Twenty days

 Twenty days

 

In a town in the distant mountains lived a young boy. His name was Arturo. The mountains were the Crunchy Mountains. The snow on them was hard and icy. Arthur felt a little lonely. He had no brothers and sisters. His father worked all night in the car factory and slept during the day. His mother worked at the local shop. Arthur spent a lot of time by himself walking in the meadows around the small cluster of houses. He did not go to school. He was on the spectrum. When he was not roaming the fields, he read books in his room. They lived in an apartment above the town square. His uncle owned the gelato shop. He often called in and his uncle would give him an ice-cream. His uncle knew he spent a lot of time alone. He worried about the young boy. It was not good for someone so young to spend so much time alone. But Arthur was happy enough. Sometimes in the fields he would meet shepherds and occasionally a nymph. On one fine day he saw a young god holding court around a tree in the field. He could not hear what was being said. There was a lot of arguing. When the group saw him, they stopped talking and slowly moved away across the field in the shimmering heat. They were soon out of sight. Arthur did not walk after them. He knew they would shoo him away or throw stones at him. He did not want that. Davo was tired. He had been working since six in the morning. It was now six at night. Time to stop working. He hung up his apron in the workroom. Tonight, he had arranged to see someone at the local cafe on the way home. It was a woman. She wanted to sell him some insurance. She had called in at the factory a few days earlier. Davo was not particularly interessted in insurance. The woman at the factory had suggested they meet to look over the term of a policy. He thought it would be a nice thing to have for his family. He met her at the table in the bar. He knew it was risky but harmless enough. She took out the policy and passed it to him opening it in front of him. He looked at the document. He noticed it was handwritten in beautiful script. As he looked closer it began to glow. He could see a window on that page. Through the window he could see a city in the distance across a green plain with vineyards and orchards on it. “Do you see what I see?” she said. “Yes, I do,” he said. She folded the document tightly and placed it inside her bag. “Would you like to purchase a policy, it’s very low cost?” For you only 5 euros a month.”  Five euros was a lot of money to him. But it seemed a small price to pay to stay in contact with the woman and what he had seen on the page. “Do I get a written copy of the policy?” “Yes, you do my lover and it is identical to the one I showed you. You can read it whenever you want and I guarantee you will see more each time you do. There is much pleasure for you there. More than you can possibly imagine”. “Let me think about it I will discuss it with my wife.” “Don’t wait for too long.” She leant across the table. He knew he was getting out of his depth. This was no ordinary insurance saleswoman. There was something hellishly amazing about her which she only revealed to him. To everyone else in the bar she looked ardently normal and proper. He stammered his apologies and headed for the door. Through the light rain on the way he was grateful to be home.  Arthurs Mum Christina sometimes helped out on a Saturday in her brother alphonso gelato shop. It gave Alf a break to spend more time with his new wife and their little baby girl. Christina did not mind doing it at all. She enjoyed meeting the variety of people who came into the shop. That Saturday a man came in and ordered a raspberry sorbet. He started chatting to her over the counter. My wife is trying to interest your husband in a life insurance policy. Oh yes, he mentioned it to me during the week. I thought it sounded like a good idea and what a very reasonable cost I must say. Oh, that’s great to hear. I am sure she will follow up with him when she returns from the city. She was called to a big meeting at her boss’s house in the city yesterday and she will be back in a few days. I will mention to her our conversation. Thank you for the sorbet. I love it. Davo did sign up and received the policy in the mail. It came in a large black envelope. He took the document into the dining room and sat down to read the fine print. It was true. It was exactly the same as the paper he had seen earlier. The script was in the same fine gothic hand. He was somewhat surprised though to read the finest print. It seemed that the policy guaranteed a payment on his death. It was conditional on him reaching the city he had seen. He was beginning to regret the fact the saleswoman ever came to his work. He stared at the policy. The window opened. Wider this time until it filled the whole room. He was able to walk through it on to a dusty road that led through the sunny countryside. On either side of the road people worked in the fields digging the loamy soil and picking fruit from large trees. It took the day to reach the City. He took a bus into the middle of town. There was a park there with a festival full of young people. He started to fade. His vision became blurry. He was back in his living room. I wasn’t long before he was gazing at the policy again. He was quickly back in the centre of town. Here was a square like a piazza and around the edges under the arches of the building people sat drinking morning coffee and eating cakes. He went and sat down himself next too a couple who were both gaily dressed. They suck up a conversation quickly. Are you looking forward to the festival this weekend? We have come all the way from esta. We thought we would get here early and take in the atmosphere for the big day. It is really so exciting. The woman was young and seemed to vibrate with excitement about the upcoming festivities. The man was older with dark bags under his eyes and a red nose from drinking too much. They were pleasant enough yet at the same time did not seem to add up. He took his leave and wandered around the shops. A poster caught his eye. It was advertising an event the lst supper which was to be held on the faraday night before the festival. He wasn’t quite sure what the festival was about but took a mental note of the place and time and resolved to go to it. Perhaps he could find out more. He could see though that there were a number of death metal bands booked to play. Perhaps this was the theme of the festival. He knew he should get out of the window. He felt that he had been there long enough and what had initially seemed a happy atmosphere now had a distinct chill to it as if a cold wind was coming up from a frozen continent. He trudged back through the countryside. He noticed there were many young couples working feverishly in the fields he passed through. Perhaps this had something to do with the festival coming up on Saturday. It was very close to the shortest day. Maybe it