ROOM 211

PART TWO

2.

Can you imagine waking in the middle of a field with a massive headache, a slight nosebleed and absolutely no idea as to who you are or as to where you are? Then you discover you are in possession of oodles of cash and an upmarket car. You find details of an identity that does not sit right, and you are wearing clothing you feel is not quite you no matter the fact that you cannot remember one thing about yourself.

You discover apparently that your name is Henry Patrick Corbin, and this does not sit quite right either and there is no apparent reason as to why this might be. With the ability to drive, you take yourself to a nearby town, a place you do not recognize, and park the car. Everything is brand new, a journey is beginning, where is this journey going to take you? You cannot even begin to speculate.

He, this Henry fellow, if that is who he is, is not in possession of a wallet, or a phone for that matter, not that he knows of anyone with whom he could ring in this moment but at least a phone with a list of contacts could be something. With some cash on him and the rest hidden in the car boot, Henry ensures the car is locked and alarmed and off he goes in the hopes at least something will come to him.

A strong scent of food hits him and he can soon see that there is a bakery nearby, who the hell knows when the last time he had anything to eat was? Must have been a while for there is a bit of tummy rumbling going on. Without delay, he makes his way to that bakery almost getting himself run over as he crosses a street. A car horn honks, and Henry apologises, it looks like he has not only forgotten who he is but has forgotten his safe cross code too.

Into the bakery store he goes and a bell ring rattles over the door as he does make his way inside. No real need for this bell as there are others in this store so there is no need to notify those who work here that someone else has entered. And at that too, Henry reckons that there would be a fair amount of profit to be made in a place like this. This gives him pause for thought. Suit, cash, lots of cash, a fancy car, is he a businessman? Maybe not.

'Hello there' speaks an older lady from behind a counter, having arrived out from some back area, a kitchen perhaps. At this particular moment, almost every other potential customer in this store is already being attended to. 'What can I get you?'

She says this in such a way that has Henry wonder as to if he has been in here before, does this lady recognize him? Perhaps she does, though maybe she doesn't. She may just appear to be friendly. Henry has himself a quick look around the store and notices a young lad having a glance around a particular corner of the store by himself. The young lad's hair is dark, long and tied back and a little untidy. Attention is soon returned back to the lady behind the counter.

'Everything looks so good' he says not being able to stop himself from smiling.

'All freshly baked today' she says definitely appearing to be good natured and also with an air that this bakery or the likes of it is something she has been involved with all her life and such is clearly something she is very proud of.

'Not too early in the day for an éclair, is it?'

'Never too early for an éclair ... sure we are closing in on one o'clock as it is.'

'Is it that late? Didn't notice the time', there is a lot with which Henry hasn't taken much notice of though he is trying.

'In a hurry to get somewhere, you be?' she asks noticing the fancy gold watch on his right wrist.

'Oh no, no hurry ... at least none that I am aware of.'

She looks confused for a second as she gets him his éclair. 'Oh ...'

'Could I trouble you for a coffee too?'

'You sure can, how do you like your coffee?'

'Good question, plenty of milk and two sugars please'. The lady behind the counter once again looks a little confused, 'and I'll get them to go too, please.'

He collects his items, pays for them adding a nice tip to the charge and he smiles as he is wished a good day then on once more, he goes or at least he was about to go for he is instantly stopped in his tracks. This young lad in the store, Henry is momentarily once again drawn to him.

A boy, perhaps midway through his teens, indeed with long dark untidy hair tied back, is looking at some of the store's produce. For some reason Henry is compelled into doing something. Maybe this something is out of kindness or maybe it is out of something else.

'Oh ... and take for an éclair and a hot drink for my friend over here' he says turning back to the counter and handing over enough to cover another éclair and hot drink.

'Sure thing' speaks the lady accepting the cash.

'Thank you so much sir, it is very good of you' speaks the young lad.

Henry doesn't give this young fellow a second thought post leaving the store; he does not consider as to why it is he did what he just did, it was just ... right, he had the means to do what he had done, it felt natural and there could be nothing more to it.

An hour's walk around town does nothing to bring Henry any closer to figuring anything out, nothing at all that is until a lady catches his eye. She is dressed well or at least oddly well, a white and red dress with a skirt that drops past her knees and white stockings that wear higher than her knees. Her hair is slightly a mess, and her make-up definitely is a mess as if it had been put on for the night before and has yet to be removed.

Henry had still been walking the town streets when he observed this lady coming in his direction. She acts as if she were completely unaware that there is anyone else within the immediate vicinity, never mind Henry himself, and not only that, but this lady is also singing as she passes Henry by. Her appearance is more a mix of being from a period in time long since gone and that of a patient escaped from an insane asylum. Perhaps she is trying to play down the fact that she is in close proximity to others ...

My Bonnie lies over the ocean, my Bonnie lies over the sea ...

He knows this song though there is something more to it than just knowing it. This song has some sort of meaning for Henry, just what kind of meaning that could be he has no idea. He would like to talk to this lady but to him, she looks like she is not particularly right upstairs. This can be said about himself as well to a degree of course, but still, for a moment or two he will follow her and see if anything comes from doing this.

Something indeed is going to come from this. This road he is on, this journey of discovery, it may just have taken a literal right turn.