“Looking after my family.” Howard smiled, softly.
“But we’re not… Howard, this cheque is for fifty thousand pounds.”
“I know, and I want you to go down to the bank, this afternoon, and put it into your account. Do it as soon as possible. It’s yours. You and Jacks. It’ll set you up for a new life.” Suggested Howard.
“I can’t accept this. I c…” Howard put a finger to Anita’s lips.
“Hush. This is only what I would have left you in my will, anyway.” Howard informed Anita. She pulled away from his finger.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Howard? You’re scaring me.” Anita said, her voice shaking. Howard took her hand in his.
“I’m not going to be around for much longer… that’s why I want you to have this money. It won’t be any good to me. Not where I’m going.”
Anita stared down at the cheque, then back up to Howard.
“What is it, Howard? Are you telling me that you’re dying? Is that it? Are you ill?” She asked.
“No, I’m not dying, Anita… but very soon, I’m going to be in a lot of trouble, and I won’t be around any more.” Answered Howard. Anita shook her head.
“This is fucking crazy…” she whispered to herself. “What are you talking about? What sort of trouble are you in?” Anita demanded to know. Howard looked at her, feeling frustrated with himself.
“I can’t tell you. I’d love to be able to, but I can’t, and the reason that I can’t is because I have to protect you. I have to protect you and Jack.” Said Howard.
“What? None of this makes any sense… just tell me, Howard. Tell me. What is this all about?” She asked again.
“No.” Asserted Howard. He let go of Anita’s hand, and stood up. “All you need to know is that I love you, Jack too, and that, if I could somehow be a different person, then I would be, because that way, we could all be together… but I can’t change. I can’t stop being the person that I am… and I am not a good person, Anita. I’m not a good person at all. Say goodbye to Jack for me.” Requested Howard, before suddenly heading out of Anita’s living room and towards her front door. Anita stood up, to try and stop Howard from leaving. He glanced back at her as he opened the front door. “Just bank the cheque, enjoy your life, and forget about me.” He said, before departing. Anita Morley never saw Howard Trenton again.
***
Alex Crennell stood at the bar in ‘The Stagecoach’ public house, together with his friend, Gary Ackley.
“I need to ask you a favour.” Said Alex.
“What?” Asked Gary, with long blue strands of hair dangling into his eyes. Alex looked up at Gary’s flattened mohican.
“Doesn’t that get irritating?” Alex wanted to know.
“Huh?” Gary grunted.
“Your fucking hair, hanging all over your face like that.” Clarified Alex.
“It’s only because I couldn't be arsed spiking it up tonight.” Argued Gary.
“Well, I can see that, but… oh fucking hell, it doesn't matter.” Mumbled Alex.
“So, what’s this favour that you mentioned?” Asked Gary, for a second time.
“Look, it’s to do with Mary. We’re doing the Black Pathway Trail.” Stated Alex. Gary, who had been sipping on his pint, began to choke on it.
“You’re fucking joking! You couldn't do it the first time!” He laughed, taking the piss.
“Shut the fuck up, Gary.” Barked Alex Crennell, angrily.
“I can still remember the fucking state of you after we’d come down from off Knighton Mountain… talk about a sweaty, wheezing, moaning old cunt…”
“I said shut the fuck up!” Repeated Alex.
“Ah, calm down. You’re such a sensitive little prick at times.” Mocked Gary. “So, you're doing the Black Pathway, huh? When? In the summer?” He wanted to know.
“No. Tomorrow.” Alex informed his friend, which caused Gary Ackley to look at him as if he’d gone completely insane.
Gary took a swig of his beer.
“You are fucking joking, right?” He asked Alex, his face suddenly deadly serious.
“Joking about what?” Mumbled Alex.
“About doing the Black Pathway tomorrow? You’re kidding me, yeah?” Repeated Gary.
“No, I’m not kidding you.” Confirmed Alex.
“Have you lost your marbles, mate?” Gary said, querying Alex’s sanity.
“No.” Shrugged Alex. “We’re doing the Black Pathway Trail, me and Mary.”
“Yeah, I heard you the first time. Which is why I’m asking you now, have you lost the fucking plot?”
“No, why? What’s wrong with doing the Pathway?” Questioned Alex.
‘Fuck, man, do you need me to spell it out for you?” Replied Gary. Alex didn't say anything. “Right, so you DO want me to spell it out for you… okay. Alex, hardly anybody walks the Black Pathway during the winter, apart from hardcore fucking ramblers and climbers… you know what I mean, real experienced guys. Man, I ain’t being funny, but you couldn’t cope with that walk during the summer, it nearly killed you…”
“Like fuck did it!” Interrupted Alex.
“Yeah, it did, Alex, and we both know it. So stop bull-shitting.” Gary snapped back at his friend.
“Okay, okay. I found it difficult, I admit it. Are you happy now?” Conceded Alex. Gary simply stared back at him. “But that’s part of the problem.” Alex continued.
“What’s part of the problem?” Gary asked, with suspicion in his eyes.
“The fact that I found the walk difficult, and had to give up… because I forgot to mention all of that to Mary.” Admitted Alex Crennell.
Gary Ackley rolled his eyes in disbelief.
“What, exactly, have you told Mary, Alex?” He asked.
“I told her that I’d completed the walk before… that I thought it was easy… a piece of piss, I think I said.” Revealed Alex.
“Oh shit.” Sighed Gary. “What the fuck were you playing at, mate?”
“It’s all because of that little bastard, Howard Trenton.” Spat Alex.
“What the fuck has Howard Trenton got to do with any of this?” Asked Gary, totally confused.
“He was sniffing around Mary, before her and I got together. He wanted Mary to do the Black Pathway with him.” Alex confided.
“So what? He’s not with Mary, you are… what’s the fucking problem?”
“I got pissed off, coz I found out that Howard has completed the trail loads of times… the smug little arse-hole. It made me jealous.” Admitted Alex.
“Oh, Jesus Christ, do you realise what you sound like?” Laughed Gary.
“Shut up.” Alex replied.
“You’re like a big fucking kid at times, Alex, you really are, and now it's landed you in the shit. Oh, and you still haven’t told me exactly what this favour is that you want, either.” Reminded Gary. “Hang on a minute… please don’t tell me that you want me to come on the walk with you and Mary, in case you get into trouble up there?”
“No, of course not. I was just going to ask you not to, well, you know, let on to Mary that I’ve never actually completed the trail.” Alex finally revealed.
Gary Ackley rolled his head back, grinning up at the pub ceiling for a few seconds, before looking at his friend with amusement.
“Bloody hell, Alex, you’re priceless, you really are. Don’t worry, man, your secret’s safe with me.” He said.
“Cheers.” Alex thanked him. He played with his pint glass for a moment or two, slowly spinning it around on the bar, awkwardly. “Actually, that might not be a bad idea.” He commented. Gary frowned at him.
“What might not be a bad idea?” He asked, unsure what Alex was talking about. Alex spun the beer glass around again.
“If you came along on the walk. What with you having already completed it.” Answered Alex, refusing to look his friend in the eye.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” Laughed Gary. Alex didn’t reply. “What? You’re being serious? You actually want me to come along with you and Mary? Up on the Black Pathway? Play fucking gooseberry for three days, whilst listening to you whinge and moan and…”
“I won’t be whinging and moaning!” Protested Alex.