Mad world…

Familiar faces…

Shopping. About four bags and a Labrador that’s a little bold and as Neil opens the tailgate, Brewster is looking at this as a means to escape.
He’s a bit big for squeezing passed, but Neil lets himself get distracted in that second and Brewster takes off.
Running around Asda’s car park, shouting at his dog who would rather be chased and have a little bit of fun on a Saturday afternoon than spend another minute trapped inside the car.
Brewster stops. Raises his head and sniffs. There’s a strong smell of food here, Neil is a few feet away and Brewster still thinking the game is on, runs off.
He doesn’t really see the other car, he does see a pair of legs, at the back of it and he almost runs into these legs and as he stops, he looks up at a woman loading shopping into the back of her car.
Holding a bag, she looks down at the dog, he is quite sure that they will collide and he can hear Neil shouting.
The bag does get placed in the car and she looks at the dog who for some strange reason, is looking up at her and she’d almost say that it’s smiling at her.
Brewster makes a gentle whining sound, looking quite pitiful now, watching her as she smiles.
Neil is behind him and he can hear the sound of his lead, Brewster lowers his head, as if he’s apologising to the woman.
Neil attaches the lead and he looks at her.
He apologises, but she smiles at him, a brief one perhaps, but she did smile at him, he saw it.
A reminder in that moment, one of Janet. Her smile and this woman’s is just like hers.
He pulls on Brewster’s lead, heading back to their own car and leaving the woman behind.

Driving back home and a space out by the gate. Hugo is due later, he always has trouble parking, it’s not as if Neil hasn’t warned him, he has. Hugo, just doesn’t seem to remember that part of it.
Four bags and a dog that was a little naughty, but Neil can’t be cross with him for too long.
Holding the bags and he sees the woman’s smile again.
Not really paying attention to her, only Brewster, his lead and then her smile, that he now thinks about again.
Brewster tells him he needs feeding.
Settling on his settee, Brewster’s settee, as it’s become known, he makes himself nice and comfortable as Neil sits at his desk, opens his laptop and gets to work.
There’s an article he’s written, which his editor has said he wants to publish on Sunday. There’s been a lot of heat about the recent education cuts, a lot of people that aren’t happy at all.
Neil taps at the keys, writing away…taking time with it.
Brewster happily dozes on the settee, dreaming about food and playing, most likely…

Not hard to fall…

A mug of tea and standing by the mantelpiece, looking at the photo’s of Janet. There is one in particular, she’s got her arms around Brewster, this was taken last year, when they were down in Weymouth, trying to find a hotel that would take dogs was a real pain, but Janet had found a guest house that happily would.
Weymouth. Four days and it seems so long ago.
How it’s all changed.
Walking on Chesil beach, arm in arm and Brewster running along ahead of them, Janet suddenly becoming so tired and they sat on the stones and sat closely, his arm around her shoulders and talking, soft voices, soft words…that photo. Why that one? Neil looks at Brewster, taking the settee as his own and sleeping.
Janet and Brewster.
One photo out of maybe hundreds, one from the last weekend they ever had together like that.
The answer is right there. The last weekend, with Janet and not long after…
Neil listens to the soft whirring noise of his laptop, calling him back and to finish off.
A glance at her photo and walking to his desk.
The best weekend of his life.

