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                                       Jake’s Journey

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Jake was tired. The long walk to the coach station had been bad enough but then to find that he had missed the bus by just few minutes had been a blow, a blow made worse by the discovery that there were only two departures per day to where he wanted to go; at 8AM, and 8PM. Worse still he soon discovered was that that was  the weekday schedule. On Saturday there was just one departure, none at all on a Sunday.                                                                         Jake looked at his watch. He was proud of his watch, won in  a     

card game many years earlier but which had remained faithful and reliable through the years. Now it told him that it was 12.30 on a Saturday. But what it didn’t tell him was that on Saturdays the departure time was 12 noon. A notice on the counter announced  hat the ticket office was closed, but he found someone sweeping intt tthe concord who was pleased to pass on that bit of ‘good’ n.
      Not only was Jake tired but now he was pissed off as well. Twenty minutes he swore. Just twenty minutes earlier he reckoned and he would have been on that bus. Now he was going to be marooned in this God-forsaken place for nearly forty four hours until the next one. He strolled outside and stood for a while looking down the road where the coach had gone, long and strait in flat featureless surroundings. Far in the distance the road dissolved into nothingness as it merged shimmering in the heat then disappeared into the hazy horizon. It seemed like the road to infinity and Jake shook his head as he walked slowly back into the coach station concord. Inside it was at least ten degrees cooler than outside but more humid. Before long he was sweating profusely and he knew that he had to move on. But to where? He did not know.
      Jake felt lost and in a daze; not lost because he knew exactly where he was. What was less clear is why he was there. Why had he decided, almost on the spur of the moment, to ‘up sticks’ and head out in the general direction of the ‘Big Apple’.
Perhaps there was a degree of self-denial in his thinking; perhaps it was the heat or perhaps it was the disappointment of missing the coach. Perhaps too he was just feeling sorry for himself for the undeniable truth was that his life was in a mess. All that had been solid had crumbled around him; all that was predictable was now unpredictable, and the only certainty remaining in his life was its uncertainty.
The heat outside had reached a new high and the stuffy atmosphere in the concord plus the windless conditions inside made it almost unbearable. Jake stood up to stretch his legs and despite the heat he wondered outside again. Then he heard a sound. It was far away and though it was a familiar sound it was not one he had expected. It was the drone of a coach seemingly miles away but as he listened he felt it was getting louder. He looked down the road that earlier he had hoped to be travelling on but still he could see nothing. In the shimmering mirage the road disappeared quickly and but for the drone, it might have seemed that nothing existed between him and the horizon. Only that sound kept him watching and then, almost as if by magic it appeared; suddenly; almost taking him by surprise. He watched the coach as it gradually came out of the heat haze and emerged from the shimmering curtain.
      Almost without thinking he knew. Despite the fact that the coach would be going in the opposite direction to the one he had intended he had made up his mind; even before it reached him he had decided. It didn’t matter where it was going, such was his state of mind he was determined that when that coach left this place he was going to be on it.
      Another hour or so in that hot airless bus station seemed to last forever but eventually he got his ticket.
      “Where to?” The desk clerk had asked.
      “How far is it going?” Jake had asked in return.
      “Coast to coast.” The clerk said pointing to a large map on the wall. “Take your pick.”
      Jake stepped aside, allowing the only other would be traveller to take his place as he prepared to scour the map; at least that end of it to which fate, not he, had decreed he would be travelling. He stared for a while hoping that something, some place, some name, would find its way into his consciousness, but none did. Apart from the larger places along the way to the western side of the country most of the names along the route were places he knew little or nothing about, and some were completely unknown to him.
      Jake returned to the ticket office where he bought a fold up version of the wall map before approaching the desk clerk again.
      “Where too?” The man asked again, but this time he was wearing an expression on his thin face which Jake was unable to distinguish with any certainty whether it was a smile or a frown.
      “All the way I guess.”
      “Suit yourself.” The clerk’s dead-pan be-speckled face had returned as he pressed a few buttons on his machine then slid the ticket across in exchange for a small bundle of notes.
      “Have a nice day.” he said. Again that expression; was it a genuine smile or was it ‘practiced’, designed to comply with company policy? Jake would never know, not that he had much time however to consider the matter, for soon it was time to board. When the coach finally moved off Jake was surprised to discover many more passengers than he had imagined, who had mysteriously concealed themselves within the concord buildings during their short rest stop. He did not look forward to the journey. The rest of the day and most of tomorrow they’d be travelling, with a night stop somewhere in between. At least that would give him the opportunity to get to know some of his fellow passengers. First though it was time to enjoy the moderately efficient air condition in the coach, and, having made use of all the necessary facilities in the concord to maintain a semblance of creature comfort, it was time to sleep.
      The steady drone of the engine and the gentle vibration as the coach counted off each mile in turn was like a sleeping draught for Jake. He slept while the coach journeyed on through mile upon mile of mostly flat featureless plain; no hills requiring dexterous gear changes; no hairpin bends to call upon the driver’s skills; no railway crossings or busy junctions. Just the long straight road which was apparently going nowhere. Like the road to Infinity!
