Past Present

By Norman Burslem

Alex Stone is unemployed, divorced and broke. In his desperation he remembers how he and his now ex-wife thought of a ploy to obtain a very valuable wrist watch from his father before their divorce. Unfortunately his father is now resident in a care home suffering from dementia. Alex leaves the hostel where he is living and makes his way to North Wales where he finds work and a place to live, sharing an apartment with a youngish woman who works at the home. She is seeking romance; Alex isn’t.
Alex’s ex-wife, Judith, has the same idea. She persuades her new partner and daughter to accompany her to North Wales. Both she and Alex plan to use their daughter’s forthcoming eighteenth birthday as the reason for James Stone to relinquish the watch. Both are desperate for money and a competition ensues. James has lost the watch. This fact leads the competitors to put pressure on care home staff, the local police and the local vicar. The watch is finally found but problems only multiply especially after James dies. Surprisingly the final outcome is positive for James and his daughter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press UK
• Release date: Dec 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781982286750

Book preview

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ONE

S urely that was the Kent coast; so thought Jimmy Stone as he sat in an armchair gazing through the lounge window of the Min-y-Don Care Home in North Wales. He decided to ask the woman sitting next to him, Mrs Whatever, Jimmy couldn’t remember her proper name. She was asleep so he asked Penny who was pouring cups of tea. Is that the Kent coast dear? Penny Jones smiled, No Jimmy we’re in North Wales, don’t you remember? We’re here in Rhys-on-Sea. Rhys what? Jimmy asked himself, some foreign place then, how had he got here and why? He’d better ask Lizzie, his wife.

The Royalty Disco in Southgate, now he did remember that. Back in the seventies it was, and yes, he had first noticed Lizzie sitting with her friends at a table by the bar. He had lacked the courage to approach her while all her friends were present, but when the dancing started, and most of her friends had been invited to take the floor, he had plucked up the courage to request a dance, after all he was in his best gear, very glam rock with a shiny jacket, new jeans, his brand new trainers, not to mention his expensive haircut. Lizzie had looked him up and down then accepted.

Nice here isn’t it? Not the most original chat up line, but she had smiled self-consciously, I thought you might ask me if I come here often.

I know you do, he had told her, I’ve seen you here several times before.

Oh.

Good here, isn’t it?

Yes.

What do you do?

I’m a nursery teacher and you?

I’m a student at... A voice interrupted him, Jimmy, I’ve brought your tea.

Lizzie? No, it was Penny. I thought you were...

Take your tea darling please. He did as she asked, the disco event had evaporated, Lizzie with it. The tea was too hot to drink; Jimmy placed it on the table beside his chair and gazed out of the window; now was that the Kent coast? Suddenly he felt tired.

Jimmy, Jimmy, your tea’s gone cold; I suppose you don’t want it now. He shook his head. You’ll be the death of me, James Stone. Jimmy shook his head again, closed his eyes and slept.

They woke him for the evening meal. Sachin helped him get up and supported him on the way to the dining room. Liverpool is playing Arsenal tonight, it’s on television, Sachin told him.

Arsenal, what’s Arsenal?

Football, Jimmy.

Football? Ah you mean Bangor City.

Well no Jimmy, they haven’t played football for years.

Yes they bloody well have, I saw them play Rhyl only last week.

If you say so Jimmy.

They sat him by Mrs Whatever and another woman. This other woman squelched as she walked. Are you alright dear? Jimmy asked, You’re making a funny noise.

It’s this catheter thing love; I’ve got this tube from my bladder to a bag attached to my thigh.

Now, now Megan, that’s too much information, especially at meal time, Sachin told her.

You must be really peed off dear, Jimmy remarked.

Right Jimmy, let’s all concentrate on eating, it’s salmon tonight, Sachin informed them all while suppressing a laugh.

Much later something woke Jimmy up; he looked round his bedroom; that woman was in the room again, Hey you, what are you doing?

