Jaded

Perfect Strangers

He realised that he had ruined everything, everybody hated him as much as he hated them. Sighing to himself, William returned inside. He seated himself once more in the rocking chair which held so much nostalgic value to him, he produced a sliver of a smile as he recalled the many years had spent with it's original owner as a boy. She had helped him so much, especially with his mother's death. However he still despised the fact she never told him that she was ill. He knew that he was only a small boy and he most likely wouldn't have had the emotional capacity to handle that situation at such a tender age, but in every other respect she was an excellent lady.

As William drifted into his thoughts, to the realm of happiness and solitude, he didn't need them anymore, he didn't even to interact with them. His bliss was of course short lived, as someone hammered at the door in a violent manner, as if it were urgent. William took this as a sign to answer it, he was anxious, it was probably a disgruntled neighbour coming to complain or something. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

"Hello, can I help you?" He asked in the politest way possible, hoping not get a fist the face from the angered male on his doorstep. He was middle aged, similar to Ann, it was obvious that he was covered in sweat that almost disgustingly dribbled pathetically down the side of his face. This made William cringe to himself, he meant business and he hoped he wasn't on the receiving end of it.

"You're Mr Wilson right, tall, old and grumpy, yeah you fit the description my wife gave of you. The name's Henry, Henry Clarke. Look, my wife has just fallen down the stairs and she needs to get to a hospital as soon as possible. I hate to ask you this, we have a daughter who's only five and we don't think she'll be able to wait that long with us. Can you look after her for us?"

It was then he noticed the tearful five year old girl hiding behind him, she kind of reminded him of his mother, the resemblance was uncanny, her hair was exactly the same shade of brown and her eyes, despite their current teary look, displayed curiosity and excitement. William also wished to salvage whatever he had left of his reputation, the earlier events of the day had probably crippled it.

"Um yeah, of course I will." He said to him before bending down on one knee, so not to intimidate her, and asked the shy little girl,"Hello, there's no need to be shy, it's alright you can come out from behind your daddy." Slowly she edged out from behind him, intensely gazing at the floor, poor kid.

"Hi." She softly whispered in an almost angelic way.

"What's your name?" He asked, his usually rough voice softened in an act of acceptance, he didn't want to scare her by acting like the boss again.

"My name's Claire Clarke." She spoke with a little more confidence.

"Oh great, your getting on like a house on fire! Anyway, I've got to go. I'll be back soon, probably by about 10pm at the latest. Bye." Mr Clarke said as he scurried back his car and drove off with his pained wife in the backseat, her leg was awkwardly bandaged up.

"So kid, if you give me a minute I'll go get some form of entertainment for you. Is there anything you'd like to do?" He questioned with more kindness than he displayed to any adult.

"Umm, I don't know! I'm worried about my mommy." She wept to herself.

"Now, now. Your mum is going to be fine, she's broke her leg, she's not dead. So how about I get you something to watch? I hope you don't mind but I've only got videos from when I was a kid back in the day." He replied in all earnest, that would keep her entertained.

"No, it's okay!." She returned a smile to him.

William climbed the stairs and headed upwards towards the attic, William was concerned. He was very concerned about something other than the child now in his care, he pondered on the thought that Mrs Clarke had fallen down a whole flight of stairs. He wondered whether it was purely the accident that had been made out to be, or whether something else was going on. He was going to ask her when she returned home if there had been some form of an argument between them.

He hoped it was an accident.