William Writes
one
Monday, July 12th 1982
It was a sunny afternoon in London and, as I stood in deep discussion, I noticed Benjamin realising he had been talking to himself for the past ten minutes.
“William”! I heard him shout.
I wanted to smile at his embarrassment, but I was having a conversation with a man who was telling me about a problem he needed our help with. When the man pointed in Benjamin’s direction, I noticed he was being very patient and leaning against a post-box while waiting for me. Again I had to fight back a smile.
Then I thanked the man for his information and I promptly headed over to Benjamin. At the moment he lit up a cigarette, I rudely snatched it from his lips and he looked up in horror to find me grinning from cheek to cheek. I took only one drag to irritate him and passed it back. I began to open my mouth, as if to say something like ‘sorry’, but he knew this would never happen.
“Benjamin we might have a problem to solve”! I was shouting slightly, which made not only Benjamin jump, but also a couple who walked close by.
I quickly started to walk off, leaving Benjamin confused and baffled as I always seemed to do. I felt slightly sorry for the man as it was at times like this I knew he would be wondering why he ever bothered hanging around with me, especially now that he had his own respectable part-time employment and accommodation. I found it very inconvenient, as Benjamin was such a help and not only to the problems I liked to solve, but to me.
“Come on, come on we have no time to waste!”
I decided to stop and watched him until he put out his cigarette and hurried after me. He was so compliant to my every whim like a dear pet dog at my heel. It made me realize how much I really missed him being around all the time.
It was just not the same these days, but it was my own doing as he did give me the final call on if he should accept the job in the first place. He had got an offer to help out at the local university, teaching a highly advanced class of scientists, and they provided him with accommodation which saved him some money.
I did not mind at the time as I could afforded his half of the rent and he had promised to still help me with my silly obsession. I had thought I should keep his room for him so he was able to stay when he needed or wanted to, and I knew my mother would have no objection in the matter as she liked Benjamin, she would always say he was good for me, whatever that meant.
After my father had died she had control over all the family assets, so she would spoil me even more than she did when he was alive and when I got money of my own from helping people out I would put it into a savings account for when I wanted to buy a house. I was hoping to have enough by the time I was thirty five, but that would mean I have only got five more years, I still cannot believe I am thirty already.
Benjamin Writes
two
Monday, July 12th 1982
By the time I had caught up with William, he had stopped again.
”AHA”! He announced quite loudly
“There he is! The very man we are looking for!”
I looked around to see who he was talking about my eyes stopped at a funny looking man all bunched up with a limp and if I was not mistaken he was a tramp.
“Do you mean that man...?” I hesitated to look about quickly before carrying on. I had become slightly obsessed; trying to make sure I was right first time. Now I did not see William as much I found myself foolishly craving the delight in his eyes when I did.
“That tramp over there?” William gazed at me.
“Yes! My dear fellow you are very perceptive this afternoon, how wonderful you are?” I could feel colour rushing to my cheeks at the fact I had got what I wanted, but William did not see and I was pleased.
William asked me to stay where I was while he went over to have a chat with the tramp, I agreed and kept out the way, but still made sure I could see them both. At a slight glance the man looked like an ordinary tramp, but as I tried to study him as ‘The Grate William’ would I noticed a lot more.
(I like to make a joke about the work he does as he seems to think he is some kind of ‘Sherlock William’ or ‘Hercule Poirot’, which is not that far from the truth, but he was most defiantly not that good at what he does.)
Now I was sure I recognised the man and as he stood talking to William I noticed he no longer slouched, also there was a tag sticking out from his tattered old looking coat that suggested is was very new. The soles of his shoes were hardly worn, but they had been made to look very old and soiled. Now as I stood there considering what to do I realized that William could be in danger if he does not know this man if a fake! I decided to get a little closer.
Without making a total fool of myself I started whistling, I decided on ‘Summer Holiday’ I knew William’s ears would prick up at the sound of that song and hopefully he would see what I was trying to show him.
When I finally got his attention I slowly started to fiddle with my collar to reveal the tag. Then leaning against a nearby lamppost I began to inspect the heels of my shoes, as I did so I noticed he was not seem paying me any more attention and was even deeper in conversation. I whistled louder. William glanced over rolling his eyes at me, I quickly slouched and limped a few steps, then stud up right and walked away.