Breakfast, Jimmy,

He looked out of the window, Is that the Kent coast? The woman looked bewildered and didn’t answer. A bloody foreigner thought Jimmy, what the hell’s she doing here in Sussex?

He was in the lift; he disliked lifts because on one holiday he and Lizzie had had a nasty experience in one. Yes, he remembered, they were in France, Montauban it was; there was a lift in the art gallery; the lift had broken down between floors, Lizzie and he were trapped. He remembered pressing the emergency button and attempting to explain in French what had happened. It got hotter, both of them had panicked; he had shouted, Lizzie had screamed. Twenty minutes later they had been freed by the sapeurs pompiers. Thank you monsieur, Lizzie had said. De rien, the fireman had said with a grin on his face. Where was Lizzie now?

There was a slight jolt. Lizzie, are we stuck again? Sachin answered for the nonexistent Lizzie.

No Jimmy, the lift always does that, don’t you remember? Here we are, breakfast.

Jimmy looked out of the dining room’s main window. Sachin knew what was coming, Jimmy, that is not the Kent coast, we’re in North Wales.

They sat him opposite that woman; now what was her name? She spoke, good morning Mr. erm...erm.

Yes, good morning Mrs..... Now what the hell was the woman’s name? Breakfast passed in silence then he was taken to the lounge. He looked out; there was a seagull on the lawn; it was a herring gull, but where was Dick Turnbull? He and Dick often went collecting birds’ eggs. They had climbed up about thirty feet on to the Great Orme; it was pretty sheer and the sea was below them; Dick screamed as he lost his grip. Help! help! Jimmy shouted out loud. A voice cut in, What on earth’s the matter, Jimmy?

Dick’s fallen, get help.

Who’s Dick?

A face filled his vision. Jimmy you’re in the lounge, don’t you remember; you’ve just had breakfast.

Dick’s hurt.

Dick’s not here Jimmy.

Who are you?

I’m Chandra, don’t you remember me?

There was a funeral, I remember, his mum cried.

Now come on Jimmy, I’ve got to smarten you up because Doctor Cresswell is coming to see you.

Why, can he help Dick?

No, Jimmy he’s coming to help you."

No good then.

Chandra ran a comb through his hair. You still got plenty of hair Jimmy.

They had always said that and then they said, You were born with your head in a bucket, your hair’s gone rusty.

Jimmy pushed out with both hands. Careful Jimmy, you could have knocked me over.

Don’t call me a member of the awkward squad who has spots.

Jimmy, I didn’t.

Well somebody did.

Chandra finished combing Jimmy’s hair. There you are Jimmy; you look really smart; Doctor Cresswell will be here soon so we must take you to your room.

Don’t want to, must stay here by Dick.

A different voice cut in, It’s okay Jimmy, we’ve taken Dick up to your room already.

Will Lizzie be there?

She may be on her way.

Jimmy relaxed and let them help him into a wheelchair. He didn’t hear the whispered conversation between Chandra and Sachin. Don’t worry, murmured Sachin, he’ll have forgotten all about Dick and Lizzie by the time we get him to his room.

Who is this Dick?

A boy he was friends with sixty years ago. They were stealing birds’ eggs on the Great Orme when Dick fell; he was killed outright when he hit the rocks. Jimmy often mentions him.

Jimmy was alone when someone entered his room. Who the hell are you?

I’m Doctor Edwards, I’ve just taken over from Doctor Cresswell; he’s retired, lucky chap. Now I want to examine you and ask a few questions, alright?

They did this when I was in the army. Jimmy told him.

Really, which regiment?

I was a civilian teacher in West Germany. I used to teach the soldiers’ children. Ich war Lehrer, as they say over there.

Very good Mr Stone, but can you speak Welsh as well?

Welsh, what’s that? This thing on my arm hurts.

I’m just taking your blood pressure Mr Stone. Now I want to ask you some questions. Can you tell me how you would make a cup of tea?

Of course doctor; first you go to India or Ceylon.

Why, Mr Stone?

To get the tea leaves man. You need to go to Assam or Darjeeling or that other place in Ceylon. I’ve been there with Lizzie.

