Gillian Jackson - The Accident

Joe heard his front door being unlocked, and then Pam speaking to her husband.

‘I think new carpets will be in order, there’s a strong smell of dog in here!’

‘We can’t rush in and change things straightaway,’ David replied, ‘it’ll look odd.’

‘Oh, don’t be so cautious. This is the first good thing to have happened to us in years; can’t you just relax and enjoy it?’

‘No, I can’t! We’ve got to get in touch with the police, remember, it’s not a Sunday school picnic you know, we’re not out of the woods yet.’

‘Come on, I want a better look at that kitchen.’

Joe heard them both move into the kitchen.

‘Wow, look at these units,’ Pam enthused, ‘they must have cost a fortune! And the tiles, I’m going to love pottering in here.’

Joe heard them move back into the lounge.

‘Alison certainly had good taste,’ David remarked.

‘Upstairs now!’ Pam replied. ‘I hope they’ve got an en suite, I’ve always wanted one!’

Joe heard them walk up the stairs and push open the door to the main bathroom. He heard Pam squeal with delight.

‘This is even better than I’d hoped,’ she said. ‘That must be the master bedroom, let’s have a look.’

The door was ajar and Pam pushed past David to get in first. She suddenly screamed, making him jump, and turned back towards him, white as a sheet.

‘What the hell is it?’ David pushed the door fully open to reveal Joe, sitting in the window seat, his solemn face bruised and swollen.

David gasped, staggered backwards, and then stared at his brother.

‘No, I’m not a ghost.’ Joe spoke in low, even tones. ‘Your clumsy attempt to kill me didn’t quite go to plan.’ He said nothing else, just stared at his elder brother, disappointment rather than hatred in his eyes.

‘Now wait a minute, you’ve got it all wrong! Whatever you’re thinking, it wasn’t me, I’ve been ill in bed for the last few days, haven’t I, Pam?’ David made a feeble attempt to deny his actions and his wife nodded frantically in agreement. ‘Surely you can’t believe I’d actually attempt to kill you?’

‘David, you were as close to me as you are now, I saw you. Please don’t take me for a fool.’

Suddenly, Pam threw herself at Joe and wrapped her hands around his neck. ‘You bastard! You should be dead!’

David was quick to pull her off. ‘Haven’t you done enough damage, woman? Joe saw me, he knows!’ As Pam shook herself free from her husband’s grip David turned to his brother and said, ‘Look, you probably won’t believe me but I’m actually glad you’re not dead. I was stupid and I’ve hated myself for planning something so despicable. There’s no excuse. I’ve been in a lot of trouble and there are people looking for me, not very nice people, and the pressure’s been building up. I saw this as a way out. But it really is a relief to see you alive and whatever you decide to do, I know I deserve it.’

‘Shut up, you fool!’ Pam shouted at him. ‘He could have the police in the next room listening for all we know, he’s tricked us into coming here!’

‘Enough, Pam! If Joe wants to bring the police into this, I can’t say I blame him. We deserve it.’

‘What do you mean, “we”? It was your doing, not mine!’

David looked at Joe. He mouthed the words, I’m sorry , and hung his head.

The doorbell shattered the silence and Joe stood, limping towards the door to answer it. Pam made to grab him again. ‘Is that the police?’ she snarled at him as David held her back.

‘No, it’s Phil from next door. He’s here to check that I’m okay. I think you’d be wise to bear in mind that both he and his wife know everything that’s happened, just in case you have ideas of another attempt.’

Joe slowly and painfully made his way towards the stairs.

‘Now what do we do?’ Pam hissed at her husband. ‘He’s probably already told the police.’

David shook his head and followed his brother down the stairs, Pam at his heels.

‘It doesn’t matter anymore; can’t you see it’s over?’ he said, but she was agitated, ready to fight for what she wanted, still not accepting that they had failed.

Phil was in the hallway, the look of disgust on his face as he looked past his neighbour to David, spoke more than any words could have done.

‘Do you want me to do anything Joe?’ he asked, eyes still on David.

‘No, thank you, Phil, I think we’re done here. My brother and his wife were just leaving.’

‘Joe...’ David began.

‘Goodbye, David.’ Joe turned his back on him and walked through to the kitchen.

When David and Pam left, Joe turned to Phil and Helen.

‘Thank you both for your help, once again. Whatever you said to David on the phone, Phil, you must have been convincing — they didn’t doubt your story at all.’

‘Yes, I was quite enjoying the subterfuge until the bastard said he’d be putting Liffey in a shelter! I was so tempted to give him a piece of my mind then. That’s when I knew exactly what sort of a man your brother was; he has a complete lack of humanity.’

‘I think Joe knows that, dear,’ Helen reminded him.

‘It’s okay,’ Joe assured him. ‘I couldn’t agree more, and Liffey’s certainly proved she’s anything but a dumb animal.’

‘Absolutely!’ Helen smiled. ‘Hearing her barking outside the house and then her insistence that we follow her to you was just like one of those old episodes of Lassie Come Home . Well done, girl!’ She reached down to stroke Liffey’s silky ears. ‘Now, are you going to be okay by yourself tonight, Joe?’

‘Yes, I’m certain David won’t be coming back, and you’ve done far too much for me already. Besides, I’ve got Liffey, haven’t I?’

Rosie insisted on a trip to the Trafford Centre to take Hannah’s mind off the divorce proceedings Mike had so hastily set in motion.

The vast shopping mall was busy, as it usually was on Sundays, and they’d planned which shops they wanted to visit, so that Hannah wouldn’t tire too quickly. The walking would be punctuated by a coffee stop and a lunch stop, so it wouldn’t be too onerous.

As they approached the central area, they could see a small crowd gathering at what appeared to be a makeshift animal pen which was attracting the attention of several children. Rosie, always curious, dragged her friend closer to have a look at what was going on. A tall man was supervising a group of children who were petting a lively pygmy goat in the pen. Other children sat on chairs, nursing rabbits and guinea pigs, fascinated with finding furry, living things in a boring shopping centre, their huge smiles showing their delight at the welcome interlude.

‘Don’t forget to wash your hands before you go,’ a pretty young woman reminded a brother and sister who at their mother’s insistence reluctantly passed a couple of rabbits to another two children who were waiting in line.

‘I wonder what this is all about.’ Rosie moved to a display board to read the information posted on it. ‘Look, Hannah! They’re raising money to start a farm for abused and abandoned animals.’ As she read more her eyes widened and she reached for Hannah’s arm to pull her closer. ‘I think you should read this.’

At the beginning of this year, our son, Timothy, was tragically killed in a road traffic accident. Timothy loved life and had a passion for animals, particularly any in need of care. To celebrate our son’s life we are working towards opening ‘Timmy’s Farm’, a centre to care for animals in need and to educate children in the care of the creatures for whom we, as human beings, have a responsibility.