In a Large Loud City (Where Something Almost Always Happens): The Cities & Villages Saga, #2

By Ian A. Hollis

Welcome to the intricate world of 'In a Large, Loud City,' where the lives of its inhabitants are as complex as the city itself. At the centre of it all is Adam - a man of many faces and many lives - and Belle, a young mother whose son carries his name. This enthralling narrative weaves through time, from hospital rooms to mysterious trains and alternate realities, exploring the connections that bind us and the secrets that pull us apart.

 

As Angela grapples with trust and familiar warmth, Amanda navigates the complexities of marriage and identity. Simultaneously, characters like Benji Sabrina, Julie and Max find themselves entangled in quests for truth and meaning, whether it's through spiritual journeys or desperate races against time.

 

Spanning from the daily grind to existential dilemmas, this story delves deep into the human psyche and the countless choices that define us. Each chapter is a jigsaw piece in a grand puzzle, revealing a tapestry of human frailty, resilience, and the eternal quest for understanding.

 

Join us on the rollercoaster of emotion, revelation, and introspection, as 'In a Large, Loud City' takes you on a journey you won't easily forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian A. Hollis
• Release date: Oct 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223080749

Ian A. Hollis

Born and raised in Port Macquarie, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, Ian is a well-travelled English language teacher whose favourite hobbies are music, movies, video games and the internet.  Ian dreams of one day being a filmmaker.

Book preview

"It is unreasonable to assume that a fictional character knows what genre they’re in."

—  Unknown.

Birth

(Belle and Angela)

Ominous grey clouds stretched from horizon to horizon. Thick sheets of snow blanketed the busy, smog-ridden, early morning city streets. A blizzard blew throughout the many corridors and back alleys of the city’s factories and skyscrapers. Snowflakes chased by the breeze swirled, turned, and seemed to cower before the howl of the wind, each one eventually settling into the freezing cold comfort of the snow which had fallen before it.

"Push! cried the midwife. We’re almost there."

Belle, you’ve got this, said Angela, with bold encouragement, holding Belle’s hand tightly.

Covered in sweat, and crying a river of tears, Belle put in her best effort to have her child come into this world once and for all.

It’s a boy! cried the midwife, slicing the tension in the air with a burst of excitement. A very healthy-looking baby boy.

Relieved, Belle sank back onto the hospital bed, exhausted from the effort she had put in to birth the child.

Okay, so we’re just going to measure and weigh the little tyke first, then you’ll be able to hold him.

Belle nodded.

Have you decided on a name yet? asked Angela, her eyes wide with anticipation.

You, know, began Angela as she helped Belle into a more comfortable position, it’s customary for the first son to be named after his father. So what are you going to call him? She leaned in closer to Belle and whispered, It’s going to be Kevin, right? She had an almost mischievous smile. He’s such a fine boy.

Belle, exhausted after having just given birth, looked Angela dead in the eye, her gaze sharp and focused if not a little cold and said, Adam.

Angela’s eyes widened as her blood boiled making her face go red, as her breathing intensified, but she just couldn’t quite control herself and shouted out, "Adam!?"

Ma’am, interrupted the midwife in a stern, yet calm and controlled voice. Please, the mother needs her rest.

Yes, of course, said Angela. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.

Ma’am. Perhaps a walk out in the crisp winter air would do you at world of good.

Angela paused for a moment to regain her composure. You know, you’re right, she said as she took some sharp, deep breaths and left the room. I’ll be back in an hour or so.

Take your time, ma’am.

Adam, indeed, she huffed.

Mothers can be so troublesome sometimes, said the midwife.

Oh, she’s not my mother, said Belle with a smile. She’s a friend of the family. More like an aunt. My mother’s busy. She said she’ll come visit in a day or two.

Another midwife came in with Adam Junior and said, A very healthy eight point nine pounds, and a rather impressive twenty-two inches long.

I’m not too sure what any of that means, I just want to hold my baby. Belle reached out to hold her child.

Here you go. The midwife handed over Adam Jr.

Oh, said Belle with an unstoppable smile. He looks like his father.

Speaking of which, ma’am, not that it’s any of my business, but I don’t see, nor have I seen, any sign of the father’s whereabouts.

