the cadence of part time poets

Chapter 94: Glory Days

For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me,
Not like it's hurt me before;
For once, I have something I know won't desert me,
I'm not alone anymore;
For once I can say, "This is mine, you can't take it!"
As long as I know I have love, I can make it;
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me...

- "For Once in My Life" Stevie Wonder, 1968

Wednesday 31st May 1978

Remus clenched the post card tightly between his fingers. It was wrinkled as though it'd been dropped in a puddle and only had a few sparse words, but the excitement it carried was astronomical.

Imming was bust. Found a group and we're moving on. Phone me at the Roadman's Pub in Ipswich. Wrote the number down below. Luv Tom.

He took the stairs down two at a time, and was punching numbers into the closest telephone line before he'd even stopped to catch his breath. The phone rang for a moment, before it clicked on and an old, breathy voice shouted down the line.

" 'Ello, Judy? Is that you?"

"Eh... No... it's Remus..."

"What'd you say, Judy? Come now, speak up you old bat, you know my ears ain't naught but whistles in the wind nowadays."

"Sorry, wrong number!"

He slammed the receiver down, stopping just long enough to laugh at himself as he dialled the number again—more slowly this time. It took longer this time around for the call to cross the miles between them, but when the line finally connected, he was met with the rumbling drawl of another stranger.

"Roadman's pub 'n inn, how may I direct ya?"

He told the man on the end of the line who he was looking for, and then there was a clatter as the phone was set down. In the background he could hear an entire rabble, most likely working men just got off from a hard day's work. There was shouting, laughter, the occasional sound of a smashing glass. Remus imagined Tomny was fitting right in.

There was another clatter as the phone was picked up, and then his friend was shouting down the line;

"Oioi! Whatchu want—who's this?"

"Got that many people calling you at some dingy pub, you slag?"

"LU! Oh baby, I missed you!"

Remus' heart leapt in his chest. He could barely hear Tomny over all the noise, but he was smiling ear-to-ear anyway.

"Honestly, Tomny, the things I do for you—"

"What? Sorry's, love, can you speak up a bit?"

"I was only saying!" Remus shouted into the phone; "That I just dialled the wrong number. Instead of the pub I just got some old bint yelling her head off and calling me Judy."

"Eh, s'not a terrible nickname," Tomny said. "Though, I do prefer mine. How's it do, Lu?"

"Life's good, Tom. Got your letter. I see your penmanship's gotten better."

"Oi. Just 'cause I dropped out at thirteen don't mean I'm a total thickhead. Burrin's had me copying out his bookie notes since before I could see over the counter."

"Mhm, sure. So what the hell happened in Imming? Why're you in Ipswich?"

"Oh." Tomny made a sound of discontent and sighed into the phone. "Eh, bit boring really. Eventually every'fin just went tits-up and no one was gettin' paid anymore, so a few of us packed our bags and skipped town, s'all. Place is too cold to be a summer home anyway."