Writing for Fun
February 2015
The Curious Incident at the Tennis Match - Gerry Miller
My friend Betty had asked me to record the Wimbledon match for her. One of her clients had won tickets in the draw for the men's semi-finals and he asked her as his main carer to go with him. Never one to miss a chance Betty jumped at the offer and I agreed to record it for her.
I had not known Betty long probably about two years and I suppose to call her a friend is a misnomer really. She had been my carer for a short time when I came out of hospital. I had always supported the Happy Helpers a small local charity and so that day I decided to do a Wimbledon tea for a few friends and we would all watch the match together. The money would go to the 'Happy Helpers'.
The word soon spread and eventually there were about twenty of us both in the lounge and some sitting out under the awning eyeing up the strawberries and cream teas. The match was not of interest to many of us but we were all interested in spotting Betty. And there she was second row back and as large as life, they were both thoroughly enjoying themselves. Then a gasp was heard and a deathly hush spread around the lounge. Sara was staring open mouthed at the TV.
Ellie the nerd amongst us kept the match recording and at the same time managed to return frame by frame to what we had all seen, but had not fully understood. There a few rows behind Betty was Charlie, the debonair, handsome and charming conman who had relieved five of us stupidly smitten women of money out of our bank accounts and then disappeared. The police were involved but could find no trace of him. And it was really all they could do not to laugh at our gullibility and that hurt.
We texted Betty who being of brave heart and a fun loving personality agreed to try and accidently get close to him or more importantly to the woman in blue, who was with him. It was easy for her to supply us with his seat number, after all just a quick count back and across and we had it. Betty, coincidently of course, ended up in the queue for the ladies behind Ms. Bluedress and chatted away to her. Telling her of her luck with her patient etc. the woman soon said that she was with her husband it was his surprise for their twenty fifth anniversary.
Information relayed to us we made a few phone calls and sat back and thoroughly enjoyed our tea and I was so glad that I had splashed out for the Champagne. We continued to watch the TV revelling in our moments when we spotted Charlie sitting there enjoying what he did not realise would be his last moments of freedom.
As the semi-finalists left the court the umpire asked if people could remain in their seats for a moment or two. The audience fidgeted and then watched with interest as police arrived and a bewildered Charlie and his wife wereescorted away from the courts. Of course it was all captured by the cameras and people's mobiles; it was on U Tube within minutes. Charlie ended up in prison and his wife also received a custodial sentence.
Eventually our monies were returned but the best reward of all is that any time we are fed up we can watch our recording of Wimbledon or listen to his protestations on U Tube - don't try and tell me revenge is not sweet.