Patrick George Callaghan

Episode 84… An old friend… Part One

Charles often wondered if they would see or even feel the presence of their beloved Rebecca ever again, time took its place and life seemed to move on at a respectable if not enjoyable pace. As the business, in the little studio shop, gathered itself, Charles and Esme found more time to be together, and then one day in an early, cold December, a young lady entered their little shop in Bayswater.

Celia Tickle was a life long school friend of Esme, and they had many adventures together. This reunion was quite outstanding, she had walked into the shop quite courageously and just quite a lady. Charles of course, knew Celia, and there was much to talk about, so they took themselves into the small parlour at the rear of the shop.

There was talk of the schooldays and lots more. Esme and Charles listened with great interest.

‘I don’t suppose you know I married, yes…  Another school friend, well perhaps you did not, you both have been so busy and I have followed your adventures in our local paper.

‘That’s wonderful news Celia.’ Esme and Charles chorused together and Esme blushed with the slight embarrassment for not keeping in touch.

I also followed Herbert’s rise to his present good fortune,’ she said with delight ‘ That’s how I knew where to find you both.’

Esme spoke quietly for a moment. ‘I once had a dream, at least, I’m sure it was a dream. We were all together. ‘We were all together on some adventure, then the scene dissolved and I was standing outside Charles home, and I don’t know how or why. Tell me, did you marry a school friend from one of our adventures.?’

‘Yes, I did, his name was Robin, Robin Masters, and we had a wonderful time in the four years that we were together. He was a painter, an artist, a potter, he drew wonderful pictures of me and of many others. His success was remarkable. He was loving and caring, and thankfully, he left me a small legacy from the short years we had together and that gets me through the bad times and the memories.’

‘Can we help.’ Esme asked thoughtfully. We will help in any way we can Celia, you know that, you only have to ask.’

Celia read Esme’s thoughts carefully. Then suddenly broke into tears, I’m sorry’, she sobbed. I didn’t come here to disrupt your lives in any way, please forgive me Esme, I know you have this gift, both of you, a way of going beyond our normal lives and into the darkness beyond, I have read and heard the rumours, that you, have a way, of reaching the spirit world, that is far from our normal understanding and far from our perception of what lies in the darkness and for the destiny of all of us.’

Charles and Esme looked at each other with open faces, and thoughts crossed both their minds. “This was a friend in trouble”

Episode 83… A New Beginning… Part Two

It had become a long dry summer that year, and as the months trickled by, the little corner shop became a hub-bub of thriving activity. There was plenty for everyone to do. Business was booming and whilst Toby and Barney kept busy, simply just running the appointments book and answering the many telephone calls, fitting in some studio sittings and all of the passport photo requests, they had even found time to introduce some retailing into the shop in the form of new camera sales.

Charles was quite busy with his commissions, aside from his regular work photographing many of the young hopefuls to the Theatre world, local dignitaries came his way, in ever increasing numbers.

‘If it goes on like this much longer.’ he remarked to Esme one day. ‘We shall have to take on extra staff.’

“Herby” too, had seen an upturn in his fortunes, “bigger names” were slowly adding to his books, so much so, that he was now able to leave his shabby office in Brick Lane and move to more comfortable surroundings in “The Peoples Palace” on the Mile End Road… And from where he “Lorded” as he had never “Lorded” before!

Charles often thought of the relationship they all had with Rebecca, and quietly, in his own mind, he attributed everyone’s happiness and success to her intervention within their lives.

“One day Rebecca,” he told himself. “I’m sure you’ll find a way back to us, and we will be able to thank you properly”‘ With that in mind, he lifted his head and looked toward a darkened heavenly sky and a most certain world beyond.

Episode 82… A New Beginning… Part One

It was around the time of Esme’s mother’s funeral that things came to a head, just a little. Constance had been ill for some time, at first thought to be just a mild cough and chill, but that later turned to Influenza. Although, she had distanced herself from her daughter and that of Charles, the blow was never the less traumatic for Esme. Her mother had long since written her daughter from her Will, which never quite surprised Charles, for he was never forgiven for drawing Esme away from the clutches of some rich suitor. A thought, in Charles mind, that was comforted by the fact he had rescued her from an insane husband.

