CHAPTER 7
THE DOUBLE BED
Maria was a widow living alone in a one-bedroom cottage within walking distance of the small shops in Caboolture. Luckily she was also on the bus route that would take her to the big shopping centres.
This morning she heard the sound of a vehicle pulling into the short driveway, its gurgling old muffler and squeaky brakes told her at once who it was - Harry!
She was a small woman, active for her age and light on her feet. Excitedly, she whipped off her apron, tidied her long, silver hair - kept under control with old-fashioned hairgrips and a ponytail and hurried out to greet her long-time close, very close, friend Harry Hall.
'Good-day, love,' he said excitedly, as he got out of his battered old FB Holden ute - loaded with a miscellaneous assortment of household effects. 'What on earth have you got in there?' Maria asked with a grin.
'Now where've you been, you old bugger? Out early were you? Been doing a run 'round the weekend garage sales? You have by the look of it...'
'Oh, no, nothing like that, darl,' Harry replied. He was long and lanky and balding too, but always clean-shaven and tidy. He quickly tucked his errant shirt back in his shorts and pulled up his walk-socks - then stood there, one hand on the bonnet of his ute, as if a bit unsure of what to say next.
'Well? What are you up to, then?'
'Up to? Nothing… Nothing, really. I've just, sort of been clearing out a bit more of my stuff. You know - odds and ends. This and that. I thought you might want this little table – or that bookcase... the footstool... or a few other things,' he said, waving a hand at them. 'You always did like some of my odd bits and pieces. Am I right?'
'Yeah, but liking things is one thing - harbouring your old junk is another! Why bring it all here to my place? And why now?' she queried. ‘Why not check with me first?’ Hands on hips, she continued, 'I'll soon have more of your stuff here, than you do at your old place! I really don't understand you at times. I really don't!' She turned away from the ute to look Harry directly in the face. 'Tell me, why are you always so keen to dump your old junk on me? Is it because it's a shorter drive than taking it all to the Council tip?'
'Oh... well, if that’s how you feel…' Harry tried his best not to be offended, or show he was in any way unhappy or distressed by her remark. He assumed, bravely, that she had only spoken in jest. But he couldn't fool her for a moment - she quickly detected the fleeting, hurtful, little hint in his eyes.
'Alright, alright… you silly old softie! I didn't mean to upset you. But oh, my God! Fancy bringing all that stuff here - without asking!' Maria shook her head in disbelief as she moved back to take a closer look, poking about here and there, in the back of the ute. 'What on earth have you got hidden under that... that cover thing?' she said, pointing to something big, wrapped in what looked like an old bedspread. 'What is that funny thingamajig, under there?'
'Oh... that? Well, there's nothing funny about that! It's... well... it's a bed – a double bed' Harry replied, rather sheepishly.
'A double bed! You’re kidding! Why on earth would I want a double bed?' she asked, dumbfounded. ‘There’s only one of me, you know.’
'Oh... I, I don't know,' Harry replied. 'It's just a very good bed: strong frame... nice base and the mattress? Ohhh... it's as soft as a cloud. Talk about comfortable; you wouldn't believe how comfortable that mattress is! It's well worth having. You would like it... You would love it - I guarantee it.'
'Well, this might come as something of a surprise to you, you old fool, but it so happens I have absolutely no need for another bed of any sort. If I did, I certainly wouldn't want a double one! Right? So... when you go - you can jolly well take it back with you. Thank you very much!'
'Oh... now don't go being too hasty, love – please. It is a damn good bed.'
'So it might be! But you can shut up talking about beds... or any of that other stuff of yours - and come on in and have a cup of tea, before I lose my temper with you.'
'Oh, alright. Any English muffins today?' he asked, hopefully, as he followed behind her.
'Of course! Since when have you ever come here and not been properly fed? Come on - get in and wash your hands quickly, mind! Muffins are best eaten while they're still hot - you should know that!'
They moved in to the kitchen of Maria's neat, two-bedroom, ground floor unit. She was happy living here because she didn’t drive and it was nice and close to local village shops and several other amenities – including health facilities. They quickly got into the latest local gossip and went on to reminisce about the 'good old days' as they usually did – while they enjoyed their tea and hot muffins together. But, inevitably, the conversation drifted back to the load outside in Harry’s ute, in particular, the double bed!
'As to that there bed of yours - I don't care what you say, it would never fit in my bedroom. I don't know what you must have been thinking about in the first place,' Maria said.