Lizzie?

Yes, she’ll be here soon; you see she always makes the tea.

Well, while we wait for her could you tell me please?

Put the kettle on, then, oh yes, put the tea in the pan, then pour water into the pan and mix it up with a spoon, then drink it with some milk and lots of sugar; I think that’s what Lizzie does; she’ll be here soon you can ask her.

There was a knock on the door, it was Penny. I’ve brought you both a cup of tea. Jimmy looked hard at the doctor, Lizzie made this. She put the kettle on, then she put tea in the pan, then she’s poured water into the pan and stirred it and now we can drink it. It will be excellent.

After his meeting with James Stone, the doctor reported his findings to the nursing home’s director. Mr Stone’s blood pressure is very high, I’ll change his pills, and he needs to be more relaxed. Is he violent at all? Doctor Edwards was in conference with Mr Brown. Just occasionally Doctor, usually it’s something to do with his past.

He mentions somebody called Lizzie a lot.

Lizzie was his wife; she’s been dead over ten years now. He does have a son; we don’t often see him, but I’ll bet he’ll be here quickly when his father dies because Mr Stone has quite an amount stashed away, enough for instance to pay for his care here from the interest alone.

He was a teacher wasn’t he?

Yes, that’s right doctor; I didn’t realise you could make so much money from teaching, perhaps I’m in the wrong line. Actually, Mr Stone did inherit a packet when his wife died

Lucky chap. The doctor said with a smile.

Some lucky people have rich relatives doctor, and when they die people, like Mr Stone for instance, find that suddenly they are very rich.

It won’t happen to me I’m sure, the Doctor said as he left the office.

Someone was screaming; Jimmy pulled himself up in bed. It must be Gloria his sister. Jimmy remembered his parents rushing to her bedroom. Gloria cried out,

I’ve seen a dragon flying past my window; it was breathing fire and growling; it went in that direction, Gloria had told them this as she pointed to the empty sky.

Well then, dad had said, it must either have been flying backwards or it had severe indigestion. It was probably a doodlebug, there’s a war on you know.

Jimmy saw the flash then an explosion had rattled all the windows in the house. Dad had led them all downstairs into the kitchen. He pulled the table over to the fireplace; the fire was out but there was some residual warmth. Jimmy had sat under it shivering with fear next to Ossie, his elder brother and Gloria, then, and only then, did the siren sound. His dad had sworn. Outside it sounded like Bonfire Night, magnified many times, gunshots, flashes. Ossie had started crying; Jimmy had felt sick; Gloria helped mum make some tea. When it was all over dad told them what had happened. It was an air raid, probably by V1s, Ossie had asked him why he’d moved the table. Dad had explained,

The strongest part of this house is by the chimney breast. If the house had been hit we may have survived, especially under this heavy table. The children had been taken back to bed. No-one could sleep. Next day, in the afternoon, dad had taken them to see the spot where the bomb had fallen. As they approached they saw dead fish strewn across the road. The bomb had hit two bungalows built next to the canal; both dwellings were shattered, four adults and three children had been killed. As they had stood there in reverential silence a youth suddenly appeared from the wreckage. I’ve got a piece of the bomb! he had yelled. He waved a piece of twisted metal at them.

That’s part of the water tank lad, dad had called out to him.

Another flash, someone entered Jimmy’s room, It’s alright Jimmy it’s just a thunderstorm, Mrs Bateman was frightened, and that was her screaming.

Where the hell am I? Jimmy asked himself. Of course, he was near the Kent coast. It was his honeymoon, now where was Lizzie surely she wanted to join him in bed? He fell asleep still wondering.

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TWO

T he telephone rang in Mr Brown’s office; his personal assistant, Margaret Thorpe, answered it.

Good morning this is the Min-y-Don Care Home, how may I help you?

I’m Alex Stone and I’m ringing about my father, James Stone.

I’ll put you through to Mr Brown, Alex.

Alex had to wait several seconds to be connected. Damn, he thought, more expense. After what seemed like minutes, he finally heard Mr Brown’s voice.