Brewster’s off the settee and at the door. A rustling of keys and it opens on Hugo, looking at Brewster.
Hugo brings his briefcase, a bottle of something, but sadly no food.
A smile at Brewster who turns back to the front room and Neil, just saving his article and looks up at Hugo by the door.
Hugo moans about parking. Brewster seems to shake his head.
He sits on the settee, pushing Brewster along it, his briefcase and the bottle are put down by the side of it.
The beginning of hours of debate.
“So, is it done?”
“Yeah, it’s going up next week.”
Hugo pulls at his jacket, “You should get out of politics. Do something different.”
“I like politics.”
Hugo laughs, “No you don’t. it’s all cheap lies and bullshit. You’ve been wallowing too long.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“My dear, Neil Douglas. You are a sweet fellow. You can do better than write about those feeble people, I know it and so do you.”
“Yeah, well, it’s what I’ve always done.”
“That’s no excuse Neil.”
Hugo strokes Brewster’s back, “And how’s my favourite doggy these days?”
Brewster lets Hugo stroke him, but doesn’t lift his head.
“Are you going to read it or what?”
“You know very well that there isn’t anything that you’ve written that I won’t read. I need a little drink to get me going. That’s all.”
Neil moves away from his desk, the kitchen drawer and a corkscrew and two glasses.
Hugo is removing his jacket and sits at Neil’s laptop. Glasses in place and he holds the bottle up.
A large glass of red wine, and Hugo is all set.
Neil sits with Brewster, who turns, resting his head on his lap.
Watching Hugo’s eyes move, intent and not being distracted from reading. The glass of wine held so close to his lips, an occasional sip, eyes don’t roam, don’t see anything until he reads Neil’s name at the bottom of the piece.
The glass is put down and Hugo sits back, “I was right. You should get out of all this nonsense. You’re wasted.”
A compliment from Hugo, making Neil smile, and it’s not over yet…

Another glass of wine and Hugo is looking at the photo’s of Janet. He wouldn’t have the heart to tell Neil to take them down.
But back to Neil’s work, “That was quite a passionate piece about education.”
“I had to do it like that. If I’d written it any less, I’d be letting Janet down.”
“You’ve never let her down, no reason to think you are now.”
“You know what she was like, Hugo. Her little nudges.”
“That was her faith in what you can do, maybe you should write a book. I have contacts you know.”
Neil smiles, Hugo’s contacts. Is there anyone in publishing he doesn’t know?
“I was thinking about stopping writing all together. Sell this house and move away.”
“If you gave up writing you would be letting Janet down. By all means sell this place, but don’t stop writing. There wouldn’t be any justice in that at all.”
“Ha! Justice? Where’s the justice in me losing Janet like that? You’re a man with so many words, tell me where the justice is in that?”
Hugo turns away from the photo’s, “I never said there was justice in you and Janet. You loved her and she died. All that happened is that her health failed, I know how hard the both of you fought, but what could you have done? You both did so much and the best thing of all of it is that love was there between you. I don’t have to stand here and tell you that, I know, because I see it in you now, exactly the same as you were then. Nobody ever said that fairy tales have to have a happy ending.”
“Do you have any idea how cruel that sounds?”
“Do you think I’m trying to hurt you? My good friend, leave this house, you and Brewster, move away, but don’t think about stopping. Janet would be hurt by that. Come to think of it, so would I.”
Neil finishes his wine and reaches for the bottle, “I was thinking about it, I didn’t actually say I was quitting.”
“Good! I am quite glad to hear it.”

“Are you staying?”
Hugo puts the glass on the arm of the chair, “Yes, if you don’t mind. Bertha has gone to her mothers.”
“I’ll have to make up the room.”
“Aren’t you back in your room yet?”
Neil shakes his head, “No. I can’t go in there.”
“Why not?”
“It’s the bed Hugo. It’s empty and feels cold.”
“I’m sorry, I thought that you were.”
“No, I can’t.”
Now perhaps would be a good time for a change of mood. Hugo sits forward, “I think I may have something for you.”
“Oh? More politics, is it?”
“No, my dear chap. Something about a person. Trust me, there are no politics with this one.”
“I’m intrigued, Hugo. Why me?”
“I need your touch with this. I don’t want just any old hack. This has to be different. That’s why I’m asking you.”
“Different? How?”
“It’s about a woman. Someone very special.”
“Why, has she got super powers or something?”
Hugo shakes his head, “No. But she’s very much like you.”
Neil drinks his wine, looking at Hugo. Brewster hasn’t stirred at all…