Underwood (4 page)

A few minutes later and the lane appeared to be widening and the tree’s thinning and an overwhelming sense of relief came over all of them as their worst nightmares seem to disappear, or at least part of them did, Eileen forced a smile, Peter opened the window and lit up a cigarette, he would suffer the wrath of his family, he needed the nicotine, but there were no protests as he wound down his window, they just wanted warm food and a hot drink and set themselves off to the caravan, even back home would be better than this, they would think of an logical explanation later if there was one, because at that particular moment logic didn’t exist.

At least now it looked as if they were safe, the roads now had grown pavements that looked as if they hadn’t been tended to for years as the kerb stones lay loose and potholes everywhere, but at least it looked like a sign of civilisation was coming, or even a derelict town, anything other than the stare of the woods, then they saw a sign it read.

Welcome to Underwood

One way in, no way out

Peter noticed what was written underneath and crossed out, it sent a shiver down his spine, he didn’t know why and he hated not knowing why.

Although there was no flooding around that part he drove slowly looking around all of the time as if they were waiting for something to jump out at them, a feeling that the nightmare was not completely over, the brief relief of being safe had now diminished because of the sign they had passed, Peter could not stop thinking about the words that were crossed out ‘
no way out’,
and what was worse was the bit that said
‘one way in’
he had a feeling they were about to stumble upon that ‘
one way’
then they noticed a sign that said “Waltwood road” the letters fading, and on their right they saw the first buildings and Peter stopped the car to stare at the derelict buildings, they were huts but most of them had either been destroyed or vandalised, what roofs were still in place were made of corrugated sheeting, what walls were intact were made of concrete, they could see a tall building in the distance, what Peter guessed at some time was a water tower, in the distance but almost out of site were similar huts that appeared to be more intact, in the far distance was trees, nothing but trees, the terrain between the wrecked buildings that were closest were unkempt ,it looked like they had been stood there for decades, a glimpse into the past, it had something aged about them, they looked as if the stories they could tell would not be good ones, then a fox appeared from nowhere and it stood looking at them for a moment as if ready to pounce, or eyeing up its prey, before it run off into the huts, Lily and Nathan arched their necks to see where it run off to, the wild animal somehow making things feel more normal, until they were all interrupted by a loud bang on the bonnet, it made them all jump and look ahead as four hearts missed a beat.

A man dressed in denim jeans, a jumper and a fluorescent yellow waistcoat tapped the driver’s side window so hard Peter thought it may crack, Peter wound down the window, he noticed the man hadn’t shaven for a while, he had full lips and a plump face, but it was the eyes that Peter noticed the most, deep and bloodshot, he was a large scruffy man and his demeanour offered no comfort,

‘Can’t park here’ he grunted as he held his head through the window, eyeing up all the occupants as if surveying his catch, it made them all feel a little uncomfortable and Peter felt like pushing his head back out of the window, but thought better of it, he was going to play it cool, he had to play it cool, ‘
don’t act in the heat of the moment, play it cool’

‘Were not parking’ said Peter as politely as he could muster given the circumstances ‘were just looking for a place to eat, then we want to get back on the M4, maybe you could help us with that? Peter smiled hoping he himself looked the friendly type, even though the guy he was talking to looked dishevelled, he wished he hadn’t mentioned food, just directions to the M4 would have done.

The man pulled his head from the window and opened the driver side door, Peter didn’t like that and kept his hand on the inside handle preventing him from opening it fully, there was a brief tug of war between the two and the man didn’t force the issue, Peter was fighting desperately to keep his calm, his instinct was to go and challenge the man, threaten him, or even strike him if he thought it necessary, Eileen noticed this and prayed he wouldn’t do anything stupid, she was nervous and just wanted to get out as much as the rest of them.

‘Can’t drive down here’ the man told them as if it should have been obvious, his eyes staring at the road ahead and then back to Peter, they all stared at the road ahead which seemed more than suitable for a car to travel down.

‘Then where can we get some food’ asked Peter’ he really just wanted to drive on and risk a ticket but thought better of it,

‘Down there’ he said pointing straight ahead,

‘But you said we can’t drive down there’ he put the car in gear, ready to move forward,

‘Gotta take the bus’

‘When’s the bus come’

‘Park up over there’ he said, pointing to a parking area beside some waste ground ‘bus will be here soon’ he grunted,

‘Hope there all as nice as him’ Lily said as Peter parked up, she just wanted food, the man in the fluorescent jacket had disappeared so the four of them got out of the car and stood by the side of the road, less than a minute later a mini bus with the number 64 on it pulled up and parked beside them.

‘Get in then if you want some food’ said the man in the fluorescent waistcoat, Lily thought if it wasn’t so weird it would be funny, Eileen and Nathan just wanted to sit somewhere comfortable, Peter was unsure about any of this, ‘
these Welsh are sure strange folk
’ he thought. Then he wondered if it was just the man’s way of getting fares, and he laughed to himself at the audacity of it, he thought about tipping the man and just drive down, but he decided he would play along,
‘I thought it was supposed to be the scots that were tight’
he told himself.

They drove past some houses, concrete 1960’s build, it reminded Peter of some of the council house estates home in Sheffield, but without the trees, and within less than a minute they were pulling into a car park with a sign that said Underwood Social, no sooner they were sat down in the mini bus it was time to get out, and no one could understand why he didn’t just tell them where to go and they would have walked, Peter thought it would have been easier for everyone if he had just drove the short distance, the club had a car park but there wasn’t a car in it, it had dawned on Peter as he looked around that there was no cars in sight, he didn’t think too much of it, he just wanted to get out of there.

