Writing for Fun
December 2018
Alibi - Pete Norman
Sophie snuggled up on the settee; she had everything she wanted within arm’s reach: a milky coffee, a packet of dry roasted peanuts, a large block of Galaxy chocolate – which was her absolute favourite – and a good book.
Friday night might well traditionally be blokes’ night out but the converse was also true: Friday night was also girls’ night in. She considered herself very lucky to have George. He was a good man, he had been with Marshalls since he left school and over the years, through his own rugged determination, he had worked his way up the promotion ladder. Now, as Human Resources Manager, he commanded a wage which allowed them to live a fairly comfortable life and to raise their two children in relative luxury. The position was, of course, very demanding and he was always exhausted when he got home, however, he never complained and was always prepared to help out around the house. He was well skilled at DIY – he was capable of putting up a shelf that did not collapse on first use – and he was not averse to picking up an iron when he needed a shirt at short notice.
He always did so much and asked for so little for himself so how could she ever begrudge him his one simple pleasure – Friday night out with his brother in law Bill at the Cross Keys. For some time they had both been members of the darts team there but when that had folded they had switched to 8 Ball Pool and that had kept them out of mischief for several months now.
She could understand why he enjoyed Pool so much – she had been quite proficient herself in her youth – but she was much less certain why he had buddied up with the likes of Bill. His brother in law was his polar opposite, he worked only when he felt like it and he and Margaret were always struggling for money. He had what Sophie would describe as a ‘roving eye’ although Margaret had her own words for it and most of those were unprintable.
Bill and Margaret’s married life together had had its ups and downs for years now but had been basically bearable, until, in her sister’s own words, ‘Little Miss Silicone Implants’ had moved in next door. From the start Bill had taken an unhealthy interest in their new neighbour but on the day she first sunbathed topless in the rear garden Margaret had given him an ultimatum – either they both moved out together or she would move out on her own.
They had managed to find a house on the same estate as Sophie and George. Margaret always said that it was the best thing they had ever done – not only had she put as much distance as possible between him and ‘that woman’ but George’s steady and reliable nature had been a calming influence on Bill. He appeared to have settled down considerably since the house move and since their Friday nights out at the Cross Keys.
Sophie reached for the remote control. There was nothing in particular that she wanted to watch – there never was anything worth watching on a Friday evening because the TV companies knew that on a Friday evening all the blokes were out down the pub! However, she found it comforting to have a bit of background white noise while she was on her own in the house so she tuned in to BBC 1 and returned to her book.
George and Bill might well have been polar opposites in most things but they did have one thing very much in common – neither of them had been anywhere near the Cross Keys for the past three months.
Bill had discovered to his delight that Margaret had not put quite enough distance between him and ‘that woman’ and that he could now spend his Friday evenings engaged in a sport far more pleasurable than 8 Ball Pool.
At Marshalls George had been happy to mentor the new girl in the office – Andrea; rather attractive and many years his junior but a girl with big ambitions for advancement within the company. From day one in the office she had made it clear to him that she had her very own and quite ample human resources that George might find well worth examining and over the past few months George’s Friday evenings had become a great deal more enjoyable.
George was a sensible and level headed man and he always knew that he was playing a dangerous game but the thrill of the chase and the ample human resources of the prey had become exhilarating. He knew that his marriage and everything he held dear was balanced on a knife’s edge, that if ever Sophie discovered his secret then his life would no longer be worth living but how could anything go wrong? He was absolutely confident in Bill’s integrity. So long as the situation was mutually beneficial, so long as they were both alibi to the other then there was very little danger of being discovered – and perhaps, to a man in such a high pressure position, even that small threat carried with it a delicious sense of excitement.
As the ten o’clock News began Sophie put down her book and settled down to watch. However, the News nowadays was becoming more and more mundane and sensational and she soon tired of the broadcast, seeking sanctuary in another chapter of her book. George would not be home for a good hour yet.
The News finished, the Weather Forecast was dismal and the Local News was tedious – however, her book was reaching a climax so she absorbed herself back within the hallowed pages, though her eyes were becoming too tired to read and she determined to stop at the end of the chapter.
She never reached that point, however for in the background something insinuated from her subconscious to her conscious mind. She put the book down and stared in disbelief at the screen.
She grabbed her mobile and speed dialled her sister.
It was just past 11:30 when Sophie heard the sound of the key in the door. She composed herself and managed the passing facsimile of a tired but loving smile.
‘You’re late?’
George tossed his keys onto the coffee table and gave her a swift kiss. ‘Sorry, sweetheart, there was a crowd of youngsters in there tonight who thought they could fleece a couple of old codgers so we gave them a game.’ He grinned. ‘We sure took them to the cleaners but we had to give them a chance to try and win it back again.’
‘Well, it’s so good to see you home, safe and well. I was really worried for you.’
‘George laughed. ‘Come on, I wasn’t that late.’
‘Oh, no, it wasn’t that, you see . . .’ Sophie dropped the mask and her voice turned icy cold. ‘It was because according to the BBC the Cross Keys burnt down at lunchtime!’