Oh, he’s— she began, before she paused while she figured out how to answer the question. He’s away, she continued. On an extended honeymoon with his wife, she thought as she figured out what to say. ... on a business trip.

Ugh, scoffed the midwife, These men think of nothing if not the size of their wallet.

Oh, no, it’s not like that at all, replied Belle in a reassuring tone. It was just bad timing. It was either go on the trip or lose his job entirely.

Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. I’m sure he’ll be as happy to see his son as you’ve been.

Belle, her face a little scrunched, an eyebrow raised, looked around the room.

Is everything alright, ma’am?

Can you keep a secret?

Hospital patient confidentiality demands it. What you tell me in confidence stays with me and me alone.

I slept with a now-married man behind his at-the-time girlfriend’s back.

Good heavens, woman, began the midwife sternly, but quietly. What the devil so possessed you to do such a thing? The devil himself, I suppose.

Well . . . Belle described Adam to the midwife in thorough detail.

Not that I support such things, but he does sound like quite the catch, replied the midwife. Does his missus know?

I don’t know, replied Belle. I just hope they’re happy together wherever they are. They made a great couple, and by the way, may I call you by your name?

Of course, dear. It’s Heather.

Nice to meet you, Heather.

Nice to meet you too, Missus Thunderbringer.

Actually, it’s just miss, she said, showing her bare ring finger on her left hand to Heather.

Oh, good heavens, said Heather, as she made the sign of the cross over herself. Don’t get me wrong dear. You seem as nice of a girl as I’ve ever met, but you’re a sinner if ever there was one.

Well, it’s not my fault that Adam’s got such great taste, she said as she gestured to her own face.

Heather’s eyes widened in shock. The devil himself moves your tongue, miss. And be well careful of what you say in a place like this, Belle, because believe me, the walls have ears, if you know what I mean.

Belle looked out the room’s door and noticed various health professionals walk by doing various things, occasionally moving a patient from one room to another.

I thought you were under oath. About confidentiality, I mean.

The medical staff for certain, but no such rules apply to the patients, if you understand my meaning.

Belle replied with a long and drawn out, Oh.

I wonder how your friend who was here earlier is doing.

Oh, Angela? I’m sure she’s fine. She probably just went down to the coffee shop where Kevin works.

Oh, so there is a Kevin?

Yeah, replied Belle with slightly mischievous smile on her face.

Honeymooners

(Adam and Amanda)

In the hush of the morning after their honeymoon departure from the village, Amanda stirred from a quiet sleep as their train began to slow. Adam was already awake from a disturbed night’s slumber. The rhythm of the once vigorous sway mellowed into a gentle rock, signalling their approach towards the station. The screech of the seasoned wheels echoed in the stillness, punctuated by the train's resonant whistle, transitioning them from the ruins of their dreams to the crisp reality of their destination.

Gosh, I can’t wait to settle into this cute little cabin I’ve read so much about, said Amanda smiling, as Adam helped her off the train, and they gathered their luggage.

Well, all of those brochures made it seem like quite something, didn’t they?

They sure did.

They looked around. It didn’t feel too different from the village, only busier and a better developed. Adam admired the way the morning light scattered through the leaves of the immensely tall trees and revelled in the scent of mountain village’s morning dew-filled air.

Wow, said Adam, his face aglow with surprise. This place even had its very own post office, and back in the village we always have to go into the city for our mail.

Amanda folded her arms, smirked and with a raised eyebrow gave Adam a lovingly stern look. "Didn’t you used to live in the city?"

"Ah. I used to live in a city, but never that particular city, although it is quite similar to some of the ones I’ve previously lived in. Something about the village though gives it an aura as if it’s far away from everywhere, so it’s always surprising to me just how close the city is. Although that trek from the city towards the Inconvenience Store and onwards makes it feel like it’s both near and far at the same time."

Amanda, with two raised eyebrows, gave a slow nod. The village does have a mysterious aura about it that makes it feel like it’s a world unto itself. And you’re right, that walk does sometimes feel both short and long.

Oh, that village is undoubtedly a world unto itself. It’s quite magical in its own way, although I’m not quite sure why.

It’s the vending machines and the old train station.

