. The remarks he would make kept going through her mind. “Why don't you get a job, something to fill the void while I'm away,” William had uttered those words so many times quite indignantly.

 

So Alice did get a job at the local supermarket. Although she didn't mind being on the checkout and the people were okay, it was still becoming boring with the repetitiveness, all Alice could think about was getting home to open a bottle or two of wine to escape her mundane life, defeating the whole object of why she was working in the first place.

 

Then again Alice thought of the fact she'd actually managed to go a whole three weeks without a drink, which was so tough while her husband was away, but it didn't make any difference to William's feelings. “You're a total alcoholic,” he had told her constantly.

 

Of course deep down Alice knew he was right, even though she never liked admitting to it. Stopping had been one the most difficult times in her life, especially now her eighteen year old son Tony had gone into the army. All she could do was take each day as it came, which seemed like the only way to overcome the madness that went on in her head. That voice that kept telling her: “Look deary, you only live once, if you can't have a drink when you need one then it's hardly worth living at all.”

 

But of course that first bottle was too much of a temptation for Alice, she couldn't resist just one more...then another, not knowing when to stop until she was left with just oblivion.

 

Now as she contemplated another Friday working at the checkout again, it was becoming harder and harder to avoid the temptation.

 

With William away It would be so easy to ring in sick that morning and just enjoy her day in the garden. “Why should I be dictated to?” She asked herself indignantly. “After all, it's only one day and I've been so good lately, I need a little treat.”

 

Alice heard her daughter coming in and up the stairs, but didn't see the point in acknowledging her. “Wendy doesn't understand,” she mumbled feeling sorry for herself. “She'll just tell me to grow up and get my act together.”

 

Alice always felt like she was the daughter and Wendy the mother, cowering under her sibling who was much taller at 5ft 8 inches, and she was more confident at the age of twenty one. It wasn't that Alice didn't love her daughter but they always seemed to argue, with Wendy walking away whenever she tried to discipline her.

 

Her son on the other hand had been her savior and a reason to carry on. Tony was always on hand to support his mum, and had gone with her to alcoholics anonymous. She wished he was still here now, but knew he had his own life to live.

 

Waving goodbye to him last weekend had been so hard to cope with on top of everything else, especially as she'd had to say her farewells on her own. William hadn't been able to get home and Wendy was too busy at college, it had been up to her to take Tony to the train station.

 

Standing on the platform, she'd sobbed her heart out as he stepped onto the train, lifting his heavy haversack off his shoulders, closing the door and opening the window as the train began to move off. Blowing air kisses, she continued to wave till his train drifted out of sight, a little part of her disappearing into the unknown.

 

“Don't forget to write!” Had been his last words as he blew those special kisses from the train window. A week had been and gone although it seemed like an eternity, she'd still hadn't got around to sitting down and putting pen to paper.

 

As thoughts went through her mind, climbing into bed she settled down under the covers. Thinking about all these reservations soon had Alice drifting off to sleep.

 

To be continued...