As with funerals, it rained that afternoon in Highgate Cemetery. The small group of mourners wore regular black with matching umbrellas, then slowly walked to the main gates and the waiting cars and taxis.

Charles was deep in thought, then spoke quietly. ‘I realise you mother had never forgiven you for being in love with me, a tradesman’, He was looking into the face of Esme. ‘Perhaps, that was her only simple misgiving, that we should just think of, in all respect, and in all other ways, she was a good Mother and only wanted the best for you. She loved you dearly, that was for certain, and that’s how we will remember her.’

A tear dropped on Esme cheek, it ran down to her neck and disappeared below her clothing. ‘Charles, that very forgiving nature has been one of the many things I love you for. Mother never quite understood our relationship in its true light and perhaps we can forgive her. She had a different perspective on life and living, you and I, both see it now.’

The rain began to ease as they entered the pillared, darkened houses, that hedge-rowed the many streets of their cosy Bayswater, leading to the warm sanctuary of the small photo shop on the corner. They had solemnly attended ‘The Wake’ fashionably exercised at ‘The Ivy’ in that late afternoon and now both were very tired.

‘This is our home’, sighed Esme as they approached a quiet front door. ‘This is where we are safe from the world, this is where we are both one.’

Lights were out, the brothers had gone to bed, and they climbed the rickety staircase to their bedroom on the top floor, wishing that day would never come again.

‘There will be no more Rebecca, I think’ Esme remarked sleepily.

They curled in bed together. ‘Perhaps, just perhaps, you’re right.’ Charles head rested on his pillar, and the darkness of night sped towards dawn…

Episode 79… Rebecca’s Help… Part Four

A sudden panic seemed to grab everyone. Charles raced to the waters edge. ‘Somebody find a lifebuoy.’ he screamed. Others ran to the edge determined to assist Herbert’s rescue.

The muddied edge of the bank made things difficult. Someone found a Lifebuoy that was conveniently secured by a length of rope and this was hastily thrown to the stricken Herby’ With difficulty, one of his arms thrust itself into the ring, and with some ease, he was gently pulled ashore.

‘He’s dead, I’m sure, he’s dead.’

Herbert lay motionless on the muddy bank, he seemed devoid of any form of life.

‘Call a doctor.’ Charles reacted quickly.

‘Wait, Old man, I’ve done first Aid.’ One of the group stepped forward. It was Peter. ‘ Let me try.’

He pressed heavily on Herbert’s chest, lifting his arms each time for several minutes. Grey Lake water began to sprout from Herbert’s mouth and dribble down his neck. He sputtered then coughed, and his eyes opened slowly.

Words now filled his mouth. ‘I thought I wus a gonna.’ he moaned. The group looked on intensely. ‘Then, this women appeared in my mind, a lovely vision she was, beautiful, she came in the darkness, and then, there was a shower of golden light. She spoke and her voice was so lovely, so gentle. She told me her name was Rebecca and she was here to look after me.’

Herbert looked sad. ‘Then she was gone, like a puff of wind and my mind became blank again. Next, I remember, you guy’s, looking down on me!’

‘It’s Ok Herby, it’s a warm summer’s day and you’re back with us.’ Charles framed words inside his mind.  “So, he has touched on Rebecca”  The reflection was not wasted on him.

That night Charles could not sleep. Esme lay beside, quite sound, with just a little gentle breathing. In the faint light she looked much at peace with herself.

“This is how she should always be.” thought Charles, “And not to have gone through those ordeals in her life as she did, and yet, I’m certain she is a stronger person for it”

In the half light of their curtained bedroom, Charles ran thoughts through his mind. Late night revellers could still be heard making their way homewards from The Kings Head, and somehow it settled his mind into the normality of sleep. Perhaps, Rebecca had been some wild imagine of his, perhaps, Esme laying beside him so gently was the only reality in his life. But he was wrong, and he knew it. everything that had gone of before was real enough! Of that, he was quite certain!