Southend U3A

Writing for Fun

June 2016

The Breakout - Bob Wendelkin

‘What are you in for?’

‘I don’t know, the first thing I remember is waking up in this place and you being here.’

‘Same as me I don’t remember anything before this place. Do you think we are in a hospital because we have lost our memories?’

‘If it’s a hospital where are the nurses, if it’s a prison cell I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong, I sure I’m innocent.’

‘I certain I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m positive that I’m innocent as well.’

‘Then again criminals inside always protest their innocence.’

‘Have you seen anyone to ask why we are in here?’

‘No, have you seen anyone?’

‘No, I’ve heard noises in the distance but I haven’t actually seen anyone only you.’

‘I think I’ve heard voices. I keep hearing a woman’s voice and occasionally a man’s voice but they’re very muffled and indistinct, I don’t know what they’re saying.’

‘I sometimes hear music but it’s very distant.’

‘Hello, what’s happening? Oh my God it’s that loud high pitched noise. That’s the second time that has happened. It seems to sweep all over this place as if they it’s searching for something. Thank God it’s stopping as it goes right through my ears.’

‘When you look around it’s a strange place. We never see anyone, even the food they feed us comes through a tube. Have you noticed?’

‘I was thinking the same apart from you, we don’t see any of our jailors’

‘We sometimes seem to have a strange visitor, you know that snaky thing that comes occasionally and spits at us, but that seems to have stopped of late.’

‘If I ever get out of this place I think I’ll hunt it down and cut it in half.’

‘You don’t think it has anything to do why we are in here do you?’

‘Who knows?’

‘You were talking about the food it must be doing us good as you seem to be getting bigger. Can you get your foot out of my neck.’

‘You can talk you are always kicking me.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Perhaps that is why we have been put in here to kick the life out of each other. I think in future I’ll spend my time kicking the hell out of the walls. Who knows they might give way and we might get out of this place.’

‘How long do you think we have been in here?’

‘How should I know I haven’t got a calendar or a watch but it must be quite a few months judging by the weight both of us have put on, even though the food is good it’s not that good that you can double your weight in a minute. What do you think?’

‘I don’t know I’m the same as you but it must be quite a time but I don’t think it has been a year.’

‘It’s all gone quite again I think I’ll get some shut eye if you would only get your foot off my chest.’

‘Sorry, but this place seems to be getting tighter have you noticed?’

‘I put that down to you getting fatter.’

‘Me! getting fatter? you should see yourself, still there’s nothing we can do about it.’

‘Now go to sleep will you.’

* * *

‘Wake up will you and stop kicking me.’

‘Some things going on the outside I can hear what sounds like some woman.’

‘Do you think she is in prison like us?’

‘Who knows we don’t get told anything do we but I think she is in some distress by the sound of her.’

‘Oh my God there must be an earth quake as the walls are beginning to shake and close in on us. Perhaps that’s why that woman is shouting.’

‘We have got to get out of this place as the walls have definitely closed in on us.’

‘Can you see any way out?’

‘Well there is what seems to be an access opening just above your head.’

‘Oh yes I think I can see it. What, do think it could be our escape route if the worse happens.’

‘Oh that earthquake is starting again. The place is definitely getting smaller but luckily that exit point has got just a bit larger as the walls closed in. I wished that person would stop her moaning.’

‘Have you noticed the aftershocks are getting closer?’

‘Oh my God, this must be the biggest one so far we have got to breakout of this place. I now think I can get my head and shoulders though that opening. I think it leads to a sort of tunnel. I don’t know what is on the outside but it must be better than this. You must follow me.’

‘I’m nearly out into the light, I’m free you must follow me or you could be trapped.’

‘What’s happening, why is that person grabbing me? I haven’t done anything I’m innocent.’

‘Oh good you have got out as well and at least they have kept us together, but what is this place? Inside we were nice and warm but here I don’t know.’

* * *

‘Here, Mrs Maxwell, for all your efforts you have lovely twin boys, they are absolutely beautiful, and perfect in every way.’