The vending machines? Adam replied, as he thought about it. I suppose it is. What is it about those things anyway?

Amanda, eyes wide, breathed in sharply. Well, I could tell you about the local myths and legends surrounding the village and how it supposedly came to be, but I’d rather just go to our cabin and start enjoying our honeymoon, if you know what I mean, she said with a wink.

"Okay, sure. I get that, but—and I know you don’t know this about me because it’s never really come up before—but I love things like myths, legends, fairy tales and so on."

We’re here, said Amanda as she slapped the door of their cabin.

So, we are.

Adam reached into his top-left jacket pocket, pulled out the keys and unlocked the door.

Oh gosh, a chandelier, said Amanda as Adam carried her over the threshold.

In the centre of the room lay a king-size, mahogany wood, four-poster bed, with a wall-mounted candle on either side.

Thank you so much for this, Adam. How did you afford all of this?

Ah, he said as placed Amanda on the bed. I have a rich uncle.

Amanda laughed. Oh, so you have a rich uncle, do you? she said as she put ‘rich uncle’ in air quotes.

Actually, yeah.

Really? she said and moved into a sitting position on the bed. Here, come sit by me.

Adam loosened his clothes and told Amanda about when he used to work in a smelting factory as a young teenager, before he travelled.

So, began Amanda, her eyebrows raised, a far-off look in her eyes. What happened?

It was a long time ago.

A long time ago, huh? In a city, far, far away?

What? You know exactly how far away the city is from here.

I do, it’s ... she began, her eyes pointed upwards as she began some quick calculations in her head a few hundred kilometres away from here, I guess?

Oh, you guess?

Yeah, I guess, she said with a smirk.

Or you read it on the pamphlet? he asked, as he held up the pamphlet and pointed to the part where it said, Only a few hundred kilometres away from where you live.

Well, you know—guess, pamphlet. Pamphlet, guess, she said while she moved her upturned hands in the air as if mimicking an old-fashioned scale. Now tell me about your rich uncle, she demanded. "You do have a rich uncle, right? You’re not messing with me."

Uh, yeah, no, I do. Uncle, uh, Steve from memory. He tilted his head, and his eyes darted around as if trying to confirm he had the name right. Yeah. Uncle Steve, I think. He scratched his forehead, he clicked up on his heels, and his lips tensed as if in an attempt to avoid saying something.

Is there something you’d rather not tell me?

Huh? Oh no, it’s not that, it’s more a matter of figuring out where the story of my mysterious Uncle Steve begins.

Oh, she said, her mood now solemn. Mysterious?

You know what? I actually don’t mind telling you at all, but that train journey was a jolly-good-long few hours, wasn’t it?

She smiled. Yeah, it was.

"So, if it’s all the same to you, I’d really like to have nap on an actual bed, not some rickety old, cushioned train seat." Adam sauntered over to his side of the bed, laid down and fell almost immediately asleep.

Kinda hoped we could start a family, but whatever.

Huh? asked Adam in a drowsy slur.

Oh, nothing. Never mind. Enjoy your rest.

Amanda sat there, looked around the room and wondered what was to come of their relationship. Not wanting to disturb Adam, she arose from the bed as quickly and cautiously as possible. She sat down in the chair which Adam had slumped his coat over and started to go through the congratulatory wedding envelopes, admiring the one from Belle in particular, which she set aside to open last.

Life, Oh Life

(Angela plus Kevin)

Surrounded by the scent of fresh coffee and stale cheesecake, Angela was sat by herself at a table in a busy cafeteria just down the road from the hospital. Now knowing who Belle’s son was fathered by, with a heavy heart, Angela mulled over the events of the past year, remembering when Adam first arrived, the damage caused by that horrid storm, and Jacob’s funeral. She also thought about the last time she saw Donna before she was swept away by the river, and wondered if they would ever find her. Finally, she considered the series of events which must have led to Belle's pregnancy.

Hello Mrs. Hunterson.

Angela looked up, snapped back to reality by a familiar voice. A particularly tall and slender, yet lean, young man wearing a coffee house branded apron stood above her with a tea towel thrown over his right shoulder.

Kevin, said Angela, surprised, but with a smile. You work here now?

Yeah, I work here now. Can you believe it? I’m a fully trained barista.

