The Camden Tales

35 - Blowin' In The Wind

-=₪ February 1926 ₪=-

Home / 150 Camden Street / 10:10am

The morning sky was clear and blue, but the city appeared grey and overcast. The London smog lingered like an imposter, representing a fraudulent truth.

A rumble in the distance could be heard fast approaching. The train's arriving whistle echoed as the ground began to tremble, the same tremble which caused the underground bakery to shake and rattle, but above ground the rumble was accompanied by the hiss of the metal tracks. A hissing and screeching which grew and grew until, like thunder, a train reached the brick bridge which passed over Camden Street. Roaring by carriage after carriage, it went overhead making the bridge groan and shift under the weight.

Below the thunderous beast which screamed its way over, was a road cast in shadow by the looming tunnel which encased it. Small pebbles bounced around the cobbles while brick dust and coal soot dislodged from the aging viaduct, dusting a lone man that walked beneath. A cane in one hand and a flick of his coat with the other, the black woollen fabric billowed as his right hand reached into a pocket pulling out a timepiece.

The wide brim hat covered the man's face as he emerged from the dark underpass clasping at the gold in his palm. Examining it, he eventually came to a stop and raised a glance to the brass "1 5 0" pinned to the black and gold painted door. His thumb rubbed over the half-hunter crystal face casing. After a moment's thought, the gold returned to his pocket, and he crossed the street towards Camden Gardens.

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"I thought we were only going for a night?" asked Louis as he carried two suitcases down to the ground floor entrance hall.

"Oowee." called a cheerful Alfred, attempting to look over his mother's shoulder to his trailing friend.

"One is mine and Alfie's and the other is yours and Alfred's. They're only small cases Louis." she hastily replied as she grabbed her keys from the console table.

"Let me m'lady." called Edna, catching up to them and noticing Mrs Solomons arms were full.

Grateful for help with opening the front door, Malka stood aside. When the door opened Alfred stuffed his thumb into his mouth and began nuzzling into his mother. Wondering what had caused such a sudden changed in her son, Malka glanced to the street. The dark figure of her husband was leaning against the front wheel arch of their maroon Cadillac. He checked his watch and tapped his cane against the cobbles, she smiled.

Louis barged between the women loitering in the doorway and made his way to the car. Loading up the suitcases and giving his uncle a nod, he climbed in the back and made himself comfortable.

Happy that Edna had everything she needed; telephone numbers, requirements for the dog, time of their estimated return, and who to contact for certain types of somewhat unique emergencies, Malka said her goodbyes and left the house.

Alfie had his eyes firmly fixed on the ground; a fair-sized black spider was travelling along the cobbles of the street. Uneased by the creature he stood from the wheel arch and raised his cane, but as he looked down upon it, the shifty interloper descended into the crevasses, making the aim of his cane trickier for the kill.

"There ya are." he said quietly to the eight legged beast.

As his cane came down to the cobbles, Malka stepped on the crack, letting the spider get away. Alfie looked up to see his wife and son, one happy, one less so.

"It's all right Alfred." reassured Malka as she tried to make him engage with his father, but he wouldn't and instead buried his face into her coat.

Alfie looked off down the street, pretending not to notice or even care.