Writing for Fun
October 2016
The Parasite - Jenni Bowers
‘Oh no,’ thought Maureen, not another begging phone call, as she lifted the receiver – over the years her generosity had known no bounds as she tried to ‘do what mum wished at her last gasp’ – take care of her brother.
Terry had been a bit of a tearaway during his teen years but mum’s favourite of the three siblings – John had been telling Maureen for years repeatedly – ‘tough love, Maur,’ let him get to rock bottom then he’ll get a job,’ but she had been afraid to let Terry end on the street and had subbed him constantly so that ‘he keeps a roof over his head at least, that’s what mum wanted.’ I’ve, got the money she thought – one day he’ll pay me back like he keeps telling me he will.’
‘For God’s sake Maur – he’s a bloody parasite – can’t you see it? – he gives you all those hard luck stories and you just fall for it again and again – when will you understand that people like Terry always find a mug like you to sub them. When you sent that parcel of food, lots of lovely pasta, rice and tins of beans thinking he would learn to live within his means – laugh out loud how wrong could you be? He just wanted money to buy drugs and drink and treat his dodgy mates love.’
Maureen began to weep, she knew John was right but she loved Terry even with all his faults, he’d been her baby brother always, shed pushed him in his pram when mum was tired and played with him, sung him lullabies and tucked him into his cot – how could she just abandon him now?
Maybe he’s not going to ask for money she hoped as she said, ‘Hello?’ – no reply just silence on the other end! ‘Terry - is that you?’ she said loudly, still no reply. ‘Oh please Terry answer – Is it you?’
The phone remained dead but the line was open, she held it to her ear expecting him to say something soon – then suddenly the phone was dead and she looked at the receiver as if it had stung her.
John stared at her and the receiver. ‘Well, didn’t he speak? Wonder what he’s up to now,’ he mused.
Maureen also stared at the phone, expecting it to ring again but it stayed silent. ‘Shall I ring him in case he’s in trouble or got no money to put in the phone box?’
John shook his head. ‘No, probably just a stupid computer call from some company and not Terry at all – no way should you go looking for his next pack of lies to inveigle you out of your hard earned pay, love.’
‘I must get home to Sheila and the kids – listen, have your cocoa and get to bed, sleep well and stop worrying about baby bro – he’ll be ok and I’ll check in with you tomorrow. If that phone rings again just ignore it, please.’
Maureen walked to her front door with John and kissed him goodnight, then locked the door behind him, checked all the windows and back door and left the kitchen light on so that tiger, her ginger tom, could come into a nice welcoming, cosy room for the night through his cat-flap and headed upstairs with cocoa in a Cadbury’s mug and was soon snuggled up in her lovely new duvet reading Martina Cole’s latest thriller.
At about 3am she awoke with a start, book beside her and light still on, was that a noise downstairs or my imagination she thought in terror.
Slipping out of bed she grabbed the truncheon dad had left her, a relic of his days as a beat bobby, being all he had to show for all those years pounding the local streets.
She switched on the landing light and shouted, ‘Whoever it is I’ve called the police so you’d better get going.’ Shaking with fear she stood at the top of the stairs and watched as a dark shadow crossed the room below, then a slurred voice mumbled ‘Maur - it’s me Terry!’
An hour later they sat on the sofa, brother and sister holding hands but with Maureen crying as Terry begged her for just one last ‘loan’ – ‘you see I’ve gambled, sis, I’m in so much debt and the heavy mob will kill me if I don’t pay it back within a week, I only need £10 grand and my troubles are over.’
‘But I don’t have that kind of money, Terry and anyway why did you break into my house, was it you who rang earlier where you checking to see if I was home?’
‘It wasn’t me ringing but might have been them, they know I have relatives here, I broke in so no-one would suspect it’s your house, if they are watching me they’ll think I have broken into a strangers house – you must help me – take me to the bank in the morning and draw out the money, I know mum left you plenty – you have to have some left.’
At 8am they drove into the market town and parked near the bank, with Terry holding her arm tightly Maureen stumbled, silently crying towards the large oak doors, he pulled her back and said, ‘Blow your nose, they’ll wonder what’s wrong and I need to get away fast when I have the cash.’
She did so and entered the bank with Terry close behind her, a young couple were next in the queue and seemed to be very close, a gentleman with a tattoo and a German shepherd dog entered just behind them and also joined the queue which moved very slowly forward with Terry becoming more and more agitated.
Suddenly Maureen felt very calm, she turned to Terry and said, ‘Sorry brother, last time for silly sister to help you, I am not drawing any money out today.’ Terry glared at her but gasped as both his arms were pinned behind his back and the dog was suddenly standing right in front of him. ‘Now, sir, we don’t want any fuss, just come this way, I am DC Ormorond and my colleagues are PC’s Laton and Smith, we are here to arrest you,’ and with that he deftly placed handcuffs round Terrys wrists and read him his rights.
Maureen was shocked but followed the group out of the bank and into the waiting police vehicles. At the police station Terry was charged with extortion with threats and detained for questioning.
John had arrived and been explaining to Maureen how he’d worried the previous evening and come back to watch her house – sitting in his car he’d seen Terry break into her conservatory and had called the police – they had waited, watched and followed to the bank – thwarting another very clever conn by their expert ‘little brother’.
It took some time for Maureen to realise this was a good outcome, at last Terry was forced to see the error of his ways and received 6 months in prison. He began to learn a trade and when he was released he found work as an electrician’s mate – never again begging his sister for money and even buying her a meal out now and then.