Mark Kristen's Little Book of Life

By Mark Kristen

These stories offer a snapshot into the lives of everyday people. If you look carefully, you may well recognise yourself or someone you know in one of the tales.
Julia has no choice but to endure the agony of losing her best friend who vanished without a trace.
Alex is distraught when he shatters the dreams of the most important person in his life.
Ben’s new life abroad could be fun if only he didn’t hate foreigners, detest their food and despise their culture.
A man with no name wins a prize; a meeting with Steven King who soon realises that this person could be a character straight out of one of his books.
An eight-year-old vegetarian, Becka simply cannot understand why people have to kill animals for food. The day she and her family have to run for their lives, she learns that folk are capable of far worse things than eating meat.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781528972062

Mark Kristen

Originally from Folkestone in Kent, England, after six months hiking around Europe, Mark moved to East Finchley, London, where he lived in a commune of twenty people. A few years later after the tragic death of a close friend, he lost his way and ended up spending six months in a squat in Kings Cross, living with a heroin addict. He didn’t succumb to heroin himself, though he admits, “I came close.” Now living in Barnet, Hertfordshire, with his wife of thirty plus years, he began his writing career fifteen years ago on a whim, because, bored with life, he fancied a challenge, so decided to write a book. He had no idea what he was doing and his first attempt was, in his own words, “Diabolical! I could barely spell leave alone craft a story.” Since then, he has written two novels and lots of short stories. Here are five of those short stories. He hopes you enjoy them.

Book preview

China

About the Author

Originally from Folkestone in Kent, England, after six months hiking around Europe, Mark moved to East Finchley, London, where he lived in a commune of twenty people.

A few years later after the tragic death of a close friend, he lost his way and ended up spending six months in a squat in Kings Cross, living with a heroin addict. He didn’t succumb to heroin himself, though he admits, I came close.

Now living in Barnet, Hertfordshire, with his wife of thirty plus years, he began his writing career fifteen years ago on a whim, because, bored with life, he fancied a challenge, so decided to write a book. He had no idea what he was doing and his first attempt was, in his own words, Diabolical! I could barely spell leave alone craft a story. Since then, he has written two novels and lots of short stories. Here are five of those short stories. He hopes you enjoy them.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my wife, Elaine, and my children,

Nathan and Louis.

Copyright Information ©

Mark Kristen (2021)

The right of Mark Kristen to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528947039 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528972062 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Back-Up Bitch

Julia! Is that you? I can’t believe it, Hayley said when she saw who her next patient was. Come into this cubicle… It’s so nice to see you.

In the airy compartment, Julia sat on the edge of the bed and combed her hair with her fingers—it was windy outside. Well, she said, look at you in your nice, crisp uniform. It suits you, Hayley.

Thanks.

You finally decided on nursing, then?

I’ve always enjoyed looking after people, Hayley said and hooked the wisps of her blonde hair behind her ears.

Julia could see her friend still had that fresh look she’d always envied; that smoothness of skin that nobody else seemed to own. But it was clear too, that life had taken its toll on both of them. They looked as tired as each other.

Hayley smiled. When the local hospital near where I was living, advertised positions for Trainee Nurses, I thought, why not? She pulled on her protective gloves. Pop your leg up here, Jules, let’s have a look. As she inspected the wound they played catch up. I heard you and Rod got married?

Yes, Julia sighed. For better or worse I suppose.

I often wondered if he was ever going to ask you.

You’re not the only one. You remember how we were: together since fourteen, engaged at fifteen, split at sixteen, then back together again.

At least you got there in the end, Hayley said.

Julia looked sheepish. He popped the question after I’d agreed to the abortion.

Abortion?

I had it a few weeks after we left high school, Julia said. I was nearly three months gone by then, but Rod had plans to start a business and, as he put it, ’didn’t want any distractions.

I’m so sorry. I had no idea.

He promised that once he’d got the company up and running we could tie the knot and try for a baby then, but…well, you know Rod, she rocked her head, he kept me hanging on. It was the longest engagement in history.

He always did drag his heels, didn’t he?

Unless something’s got a pound attached to it Rod’s not interested. All he wants to do is make money. We finally made it to the altar when we were twenty-four.

Seeing her friend’s shoulders slump, Hayley asked, What’s wrong?

Julia fiddled with her wedding ring, He told me recently he never wants kids. She looked distant. I’ve always wanted children. He knew that. It hasn’t been easy.

An uncomfortable silence fell. They broke eye contact.

Julia, Hayley’s voice shook, I know I let you down and I’m sorry. Maybe—

No need to explain.

We were best friends and I didn’t even tell you I was moving away.

You just vanished off the face of the earth, Julia said, unaware she could have cut glass with her tone; it was that sharp. I couldn’t believe it. We’d known each other since we were five? I thought we’d be friends forever and there you were, gone! Your mum and dad said they didn’t know where you were. I’m not bloody stupid, Hayley, I know when I’m being lied to. When her friend began to well up, Julia softened her voice. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything. I’m just… well, I’m just not in a very happy place right now.

Hayley shrugged, Nor me.

Hey! To lighten the atmosphere Julia forced a laugh. Being pregnant at the time, I should never have been drinking at the school leaving party, but that last year was a mad time wasn’t it, with the pressure of our exams, not knowing if we wanted to go to Uni, or try to find a job?

Yes, it was a pretty stressful time, Hayley said.

How long has it been since we’ve seen each other?

Nearly eight years.

We’re twenty-six going on twenty-seven now, Hay. Can you believe it? Julia was desperate to find out where her old pal had been but didn’t know how to ask. She didn’t need to.

I went to live in Wales. Hayley had noted Julia’s wrinkled brow. I know it sounds weird but I needed to be on my own. I moved back to Surrey three months ago. As she inspected Julia’s wound she said, When Dad died Mum was left on her own, so I came back in to look after her… This gash isn’t as bad as it looks, Jules. Hayley looked up. What happened?

Oh, I fell of my horse and caught it on the wire fence at the end of the paddock.

"You have a horse… and a paddock?"

I’ve got three horses. Julia made sure she didn’t sound as though she was boasting, she knew Hayley had never had much in her life.

As friends at school they’d often discuss their dreams, and back then, Hayley had only ever wanted one thing, I want to have a pony, she’d said. My parents can’t afford to buy me one so when I grow up and go to work, I’ll have to save up really, really hard.

Horses as well? Hayley said, It sounds as though you’ve got a good life?

It’s not that great, Julia replied but Hayley hadn’t heard; she was busy hunting for the