Isobel

Isobel Pt.2; The Two Friends

Raymond strolled down these streets he knew them like the back of his hand. They were his streets. He walks along the avenue and stops at a house. He knocks the front door and waits for an answer. He kneels down to tie his shoelace. A good looking middle-aged woman, Martha opens the door. She is wearing a bath robe. She sees him but he doesn't see her. She smiles and moves closer to him. She leans over and shouts into his ear, "How the hell are you!"
He is so startled he stumbles and falls over. She laughs.
He stutters. "Mrs...Mrs. Fitzpatrick! You gave me such a scare."
"Oh I'm sorry. I was just checking to see if you were still awake," she said with a cheeky smile. "Come on inside."
He gets up off the ground and makes his way into the house at her request.
They both stand facing each other in the hallway. He looks very nervous.
"How are you?" She asked.
"Fine..fine. How are you?"
"I'm good," She gives him a cheeky wink; "I could do with a man though." She moves closer to him. He looks even more nervous than before.
"Have you a girlfriend? A good looking fella like you should have a girl, or maybe, a woman." She now has him pinned into a corner.
He is trying very hard to say something. He eventually gets his words out. "Is.....is Brendan in?"
She smiles at him. "He's in his room. It's okay Raymond; I'm only having a bit of fun with you."
She smiles again. He makes his way upstairs.
Brendan is sitting on the bed putting his shoes on as Raymond enters the room. Raymond sits beside him.
"Brendan, every time I come here your mother is always fooling around with me."
"She's only having a laugh," replied Brendan.
"I thought she was coming on to me."
Brendan smiles at Raymond and shakes him by the back of the neck, "Will you lighten up!"
Raymond is calmer now. He sits quiet but already he is thinking carefully about what he is about to say next. "Are you going to the party?"
"What party?" Brendan asked.
"The party. I've already told you."
"I told you, I didn't want to go."
"You told me you would."
"I told you, I might, there is a difference."
"Well, a might is closer to yes, than a no is," Raymond said.
Brendan looks at him as if astonished by his last statement. "I know why you're so determined to go."
"Why?" Raymond said, all defensive.
"What's her name?" Brendan is trying to remember her name.
"Who?" Raymond acts as if he doesn't know who Brendan is talking about.
"Sarah, Sarah Doran," Brendan said as he remembers her name.
Raymond starts to blush.
"I knew there was a hidden motive, you crafty devil," Brendan said.
"All I want is for you to come along as support that's all. I can't go by myself."
"Why not?"
"You know I can't. I'm not like you. I don't fit in well in those kind of surroundings, all by myself, I get nervous and you know when I get nervous..."
"I know."
"I'm inviting you as a friend, will you come? Raymond pleads. "We don't have to stay all night; we can go home early if you want. Will you come?"
"I'll think about it."
"Great!"
"I said, I'll think about it."
Brendan looks at his watch and then jumps to his feet. "I'm late for work!"
"I'm sorry. It's my fault for making you late," Raymond said.
"Don't apologise, it's not your fault."
"You're lucky, you work for your father, and he won't mind you being late."
"I don't know about that, he can be just as strict as any boss. I'll just blame you."
Raymond starts to look visibly nervous. Brendan laughs.
As they both go to leave, Brendan grabs his jacket and calls to his mother. "I'm away on, Ma!"
Martha comes out of the living room.
"Aren't you going to have breakfast?" She asked.
"I haven't any time. I'll grab something in the shop."
Brendan opens the front door and turns to kiss his mother on the cheek before he leaves. Raymond slides past Martha on his way out the front door. She blows him a kiss. Raymond looks uneasy and slightly makes a wave goodbye. She shuts the door gently.

Brendan and Raymond make their way along the avenue and onto the steps. Raymond makes a gesture to speak again. Brendan turns to listen before Raymond can get a word out.
"How is your father, if you don't mind me asking? It's just that I haven't seen him in a long time and I was just wondering how he was keeping?"
"He's keeping well."
"That's good. Will you tell him I was asking for him?"
"I will. You can ask him yourself, if you want, he's in the shop."
"Oh no, you ask him for me, I'm frightened of him," Raymond said with a quiver in his voice.
"I will," Brendan said, smiling to himself.
There is a pause for a few seconds as the walk down towards the bottom of the steps.
They approach the bottom of the steps. A large flock of pigeons have gathered in the empty car park. Seizing the opportunity, Raymond, like a man possessed, jumps the last few steps and races towards them. The pigeons scatter in all directions. Raymond stands there with a big grin on his face from ear to ear.
Brendan eventually makes his way to the bottom of the steps and in contrast to Raymond's childishness, seems far more adult and mature.
The two men walk on together in comfortable silence, as two friends who know each other too well often do.

They both arrive at Brendan's father's shop; 'Fitzpatrick's Newsagents' at the end of the street.
"I'll go on, now. I'll see you later!" Raymond said as he crossed the street.
"See you later!" Brendan waves goodbye to Raymond who runs across the road to the other side.
Brendan goes into his father's shop. The bell rings as he enters. His father Joe is behind the counter. Joe looks at his watch.
"You're late!" Joe said.
"I'm sorry."
Joe looks out of the window and without turning to look at Brendan, "I see you're still hanging around with that waster."
"Don't call him that! I don't see anything wrong with Raymond."
"He's a loser."
Brendan shakes his head as if it's no use talking to his father.
"Why can't he go and get himself a job?" Joe continues, "You can do better than to hang around with a bum, for that's all he's going to be."
"Da! Have you finished now?" Brendan said as he tries to pacify his father.
Brendan starts his work of arranging all the newspapers.
"How's your mother?" Joe said in a lighter tone of voice.
"She's fine. Just the same as always, you know."
"I Know," Joe said as if to himself and then in sterner tone of voice, "Brendan, will you take those newspapers in from outside and sort them all out?"
Brendan looks at the stacks and stacks of newspapers lying on the ground outside and begrudgingly sets about his task of sorting them all together.