'It would.'
‘It wouldn’t.’
‘It would, I tell ya.’
'Don't be silly, Harry, it wouldn't.'
'I know it would.'
'It would not! Come and have a look, then.' They got up from the table and moved the short distance to Maria's bedroom and stood together in the open doorway. 'See!' she said. 'No way would a double bed would fit in here!'
Her bedroom was packed full of boxes, suitcases, knick-knacks, stuffed toys, clothes, shoes, etc, leaving insufficient room for a double bed, as she had said.
'It would - of course it would. It might not look like it now, but I know for certain...' he stopped there, as if afraid to continue.
'You what? What was that?’ she said, looking at him quizzically. ‘What exactly did you mean by: ‘know for certain?’’
'Well, I measured it up last time I was here... see, when I was fixing them laundry taps.'
'Oh, yes? And what, may I ask, has going into my bedroom got to do with fixing laundry taps?'
'Oh... look, I only ducked in for a moment. Just to run a tape measure over that wall. I didn’t spy or rummage about or anything. But I can tell you for sure the double bed out there will fit in here. It will - just nicely.'
'Look, you old fool. You've got no right... no right at all, poking about in my bedroom! Now I know... technically speaking, there's enough room for such a bed. I had a double bed in here when I moved in, just after my Arnold died. Since then, I've accumulated quite a bit more stuff. Anyone can see that – and much of it, funnily enough, is your junk what you've brought here! My old double bed was a good one too. But I chucked it out and bought myself a nice new single bed, so as I could have more room for things - that was the whole point! I'm quite happy with that!'
'Look, love, if storage is a problem, I can fix it: a built-in wardrobe here, shelves up there. With all your stuff put away nice and tidy like, there would be room for a double bed and space for a couple of nice bedside cabinets too. I could have all that done in no time at all.'
'Oh, shut up do! Come on, let's go and have another cup of tea. My head's in a spin with all this nonsense about double beds.'
'Now,' she said later, as she was pouring the tea, 'There's something behind all this bed business - isn't there? What is it? Come on - out with it! We've known each other long enough. Long enough to confide in one another... truthfully, I should think?'
Harry sighed. 'Yeah, well... you’re right there. If you must know, it's my eyes. You see, I nearly had a bad accident - when I was driving recently. I swear I never saw the other car until it stopped - just inches from the driver's door. My door! I was scared, I can tell you. I was all of a sweat. I had to go home and a take a rest. I couldn't drive for a couple of days.'
'When? When was this, then?'
'Last month?'
'You never said anything to me – and you should have!'
'I… I didn't want to worry you.'
'You're a fool.'
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br /> 'I know. I know. I was scared... all shook up like. My neighbour Bert - you know him?'
'Yes. Yes, I do.'
'Well, he said I looked like death warmed up and he insisted on taking me to the doctor for a check-up.'
'That was good of him. Very good of him. What did your doctor say, then?'
'My GP? He rang my eye-doctor - the one who treats me for glaucoma. After some tests... they reckon my driving days will soon be over. My vision is getting worse, you see, especially in my right eye. A nasty sort of... blind spot - know what I mean? I'm advised to make plans to give up driving soon, they said.’
‘How soon?’ Maria asked.
‘Three months... sooner if possible – and that was a month ago. Out of fairness to other road users… as well as my own they say.'
'Can't say I haven't noticed, the way you've been bumping into things - and dropping things too! If they say so, then it really is best if you give up driving love, in the circumstances. We don't want you getting killed, now do we?'
'I suppose they know what they're talking about.'
'Of course they do! Come on, it's not the end of the world, you know.'
'That's easy for you to say,' Harry sighed, 'but I live, well... a bit farther out of town, don't I?'
'So?'
'So it could very well be “the end of my world” as I know it. I mean… I won't get much of a chance to see you, if I can't drive - will I? Not with you being here and me, being stuck out there.'
'Does that worry you, then?' She asked, 'not being free to drop in here whenever you it takes your fancy?'
'Well, yes. 'Course it does. We've been mates for years, you and me. Even closer since I lost Beth and you lost Arnold and I can’t help thinking...'
'Oh, yes? That sounds interesting… if not ominous.'
‘Well, what do you think? About me moving in here... to live with you?'
'Oh? How exciting - for you! How terribly convenient too!'
