Lettuces and Cream (26 page)

‘But the sitting room and the kids bedrooms are just about finished, we’ll show you around later,’ Jan said cheerfully.

‘That I’ll be nice, Jan, love,’ Grandma responded.

‘Who’s for another éclair?’ Jan asked.

By half past four, Chris had delivered her two daughters to their school friends’ house. In this area where everyone lived so far apart, it was common practice for children to stay over with friends. If there was a birthday party or school dance or some such, it was so much easier than having to go out at all hours to pick them up. Jan’s children hadn’t got to this stage yet, so the joy of having a houseful of kids staying overnight was yet to come. Chris enjoyed having the house to her self. She could please herself when she ate, and watch whatever she fancied on the television. She opened a bottle of wine and sat in the kitchen smoking, sipping her drink, and waiting. She was expecting a visitor - a new ‘friend.’ She had set out that morning to deliberately find a man. She decided that the biggest town would be best for her purpose and to that end she had driven into Abersoch, dressed for the part. After the latest row with Keith she needed to boost her ego. Because her egoistic self image had been built upon sex and her attractiveness to men, and lately women, she had easily slipped into a new, and wildly outrageous mode.

‘Anyone sitting here,’ Chris asked smiling.

‘No, no one,’ the young man in his early twenties looked a little startled at her question. There was plenty of room at the other tables.

‘Shopping is so tiring isn’t it,’ she said innocently speaking with her best soft tone

‘Can be, I don’t like it either but I’m a student at the Uni and I share a house with four others and we take turns to do the shopping. So today is my day. I hate it.’

This was music to her ears. It seemed he was single, and available.

‘No girlfriend to do it for you?’

‘No, not at the moment,’ he replied rather shyly.

Yes, single and unattached. Chris was elated She certainly had a talent for picking them.

‘Excuse me, but you’re not from around here are you?’

She smiled sweetly, ‘how can you tell?’ They both gave a little laugh at the obvious fact, ‘no, but I live here now. Near Llanbeth, do you know it?’

‘Yeah, been through it a couple of times”

Chris laughed sweetly, ‘that’s probably the best thing to do.’ They both laughed again.

Chris had chosen her seat with care. The man was sitting against a wall and Chris had sat opposite him so no one in the coffee bar could see her slowly open the buttoned front of her loose fitting skirt.

‘I’m Chris by the way.’

‘And I’m Mark,’ he sipped his coffee. He was getting more confident now.

‘You must be married,’ He glanced at the hands, but she had left her rings at home.

‘I was, divorced now.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’

‘No it doesn’t matter, I’m over it now.’ She lowered her gaze and attempted to look demur.

She had eased her chair to be just clear of the table, and her skirt was now open to her thighs. Come on look - look damn you - look at this, she looked at him, her eyes guiding his eyes, downward, between her legs. Marks eyes followed hers and widened. She had no knickers, the bush of curly hair visible to his devouring eyes.

‘Oh dear, these buttons keep coming undone.’ She said with false modesty. She was such an actress.

Mark pretended not to have seen anything but his hand was somewhat tremulous as he lifted the cup to his lips.

And so it was, the seeds of lust had been sown, and now she sat waiting, hoping he would actually turn up at her door. She went into the lounge and put some records to play, then returned to the kitchen. Taking another large swig of her wine, she looked at the kitchen clock as it struck seven. There was the sound of a car in the yard, yes, oh yes, it’s him, success; there was a knock at the door…

In the village, Josh had finished his evening meal and was once again setting off into the darkness. He liked the night, seeing but not being seen, watching. Sometimes raping with his eyes, at other times punishing those that deserved it. He didn‘t have to talk to anyone, didn’t have to see their expressions of disdain. He knew the area well and out here he was the boss.

‘Nice to see a real fire, oh, nice and warm.’ Marion stood by the fire warming her hands by the blazing logs. She was a tall thin woman and although two years younger, than Mike, always felt the cold.

‘Such a change from our gas fires.’ Grandma agreed.

‘Do you use a lot of wood, Mike?’ Marion asked.

‘Yeah, quite a bit, but it’s much cheaper than coal. Well, free really, if we use our own trees.’

‘Lot of work cutting them up though.’

‘Yep, but to be honest, mum, I like cutting up firewood.’

Their evening meal over they were all gathered in the sitting room awaiting Mike to once again set up the projector. Marion settled into her seat and delved into her capacious handbag.

‘Now what I have I got in here?’ Instantly the children gathered around her, knowing some sweets were long overdue

‘There,’ Marion said triumphantly, and with a magician-like flourish pulled out two large bags of sweets.

‘Cor, thanks aunty Marion.’ David and Mandy took them eagerly and began exploring the contents of the paper bags.

‘You spoil them, sis,’ Mike said with a smile.

‘Oh it isn’t very often, is it?’

‘Make sure you two clean your teeth tonight,’ Jan said with concern. She wasn’t entirely happy with them eating so much sugar, but, after all was said and done, it was a rare event.

‘Right, I think that’s all set.’ Mike fiddled with the position of the screen making sure all could see it.

‘Here we go,’ Mike said, and the whirr of the projector began.

Chris was extremely pleased with herself and she was satisfied with her evenings entertainment, well at least until the next time. Her latest ‘victim,’ Mark, had left with a very large smile on his face, and a belief he was the greatest lover in the world and thinking it was a pity his efforts between her thighs didn’t rate towards his Degree. The clock had just struck ten, and for Chris that was still early, so she was drinking again and watching the television. She had drunk a lot that evening and it was beginning to affect her. Not that it mattered, because bed and sleep would be next on her agenda.

