The Camden Tales

20 - Missing You

-=₪ May 1924 ₪=-

Home / 150 Camden Road / 6.01pm

Alfie ate dinner alone in the dining room as nobody else had arrived home to join him. He attributed this to the days getting longer, as he looked out to the garden which was in full spring.

For a garden barely used and nobody employed to maintain it, there were a surprising amount of flowers and shrubs in bloom. All visible and enjoyable from the dining room windows as the sun still showed no sign of setting.

Who needs a gardener? Alfie thought. Does fine on its own. Don't need to pay someone to watch it fucking grow!

Alfie checked his pocketwatch and decided it was time to listen to the news, so tucking his watch back into his waistcoat pocket, he left the dining room.

-●=»>◆<«=●-

Home / 150 Camden Road / 6.31pm

Alfie sat on his chaise longue in the drawing room listening to the radio. His eyes were locked on Malka's empty chair as he quietly smoked his pipe.

Alfie hardly ever listened to the news, or read the newspapers. He didn't need to because Malka told him everything he needed to know without the nonsense.

He checked his watch again. Alfie was a stickler for time keeping, he didn't like people being late or keeping him waiting, however the trouble with this was Malka hadn't said when she would be home. All the same, Alfie felt himself becoming agitated.

She's usually home by now, he thought, watching the second hand move around the face.

He then heard the front door open and listened to Malka knock about in the entrance hall downstairs and then talk to Edna for a bit. He returned to puffing on his pipe and pretending to listen to the news when he heard his wife ascending the stairs.

Finally, he thought as Malka came in with a breeze. He took a deep inhale as she passed, catching her sweet fruity scent.

"Hello, light of my life." she said cheerfully as she kicked off her shoes.

"Yeah. What time ya call this?" he asked, frowning.

Malka smiled, she liked that he had missed her.

"I call this quarter to seven darlin'." she replied, checking her own watch.

"You listening to that?" she then asked, pointing to the radio.

"Well, ya know? I was trying to, but my wife is like a fucking tornado." he stated with a light air.

He watched her switch it off and then turn to face him. The room was silent except for the clock over the mantle ticking its low tocks. She looked serious.

"What?" he asked, a little unsure if he actually wanted to know.

Returning to her chair, she looked pensive as she lit a cigarette and took a puff.

"Have you heard anything about Tommy recently?" she asked.

"No." Alfie replied, shaking his head.

"He was badly beaten and sustained a severe head injury, amongst other things. He was in hospital for a month or so." she stated while observing her husband's reaction, she knew how raw things were for him, "he appears to be home now, recuperating."

Alfie was silent as he thought about his recent dealings with beatings and hospitals and the... result.

"So, he will be alright?"