Clifford
Brown's chip shop was at the top of a steep brow that looked out over
playing fields and the railway line at the back. Proudly parked outside
was a pink Cadillac bought at a pinch from an auction in Chester. The
Cow And Bell next door had it's curtain's closed. Lionel Bell still
warm in his coffin had choked to death on his own self importance or at
least that's what Clifford told his son Lester, who was ten and a bit
too keen on knowing the morbid facts.
Lester
wanted to run straight away next door to ask Daisy if he could pay
his last respects at the side of the open coffin before the lid was
nailed firmly down should Lionel ever spring back to life.
Outside, the Cadillac glinted bright in the morning sun. ”Come on”
said Lesters dad, “we will go up and see your Uncle Seth”. The car
engine cleared its throat, roared and gently ticked over at a soft
whisper; the leather seats had that barely used, comfortable feel.
Lester thought of popcorn and was reminded of all those American films
he had seen at the Regal. Rugby jumped into the back and off they
soared towards Barnfield.Croft farm, overlooking the reservoir at
Barnfield hadbeen flooded out years ago to create the vast volume of
water that eventually came out through the taps in most of the houses
in Thorpley. Seth still had a few acres and about five hundred sheep
that he kept at the side of the lake. Boats were permitted to sail up
and down the length of the reservoir and Rugby swam gladly alongside
shaking himself thoroughly when he reached the bank.
Uncle
Seth looked darkly at the pink Cadillac whose fins stood out sharply
against the white of the farmhouse. ”There must be some money in frying
chips then?” he coughed into a handkercheif and spat. The light from
the lake seemed to illuminate the car giving it a surreal appearance,
surrounded by so much green and the vacant astonishment of the sheep.
A skull sat on the widow ledge inside the farmhouse and was never to be moved less great evil befell the farm and its residents.
A skull sat on the widow ledge inside the farmhouse and was never to be moved less great evil befell the farm and its residents.
