She froze. What was she supposed to say. How could she make it sound as if she’d found someone without sounding so stupid.
“Hello?” asked the voice again.
“Oh. I’ve found someone. An unconscious girl of about 17 in some bushes along the road to Twiggleton, about 3 miles off the M40.
“Are they breathing?”
“Yes I’ve put them in the recovery position. I’ve put them in the back seat of my car, put a blanket over them and put the heating on.”
“Details. Do you know the casualties name?”
“No.”
“What is your name?”
“Kate, Kate Rawlins.”
“What number are you dialling from?”
“07745238765”
“We’ll send an ambulance out.”
“How long will it be?”
“5 minutes. Keep checking the casualty for breathing, pulse et.”
“Thank you.”
She hung up. Great she thought. I’m going to look like an attempted murderer, not a lifesaver in this situation. She leaned back and again carried out the usual checks.
“The ambulance are going to be about 5 minutes. You’ll be OK.” She spoke again more to herself than to the body in the backseat.
She saw the flashes in her rear-view mirror. It was only then that she realised the rain had stopped. When had it stopped?
Two men came running up with a stretcher to her car and she got out. She opened the back door and yelled, “Here.”
They lifted the girl onto the stretcher and carried out the same checks Kate had earlier.
One put the girl in the ambulance whilst the other questioned Kate. He asked questions like, are you a relative? Or when did you find her?
When he was done he told her she’d best get home and they’d inform her whether the girl was OK in the morning.
As she began to drive again she sighed as the rain started up again. She pulled up to her flat, which she shared with her friends. She got out, opened the door stiffly and climbed up the stairs. When she got to her door she knocked. When no one answered she remembered that they were supposed to be meeting at the cinema tonight.
She definitely didn’t feel like a movie now so she grabbed her keys from the bottom of her “Marylyn Monroe” handbag and walked inside. After turning on the lights she sat on the sofa. She sat in silence for about a minute then collapsed into a deep sleep.
She dreamt that she was running away from someone, or something, along the same road she’d been driving along earlier. She was in her underwear and socks, as she ran through the rain and puddles. She could hear the sound of someone behind her trying to get her. She tripped. She could feel a warm breath down her neck as two strong hands lifted her.
“Wake up! Kate we wondered where you were, we just heard on the radio about you.”
“What?” She groaned as she sat upright. Her, on the radio. What was that dream, or nightmare? What had happened earlier. She couldn’t remember.
“Kate. You saved someone’s life!” The image of her friend’s face loomed in front of her.
“She’d better get to bed Jenny.” spoke Sid.
“Yeah,” Agreed Sam, “Bed Kiddie.”
“I can’t get up.” Kate told them.
Sid and Sam grinned.
“One, two, three!” They lifted Kate off the sofa and into her bedroom. They dropped her on the bed.
All three of her friend’s stared at her.
“Can you tell me in the morning? I can’t remember a thing. I just want to sleep.” Kate whispered. With that she dosed off again, into this time a dreamless sleep.
The three friends exchanged glances, then the two boys left for their room, whilst Jenny got into her own bed. She reached for the light switch and turned it off. Darkness swamped the room.
“Well?”
“Well what?”
“How is that girl?”
“She’s woken up. She’s being interviewed by the police.”
“Why?”
“Oh come on Jenny. You don’t think she stripped off, got in a bush and knocked herself out. She’s'’ been attacked I think, maybe raped."
“Oh right. Well you’re the hero-“
“And suspect.” Kate sighed, “It’s all over town, and the county. ‘Kate Rawlins finds unconscious girl who is now suffering from amnesia’. I’m famous. And the police want me to go in to be interviewed” She said bitterly.
“Have some breakfast.” Suggested Jenny.
“Thanks.” Was all Kate said. She began to eat her bowel of cereal when she asked, “Are we still going to town today?”
“If you still want to. I don’t mind.”
“Sure, maybe shopping can take my mind of things.”
The shopping didn’t help but someone they met did.
Later, after their arms were laden down with bags of food, clothes and accessories, Kate opened the boot of her car and chucked everything in.
“Have fun?” asked Jenny.
“Not much, it would have been great if I didn’t feel so down.”
“Tell you what, I’ll book us in for a spa treatment at Sally’s, I know how you love them.”
“Yeah, maybe that’ll work. I can’t be bothered to go home yet, lets just chat for a while OK?”
“Sure. I could kill for a coffee.” Said Jenny.
