The Long Farewell

By Marley West

UP AND COMING AUTHOR MARLEY WEST, introduces his first book!
Although a quick read, THE LONG FAREWELL gives you a taste of what is to follow from this NEW AUTHOR.

Morris could not be happier: Having been brought up in a rough and tough working class area, by loving parents, he never wanted or expect much out of life. Just being happy and having a loving Wife, two beautiful young children and to top it off a new job, his dream job. Life could not be sweeter for Morris.
However life was about to change for Morris when news broke that his best friend, life long companion had fallen ill. Morris adored his farther and watching him battle this terrible illness was heartbreaking, however as he did there were moments that triggered in Morris's mind a memory from the past, somehow this seemed to ease his aching heart. Realising for the first time, his happiness in life was down to the seed that was sewn long ago by his parents in his up bringing.

Based around a true story

"Although funny in parts, the author manages to capture reality of the situation." - Quick Reads

"Great, first book and such an easy read" S-G Book Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marley West
• Release date: Dec 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311403377

Marley West

Marley West was born in 1966 and raised within a large family in the once industrial heartland of Manchester, United Kingdom. After completing his education Marley did like many other of his generation and started his working life in the textile mills of Northern England, gaining a valuable insight into people, characters and sometimes their hilarious phrases. To which Marley tries to use within his work, hoping to bring reality to the page.Although not in Manchester, Marley still resides in Northwest England and is now semi-retired, giving him chance to concentrate more on his writing. Culminating in his first book to be published "The Long Farewell" and even though it's only a short story, Marley like any other author is proud of their first publication. He is currently working on his next book which should be available in early 2016.

Book preview

Title

THE LONG FAREWELL

MARLEY WEST

Copyright © Marley West 2015

Marley West asserts all legal rights

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

DEDICATION

Simply for my parent

Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Preface

1-Sunday Morning Blues

2-That's Life

3 - A Bit Of Fruit & Nut

4-The Good Buddy

5-First Passed The Post

6-His Loss-My Gain

7-He Did It His Way

Acknowledgement

Declaration

About The Author

Preface

Suddenly my mobile phone began to vibrate, sounding out it's tune from the breast pocket of my shirt. Weary and half asleep i fumbled my shirt pocket, drawing it carefully so my tired eyes had time to focus on the screen spelling out the callers name.

'Hi Mom, how are you?' Rubbing the sleep from my eyes the voice so familiar to me came down the line, 'Hi Morris i am fine are you going to hospital today?', and trying not to sound surprised i answered, 'Yes later this evening. In fact i was going to ring you to see if you wanted me to come and pick you up?' I could hear the relief in Mom's voice as she replied, 'Oh please, will you!.

Mom was so independent, normally it would be me ringing her to offer my services and more often than not she would decline and i would arrive at the hospital to find her sat in the ward. Made her own way on the bus, however today was Sunday and the bus service was very hit and miss, to say the least. 'I don't want to be a burden' she would say when challenged on the subject. A burden, I thought, now that she will never be.

I found many women of Mom's age to be independent. I put it down to the suffering and hardship they must of endured in the aftermath of the Second World War, being independent was a must i suppose, and i do know through reading reports and learning about local history that the area where my parents lived at the time of the war came under immense bombardment from the German Luftwaffe. Even though i found her independence to be irritating sometimes, i also found inspiration from it too.

Dad was asleep when we arrived, apparently he'd been awake most of the night before due to the pain.

'You know what i have noticed' Mom remarked straightening his bed sheets, 'The more he gets older, the more he looks like his Dad, your Grandad'.

It had been a long time since Grandad had passed away and as i sat looking at Dad, i began to think back.....

1 – Sunday Morning Blues

The bright light of the early morning sun pierced like a knife, driving stronger and stronger into the back of my eye lids until finally, i was awake enough to turn my head away from the glare and open them and take a blurred look at the bed side clock. To which was announcing to the world in bright neon red figures it was 08.00am.

My head slumped back on my pillow disgusted at the sun and how it dare wake me at such a time on a Sunday morning, after all i was 15 years old, soon to be 16 years and was nearly a man. In my youthful world, Sundays were for laying in.

However this feeling of disgust soon passed as my nose caught the aroma drifting up from the kitchen below. It was bacon being cooked for breakfast and disgust soon turned into hunger as my stomach rumbled as if it was talking to me.

Jumping out of bed i headed for the bathroom, pulling up my underwear whilst itching my crotch along the way. I had only travelled half way when Dad suddenly darted from his bedroom holding a newspaper and hurried into the bathroom. That was the day when i came to realise my morning ritual, the one i thought private only to me was actually hereditary. However what worried me more was that i had glimpsed the future; People had always remarked how i was just like my Dad in looks and ways and to be honest the future looked bloody awful.

'Is that you i can hear Morris?', came Mom's voice from below. 'Yes Mom', i replied doing a Indian war dance across the landing, hoping it would stop my bladder from releasing as Mom sounded again, 'Don't you forget you promised to help your Grandad today with his garden'.

'Oh for god sake' i said out loud. Indeed i had forgot, it had totally slipped my mind, above all i had told him i would be there early and it was nearly 9am, and i was still dancing like Tonto waiting for the bathroom.

'He wont help you Morris' came Dads voice from behind the bathroom door.