Come, take a seat, said Angela as she patted the seat across from her. You’ve grown up so much from that day when we all first met.

I remember. We had a shared village picnic. That’s when I first met Belle and, um, Donna, he said, a little pensive, aware of what had happened. Any word?

Angela’s shoulders partially sunk, and she shook her head lightly. Nothing. Twelve-thousand man-hours looking for her and last we heard is that the ‘experts,’ she said, doing air quotes, whoever they’re meant to be, say that they believe her body was washed out to sea. Likely eaten by a shark, or something by now.

Kevin’s eyes moved in one direction then another, his lips drawn inward, he didn’t know what to say.

"I mean who do they think they are? Her body washed out to sea, like they know for certain she’s dead." Angela scowled.

I can only imagine how you feel. I honestly don’t know what to say, ma’am.

Oh Kevin, sighed Angela. "I’m sorry to bring all of this out on you like this, but in my heart of hearts, I truly believe that Donna’s out there somewhere. Whether she remembers who she is or her life here, or if she really was washed out to sea is another story, but I truly believe that she’s alive out there somewhere. Even if she never comes back, I just know she’s okay."

I hope she is. Anyway, I have to get back to work.

Of course.

Oh, just before I go, how’s Belle?

You haven’t heard?

Heard what? Has something happened? said Kevin, with concern in his voice.

Oh no, she’s fine. If you’ve got time, why don’t you come over to the village on the weekend and we’ll get you all caught up.

Alright. So, I’ll see you on, say, Saturday, around noon?

I’ll let Grandma know you’ll be around, and she’ll surely make some cookies.

Oh, gosh, how I’ve missed those. I mean, if Grandma’s makin’ some cookies, I’ll be there with bells on. No pun intended. But chocolate-chip only. No raisins this time, he said his finger pointed quite decidedly at Angela. I have trust issues because of that experience,

Okay, okay. Chocolate chip only, no raisins. I’ll let her know.

Awesome. Well that’s me back to work. I’ll see you on Saturday.

See you on Saturday, Kevin.

For the interaction with Kevin, Angela’s heart felt much lighter. She put down her empty coffee cup, picked up her belongings, and made her way out onto the busy city street. As she went down the street and by the bus stop, she noticed some commotion in the traffic, with various drivers yelling profanities and making obscene gestures towards each other. As the car whizzed by the bus stop, it threw up a lot of the sleet which had settled there, making a mess of many of the people waiting, and Angela wasn’t spared.

Ugh, she said as it happened, as she wished she’d seen it coming so she could’ve avoided it, but she decided she’d just have to change at the hospital. Good thing I always bring a spare set of clothes with me, she thought.

Back at the hospital, Angela skipped reception and made her way back to Belle’s room but was stopped by Nurse Heather. Oh, excuse me, ma’am, but you’ll have to come back later. The mother and the baby are both sound asleep, she said, before asking, Is everything alright, ma’am? You seem to’ve run into a spot of trouble.

Ugh. There was an incident near the bus stop, which I failed to avoid.

There’s a water closet down the end of the hall on the right you can use. I won’t bother you, ma’am, and I’ll trust you can see yourself out once you’re done.

Of course.

Heather carried on with her duties, and Amanda made her way to the water closet where she changed into her fresh set of clothes.

Faith

(Benji and Sabrina)

Sabrina stood on the church grounds, her hands in her hoodie pockets, looking up at the building feeling nothing in particular. Just looking. Her mind was adrift with all sorts of things. She stood for a while, not knowing what to feel or if she felt anything at all. She just stood and looked. Birds flew by, clouds passed on, and a gentle breeze drifted through the surrounding woodlands, which rattled the large entrance doors of the church so much that a latch fell, and one of the doors creaked as it opened, almost as if inviting Sabrina inside.

She took a few steps towards the door and cautiously peered in, her mind becoming a swell of memories, her heart a river of emotions as she thought back on Jacob’s funeral only a few months ago.

Hello? she called out with gentle strength, to no reply.

The inside of the church was as immaculate as any church should be, and the way the stain glassed windows shaped the early morning light as it bounced all around the inside of the church was a spectacle to behold. She walked in, and gently closed the door behind