Short Story

HOMECOMING

by DIANA ELVIN

Nearing home I sighed. Amy would beg me to take her out. For goodness sake, she had all day to go out once the children were at school. There must be lots of places you can take a small baby – parks and such like. Very nice too, this weather, while I’m cooped up in the office.

No, I’m the one who needs to get out in the evening after working so hard. I go home for my meal first of course. Amy says I might just as well eat at the pub since I go there anyway. Just think of the expense! She says I could afford it if I didn’t drink but, I ask you, what’s the point of going to a pub if you can’t have a few pints?

Suddenly, I tripped over a broken bit of paving and banged my head. I felt very dizzy. I’ve been meaning to complain to the council about our pavement for ages. I struggled back to my feet and set off again.

The house was eerily quiet. Usually, when they hear my key in the door the boys hurl themselves at me and jabber on about their day. I try to look interested but it’s all very tiring.

That night there wasn’t a sound. Nice to have peace, of course, quite a relief but – silly really – I sort of missed them. No smell of dinner either. Amy is a really good cook and there was always a mouth-watering aroma to greet me. The house looked odd. Sort of dull and bare. All trace of Amy and the children had vanished. I looked everywhere - no clothing, no toys, nothing.

Just supposing Amy had actually left me – and I couldn’t think why on earth she would but just supposing – where could they have gone? Who would offer shelter and support to a runaway wife with three children, two moulting rabbits and lots of smelly nappies?

Another man? Who’d take her on with that lot? It’s not as though she’s a beauty. Though she was once, come to think of it, when we were young. Lots of men fancied her. Now I never notice what she looks like. Well you don’t, do you? Not after ten years of marriage. Anyway, the point is that she belongs to me and there isn’t any reason that I know of why anybody else should get the benefit. Yet, as I stood in that neat, desolate house what I felt most was a wholly unexpected emptiness and grief. It didn’t stop me feeling hungry though. I’d be able to think more clearly when I’d eaten. Miserable and confused I plodded back towards the pub. My legs felt leaden. Every step was a tremendous effort.

There was a man sitting on the ground near by looking dazed. Another poor begger fallen over that paving stone I supposed.

“I shall complain to the council,” I told him.

“He’s coming to at last,” said one onlooker.

I could now see who it was, as if I hadn’t had enough shocks for one evening!

There was me on the ground, blinking at the crowd, being helped to my feet, assuring them I was OK, and swept by a tidal wave of hope, of quite desperate longing to be given another chance.

I told them I was fine. I just wanted to get home. To have my boys run down the hall and tell me about their day, and to take my wife for the first of many evenings out. It seemed a long, long way, the few yards to our house. I couldn’t be sure, until I opened the front door but it was alright. The noise, the colour, the scattered toys, and Amy’s welcoming smile.

You think I imagined it all? Concussion can do funny things but this one gave me a providential glimpse into the future. I know because my wife told me, months later, when we were getting on really well again, about the very efficient arrangements she had once made to leave me!

I never did complain to the council about that broken paving stone – it would have seemed ungrateful somehow.

Next month...

ISSUE 40 | JUNE 2022 FREE

IDEAS FOR

CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY

Special souvenir

pull-out-and-keep

WIN

- A CHEESE HAMPER - A GUITAR - £15 APP STORE & ITUNES VOUCHER - A PAIR OF CINEMA TICKETS

WHAT YOUR CAT really thinks ABOUT YOU

INSPIRING THE COMMUNITY ONE PAGE AT A TIME#BecauseCommunityMatters

stockists

• The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – special souvenir pull-out-and-keep • Ideas for celebrating Father’s Day • What your cat really thinks about you Win… - A cheese hamper - A guitar - £15 App Store & iTunes voucher - A pair of cinema tickets

NEXT BOOKING DEADLINE: 6TH MAY

To advertise call 020 3488 9959 or email hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Ad spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis. lifeinmagazines.co.uk

Print run: 7,000 copies every month Estimated readership: 17,800 including digital

Copyright: All text, images and design in Life In...Orpington are subject to copyright, 2022. Competitions: In the event of any dispute regarding the Rules and all other matters relating to a Competition, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into. For full terms & conditions see www.lifeinmagazines.co.uk Disclaimer: Luna Creative Media Ltd assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organisation has been provided by such individual, event organisers or organisation without verification by us. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editors of Luna Creative Media Ltd. Therefore, Luna Creative Media Ltd carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon. Any form of reproduction of any content in this magazine without the written permission of the editors is strictly prohibited. © 2022 Luna Creative Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

Life In Orpington is available at over 50 pick up locations. For a full list of these see www.lifeinmagazines.co.uk.

The main stand locations are Chelsfield Railway Station | Family Shopper (Cotmandene Crescent) | Lidl Locksbottom | Iceland – Petts Wood & Orpington | Tesco Orpington | Valentine & Tuner (Orpington High St) | Nugent Shopping Centre (HITIO Gym) | The Walnuts Shopping Centre | Walnuts Leisure Centre | Morrisons Petts Wood | Petts Wood Railway Station. For a postal copy (£24 a year) email hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk