Shirley Wells - Shades of Evil

Sod you! Lauren yelled, slamming out of the house. You can go to hell!

She yanked his key from the bunch and hurled it across the garden.

Tears of anger smarted in her eyes as she jumped in her car and fired the engine. She slammed it into reverse, clipped the edge of the wheelie bin, and sent the contents flying across his drive.

Sod him!

Charlie was curled up on the passenger seat. His small white body was trembling and his front paws were hiding his face.

Hey, Im not angry with you, Charlie. She took a hand from the steering wheel to ruffle his fur. Im never angry with you.

She slowed for the T-junction at the bottom of Longman Drive.

Im probably not even angry with him, either. But I am angry with Josh. And Im angry with myself. Hell, Im just bloody angry!

The fuel gauge was close to empty, but the warning light wasnt glowing yet. She should have enough fuel to get to Kelton Bridge and back.

Tell you what, Charlie, well go to your favourite place. Ill take you for a good run over the hill, OK?

Charlie looked at her briefly, then returned his face to its hiding place behind his paws.

Come on, she said. Forgive me, eh?

She smiled as she spotted a quick twitch of his tail.

She drove out of Harrington, over Deerplay Moor, and took the turn for Kelton Bridge. Once through the village, she parked at the bottom of a rutted track and reached into the footwell for Charlies lead. It wasnt there. She must have left it at home. They were unlikely to meet anyone so it didnt really matter.

Come on, Charlie.

He leapt out of the car and raced around in circles while she locked it and pocketed the keys.

The wind was in her face as she strode past the spinney and on up the hill towards Cloughs Shelter.

Decades had passed since the stone building had been used by shepherds and the roof had long gone. These days it only had three walls and they were too dilapidated to offer protection from the harsh weather experienced in the Pennines.

Lauren liked to sit on the low wall, though. From there, she could see the valley below the village of Kelton Bridge as well as Bacup and Stacksteads.

Charlie ran on ahead, chasing leaves that blew in the wind. Snow had been forecast for later, but there was no sign of it.

When there were no leaves, Charlie chased his tail. No matter how bad things were, her dog always made her smile. Always. Even today, when things were about as bad as they could be.

If you had a bank account with a few grand in it, Charlie, youd be perfect.

He barked happily in response.

Until recently, Lauren hadnt spared God a thought and shed never believed in spirits or fairy godmothers. As far as she was concerned, life was what you made it. You were on your own to make of it what you could.

Yet she could never explain the way Charlie had found her. It was as if hed known he was needed, as if hed been sent to help her through the worst years of her life.

Six years ago, on a Friday that should have been like any other, Lauren had walked into the house, dumped her school bag on the table, made a sandwich and asked her mum how shed got on at the hospital.

Not too well, her mum had said. Youd better sit down, Lauren. I need to talk to you.

At fourteen years of age, Lauren had listened to her mum telling her how kind the staff had been as theyd done the tests, and how they were going to try chemotherapy but how they werent too hopeful.

Lauren had run from the house. Shed gone to the park and shed howled. All the while, her mums words had echoed in her head. It might be all right, Lauren.

It might. But then again, it might not. And what if it wasnt? How would they cope?

Walking back home, the tears still wet on her face, shed been aware that she was being followed. A scruffy white dog, little more than a puppy, was trotting behind her. There was no one in sight and her companion wasnt wearing a collar.

Go home, youll get lost!

The dog wagged its tail in response and continued to walk beside her.

Go on. Scram!

Shed stopped and tried to shoo the animal away, but, despite her efforts, hed followed her all the way home.

Her mum, glad of the distraction Lauren supposed, had found some scraps of food and theyd both watched the poor mite eat as if he hadnt swallowed anything for weeks. One of his ears had been bent back as hed scoffed the food.

He looks a right Charlie, her mum had laughed.

Hed been Charlie ever since.

He slept on the foot of Laurens bed that night. Shed been aware of the weight of his body, and the comforting warmth he provided, and any thoughts of trying to trace his owner had vanished. Instead, she went out the following day to buy collar and lead, food and a bed.

Yes, Charlie had been with her through the best of times and the worst of times. And he was still with her.

She spotted a figure leaning against the stone wall and smiled as recognition dawned.

Hi, Jimmy, she said when she neared him.

H-hi, he stammered, blushing scarlet.

Jimmy had a crush on her. Even if shed wanted to, which she didnt, she knew there was no point striking up a conversation. He was too tongue-tied in her presence to make any sense. She guessed hed watch her, though. Hed probably follow her, too.

As she walked on, she thought of the way shed stormed out of her dads house that morning. Even as the door had slammed, shed regretted it. She had a mental picture of her dad carefully picking up the rubbish from the drive and putting it back in the wheelie bin. It would never be mentioned, she knew that.

Later, when theyd both had a chance to calm down, shed go back and talk to him. Perhaps shed suggest they spend Christmas Day together. It was years since theyd been together during the festive season.

Then again, hed drive her mad with his You cant cope, Lauren chant. Thats all he seemed to say to her these days. You cant cope, Lauren. Youve never coped with your mums death.

But she could cope. Better than him probably.

Her life was in a mess, true, but her mum had been dead six years. She was over it. If only her dad could see that.

She walked on and, as always, the beauty of the hills calmed her. Her mum had been a keen walker and shed loved to come here. It was where Lauren felt closest to her. Sometimes, she would even talk to her.

Charlie suddenly barked with excitement and Laurens spirits sank as she recognized the dog hed met. The dog was gentle and affectionate. Its owner was a pain in the arse.

Besides, she didnt want company. Not today.