I’ve been looking back through what there is of my attempt at a second novel – Billy Tuesday. If I am right this was one of the first scenes I came up with, maybe back in around 2018. You have to start somewhere and somehow these two women, awaiting the arrival of a rescued child, somewhere in Mexico was what had been in my dreams and imagination for a while. It has been tinkered with and altered, from a more immediate and close perspective to something more pulled out and observed…The perspective being that of an old writer, in his seventies, coming to terms with his pasts, both imagined and more based in ‘reality’. He is partly Billy, partly someone else entirely – how do we really know our pasts without the help of imagination and construction and mood tinged elaborations!
That plane took him to a safety of sorts.
The house was dark that night. Though at one of the downstairs windows a faint flicker of light indicated that people were about, even at that hour. Once again the electricity was out and there was no one to start the generator: The weather seemed portentous. – forked lightening and huge explosions of thunder that shook the jars and pottery on the shelves of the kitchen where Senora Echeverz and Dolores sat at the end of the long wooden table near the stove. The light from the candles had attracted the attention of insects of all shapes and sizes fluttering at the light or scuttling across the table towards it, so that they had pushed it further away with the result that they sat enveloped in grey shadow. Each lightening flash illuminated their faces, so that each wrinkled scooped out mask remained etched for a moment on either retina before fading. They had nothing to say, they had sat so long, said so much – anticipation and speculation had finally worn them to a standstill. They sat and drank iced water, for though the storm was breaking the atmosphere in the kitchen was still sticky and humid. In between thunderclaps a lizard chirruped, oblivious to the destructive forces around it. Finally Senora Echeverez broke the silence, she let out a long trailing sigh that seemed to hover for a moment above them both as if breathing life back into the scene set out below it.
– What time is it now?
Dolores put a hand in her pocket and drew out the battered silver timepiece that had been hers since the death of her brother that past year. She flipped back the lid and held it towards the candle.
– Three twenty or so.
– So what is taking them so long? He only had to collect him, Hector has seen to all the paperwork. I tell you these sons of mine…neither was born with a practical or uncomplicated strain in their body. Let’s hope the new generation will prove more down to earth…though with a name like William it does not bode well.’
– Hmm.
– Hmm? And what is that supposed to mean? I know you Dolores – you and I go back a long way and it is not like you to keep your opinions buttoned up. Come on speak your mind….’
At that moment the room was filled with intense light that projected their huge crow like shadows onto the back wall of the kitchen as if someone had randomly started a silent screening. They heard the throb of a motor idling and the sound of the big iron gates creaking and catching on the flagstones as they were pushed back. The dogs began to bark and they heard the car strain into gear and move forward again, taking them out of the full beam of the headlights, returning them to the cozy flicker of the candlelight. Dolores had to keep her misgivings to herself.
– That will be them. Is the milk still warm?
They hear rapid footsteps outside and then the kitchen door is flung open. Hector enters, clutching a battered suitcase and a large duffle bag. In all honesty, what with the storm and all, it could have been a scene from some fifties horror movie.
– And where is he? The two women rushed forward clucking like hens.
– He’s coming. He fell asleep in the car, the girl’s carrying him in.
– The girl? There was no mention of a girl…
Katerina steps in, holding the boy close to her, looking down at him, soothing him.
And there he is. His hand quivering, sending little pulses up his arm. He watches the flickering shadows on the wall and pulls back as the Senora approaches fixing him with her dark eyes.
– Well let’s have a look at you. She moves briskly forward reaches out a hand to cup him under the chin, but he pulls back, sinks his face in Katerina’s skirts.
– Come on you two – back off a little. He’s still in shock not said a word the whole journey.
But the Senora is having none of it. Her son is gone and she wants her grandson.
Oh, come now, don’t pull away from me. William, I’m your grandmother, you’re here now and safe.
But William is trembling.
Senora Esceheverz shakes her head and looks up at her son.
– A fine mess this. He’s not what I expected. You sure they got the right one? I mean he’s nothing like Carlos – look at him skinny as a bean pole, fair skin – that hair – that’s certainly not never from our side of the family – a red head.
– Mother! Please…he is the one – your grandson. We know he is the right one. We have Carlos’ photos. Come on now, stop the inquisition and make us welcome at least.
The Senora shrugs – Ok if you say so. Come lets all sit at the table. There is food – you must all be hungry. We boiled some milk and he can have that with chocolate. Dolores, come on lets serve it up – they can have some food and then some sleep maybe it will all be less of a disaster in the morning.
They sit and William’s eyes dart from one old witch to the other. Dolores places a big bowl and saucer in front of him.
– Here you are sweetheart, you look like you need feeding up. Here drink this down – hot milk and chocolate and some bread and honey that will do you right eh?
William just sits and looks at the bowl. Katerina sits beside him. He is glad she is there in this strange place – where they all seem to know him but he not them.
Katerina lifts the bowl and holds it to his lips and he tales a sip of the sweet warm liquid. This dream is not all bad he thinks.
He hears the conversation start up again, but he is half drousy, not sure what he is taking in.
– So what happened? Where are Carlos and the girl?
– Penny?
– Yes and what kind of name is that?
– We don’t know exactly how it all played out. Somehow the deal, the arrangement all went wrong. There was trouble at the meeting – a fight. They came after Carlos and the girl got shot. Carlos and the boy escaped. He got the boy to a safe house and then ran for it …but straight in to the police’s arms as it happens. Then the gang came looking – those motherfuckers knew if they got him they could exert some pressure and stop Carlos blabbing. Somehow our guys found him, they got him out just in the nick of time… they got him out of the country as quick as they could and here he is – your grandson…
– And this girl?
The senora nods towards Katerina.
– She came as part of the package. He stuck to her like a limpet. If they tried to pull him away, he’d fly into one, snarling, biting spitting. They were worried he’d blow their cover if he did that out in open view. Seemed like a good idea to let her come along and keep him quiet. And quiet’s the word with William – he’s not said a word since I picked them up. Not even blubbed. He watches everything though – like some wounded bird – you can see he is still in panic beneath the surface. He’s safe now. We all just need to let things settle.
The Senora sighs and raises an eyebrow. She looks across at William and attempts a smile.
