Chapter 9: Dean
‘Have you done what I asked?’ she snapped.
‘What?’
‘I told you yesterday to take those library books back before you get a fine. Have you done it?’
Dean turned his head away and continued playing his Xbox.
‘Well?’
‘No. I’ll get round to it sometime!’
‘No, you won’t. You can get off your arse now and take those books straight back – do you hear me?’
‘Yeah, yeah. I’ll do it in a minute.’
Voices slowly rose in released anger.
“Yeah, right you will. I want those books out of here today. You got them out – you take them back – not me! All you ever do is sit around wasting your time playing those bloody games. For Christ’s sake get up and do something sensible for once!’
‘But you always told me I was your reason for living.’
‘That was a long time ago. My reason for living ceased the day you reached puberty and I’ve seen neither rhyme nor reason since to change that view.’
Clearly infuriated and dumbfounded, she left Dean’s bedroom and returned downstairs.
The doorbell rang.
‘Who’s that?’ Dean called out, not wishing to bother to find out for himself.
‘Why don’t you get off your arse and see for yourself. I’m busy.’
Dragging himself away from his Xbox, Dean ambled down the stairs and opened the door. There standing on the porch was Frankie.
‘Hi!’ came the high-pitched voice.
Oh Christ – that’s all I need. Doesn’t she ever give up?’ he thought. ‘Oh hi, Frankie, what’s up?’
‘Just thought I’d pop round to see how you’re doing. Haven’t seen you in a while.’ She gave him a sideways flirty smile and a flash of eyelashes as the words slipped from her lips.
‘Yes you have. Saw me yesterday afternoon – you know, at the arcade. Might as well come in. Can’t be long though. I’ve got to run an errand for my mum.’
‘What you doing?’
‘Got to return her library books. She doesn’t get out much, you know, so I try to help.’
‘That’s really sweet.’
This pushed Dean’s allurement to even greater heights in the glazed eyes of the besotted girl.
‘Hang on here a mo. Just get my shoes.’ Dean left the girl in the hallway as he dashed upstairs.
While waiting, Frankie glanced around the hallway, taking in the surrounding décor, when she noticed a number of books lying on the hall table. Being inquisitive, she opened the cover of the top book. Ah yes, there was the library label stuck on the inside of the cover. They had to be the books Dean was returning for his mother.
Just then Dean scurried back down the stairs. ‘Right. Ready?’ He asked as he scooped up the books.
‘Is your mum studying chemistry?’
‘What?’
‘One of the books is about chemistry.’
Caught on the hop, Dean thought fast. ‘Ah, yeah, that’s for her evening classes. She wanted to learn something new. You know what it’s like with old people; they start wanting to learn things again. Don’t know why. Anyway I’ve been helping her with her studies.’
‘Yeah? You’re useless at chemistry! At school Mr Grimes reckons you’ll easily fail your exam.’
‘What’s he know? He’s got it in for me. They’re all the same. If they see someone with more intelligence than them they have it in for you. You’ve seen me on the Xbox and in the arcade. It takes a lot of brainpower to reach the levels I’ve attained. I’m just beyond his understanding.’
Frankie smiled lovingly in the face of her Adonis and just nodded to his ludicrous reasoning. Her infatuation surpassed any logic in what had just been said.
‘We’re going to the library now, Mum!’ he shouted.
‘Good, don’t come back with anything!’ was the response.
‘Did you hear that, Frankie? You can’t come back with me, mother’s orders.’
Frankie, although disappointed, nodded acceptance.
On the way to the library, Frankie piped up. ‘Listen, Duggie and Glen are going to be in the park this afternoon. Maybe we could meet up with them for an hour or so. Whaddya you think?’
‘Duggie and Glen! Is that the best you can muster? They’re a right pair of lame brains.’
‘No they’re not; they’re alright for a laugh.’
‘Alright maybe, but let’s see what time we have after I dropped these off.’
Frankie smiled as she gently slipped her hand in under Dean’s arm as they walked.
As they entered the library, Dean sauntered up to the counter and clasping the books, awaited the attention of the librarian who was serving another customer. Determined that Frankie should not see the contents of any of the other books, Dean suggested she should have a wander round while he waited to be served.
Just as Dean finished checking in his books, Frankie came up and furtively tugged on his sleeve while giving quick jerks of her head as if to indicate she wanted him to go with her.
