EDENVILLE

Tom amd Eli

By @silenttomorrows

Tom Fiddler felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.  No one to confide in, he'd lost his special spark.  A couple of days had past since his unfortunate meeting with Stefan and Blake and he was in a quandary, he didn't like threats against his family. He also had the jitters because he was expecting them to phone him anytime soon; they had made sure he'd given them his number before they had departed the Jolly Sailor. 

He thought maybe a stiff drink would help. Caribbean night would be in full swing at the Tiki Bar, so Tom set off to have a shot or two of some rather excellent rum. 

Inside he felt a little better when he saw a few of his friends dotted about; many from the older families of Edenville, people who understood the old ways. 

There were the Undertakers Fay DeWay and old Pop Cloggs.  They had never married but ran a lucrative business.   Their cousin Tobias Dobbs was the local stone mason.  You could get a 10% discount on a funeral if you used both businesses.  In addition, if Cuffy Smidge conducted the service then you were entitled to free cheese and pineapple on sticks, if you had the wake at the Jolly Sailor.  

Jeremiah Slone the Tinker was also there. with his dead pan expression, this was a common sense of amusement in the village. And Breem was propping up the bar, that olde scoundrel.  His great great grandfather Jack had settled in the village in Victorian times, after some unpleasantness in London.  Bianca sat on at the bar in conversation with the young bar tender. 

Tom's good friend, the thatcher  Eli Green came over with two Rum A Lang A Ding Dong cocktails for them both.  'Hello Tom, lets drink to good times, it's a good thing those twins have been sent packing.   How's your flotsam hanging?

'Oh, it ebbs with the tide, ebbs with the tide Eli.'

'You seem a little distant' Eli replied, I hope your cockles are free of limpets and your rudder is fixed t'wards the shoreline.'

'Never is plain sailing Eli, at least I've not got the crabs.  These cocktails are likely to give us the hammerheads.'

'Shore thing Tom, that's the porpoise of them; we orca have a couple more.' Tom smiled. Eli continued, I see you talking with the Mayor earlier today, I hear he likes eating walnuts.'

'Yes that is true, Eli dear friend, and Bessie will pickle a few for thanksgiving.  The mayor said that although donuts are unhealthy,  it's nice to poke your finger in the hole where the jam is.'

'Yes, ''tis too Tom. And wiggle wiggle it around in there. I might have a kipper for supper'.

'Are you thatching at the moment Eli?

'Aye, I'm thatching. Rose Cottage is where. She gives me pelican shaped cookies.  I nibble their beaks before biting their legs off.  It's my way of eating them. 

They chinked their glasses together. 

'Of course you know every moment in time exists at the same time?' Eli continued.

'Oh yes, yes', Tom agreed, 'Every split seconds of time, 'it's true'

'Well every split nano second of time if the truth be known', continued Eli, 'Like if we had a roller coaster we could take a short cut round a bend in time and return to the beginning before we started; in theory'.

'True my friend.  Pity there are no roller coasters in Edenville'   They both paused to reflect and lament this scenario.  'Roller coasters make me queasy' Tom reminisced. 

Then Eli said, 'There's swings in the playground. Of course they won't do'.

'No they won't do' agreed Tom.  At that moment the sound of row row row the boat called Tom to attention as he realised his phone was ringing. 'I gotta take this', Tom told Eli, wearily. 

Tom answered and stepped outside. 

'Listen here Fiddler'.  Tom recognised the icy tone of Blake's voice.  'We meet Wednesday outside Prowsts warehouse. 2am. You be there'.

'Wait' Tom's voice quivered

'No messin' Fiddler'

'No wait. I work for the Mayor.  He said we could do business. Lots of business.  He wants to talk to your boss, said he won't talk to the monkeys.  He said that, not me' Tom hurriedly put in. 'Mayor wants to see your boss. If your boss comes the mayor will come and he says we can all do business in the town, lots of business.  Lots and lots of money to be made'.

'Shut it Fiddler. I'll ask. Just be there at the warehouse.' The phone fell silent and went off. 

Tom walked back into the Tiki bar.  He ordered two La la la la la la Rumbas for him and Eli and they drank the evening away; listening as they did to a performance by the B Band, who were appearing for just one night only, as part of their 2019 tour.