Outside, opposite Chris’s bedroom window, the figure skilfully and silently began his descent from his usual vantage point high up on top of the hay bales in the barn. He froze, at the noise from below. There was someone else in the yard.
..

‘Okay, that’s the lot - lights on David.’

‘God, it was in a terrible mess, son. You’ve both worked really hard.’

‘Cup of tea, Mum.’ Jan asked.

‘Oh, yes please, Jan love.’

‘Would you like something to eat, Biscuit or piece of cake?’

‘A biscuit would be nice.’

‘What about you Marion?’

‘Just tea for me, Jan.’

‘Mike?’

‘Nothing for me, Darl,’ Mike said, rolling up a ciggie.

‘Do you want a real cigarette, Mike?’ Marion asked, lighting up.

‘No thanks Marion, I’m used to these things now, thanks.’

He could just make out who the person was-he recognised him. Why the hell is he creeping about in the dark? He wasn’t sure what to do. To climb all the way back up and wait, or get the hell out of here. This was something different. Usually he was the only one, in the dark, waiting, watching, satisfying his needs-and settling scores. He would stay a little while – just to see what was going on…

‘Come you two, time for bed, it’s gone half past ten.’

‘Aw mum must we,’ David whined.

‘You’ve got to be up tomorrow to show Grandma and Marion the animals.’

‘Yes, we want to see everything, so be good children for mummy,’ Grandma said encouragingly, and reluctantly the children headed up to bed.

He couldn’t wait any longer, it was time to move and he began his final descent. There was a loud clanging in the yard below. He froze again. Clumsy bugger, he’s walked into the dustbin.

Chris spluttered on her drink and slammed her glass down on the table. What the hell was that - the bastard is here again. She rose from her chair swaying a little as she did so. She turned off the television and the lights hoping the intruder would be fooled into thinking the noise hadn’t been heard, and headed for the kitchen. She could have done without this bloody nonsense tonight, but her anger spurred her on. She slipped her coat over her pyjamas and wriggled her toes into a pair of slip on shoes. Then, she took the gun from its cupboard.

In order to accommodate the visitors, Mandy and David were temporarily sharing a room, but fortunately were too tired to mess about, and all was peaceful.

‘That’s the kids settled,’ Jan sighed with relief.

‘Yep, all quiet on the western front,’ Mike agreed.

‘Right, love, lets get to bed I’m shattered,’ Jan yawned.

Chris decided to go out through the rarely used front door and sneak around to where the noise came from. She held the gun as steady as she could but in the night air the alcohol was having its effect. Rounding the corner of the house she saw a movement in the shadows. Got you –you sod. She switched on her torch and levelled the gun.

‘Keith? Keith-is that you? How -how did you get here? What the hell is going on?’

He stood motionless in the glare of the powerful torch. His face had the expression of an actor that had forgotten his lines. But his spying had paid off; he had seen the bitch, and that bastard Rep, having an afternoon session on the lounge sofa – his sofa – in his house. And tonight, that other young bloke. Watching them had made his heart pound with a mixture of anger and excitement. But he had found the scene highly arousing, which had deterred him from confronting the two of them there and then.

‘You bastard have you been doing all those shitty things around here to get at me? You should be up North.’ She was confused and still couldn’t believe he was here.

Keith suddenly remembered his lines and went into full flow. ‘Of course not,why would I bugger up my own place, stupid cow. That’s nothing to do with me. I know what you’ve been up to though, you slut. I’ve seen you - here in my bloody house – with different blokes, with your legs in the air.’

Chris was shaking with rage. ‘Spying on me? You liar, how could you- you haven’t been here.’

‘That’s what you think, I’ve been spying on you for months.’

‘You fucking bastard.’ The idea of her time and space being invaded by anyone, at any time, enraged her. She raised the gun, her finger quivering against the trigger.

The intruder in the barn watched and listened mesmerised by the scene -Jesus she’s going to kill him.

‘No, not me, you’re the one doing the fucking,’ Keith spoke calmly, he felt safe, right was on his side.

‘All right then, you smart arsed sod, I’ve had men, so what? -and not just men, women too, how do like that? Pervert, spying on me. Been playing with yourself while watching - yeah?’

‘You sick queer bitch.’ Keith sneered.

Her finger twitched again, ‘Piss off, you bastard.’ There was an almighty crack as the gun fired. Keith staggered and fell; he lay in the yard, his body making little shivering movements as though he was feeling cold.

Chris held the gun away from her and looked at it as though it was a naughty child.

Then, she threw it to the ground, turned, and walked slowly back to the house.

Christ, I’ve got to get out of here, she’s bloody well killed him. He scrambled down and out of the barn as fast as his trembling legs would allow

‘These are the little piggy wiggys,’ Mike said in a silly childish voice. Despite the fact he had many worries on his mind; he was trying to be as buoyant as possible.

‘Whoo, they smell a bit.’

‘That’s a good country smell, Mum,’ Mike inhaled deeply, ‘ah, lovely.’

‘Is that what you call it?’ His mother laughed.

‘Is she going to have more babies, Mike?’ Marion asked with interest.

‘Well, that’s another little problem She has to go back to the boar now. So I’ve got to see Dirty Mary, or our neighbour Keith, to make arrangements. It doesn’t pay to keep our own boar-they eat too much. Actually I’ll give him a ring today, he should be home on a Saturday’ Mike added with a flash of enthusiasm.