'What? Well…yes. Yes, it would be convenient - living here. I know I'm here most days now... but I mean permanent would be better. Even when I'm not here, I'm... I'm thinking of you.' Harry pushed his hand across the table - but Maria withdrew hers quickly, before they could touch.
'So, you think you can sell your place at the drop of a hat, then come swanning down here and pop straight into that there damn double bed you want to dump here - just because it suits you, because it's convenient for you, eh?' Maria stood up - a stern, disapproving, look on her face.
'What? No. No. Please... sit down. It's not like that at all,' Harry protested.
Maria sat down and leaned forward: 'What is it like, then?' she said, looking him straight in the eye. 'It's all a bit strange to me. Very strange.'
Harry, confused and bewildered, stumbled for words: 'Oh... I'm, I'm not just looking for a billet, you know - not just any old billet in town.'
'No?' she said. 'Well, that's what it sounds like. Like you're trying to negotiate a bed with a landlady at some... cheap, seaside, dosshouse!'
'But you and me; we're mates.'
'Oh mates? Hmm, that's nice to know. So, does being mates give you some kind of special 'right'; to take over my home, my bedroom - my bed? Just because it happens to suit you?'
'No. No. Look: you got it wrong. All wrong. You know I love you...'
'What? What was that?' she said, cupping her ear. 'What did you say?'
Harry, puzzled by her teasing rebuff and unsure as to whether he was building a dream or digging his grave, blundered on: 'I... er... said “I love you”. Well, I do!'
'Oh, yes? “You love me”, do you? Why is that then - I wonder? Is it part of a new course of treatment for your glaucoma? I mean, you didn't love me yesterday, or the day before that - not as far as I know. But now you have to give up driving, hey - suddenly you love me! It is all so very convenient for you too! Isn't it? Well... isn't it?'
'Yes. No! Yes... er, no.' Red faced, confused and risking all, Harry reached out taking her left hand in his firm grasp. 'Maria...' he pleaded - tears forming in his eyes, 'Maria, I DO love you! I've loved you for years - not just today! I thought... you knew that? Didn't you? Don't you? Surely you do?'
'Why? Why should I know that? Do you think I'm some kind of clairvoyant? Do you think I'm somehow privy to what goes on inside that thick skull of yours?' she said, with just a faint suggestion of a smile on her lips. 'Do you mind telling me why you've never mentioned this... this love business, before?'
'Before? Well, I guess I've been, sort of - scared! Yes, scared. I admit it. Scared you might give me a hard time. Scared you might say 'No' – and give me the push.' Harry breathed an audible sigh of relief, now he had actually managed to vent his pent-up feelings. 'I couldn't take that. Losing you would... would kill me.'
'I don't know,' said Maria, softening. ‘What am I going to do with you? You big softy!' she said with a grin, reaching over to gently brush away a little tear, with one finger, from his cheek.
Harry, thinking he might just be in there with a chance, tried again: 'Please, love,' he pleaded, 'don't send me packing with a flea in my ear. I've said I love you. You know that was hard for me. You must know I'm not the mushy, romantic type. But you also must know I love you. You must…' he pleaded.
'Oh, I suppose so - in your own funny way. There must be something that brings you here so often. It can't be my cooking alone - at least, I hope not!' she said, standing and clearing the dishes.
'What about, you know...?'
'What? The double bed?' Maria paused, deep in thought - for what seemed like ages, then putting the dishes down on the sink unit, she turned back to him. 'You'd better give me a hand - to clear away some of the junk out of my bedroom and make a bit of space. See if we can really fit you and your monstrous bed in there.'
Harry leapt to his feet, the chair crashing to the floor. He swept her into his arms and kissed her in a long, lingering, embrace.
'Oh...!' Maria exclaimed as they came up for air. 'I think maybe you should have done that, a long time ago.'
'Yes – you’re right! I should,' Harry said. 'Just think of the money I could have saved on petrol? If I only I'd had the courage.'
Maria gave him a soft clip around the ear. 'You cheapskate!’
'I didn't know you could be violent.'
'Oh, there's probably quite a lot you don't know about me. But you're right. What you said.'
'I am? Good, right about what?'
'About not being mushy or romantic - not like you at all! But then, I wouldn't have you any other way.' She smiled, warmly, as she got up and moved to the door. 'Well, come on, then,' she commanded. 'Are we moving that double-bed in here today, or not?'