It was Thursday evening and the bar of the Station Inn would normally be relatively quiet, however there was a convention being held close by and the number of customers was unusually high. “Why is it always like this when I don’t have the staff?” thought John Turner as he searched the shelves for a clean glass. On most of the tables were empty glasses, yet to be collected. Dirty glasses, lined up on the bar, were creating a problem of space as well as a shortage of clean glasses. The only other staff member was a young girl who was taking more interest in a smartly dressed young man than the state of the glasses until John shouted at her to get on with her work. It had the desired effect for few minutes until another young man, who asked her what time she was due to finish work, again distracted her.
A wall of sound and smoke met Albert as he entered the bar. Although he had told John he would not be available for work for two nights, he decided to call in as he was passing on his way home from the station. The carriage on the train from Barnshead was full, some people having to stand for a while between the larger towns. So much had happened in those two short days he was grateful for the distraction of the other passengers rather than left alone with his own thoughts.
“Where the hell have you been,” John shouted at him across the bar, “Were running out of glasses. Get those dirties collected and washed.”
Albert placed his suitcase behind the bar, took off his jacket and walked around the room collecting the glasses. He had ignored John’s outburst as he could see he was under some stress but the next demand could not go without some reply, as John shouted, “What are you doing over there, get yourself over her behind the bar there are people waiting.”
Albert calmly walked over to the bar, asked the female staff member to serve the customer who had been waiting and pulled John to one side.
“I told you I would be away for two days,” Albert reminded him, his manner and voice were composed, “I only came in here tonight to see if you needed a hand, you should have organised your staff better to cover for me.”
Albert realised that John had been drinking. He assumed it might be due to further issues with his ex wife.
“Has she been chasing you for money again?” Albert asked.
“What the hell has it got to do with you,” John blurted, that’s my business, nothing to do with you. Who the devil do you think you are coming in here telling me how to run my business, digging into my personal life, what the hell’s it got to do with you.”
“I thought we were friends.”
“Friends, friends, you bloody work for me, what made you think we were friends?” So did you find your imaginary brother, all this mystery stuff about a family you reckon you haven’t seen for years, you’re not right in the head, there’s something missing up there,” John slurred as he tapped his forehead.
Albert did not respond, he took his coat off the hook and folded it over his arm. He picked up his case and walked towards the bar exit.
“Where the hell are you going?” John shouted after him, “There’s work to be done.”
Albert sighed knowing he was about to close another door in his life, “I’m sorry John I believed we were friends, I worked here to help a friend, it seems I was mistaken.”
“Too right you were, you’ve been mistaken about lots of things,” John sneered, but if he said anything else, Albert did not hear it as he closed the door behind him.
On his way to the gardens the following morning, Albert stopped at a telephone box to try to speak to Neville Conrad. He felt he owed Neville an explanation of what had happened over the past two days, what he had found out about his family and his real name. He called the newspaper office. The receptionist informed him that Neville was rarely in the office but if he were to leave a message, they would pass it on to him the next time he called. He told them his name and the message was simply that he would like to meet with Neville. She asked him if there was anything he would like to add. He was about to say no, when he said, “Yes, could you tell him we should not meet at the Station Inn.”
A wall of sound and smoke met Albert as he entered the bar. Although he had told John he would not be available for work for two nights, he decided to call in as he was passing on his way home from the station. The carriage on the train from Barnshead was full, some people having to stand for a while between the larger towns. So much had happened in those two short days he was grateful for the distraction of the other passengers rather than left alone with his own thoughts.
“Where the hell have you been,” John shouted at him across the bar, “Were running out of glasses. Get those dirties collected and washed.”
Albert placed his suitcase behind the bar, took off his jacket and walked around the room collecting the glasses. He had ignored John’s outburst as he could see he was under some stress but the next demand could not go without some reply, as John shouted, “What are you doing over there, get yourself over her behind the bar there are people waiting.”
Albert calmly walked over to the bar, asked the female staff member to serve the customer who had been waiting and pulled John to one side.
“I told you I would be away for two days,” Albert reminded him, his manner and voice were composed, “I only came in here tonight to see if you needed a hand, you should have organised your staff better to cover for me.”
Albert realised that John had been drinking. He assumed it might be due to further issues with his ex wife.
“Has she been chasing you for money again?” Albert asked.
“What the hell has it got to do with you,” John blurted, that’s my business, nothing to do with you. Who the devil do you think you are coming in here telling me how to run my business, digging into my personal life, what the hell’s it got to do with you.”
“I thought we were friends.”
“Friends, friends, you bloody work for me, what made you think we were friends?” So did you find your imaginary brother, all this mystery stuff about a family you reckon you haven’t seen for years, you’re not right in the head, there’s something missing up there,” John slurred as he tapped his forehead.
Albert did not respond, he took his coat off the hook and folded it over his arm. He picked up his case and walked towards the bar exit.
“Where the hell are you going?” John shouted after him, “There’s work to be done.”
Albert sighed knowing he was about to close another door in his life, “I’m sorry John I believed we were friends, I worked here to help a friend, it seems I was mistaken.”
“Too right you were, you’ve been mistaken about lots of things,” John sneered, but if he said anything else, Albert did not hear it as he closed the door behind him.
On his way to the gardens the following morning, Albert stopped at a telephone box to try to speak to Neville Conrad. He felt he owed Neville an explanation of what had happened over the past two days, what he had found out about his family and his real name. He called the newspaper office. The receptionist informed him that Neville was rarely in the office but if he were to leave a message, they would pass it on to him the next time he called. He told them his name and the message was simply that he would like to meet with Neville. She asked him if there was anything he would like to add. He was about to say no, when he said, “Yes, could you tell him we should not meet at the Station Inn.”