Julie : Birthday/Accident (week 2)

‘Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine,’ Tom insisted, settling himself on a wooden bench outside the pound shop. His frayed jeans had seen better days, and his jumper seemed to consist of more holes than wool, with a few unidentified stains thrown in for good measure. Jane wavered, uncertain, then kissed the top of his tousled hair.

‘OK, love, I won’t be long.’ She turned and walked away towards the main shopping precinct, looking briefly over her shoulder at her husband. He gave her an encouraging wave, lowered his hand and began absent-mindedly stroking their ancient collie’s ears. Patch, who was sitting, as usual, at Tom’s feet, had found the morning’s exertions almost as much of a strain as Tom had.

Tom’s fiftieth birthday had been going so well, Jane thought ruefully. They had spent a pleasant morning walking the steep cobbled streets of Lincoln in the late October sunshine. They had explored the ancient cathedral and climbed the castle tower, which had given them an unrivalled view of the city spread out before them. It was when they had almost finished their descent that Tom’s angina attack had begun. He had clutched his chest, struggling to breathe, and Jane had helped him to a chair outside the café. He had taken his tablets and, after a while, they had walked slowly down the hill to the shopping precinct. Old Patch had followed, stiff-legged, the need for a lead necessitated by convention rather than any likelihood that he might run away.

Jane now found herself reluctantly exploring a couple of shops. then, concern for Tom’s welfare getting the better of her, decided to turn back. The sound of an ambulance froze her for an instant, then she was running, past HMV and Boots, dodging in and out of the crowds of weary shoppers, racing back to where she had left Tom. Quickly she took in the scene before her. The bench was empty and a crowd had gathered in the road. As the ambulance screeched to a halt, Jane struggled to reach the centre of the throng. Her heart beat like a drum in her chest, ‘Why did I leave him alone?’ she asked herself. At the very moment she saw a young man sitting in the road, clutching his arm, she heard the welcome voice of Tom calling her name. Relief flooding through her, she headed for the direction of his call.  

Jane hugged Tom tightly. ‘I was really worried when I heard the ambulance,’ she began, stifling a sob, ‘I thought it was for you.’

‘I told you I was fine,’ Tom replied. ‘That lad must have been shop-lifting. A security guard chased him out of the pound shop and he ran straight into the path of a car. He seems OK, though, broken collar bone, I shouldn’t wonder.’

‘When I saw the bench was empty I thought you’d got worse,’ she sniffed.

‘I decided I should move off the bench after two people came up and offered me money to buy food for my dog. They must have thought I was homeless!’

Jane laughed, grateful as always for Tom’s ability to cheer her up. ‘Well, you do look a bit scruffy. Perhaps we should go and buy you some new clothes for your birthday.’