“Then let’s go to Tina’s and get some to go.” suggested Kate. She locked the car and the two friends walked off arm in arm.
When they returned with two paper cups, Kate opened the car and began to get in. But then he stepped out.
An adonis, an Apollo, an amazing guy. Kate froze and stared wistfully at him. She gazed at his short, spiky, dark hair, dark as the expresso she clutched in her hand. Then she looked at his slightly pinked cheeks; he looked embarrassed. She knew that she must have been blushing. She gazed at his shirt, a dazzling white. Then a “Rocky and Bulwinkle” tie hung down his chest. She wanted to giggle but couldn’t bring herself to do it. His suit, a granite black without a speck of dust.. His trousers didn’t have a mark on them. They were held up by a leather, light brown belt with a polished brass buckle. His shoes were so shiny that she could have sworn that her face was reflected in the black shoes. She lifted her gaze back to his frontage. The boyish smile. So childish. Then she stared into his eyes. She was now fixated on these. They were as brown as bog pits. Kate felt herself being sucked into them, not being able to escape. She forgot all her troubles, and everything else. She was in heaven.
“Hey. I’m Mitch Hertz, my cars got a flat, have you a phone I could use?” he asked.
This seemed to bring Kate back to reality. She answered, “Um yeah sure, just a second.” She fumbled around in her handbag, “Here.”
Jenny grinned at her, it was obvious she could read minds. Kate begged her not to say anything in her gaze. But Jenny loved teasing her best friend.
After he had finished his call to the local mechanic she quickly said, “Are you free tomorrow night because I’m sure Kate would love to go out with you.”
He stared at Kate and said, “Sure, if it’s all right with Kate.”
“Yes. I’d love to.” She said, smiling stupidly. Jenny will pay she thought, but atleast she’s got me a date.
“Great, I’ll pick you up at 7 if that’s OK. If I have a tyre by then. I hope I can still get to my conference on time.”
“Great. 7 it is. Do you want a lift?” asked Kate.
“That’d be great. Bob knows which car mine is, he’s an old friend of my dads. Do you know where the Grant law firm is?”
“Yeah. We’ll take you there. Hop in.”
“Thanks.”
The all got in the car and Kate drove off. On the way they spoke about things like when they graduated, what school and college they went to, or go to in Kate and Jenny’s case, what they like, and where they live. The found out Mitch lived in Twiggleton too, so they decided to go catch the horror movie that was playing tomorrow. The dropped him off and he ran inside.
On the way back to Twiggleton Jenny and Kate joked about him, and spoke about what she should wear. Kate passed the spot where she had found the girl without even thinking about what had happened the night before.
Once they were back they put everything away and tried on again their new outfits for the boys. After that they watched a bit of tv together, whilst Sid prepared tea.
When everyone was ready to go to bed Kate climbed in and shut her eyes. Instantly she could see those eyes again, luring her in. That night she dreamt of Mitch, for every second of it.
“Come on, we’re going to be late. I did this for you remember.” Moaned Jenny as Kate struggled to find her vest,]
“I didn’t want a body waxing, massage, facial, haircut and style and a spa treatment. I just wanted the spa, and maybe a swim and sauna after.” Said Kate, “Though I have to admit, how you managed to get everything within one day, I don’t know.” She added with a grin.
“Hey, I’m good with Sally, besides I work there remember? Or has your mind been shrunk so small that you can only remember what your having done.”
“Maybe. Let’s go in your car today, mines such a wreck. God knows what Mitch must of thought of it.”
“This isn’t about Mitch today, it’s about relaxation.” Jenny falsely scolded “Tonight’s about Mitch.” She added with a laugh.
Five hours late Jenny came out of the hairdressers with her hair looking great with some highlights and it tied up with curly sections hanging down.
Jenny stood next to her, with the same done for her date with Sam that night.
“You look great.” Jenny said to Kate.
“You to, I think Sam won’t even recognise his flatmate and girlfriend.” Said Kate.
They got into Jenny’s car and sped back towards the flat. Once they were back there they got a shock. There was a sick letter for both Kate and Jenny. Scrawled out in red pen were the following things:
Kate, Kate,
Pretty, beautiful, wonderful Kate,
Isn’t it a shame your last date,
Will end when the hour is late,
Because of some silly, murderous fate
Pity, pity Jenny Chase,
Pretty hair and pretty face,
Isn’t it a sorry fate?
She won’t live to get another date
Together two girls both smart and young,
Pity that their plans will go wrong,
What a night it shall be,
A horrid night, a catastrophe
They exchanged glances. Only they and the guys knew about tonight. They sat down and didn’t talk. But they went over it in their minds. It couldn’t be Mitch, he’s at work. Sam is out shopping. But Sid didn’t say what he was doing. And he wasn’t happy when he found out about Kate and Mitch, he’s not-
“Jealous is he?” they both said together.
“Sid?” asked Jenny.
“Maybe. If you think about all those times we spent together, he did flirt with me.” Said Kate.
“He’s not here is he?”
“But his car is.”
The two girls exchanged glances.
“Maybe we’d better forget about it, and enjoy ourselves t onight, it is a double date right?” said Kate.
“Yeah. Get to hold hands at the scary parts.” Giggled Jenny.
“Not us I hope.” And they both fell into giggles leaving the note torn up in the bin.
“Hey you guys, we’re going back to mine, OK?” asked Mitch.
“Sure.” Said Jenny and Sam, “We’ll go and entertain Sid.”
“Sure then.” Smiled Kate.
Mitch helped her into the front seat of his platinum ford fiesta and then the drove off towards, his house?
“I thought you lived in Twiggleton.” Said Jenny as he turned off towards the city.
“I do. But I thought you and me can have some fun in the same field that me and that girl did. What was her name? Ah yes, Laura. Well Kate let’s have some fun.”
Kate froze. What was she hearing. There was no lock on her door, but the car was going to fast anyway. He placed one hand on her leg and she threw it away.
“Let me out.”
“What’s the matter Kate. It will be your first time if I remember our little conversation. Thing is, I lied when I told you it would be mine.”
“LET ME OUT OF HEAR!” she screamed.
“Calm down dear, it’s a commercial.”
She sat still as dreadful thoughts ran through her mind.
“You did that letter.”
“Yes, I wanted Jenny to come to but she wouldn’t. I do think she’s better than you, but oh well, you’ll do.”
Kate stared ahead. There was a section of broken bushes, why hadn’t she seen that earlier? He pulled into the field there through them.
“Seatbelt off.”
She sat still. Didn’t move. Didn’t try to escape.
He undid her seatbelt and his.
“Lay down!”
She went over her plan in her head. She didn’t like it, but it’ll have to do. She did as he commanded, putting her seat back she laid down, waiting for what would come next.
He bore down on her for a kiss. He was ravenous as his lips pressed down against hers. She tried to push him off her, but he was too strong, He got off her and stared at her. This was her chance.
She crawled back and unlocked the back door. She managed to open it as he lunged towards her. She screamed as he grabbed her shoe. She thrust it into his face as it came off and she ran, ran as fast as she could away from her attacker.
A blue car drove past her. Sid’s. It stopped.
“Get in!” he yelled as she ran back towards it.
But Mitch had seen it to. He let out a roar of anguish as he saw her get in the back seat of his Nissan.
Sid began to drive, Drive strait towards Mitch.
“Don’t kill him!” Kate yelled.
“I’m won’t if I get this right.”
He had the look of utmost concentration on his face. As he got closer to Mitch he rammed into him from the side, knocking him out but not killing him,
The car stopped, and backed towards the body.
Sid dialled the number for the local police. Kate listened sadly as he told them about what had happened and where they were.
Again she saw blue and red flashes for the second time in 3 days. She sighed as the police questioned Sid. After that the ambulance took the bruised Mitch away and they were aloud to go home.
“I’m sorry I didn’t realise earlier how much I like you.” Whispered Kate.
“I’m sorry that you had to go through this.” Said Sid solemnly.
“Forgive me?”
“Maybe. Don’t you want to get over perfect guy first.”
“Shame it’s taken me so long to realise nobody’s perfect.”
“Even me?” laughed Sid.
Together they laughed.
When they climbed up the stairs to their flat she said, “Thank you for being my saviour.”
“Good thing I got the job I applied for now and didn’t go home earlier.”
“You did, well done. Is that why you didn’t tell us where you went?”
“No.” he said, “This is why.” He said as they walked in.
Inside was decorated with flowers and a banner spread across the wall saying ‘I love you Kate’.
“It’s beautiful. But how did you-“
“I got Sam to do it for me. He and Jenny are in your room. Sleep with me tonight.”
Kate smiled as he led her to is room were she climbed into bed and slept the events of that night. She might have lost her guy, but she gained someone much better. This was Mr Perfect.
Remember the moral of this urban myth. Nobody is ever perfect.
