It was Christmas Eve and Jim Giles was determined on not seeing another one. The clock on the cricket pavilion stared, at his once proud suit, as he shuffled past the cricket green. The street lights, tall and aloof, pretended not to notice the pathetic, lonely figure, revealed by their beams. Snowflakes danced above the darkening green, floated down, tried to land, failed and vanished without trace. Jim stopped, produced a whisky bottle from his jacket and slugged the remaining few drops.
"Finished" he mumbled "Just like me finished." Chucking the empty on to the pitch he ambled onwards.
How would his last day on earth end? He had a vision of wading into blue-cold water and letting it flow over his head.
Jim was sixty-two, dirty, drank too much and was virtually unemployable. He had previously been employed as a skilled marine engineer who had lived happily and in harmony with his wife. Then one cruel day his life was shattered when a car, driven by a drug crazed teenager, knocked down and killed his loving wife. The offenders car was not insured and neither did the teenager have a valid driving licence. To Jim's disgust the
offender was given a sentence ridiculous in it's leniency. Jim hired lawyers and attempted to exact justice against the perpetrator but failed. Jim accepted defeat and lonely and embittered started to drink heavily.
He lost his job and gradually he drifted downwards into his present suicidal state. His existence had degenerated into a carousel of welfare, begging and wine shops. It was a bitterly cold night and his senses were as numb as his limbs. Passing the war memorial, where nosey tree branches peeped at him over a wall, he felt tired. Leaning against the wall he sank to the ground where his weary head soon found his knees and he slept.
The beat, beat of footsteps woke him. Dazed he turned round and saw the figure of a girl running towards the common. She soon disappeared and only the occasional yellow-eyed car disturbed the silence of the night
"AAHA, AAHA" A new sound distracted Jim, a crying sound. "AAHH AAHH," unfurling he found his feet and stood up. Where was the crying coming from?
"AAHH, AAHH" Jim's fuddled brain isolated the whining to a spot just a few yards from where he had been sitting. It came from a cardboard box. Curious he approached the box knelt down and looked in.
The box contained a baby not long born by its size. The child was wrapped in a woollen jumper and beside it was a feeding bottle and a dummy. Placing the dummy in its mouth Jim contemplated this new problem in his life. The baby was warm and very much alive, but for how long? What should he do.? A more logical
mind would have taken the baby to a police station but Jim, following instinct and remembering the fleeing girl, picked up the box and wandered off to try and find her. Something told him that she would not be far away. She was somewhere close by watching him.
The child was quiet now because his walking motion had lulled it to sleep. Minutes later he sensed the nearness of the girl and a rustling noise and a glimpse of white clothing betrayed her hiding place behind a bush.
"Hullo Missy! I know you're there, come on out, I won't harm you."
A slim shadow moved into the glare of a solitary street light The beam revealed a young girl who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen. Jim saw that she was pretty and from a pale elfin face dark eyes watched him warily. A delicate hand pushed back a mass of chestnut curls. Nervously she asked:
"What will you do with my baby?" Jim pushed the box into her arms.
"Take the mite home and care for it."
"I 'avent got a home. I left Portsmouth two years ago; lived in squats ever since" she seemed proud of the achievement. Lost for words Jim remained silent.
"Baby was born a week ago another girl 'elped me. The guys in the squat can't stand my little darling crying so they kicked me out I can't live there no more."
Jim studied her as she rocked the box, cradle-like, in her arms.
"What about the child's father?"
"Him! a sailor I shared a smoke and a tumble with, I don't know his name or where he is."
The girl shivered,
"Cold aint it?" Jim made a decision.
"I have a house, it's not much but you can come there with me if you like; keep us all out of the cold."
"No funny business mister?"
"I promise you there will be no funny business."
"OK.'Andles Mary, what's yours?"
"Just call me Jim, Jim Giles. Well are you coming? Or would you rather freeze to death?"
"You're the boss Jim lead the way."
They set off for the council house Jim had shared with his wife. The house he had thought he would never see again. At his house Jim lit the gas fire and sat Mary and her baby in front of it. In the kitchen he found some beans and stale bread, which he toasted. He took the meal and two mugs of tea to his unexpected guests.
"It's Christmas Eve today Mary, this will have to do instead of turkey, pudding and wine. Still it's something
enjoy it love." Jim sat down and watched his new friend wolf down the simple meal. Mary smiled at him
"Best meal I've ever 'ad Jim thanks. Your 'ouse is a bit of a pigsty but I'm glad to be here. Tomorrow, after a good nights sleep, I will clean it up for you."
"You want to stay here with me?"
"Why not? I've nowhere else I promise that you will not regret it." Mary had never experienced security which, made her determined not to let this chance of happiness pass her by. As they sat there, enjoying the warmth, the baby started to cry again. Mary took the babe in her arms.
"He's 'ungry bless him, I do love him you know, I just panicked and didn't know what to do for the best."
She unbuttoned.her blouse and placed the baby on a small, firm breast. The girl was unaware of how beautiful she looked, in the glow of the fire, feeding her child. Jim felt uncomfortable because he realised how dirty and scruffy he must look. To his delight the depression that had plagued him for ages was gone.
Could this pretty young thing and her baby actually share his house with him? He had been certain that this Christmas would be his last on earth but his chance encounter with Mary had installed joy and hope in his heart.
"I'm pleased that you are are staying Mary I have plenty of room." Warmth had restored colour to Mary's face and glancing at him she enquired:
"'Ave you any money Jim?" Jim thought please Mary don't let me down by taking my few pennies and running away tomorrow. Mary read Jim's glum features.
"Don't be daft Jim, it's just if you 'ave. a few quid stashed away I will visit the shops and rustle up a Christmas dinner for us." Jim went to a vase on his mantelpiece and explored its interior with his hand.
Triumphant he flurried a twenty-pound note.
"I forgot I had this Mary, it wont buy much but you can go shopping tomorrow for a chicken or something
and perhaps a bottle of wine for us to celebrate and don't forget the mite if he needs anything." Mary smiled, reminding Jim of a painting he had once viewed of the Madonna and Child.
"'Ave you had a Christmas gift yet Jim?".
"I don't know anyone and most people avoid me, I can't blame them really"
"I'll give you a present. I will call my little son after you Jim. Would you like that?"
Stunned Jim answered:
"I would like that Mary, thank you, I'm tired now, I'll be off to bed; you can have the other room and I will give myself a wash and a shave in the morning." In the sanctuary of his room Jim realised, that for the first
time in years, he was happy. Kicking off his shoes he flopped on to his bed. Mary called from the front room:
"Goodnight Jim and a Merry Christmas to you."
"Good night Mary,God bless you." Jim murmured as he closed his eyes. The vision of Mary feeding her baby had soothed him and soon he was in a deep, contented sleep.
Philip's Army is now available to purchase on the Amazon Kindle from multiple countries.
Book Number ASIN: B008R7DD20
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