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Saved by the Belle
by Bruce Costello “Blimey, it’s quiet. Not a tyre-kicker in sight.” “I tell you what, mate, if this bloody recession doesn’t end soon, I’m looking at bankruptcy and you’ll be down the road.” The two men, one bald, the other grey-haired, look out from their office, little more than a smoko room at the back of a small asphalted yard. On display are two dozen shiny second-hand cars, crammed like sardines. Everywhere, brightly-coloured triangular plastic flags droop despondently in the still air. The phone rings. “Good morning. Pre-Loved Car Sales. Ray speaking. How may I help you?” “Yes, Madam.” “She’s in mint condition.” “Very low Ks.” “Certainly, we’d be happy to do that. Your address, please?” “53 Carlisle Close?” “What time would suit, Madam?” “Three this afternoon?” “Lovely.” “Thank you for your call.” Ray hangs up, moustache twitching. “Carlisle Close, millionaire’s alley!” He punches the air. “Yes!” A wide red and gold tie swings across his dark shirt. He He shouts out the window to a long-haired lad, blackening a Holden’s tyres. “Hey, Bluey! Get that red Mercedes waxed and vacuumed, will ya! And I want those windows spotless! Rattle your dags...I’ve got a posh woman after it. Belle du Pont!” * Belle du Pont’s slender hands tremble as she passes Ray the plate of neenish tarts. Her face is hardly wrinkled and still attractive, her figure trim and curvy. He feels her light brown eyes looking at him as they did back then. “Fancy you remembering my face after forty years,” she says. “How could I forget you...” Ray replies, frowning and running a hand across his bald head, “...after everything that happened.” Belle’s face reddens. “I was just a kid at sixteen,” Ray says slowly, “you were way ahead of me, boarding with our family and going to university.” Belle looks away. “Did you think I never heard how you told my parents you’d seen me sneaking out of their bedroom stuffing notes in my pocket after that grand went missing? You were such a liar. And it didn’t take me long to figure out who planted a $100 note in my undies drawer for Dad to find!” His frown deepens. “There was no way they were going to believe me over you, after I got busted the week before for pinching money for fags from mum’s purse.” He leans forward in his chair, gazing into her wide eyes. “And you know the worst part?” Belle shakes her head. “I loved you. You’d made me feel so very special with the things we did...” “Stop there,” Belle interrupts. “We were both young and silly.” “...the things we did on the sofa,” Ray goes on, “when Mum and Dad were away.” “I was barely twenty myself.” “Old enough to have known better,” Ray answers, his voice rising. “And I was only sixteen, but old enough to be kicked out of home! I’ve never trusted women since. I’ve always been on my own and I’ve got no son to pass the business to when I retire.” He loosens his tie. “That’s if I don’t go bankrupt first,” he adds, ignoring the tears beginning to trickle down her face. He rolls his eyes, clicks his tongue and stands to leave. In a small voice, Belle says: “I’ve been tormented by guilt over what I did. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” She bursts into tears and sobs for several minutes, head in hands, her whole body shaking. Ray stares at her. After a while, she grows quiet. “It’s clean,” he says, handing her a handkerchief from his pocket. “We were both stupid kids then, no need to get your knickers in a twist.” Belle blows her nose loudly. “Anyway, what happened to you after they booted me out?” Ray asks. “Mum and Dad said you decided to quit varsity and go back to your parents in Brizzie.” “So that’s what they told you!” Belle exclaims, open-mouthed. She takes a deep breath. “Your parents kicked me out, two months after they sent you away! Do you want to know why?” * Ray doesn’t show up at work until noon the next day. “What happened?” asks Brian. “You look a bit whacked.” “Been a bit involved with things,” Ray answers. “Got the red Mercedes away, though.” “She bought it?” “She bought the lot, mate, every car in the yard, the whole business, sight unseen.” “What!” Ray opens his wallet and shows Brian a bank cheque for one million dollars. Brian whistles. “She’s gifting the business to her only son,” Ray explains, “He’s gonna keep you on as manager, and I’ll be able to retire.” Ray dances a little jig, grinning from ear to ear. “He’s coming in here tomorrow. Tell you what, mate, I’m really looking forward to meeting my boy.” |
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