William Writes
three
three
Monday, July 12th 1982
Benjamin waited for me showing off his amazing sense of loyalty once more and again I found it extremely hard to concentrate trying not to grin.
Witnessing his silly charade made me want to laugh uncontrollably, but it was very important I listened to every word the Man was telling me.
When Benjamin had finally walked off, I quickly reviewed over the tramps words and then left him. I went bounding towards Benjamin with a slight skip in my step.
“My dear friend how magnificent you are” laughing I passed him another cigarette.
“I have to say you are absolutely correct, I taught you well”
I realised how obviously arrogant I must sound sometimes, but I just could not seem to help myself, I always seemed to get carried away like I was some kind of character in one of my favourite mystery novels.
While I walked away telling Benjamin how amazing he had been I did not notice he had not followed. I had walked quite away when I realized and looked for him. My heart slightly sank when I saw he was stood motionless; his cigarette was burnt away and nearly down to his fingers. I wondered what he might be thinking, why he was seemingly deep in thought.
“Benjamin”! I shouted out to him, again my heart sank as he slowly lifted his head to me.
He had a lost look in his eyes, it made my heart break every time I saw that look on his face and then with a slight smile he flicked the cigarette away and walked quickly to my side.
In the cab on our way to or first destination, Benjamin had decided to sit facing me. I suspected he was regretting helping me with my problem solving antics once again, but with his already apparent devotion maybe He felt he should stick to it and help me anyway. I admit to myself I could have easily told him to go home, to leave me too it as I could probably cope one my own, but I am a very selfish man and would never do so.
Benjamin Writes
four
Monday, July 12th 1982
As I sat facing William I thought I could see he knew what I was thinking. I was not that sure of it myself, but William did always seem to have an uncanny way of being able to read me, like a clairvoyant would suppose they can read minds. The journey was a quiet one, I did not even ask where we were going and he did not tell me.
When we got to our destination, I realized that even if William had told me where we would be going I would not have known it anyway. We were stood outside a wrenched hovel of a building that William insisted we were to go into, but before we did so I grabbed Williams arm, I was felling the hairs standing up all over my body with the thought we might be in some kind of danger.
“William”
“Yes Benjamin” he turned to face me and showed I had his full attention.
“Do you know the tramp you were talking to earlier? It’s just I am a little worried...” before I could finish my sentence William whispered while holding a finger to his lips.
“My dear friend there is no need to be worrying. The man is an undercover police man. Inspector Matthews has asked for my... I mean our help with a little problem he has” I looked at him.
“But you never really said we were solving any problems today” he did not say a word and there was no need for him to do so, because when he started knocking on one of the doors I know we did.
We were greeted at the tatty door by a very well built man who towered over us like a 7 foot wall and his arms look like solid rock. William greeted him very politely, and after the door man said something I did not understand, but clearly William did, because he started to reply and I thought I would burst out laughing.
“It will be cool, to see the bottom of the pool, after I go boom in the blue room”
William said this still very politely, and after he handed the door man some money, we got looked over for a moment or two before the door man decided that the money was enough and obviously what William had said was correct.
We entered into a very dark entrance hall with no windows and only one door leading from it, the room felt more like the inside of a barn, it had no carpet and it was covered wall to wall with wooden panelling. Also there was the slight smell of urine and I am not joking when I say there was an actual bail of straw in one corner, which looked like it could have been where the door man would sit.
William Writes
five
Monday, July 12th 1982
The door man then led us through to a red room filled with a fog of smoke, and lights lit up every corner to reveal men after men drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis, I was wondering what Benjamin might be thinking when he realize where I had taken him, I knew I had told him I would never make him set foot in one of these places again especially after finding me the way he did the last time. This is why I did not tell him where exactly we were going, but I tried not to worry as this was important to the means of solving the problem.
We were escorted through all the mist to the ‘blue door’, now this would be the thing that would most defiantly make Benjamin flip his lid, I could tell by his face he was already angry with me, and I knew as soon as we got into the next room he would be even worse.
“WILLIAM, why are we here? Actually I don’t think I want to know, do I?” Benjamin hissed at me.