‘What do I owe you’ asked Peter as he put his hands in his pocket to pay, thinking that really he was just a con man,

‘Nowt’ said the man’ as he shuffled them off the bus,

Peter pulled his hand back out of his pockets, still holding the change, now totally confused at the whole situation, ‘oh, right, thank you, I didn’t get your name’

‘Didn’t give it’ said the man and got back into the minibus and drove away. Peter shook his head in disbelief.

They looked at the  building that stood before them, three story’s high and not a window in the front, it looked a real blot on the landscape, on the wall was attached a basketball hoop under a sign that said “No Ball Games” a sign pointed to the entrance, so that’s where they went.

The entrance was at the back which they all thought was a bit strange, they tried the doors, they were locked firm, Peter lit up a cigarette, he was running low and his others were in the car, they peered through the window and was surprised to see how nice and clean the place looked even if it was dated like some seventies diner, and that somewhat cheered them all up a bit, ok the driver was an oddball, but didn’t every town have one, Peter looked at his watch, it was just before 7am.

‘suppose it’s a bit early’ whilst he was hungry he really wanted to just get out of underwood, the place spooked him, and he really couldn’t understand why he could not just drive down here, if he knew where the road was then he would have just left, Eileen felt uncomfortable whilst Lily and Nathan was sat on the outside bench, both moaning that they could not get an internet or phone signal.

‘Wouldn’t surprise me if phones are banned in bloody Wales’ Lily moaned, Peter and Eileen laughed, Lily screwed her nose up in her usual manner,Nathan remained quiet.

‘Must be the trees’ Eileen told her,

Peter was just about to suggest they walk back to the car then they heard a rustling noise from above them,

‘Who’s there’ shouted a voice, they could hear it but couldn’t see anyone, and all four heads looked up trying to find the person behind the voice,

‘We just wondered if you’re open for breakfast’ shouted Peter, as he looked up but he could still see no one,

‘Yea ill come down and open up, give us a min’ said the voice above them in a strong friendly Welsh accent.

They all looked at each other with smiles on their faces, ‘yes’ shouted Lily with her fist in the air, she was starving, she was thinking of bacon and eggs as she danced.

Five minutes later the double doors were open and a man in is early forties’ stood there, he was a large handsome man with broad shoulders and fair hair, he had a five o clock shadow, he looked as if he had just woken up, which of course he had, he really didn’t want any early morning strange diners today, he had seen to many in the past, he was hoping after the storm he would just be serving the locals, he felt sympathy for those he was about to serve.

‘sorry about that’ he said ‘don’t usually start coming in until about eightish, Trish has just gone in to make the coffee and tea, ill pour the fruit juice,’ it was then he really noticed them and his eyes widened, he realised what the storm had brought, young children, he didn’t want to see young children, not female children.

‘God you look as if you slept in the car all night’

‘We have’ smiled Peter,

‘Bloody awful it was an all’ added Lily as she pushed her way past him to get in,

‘well go into the washrooms get freshened up, and we’ll get you some breakfast, see you in the bar’ and he smiled at them and headed to the kitchen’

‘Four of them this time’ he told Trish who was just making the hot drinks’ Trish just rolled her eyes and her face looked concerned, Craig just shrugged his shoulders, the four people who had slept in the car went into the bathroom’s to freshen up thinking what a nice man he was, and perhaps this place wasn’t so bad after all.

‘
Yes a nice cooked breakfast and they would soon be on their way’
thought Peter,

As Craig prepared the breakfast, he really wished that morning he hadn’t woken up at all.

‘This foods good’ said Lily chomping on a piece of bacon, she ate fast as if it was her last meal, relishing every mouthful, she couldn’t remember a breakfast tasting so good, Craig the landlord had served them one of the biggest breakfast they could eat, as well as a full English, there was cereals, fruit, juices, tea and coffee, and for that moment everything seemed to be okay and they all thought that Underwood and its people were all ok.

‘Wouldn’t want to live here though’ said lily when Craig was not in earshot, and they all more or less nodded in agreement, they didn’t think there would be many 5 bed detached houses in Underwood like they had at home in Sheffield, as Nathan ate all he could think about was home, wishing he was there now, with his friends, he didn’t like this place, he wanted to get out, the woods creeped him out a little, he could see the trees in the distance from the window in the bar,
‘you could easily get lost in there’
he told himself. ‘
Get lost and never find your way out’
the thought chilled him a bit.

‘Everything okay’ said Craig as he brought some more coffee over’

‘Fine it’s a beautiful breakfast’ said Eileen, she licked her lips in appreciation, Lily nodded her mouth was to full to speak, Nathan was picking at a sausage, he said nothing.

‘How do we get on the M4 from here’ Peter asked ‘we lost our way in the storm last night’ he added, he bit a sausage and chewed enthusiastically as he waited for an answer,

‘You kids want anything else’ said Craig, completely ignoring the question and went to walk away, Peter grabbed his arm,

‘The M4, how do we get on it?’

Craig just stared at Peter, and as their eyes met Peter noticed they seemed dark and deep, and the comfort he was feeling just a moment ago was no longer there, Peter let go of his arm, he could feel the discomfort in Craig too, as the previous friendly attitude was no longer prevalent, Craig wasn’t a big man by any means, but something told Peter not to challenge him any further, it was the look Craig had given him, that troubled kind of look.

‘Let me know if you need anything else’ Craig said as he headed quickly towards the kitchen, Peter thought it looked as if he couldn’t get away quick enough, but all it was is that Craig didn’t want to hear any questions he couldn’t answer, he just wanted to cook breakfast and be a good host, that’s all he could do, that’s all he was told to do, he slammed the empty coffee pot down on the kitchen side and put his both hands out on the worktop to support him, Trish came over and put her arm on his shoulder, she could see the upset look on his face,