‘What
good is a dead hero to me? Where is the glory in dying on a cold night,
in a dirty street? Is the memory of him being brave going to help
me through the next who knows how many years? If he’d been a
coward he’d still be here for me, still be here for…’
I stopped short. Some things were still too painful to say out loud.
‘Were those men in the pub that night?’ I asked.
‘The two attackers? No. It all happened when Alex was leaving.
As soon as he stepped out the door he could see what was happening.
It all happened so fast. There were a few shouts, a scuffle, and then
Alex dropped to the ground…I didn’t actually see it happen.’
‘Why didn’t anyone go and help him? Why did he have to
get involved? You know I’m so angry at him for dying, for leaving
me to cope on my own.’
Silence filled the air between us. I think Jackie must have felt guilty
too, with the incident happening outside her pub.
‘Most of all I hate myself for not being there to pull him back,
to stop him getting involved.’
Jackie stared into her mug for a few moments, making me wonder what
she was planning to say, and then she started to open the box that
she had placed beside her.
|
She
pulled out the Regional Pub Pool Trophy and placed it on the table
between us. The Swan had held it for the last few years, ever since
Alex started playing for them. They won that trophy because of him.
In four years he had never missed a match, and there weren’t
many he’d lost.
I used to go and watch Alex play. So many people would be crammed
in the bar watching the game, and the smoke was so thick you could
barely see the table.
That was why I’d stopped going lately. Alex didn’t want
me breathing in all that smoke. He was so excited about the future.
When the match started Alex would become the centre of attention,
working his magic on the green baize. He loved his pool, but he
always put me first.
‘We’ve been having a chat, the regulars and me, and
a few of the other pubs in the area. We’ve all agreed that
we’d like you to have the trophy. It was Alex’s trophy
really. We’d never have won it without him, so it’s
right it should go to you, you know, for the baby too,’ she
added smiling, and nodding towards my swollen stomach. I placed
my hands on my stomach. The baby was the first ray of the sun that
promises a new dawn.
‘Thank you, that would be nice,’ I said, sounding a
little hoarse, as I tried to choke back fresh tears.
|