I waved our guide away and placed a hand on the door knob. Turning to face Benjamin I thought I might just for a second had made a big mistake.
“Benjamin... my dear friend you know I hate putting you in any unnecessary danger and...” I hesitated, swallowing deeply.
“Well you know that don’t you?” I could see his discussed look upon me.
“You do like to help don’t you?” Benjamin’s face slightly softened and he placed a hand on my arm.
“I do, you know I do, but this sort of place is not somewhere you would normally take me. You know I hate...!” His grip strengthened.
“Do I need to be worried William?” I slowly turned the handle and looked straight into his hazel eyes.
“Do you trust me? I mean really trust me” Benjamin nodded; I pushed the door and Benjamin’s hand slid from my arm so I grabbed it and pulled him inside!
Benjamin Writes
six
Monday, July 12th 1982
Behind the blue door there was a very blue room with silk curtained off areas. There was a strange smell about us and as William pulled me through I could hear slight moans and men’s laughter. This I did not like at all, but the smell was beginning to become divine and making me very relaxed. I could feel the heat of his hand in mine, I breathed in even deeper and a slight shiver of pleasure flowed through my body. Closing my eyes I felt slightly dizzy and an uncontrollable smile grew on my face, I thought I might trip and fall, but William must had noticed and quickly helped me to a seat.
We had come to one of the curtained off areas, it had a bed like sofa and in the corner on a little table there was a small bottle sat open I could just make out through my haziness a slight vapour rising from it. We sat down and a man I thought must be a waiter approached, William asked for some cigarettes and two pints of larger.
“Benjamin is that okay?” I just stared at William as he asked me because I was finding it hard to concentrate.
“I would like water” I realized I was incredibly thirsty.
William seemed to be in a hurry he asked the man for some water as well then got up and shut the blue silk curtain. Then quickly he took the bottle from the side table and placed the lid on it.
“Are you all right” He whispered, but before I could even think about answering the waiter man was back with our drinks and cigarettes.
When the man finally left for the second time a glass of water is rudely thrown into my face.
“Hay you tit, what was that for?” I stared at him in shock, while trying to find something to dry myself with.
William then just sat quite calmly, lit up two cigarettes and handed one to me and also his handkerchief.
“Now my friend, you need to pay good attention, smoke and drink, quickly mind as we do not have that much time.” He was still speaking very quietly I was not sure if I was even hearing him properly.
“What is this place? What is this all about?” with his lips close to my ear he said softly.
“You know you said you trust me?” I nodded.
“Well please just follow my lead to the best of your ability and try not to breathe in so deeply.” He then sat back, calmly sipped his pint and smoked his cigarette.
William Writes
seven
Monday, July 12th 1982
I decided to sit back, to quickly enjoy my pint and cigarette. I placed a hand on Benjamin’s knee to encourage him to do the same and he did.
“So Benjamin” I started up conversation.
“Have you missed me? Have you missed your friend ‘Patrick’?”
I saw the total look of confusion fill Benjamin’s face, but he could see I was forcing him to try and go along.
“Patrick” he said this rather like a question.
“Yes me Patrick, so have you missed me?”
I saw his face change from confusion to...well I was not really that sure, what I did know was that it had something to do with my hand still being on his leg. I had also slightly moved closer and could feel the heat coming from his body. Forgetting I took a deep breath in and found my head get a little dizzy and I trembled with pleasure as Benjamin tried to move away.
“Benjamin you know...” He started talking before I could finish.
“Yes me too I also miss you” Again Benjamin obviously decided to try and go along.
Benjamin stood up and walked over to the little table with the bottle on it, but before I could tell him not to touch it a slight contended moan come from behind the adjoining curtain. I saw Benjamin screw up his face, I think he was trying not to understand what they meant, he then walk over to the other curtain as though he was going to leave. I grabbed his arm as he past in front of me, but this now made his face go red, he was clearly very angry with me. I tried desperately and quietly to get him to sit back down and finish his pint.
“Please Bennie you do trust me don’t you?”
I rarely called him this any more, not since we were teenagers, but I knew I needed to think of something that would calm him down. He did not move, but just stared at me, the look on his face was much calmer and he looked down at my hand that was still holding on to him, he then blinked a few times and shook his head.
Copyrights © S.E.Seddon 2010/2011