was a pagan festival. He stopped to chat to one couple. The young man greeted him warmly then asked him how he was feeling about the party on Saturday. He said are you feeling it. Do you really feel it? What does it make you feel? Well usually I feel quite sad. I often wonder why when I was young I was left behind. Its not like I was that small. It makes me wonder was there something wrong with me. Was it embarrassing to take me for some reason. Its hard for me to feel things. But sometimes I feel so strongly its like my whole body is electrified. It was a cool morning. The temperature was two degrees. There was ice on the windows of the cars parked around the square. Fernando was just opening his coffee shop and a few customers were already at the counter looking for an espresso. He quickly swept the floor and tidies the chairs and tables. He noticed his friend Davos at the counter. He looked very tired. He greeted him and poured him a double shot. How’s it going brother. What’s news. You not at work today. No, I called in sick. I need a mental health day. I will make the day up on Sunday. The factories going overtime. I have a couple of things to do on Friday and Saturday. Oh yeah what you doing. Well I am going to a festival in town. And there is a pre party on Friday night. Whoa what does Christina think of that well she doesn’t know mate I haven’t told her. It's all to do with an insurance policy I took out. Its like part of the special offer. Sounds good. Yeah should be good. Do you need someone to come along? I won’t be opening the shop Friday night. Sure, but don’t tell anybody about it. It would be helpful to tell me what you think as its all a little bit on the weird side. You will see what I mean when we go Friday. Ok I will be at the shop at 530. Cool buds see you then. Davos met Fernando at the shop as agreed. He sat him down a table at the back of the shop and showed him the policy. Look at page three my friend. Do you see what I see? Fernando was a little weirded out. But there it was a window opened and he could see a town in the distance framed by golden countryside. That’s where we are going bud. Now you can see that I did not want to tell you earlier. They walked off down the road and thumbed a ride on a worn-out bus to the city centre. There were heaps of people on the bus. They were all excited about the party that night which was due at to start at six o’clock. Davos was feeling good that he had some else to share the occasion with him. He no longer felt like he was losing his mind. He began to seriously enter in to the spirit of the occasion knocking back vodka shots and handfuls of party pills. They were pretty mild but left him feeling euphoric. The party was centered on a club in the city centre that spilled out onto the street. It was heading towards nine o’clock and everyone was having a good time. It wasn’t long before he started to get that cold feeling. It was a cold that dived right down into his bones. At the same time a motorcycle revved hard as it went past and the noise hit his nerves. It was like someone had jumped into his very core sending shockwaves through his body. Am I that bad. Everyone else seems to be doing well. But then there immediately you heard it perhaps its someone else’s turn to be in the limelight am I that bad. No, I don’t think so. Stubborn yes. Prone to being stupid maybe but probably not over the mean. And you don’t give expecting to receive you just give and that’s that hopefully it makes someone else better and it should make you feel good. Its not an exchange of obligations no one is obligated you aren’t purchasing someone. Everyone is free to do and say and associate with whoever they want. You cannot monopolise someone’s life. A partnership between two people is sweet. It is very giving. Davos thought this to himself as he lurched drunkenly around the bar. The people there were all much younger than him and Fernandez. He began to feel guilty for getting him involved in something that he really had no idea about. Why was he here. He seemed unable to control the scene he had entered and it seemed to control him from the day that the saleswoman had come to the factory he had not seen her since he had only received the policy in the mail and now he was here away from his family his woman and his little boy he suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to leave. He did not have time to find Hernandez he just bolted to the train that left across the plains and he found himself feeling more and more sober as he travelled even the booze was an illusion. He had solved one problem but created another. Where was his friend Fernandez and his wife was really worried.  Davo realized his quest was hurting him and his little family. back in the mountain village. Christina was just going to bed. Davo was away for the weekend with his friend from the coffee shop. The lights were still on downstairs as she climbed out of the warm bath. Her body was soft from the long soak. She stood on the pink flannel bathmate and dried herself. She looked in the mirror and looked at her long slender body. She thought her arse was too big. But she knew Davo lighted it. Her called it the eighth wonder of the world. As she was drying herself she resolved to go down stairs to lock up and turn the lights off. She pulled the towel gently between her legs to get rid of th last drops of moisture on her smooth inner thighs then she put on her night dress and no she thought earturo was sound asleep she could just run down and switch off the light as she ran down down the stairs she was surprised to see the front door was open and a man was standing in the door wayyy she grabbed a blanket off the chair to cover herself. She was starting to feel cold. The man came further thru the door into the light and she could see it was the man who had seen her at the gelato shop. The friend of that woman who had pestered davo about the insurance policy. I am so sorry to startle you I did knock but you must of heard me. I Am am do you remember me me yes yes I do what do you want it's late and as you can see I am getting ready to go to bed. Look I just called around to give you some information about your husband he is with my partner in the city yes he told me he was going there. Is there a problem no not at all but just tomorrow is an important day as the conditions of the policy have to be fulfilled and I just wanted to ask you if you could contact him and make sure he does not forget. Why certainly I can he has his phone with him so I will ring him in the morning and remind him. Look I am sorry to disturb you please forgive me I will go now and let you get dressed sorry once again

davo arrives home reads the fine print to see if he personally does not fill the condition the life of another is forfeited. The heavies arrive to take Fernandez to the condition convention Davo decides to return to save his friend.his wife visits Christina to find out where he is.