‘What’s up with you?’ Dean asked.
‘Come and see,’ she whispered and continued jerking her head towards a corner reading table.
‘What?’
‘Come see!’ Still holding his sleeve, she led him to the table. ‘Look there.’ She pointed to one of the chairs.
‘What?’
‘Look! That small brown package. Someone must have left it here by mistake.’
Dean reared back. ‘Oh God, maybe it’s a bomb – you hear of these things, you know – terrorists; they like leaving these devices in public places.’
Frankie leaned forward. ‘I don’t think so, Dean. Look there some writing on it. It’s unlikely a terrorist wouldn’t write ‘Dad’ on it, would they?’
‘You don’t know. Perhaps whoever might have a dad like my mum?’ He joked.
Frankie laughed. ‘Don’t be daft! Anyway, what a thing to say about your mum.’
‘What is it then?’
Frankie shrugged. ‘Probably just a present someone was sending to their dad. They must have come in here, sat down, placed it on the chair then forgot about it when they left.’
‘What we gonna do about it then, tell the librarian and let them deal with it...you don’t know, maybe someone will come back looking for it?’
Frankie thought about it while Dean parked himself on a chair. ‘No, I think we should post it just to be sure. If it was your dad wouldn’t you want it to get there? It’s got an address on it and it’s not very big so it won’t cost much to post.’
‘Huh my dad buggered off years ago. I’d send him a package alright if I knew where he was... Have you got any money on you, ’cause I haven’t?’
Frankie pulled off her ever-present rucksack. With a quick rummage, she pulled out her purse and raked through it.
‘I’ve got about two-fifty, which should do.’
‘Alright, come on then, but you can carry the box – just in case.’
‘Are we going to the park?’
‘Yeah, okay!’
Frankie smiled as she gave his arm an affectionate squeeze.
Meanwhile in the park, Duggie and Glen squatted on the back of a park bench, bored to tears. There was nothing going on and nothing doing. Just as they were about to head off home, Duggie looked up.
‘Hey, look! It’s Frankie and Dean.’ Duggie pointed to the two figures coming through the park entrance.
‘Thank Christ for that. Wonder what they’re up to.’
As they got closer, Glen called out. ‘Hey you two, what’s up?’
‘Nothing much,’ replied Frankie as she parked herself down on the end of the bench.
‘How’re you, Dean, mate – anything happening?’ asked Duggie.
‘Na, nothing much, you guys?’
‘Na, same ’ere, mate.’
‘Oh, there is one thing…’ piped up Dean. ‘Frankie found this package in the library. We’re gonna post in a minute.’
‘Yeah – lets ’ave a look,’ requested Glen.
Frankie pulled out the package and handed it to Glen.
‘Whaddya think’s in it?’ questioned Duggie.
‘Dunno,’ replied Dean. ‘Maybe something valuable like a watch or jewellery?’
‘Don’t be silly.’ Frankie said. ‘If it were, you wouldn’t be sticking it in the post, would you? You’d use a courier service. It’s more likely something like a family picture or a keepsake sent by a daughter or son. It’s addressed to ‘Dad’ so maybe the ‘Mum’ is dead. Sad.’
‘Yeah, you could be right, I suppose,’ responded Dean.
As the two climbed down from the back of the bench, Glen rattled the package.
‘Here, pass it to me,’ called Duggie.
With that Glen, tossed over the package.
‘Hey, watch it, you might break it!’ cried Frankie.
The two boys laughed as they larked about, running round in circles tossing the package back and forth. But unknown to the two was the presence of large hound which had been watching their antics while its master took a doze under a nearby tree. The more they frolicked the more the hound was getting excited. By the wild look in its eyes and the drooling mouth, the hound clearly wanted to join in the fun.
‘I told you they were lame brains, now look at them!’ cried Dean to Frankie.
Turning to the two no hopers, Dean called out, ‘Right you two, give it back before you break it!’
The boys relented. Duggie, tossed the package towards Dean, but halfway through its trajectory, the hound lunged into action and snatching the parcel tight within its jaws. Landing on all fours, the dog charged away in a fit of excitement.
‘Oh shit!’ cried Dean. ‘That friggin’ dog! Get after him quick!’
But Glen and Duggie stood, gobsmacked and stunned by what had happened. Frankie just sat screaming hysterically as the dog disappeared across the park.
***