“Are you sure you have everything you need, Babe?” Mary called from the hallway. Michael
could just hear her through the closed lounge door. He knew she felt sad having to leave him
like this, but equally, Michael knew she had to return to the shop. The pains of self-employment
meant if you did not work, you did not get paid, so, he had agreed to let her go.
Besides, he reassured himself, it’s not like I’m an invalid. He smiled at the memories of Mary
mollycoddling him when he had been ill in the past, to the extreme of her preventing him from
doing anything for himself. To that end, he was a little relieved when Mary had told him she
needed to get back to the shop. He had some things to think about.
“I"m fine; you go and tend to your customers.” He knew that despite the closed door, she
would be looking in his direction, probably reconsidering her decision about leaving him on his
own. But, the front door closed leaving Michael to bask in the quietness. He let out a sigh of
relief when he heard the car engine start and fade as Mary drove off.
Within seconds, Michael began considering how to proceed about what he had witnessed at
the school, but his thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing. He contemplated letting it
run into the voicemail, but decided otherwise. He walked over to the side cabinet where he had
flung his mobile earlier. His eyes glimpsed the caller ID as he pressed the connect button,
“Hello Dad, you"re back then.” The sadness in his voice was obvious.
“Yeah, we got back about an hour ago.” In comparison to his own voice, his father"s
sounded cheery which made Michael even more depressed.
“We?” Stressed Michael, knowing full well that he meant her! His so-called step-mother!
But it was too late; Michael had blurted it out without thinking ahead. His mother had died 4
years ago and Michael had been shocked when not even two months later, his father had
turned up at the house one evening with Jackie and announced they were engaged. Jackie
was slim and athletic with blonde hair that hung just below her shoulders. Her black-rimmed
glasses accentuated her intellectual features and bright blue eyes. By all accounts, Jackie was
a very attractive woman who, under different circumstances, would have been the object of
Michael"s affection, but there was something Michael did not understand; how did his father find
someone so attractive so quickly and have such a loving relationship? Over the years, Michael
had convinced himself, that his father had been having an affair before his mother had died, but
had not the courage to confront him about it. Instead, he had developed a mistrust and distain
for his father so much so, they had become estranged from each other. Having moved from his
father in Nottingham to live in Preston and now Scotland, had done nothing to help the situation.
“Yeah Jackie and I, flipping long journey, Jackie is sleeping at the moment, the flight took it
out of her.”
Really. Michael was not the least bothered about what Jackie was doing.
“So, Son, what have you been up to, how"s that gorgeous wife of yours and is there any
news of the patter of little feet in your household?” It was clear his father was trying to forget
the past few years of estrangement, but then again he had been in Australia on holiday for a
long time.
“No children, Mary,” he emphasised her name to point out he disapproved of his father
calling her „gorgeous", “is fine, thank you.” He wanted to get away with saying a little as
possible. He had things to do, important things.
“I just read your email about moving to Scotland…”
Michael sensed there was more to come by the tone of his father"s words, but chose to
interrupt, “yes we had to move for Mary"s work.”
“Mary"s working now? Excellent, what"s she doing?” His father sounded genuinely excited
about it. Michael felt a little pleased; perhaps you are interested in us.
“She owns a shoe-making shop.” His father burst out laughing.
“Are you serious? Who makes shoes these days?” Michael"s small hope burst into a million
pieces.
“Mary does, she"s quite good at it actually and it makes her happy. Besides, the village
Mayor invited her to set up shop, giving her everything she needed to succeed.”
“Sorry, Son, I meant no disrespect, if Mary is happy doing it, then good luck to her.” Michael
wanted to scream down the phone, but something inside him stopped him. “So where exactly in
Scotland are you? Your email was rather vague.” Michael felt a surge of mistrust well up
inside, but forced it back.
“Kirkfale,” he said.
His father fell silent for a moment before continuing, “No, really where are you living?”
“I"m telling you, we live in Kirkfale. It"s a village slap-bang in the middle of the valleys of the
Grampian mountains.”
“I know where Kirkfale was. I mean, I know I have been out of the picture for a while, but
you should still remember I know my British history.” It was true, Michael"s father always had a
strong interest in British history, “I know about a massacre that happened in 1910, in a small
hermit village in amongst the Grampian Mountains. One man visited the village and
slaughtered every last man, woman and child before setting the entire village on fire, killing all
the livestock and destroying every last bit of the village, effectively ending the existence of
Kirkfale, it was never rebuilt for superstitious fears. So, I ask you again, Michael, and I want the
truth this time, where are you living in Scotland?” Michael sensed the disapproving tone of his
father; he had used it many times in his childhood and he suddenly realised he used that same
tone in class.
“Honestly, Dad, we are living in Kirkfale. I work at the boarding school and Mary owns a
shoe shop in the high street.” He had nothing else to say, he was telling the truth. Why won’t
you believe me?
“Fine! If you don"t want to tell me, that"s your prerogative, but may I suggest you do not
make up fabricated lies to show how much you hate me.” The line went quiet and for a moment
amongst his surprise, Michael thought his father had put the phone down, but he could hear his
faint breathing.
“Look,” Michael finally said, “I have no idea what just happened there, but I am telling you the
truth, Mary and I moved to Kirkfale several months ago when the Mayor invited Mary to open up
a shoe-making shop in the village. It was an offer too good to refuse; she jumped at the
chance, particularly since she had just been refused a loan from the bank. I really don"t know
what you are implying, but what I"m saying is the truth.” He hoped he was stating the truth firmly
enough.
Finally after a few more seconds of quietness his father spoke, “If that is the case and you
and Mary are really living in Kirkfale, would you mind clarifying something for me?”
“Sure.”
“Can you tell me why the hell you are living in a village that has been lying in ruins for the
past century?” However, Michael had no chance to respond before his father severed the
phone line, leaving him wondering what had just happened.