Hello Alex, how are you? Yes, your father is well; the doctor saw him yesterday; he’s prescribed some different pills for his blood pressure. He’s confused at times, and it might help if you could visit.

I’m down in London these days Mr Brown, but I’ll try to visit him soon.

Have you got any more family photographs Alex? We do find they help our residents because, sometimes, they help to establish a time line for people like your father. He’s got a couple of himself and his wife, and one of your family, but it would be good if you’ve got some others possibly with yourself in. You’ve got some, good and we’ll look forward to your visit. Goodbye for now.

Alex sat back in an armchair at the Salvation Army Hostel in Kings Cross. He was broke, jobless and fed up. His ex-wife, Judith, was always chasing him for money; often she tried to blackmail him emotionally by mentioning their daughter at every opportunity that was one of the reasons why he’d done a runner and entered the hostel. His knew his father had money, but how was he going to get to North Wales; he must come up with a convincing story for the major at the hostel or find a job. Later, as he lay resting on his bed, he remembered his dad had a valuable watch. It was made from eighteen carat gold and it had been manufactured in Switzerland. Alex knew he couldn’t get at his dad’s money yet, but the watch; surely his dad would let him have the watch. He pondered on how he should approach a request for financial help from the Salvation Army. He knew the watch had been a present to his father from his mother when she had inherited all that money from a distant relative. He knew his father would be very reluctant to give up the watch voluntarily; perhaps if Alex explained that any proceeds from its sale would go to his granddaughter’s education that might do the trick. His father was confused so perhaps he might be able to borrow, for want of a more accurate word, the watch. In either case he needed to get to North Wales but how? He fell asleep with the problem unresolved.

Alex was half awake when the idea came to him. He would tell the major at the hostel that he had had a letter from the nursing home informing him that his father was very ill; could the Salvation Army lend him some money so he could visit his dad and perhaps stay overnight? Alex realised that the major might ask to see the letter so it might be better to say he’d phoned the nursing home, yes, that should do it.

Jimmy, Jimmy, time to wake up.

Jimmy stirred; was that Lizzie calling? He opened his eyes, no, that wasn’t Lizzie.

Who are you?

It’s me Jimmy.

Who are you?

It’s me Jimmy, Penny, you remember me surely after all that tea I’ve served you."

Slowly Jimmy’s memory slowly clicked into gear. What time is it Penny?

Breakfast time Jimmy, and I’ve got good news, your son Alex is coming to visit.

Alex?

Your son, Jimmy. Don’t you remember he came about a year ago? Penny Jones reached across the bedside table, and took the framed photograph from its habitual perch. Here he is Jimmy with your wife when he was little.

That’s Lizzie, is she coming?

You can ask Alex about her Jimmy.

Later in the lounge, Jimmy remembered someone called Alex. He was a baby and he was always crying. We must take him to the doctors Jimmy, Lizzie had said. Where was Lizzie now? He did miss her.

*

The major at the hostel had been very helpful; he showed concern when Alex had described his father’s health; of course Alex must visit him and stay over; the major had even ordered and paid for a coach return ticket, and given Alex money for bed and breakfast at the Min-y-Don Care Home. All Alex had to do was pack and pick up the ticket. While packing he even remembered to include a few family photographs including one of father’s granddaughter, Gemma. Gemma was almost eighteen; was there an opportunity to convince his father that the Swiss watch would be a suitable birthday present? He then remembered that his ex-wife had suggested the same thing some time ago before their marriage ended.

What time is it now? Jimmy asked himself the question as he sat once again in the lounge. He turned to Mrs Whatever but she was asleep again. He turned to that other woman, Mrs Squelchy leg, as he called her.

Do you know what time it is, dear?

Don’t you dear me, you silly old bugger.

Penny arrived with the tea trolley; there was a tall chap with her, now where had Jimmy seen him before. The tall man came over and sat down next to Jimmy. Good afternoon Mr. Stone, how are you today?

Jimmy didn’t reply, you never knew