Patrick George Callaghan

Episode 24…Surprise Visitor

‘I would like my portrait taken, if I may?’

The woman that now stood before Charles was unmistakable, grown up, and beautiful. He swung up from a hunched absorption of a large picture that lay haplessly on the dusty counter of his photographer’s shop.

‘Esme?’ he cried in complete surprise. The shock was total and his voice crackled with stemming delight. ‘This is great… Where have you come from… Oh Esme!’

‘You’re beginning to repeat yourself Charles.’ She smiled; her manner was rapid and full of confidence.

‘Well, originally I came from St. John’s Wood… But you’ve forgotten that I guess Charles.’ She smiled once more and continued; ‘More recently, I’ve come from your friend and mine… ‘Erbert’. This time she had a wide grin. Her fears on entering the shop had fled and she had aim of herself once more and the feeling was exhilarating.

‘Herbert?’ he replied at the risk of repeating himself once more. Then said clumsily: ‘How have you been keeping?’ The question seemed out of place and he was still stumbling through a labyrinth of surprise. He felt suddenly ashamed and said: ‘I called… Several times and no-one would tell me where you were.’ His voice was quite feeble.

‘After you have taken my picture… Can we go somewhere and just talk.’ She assured him.

‘Yes, Yes of course… The Kings Head. We could have lunch there… If you wouldn’t mind?’

A warming smile took up residence in her face. ‘ I wouldn’t mind that one little bit.’ She replied.

Episode 23…Herbert Marks Part Two

‘Now, tell me you ‘ain’t a pair of Kippers without a plate.’ He smiled almost gently, showing a row of worn out decaying green teeth. ‘You could put the record straight.’ he added cautiously.

‘Is this some sort of plot… Then I remind you that I’m happily married!.’

‘Are you?’ he answered waxingly.

‘I think you’ve taken leave of you senses. Is this why you wrote to me?’

‘No, of course not! Look H’esme, it ain’t as if I know the relationship you ‘as wiv yer’ ‘usband or of any particular footing you got wiv’ im’. I was just thinking about you and Charlie, that’s all.’ He suddenly appeared very sheepish and sorry for his boldness.

She looked at him curiously for what seemed some minutes, and her stare unnerved him. Then an inquisitive oddity came over her. She felt a transitional state, as if a voice had spoken inside her head. She broke her stare with Herbert and said calmly to him: ‘Perhaps you have a point. Perhaps the record does need to be put straight. I will write to him. Yes, that would be the proper thing to do.’

‘I’m certain it would!’ Herbert’s eyes twinkled once more with relish. ‘Now, H’esme, wot about ‘me show?’

Episode 22…Herbert Marks Part One

‘But I…’ She halted her words; embarrassed by the revelation. ‘You’ve seen him then recently?’ she asked.

‘Of course! I puts a bit o’ work Charlie’s way when I can. Got to elp’ one an’ other in this world… It’s the right way, and besides e’ does likewise for me when e’ ears’ of a good prospect. ‘Mind you…’ he continued, ‘…managing a young ‘opeful these days ain’t ‘wot it used to be… Treading the boards ain’t so easy specially in front of a camera. Charlie, well ‘es a natural for putting a person at ease. He took me’ ugly mug a few times ‘e as. You know, wot you and Charlie had going… Well, that’s non of ‘me business. But I will say this; ‘e loved you and I reckon as how you loved ‘im and I think you’re both a pair o’ fools to let things go like you did! There, I said it, and you hate ‘me guts for saying so!’

‘You are right Mr. Marks…. It is non of your business.’ She snapped.

He looked a little hurt. ‘Well, that’s how I see it.’ he replied sheepishly. ‘And you gotta see it, ‘coz I’m too old to play Cupid… And will you call me erb’ or erbert’ everyone does. This Mr. Marks business makes me fair uneasy… Like you’re a Tax Inspector or something.’

Esme smiled at his transatlantic adoption and a certain hypnotism prevailed. It was hard to be mad at Herbert Marks for very long.

A certain twinkle came into his eyes. ‘E’s still in love with you I reckon,’ he continued, ‘And you ‘wiv ‘im likely as not. You’re sitting here talking to me and ‘es sitting in fancy Bayswater talking to himself… Well aside from that idiot boy that works for ‘im.’ It was clear that Herbert had no understanding of Toby and perhaps wanted to keep it that way.