“You were given a last few months to spend with you wife, is that not worth the cost?”
Jeff broke down crying into his hands. Why was everything in his life going so wrong? He had already taken out a loan from a former friend to pay off his debts and rent, and then suddenly his wife had needed more treatment, so he had ended up paying for it with the loan. Now he had no money, no rent to pay for his shop and flat and nowhere near enough money to pay off his loan. Before the thought of his wife getting better and beating the cancer had made it seem worthwhile, but now what was the point?
Jeff hadn’t come straight home, but went for a walk along the towpath. He had done this a lot recently just to clear his head. When he was there it was just him the trees and the river. He stayed there and sat on the bench for about two hours, then made his way back to the fish and chip shop. He couldn’t make any money if the shop was closed. He went down the back alley for a short cut that leaded to his back door. As he turned the last corner he saw peter waiting for him. Peter used to be his friend but the loan had put paid to that. Every week he would corner Jeff and demand his money, had even threatened to use a gun.
Peter looked at Jeff, anger clearly visible. As Jeff slowly walked towards him he hung his head, knowing what was to come.
“Where’s my money?” Peer roared staring straight at Jeff.
“I don’t have it, I just need more time.” Jeff replied so quietly, Peter almost couldn’t here. Jeff knew this wasn’t true, he would need a lot more than just time to earn that sort of money.
“You said that last time” shouted Peter, now only two inches away from Jeff. Peter was a tall largely built man. Well over six feet, he seemed to tower over Jeff. Peter now swung is right arm back and threw his clenched fist at Jeff’s head. Jeff flew against the wall and fell to the floor. Standing over him, Peter gestured to the hand he had concealed in his left hand pocket.
“Next time, you won’t be so lucky!” He then turned and strode away leaving Jeff lying on the floor, blood pouring from a slit above his eye.
Jeff lay outside in the rain for hours. At about eight o’clock the back door to the fish and chip shop opened and his fifteen-year-old son stood in the doorway looking down at his father, showing no sign of emotion in his face. He put the rubbish in the bin, and then just walked back inside. Felix, Jeff’s son had not said a word to him at the hospital after he had broken the news that his mother was about to die. Jeff knew that Felix had needed someone to blame and he had been that someone. Felix had always been closer to his mother than he was to Jeff, because she had understood him more and was more involved in his life. That was just the way things were. But now, without her, Felix was left with only Jeff, and Jeff knew that Felix wished the situation were reversed and his father had been dying instead of his mother. He couldn’t believe that Felix would ever forgive him for being the one to survive.
Two weeks had passed and Jeff saw no sign of Peter. It was almost like he was living in limbo. H knew he would have to face Peter again, Plus he was sure that the landlord would be on his case soon and, to top it all, his son hated him. Working kept him busy and he was trying to earn enough money to at least pay off some of his debt. The fish and chip shop had been very busy that day but then I the evening he had had an unwanted letter. He had known that this would come eventually, but was sure that there would have been a phone call before it came. This had come at the wrong time. It was a disaster.
~
Everyone was screaming. Peter turned to face a boy holding a gun towards him as he fell to the floor. Then he felt the pain.
Jeff couldn’t believe what he had just seen Felix do. He just stood watching Peter lie bleeding on the floor, while still holding the eviction notice.
“I thought you were our friend “Felix whimpered, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“You said you’d always be there for us, but you’re not…” Felix paused
“… otherwise you wouldn’t be trying to take away the last thing that I have left, my Dad” Felix dropped the gun and run over and clung to his father. Jeff felt a small smile creep across his face; he had lost everything but he knew now he had lost his so again. The customers, still standing a few meters away from them were still screaming, some had mobile phones and were calling 999. The messenger named Dave glance at Jeff looking non-plus, and then switched his glaze to Felix and Jeff understood that everything was not ok. In fact now, they were in more trouble than they were before, but at least now they were together.