      How many miles had been covered he did not know, but a glance at his watch told Jake that he had been sleeping for two hours and forty seven minutes. He looked out of the window and it seemed at first that nothing had changed, but as sleep faded from his eyes and mind so awareness of his situation increased. Where there had been virtually nothing to see before vision was lost in the distant haze, now he could see that the horizon, admittedly slightly out of focus was in fact a range of hills. Also there came the realisation that they were not as far away as at first he thought. At first he thought that it was just a trick of the light but then he realised that the hills were not only near, but that the coach was encountering their first slopes. Jake sat up and looked more carefully at his surroundings. The near desert had given way to greener hues and was now becoming distinctly pastoral.
They had left the barrenness behind them and Jake was almost startled when he realised that they were negotiating a fairly steep and curvy upward climb and that the coach driver was driving and not just steering. Thirty minutes later the coach pulled into a small town and another concord where, it was announced, passengers could avail themselves food and drink, and also, should the need arise, relieve themselves of natural surpluses. Here in the late afternoon the air was clear; it was pleasantly warm; warm enough indeed not to need a coat and the humidity was low. The town of Seven Hills, at least that part of it adjacent to the coach station, was a mixture of ancient and modern reminiscent of many towns Jake had seen before, yet maintaining its own identity and atmosphere. According to Jake’s map it was a little larger than a ‘small’ town but way short of it being a major city. Situated as it was in its elevated position, with breath-taking views of the surrounding hills, it seemed perfect.
      “Perfect.” Jake  whispered his thoughts. “I could lose myself here.” Unfortunately that was not to be for he knew that soon he would be on his way again, the stop being, of necessity, a brief one.
He found a little cafe which was surprisingly busy and ordered coffee, two hot dogs and piece of cake. He found a small table near the window where he could sit quietly and consider the events of the day. For as days go, this one had been a hum -dinger!
      It had not been at all what he had planned, except, he reminded himself, that there hadn’t been a plan. Since his girlfriend had moved out two weeks earlier he had been distinctly short of plans. He wandered about aimlessly, ignoring things that needed to be done, and was generally feeling pretty sorry for himself.
      Why she had gone was something that at the moment he did want to think about. But what he could not ignore was that her leaving had caused him to make some major decisions. He had quit his job, and given a month’s notice to quit his little flat. But he had not planned beyond that; had not felt the need to make a move just yet, notwithstanding the fact that as yet there was nowhere for him to go. So when he awakened this morning it was with the knowledge that there were still a couple of weeks left of his ‘normal’ life to go before he had to leave.
“Was that only this morning?” He had asked himself, hardly able to believe it was so.
      But something had changed. Something in his head! He wasn’t sure what it was and neither did he know quite why. It was the ‘thrump’ of a car door closing that started it off. Jake had thrown a few cornflakes into a bowl and was drawn the window by the sound. Dressed only in his underpants he watched the people coming and going. Some of them were walking purposefully while others seemed only to be meandering.
      “Just like me!” Jake mused. “I wonder where they are all going?” he asked himself then smiled, amused to find that he was talking to himself.
      “At least they are going somewhere.” He answered himself. But it was what happened next that became the catalyst. A taxi had pulled up at the house opposite, and from his second floor window he could see and hear perfectly well. Two men emerged from the house, one of whom was carrying a large bag on one side while pulling a suitcase on wheels on the other. Both of which were quickly pushed into the trunk.
      ”Goodbye Trevor, I hope it all works out.” one had said.
      “I’ll let you know where I am as soon as I can.” said the other, as he stooped to get into the cab. With that he closed the car door and soon it, and he, were gone.
      “What’s the story there?” Jake continued his commentary, “Two men together; father and son perhaps; gay partners; relatives; maybe a lodger.” This time while there was no verbal response because something was going on in his mind. He stood a while pondering as the warmth of the sun increased. He could not remember saying or even thinking of it in any real sense, but nevertheless an idea had invaded his consciousness. He dressed quickly then packed as much as he could carry in an old floppy rucksack, and within half an hour he was on his way.
      “Do you mind if I sit here?” Jake heard these strange words but did not at first comprehend.
      “Sorry to be a nuisance, but there doesn’t seem to be anywhere else.” The voice continued.
      “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m afraid I was miles away,” his introspection brought to an abrupt end. “Yes, please sit down. Yes it is pretty full isn’t it?”
      It was a young lady who had stopped Jake’s recollections in their tracks, and had caused him to be slightly tongue-tied. She was, he thought, a few years younger than his own thirty two, perhaps in her mid twenties he mused, and tall. It was not her great beauty that had flummoxed him, for though without doubt she was nice looking young lady, with a ‘friendly’ rather than ‘model’ beauty. But what had invaded his privacy was her voice; so soft and warm and easy.
      “I’ll be going soon anyway so you’ll have the table to yourself. It’s only big enough for one anyway.”
      “Oh please don’t go because of me; I feel as though I’m driving you away. And there is room, look.” So saying she put down her plate and cup.”
      “OK, but I will have to go soon; I have a coach to catch.”
      “Me too.” said the girl. “Where are you heading.”
      “Oh, I don’t know.” Jake answered somewhat hesitantly. I’ve got a ticket to the end of the line on the west coast, but I’m not sure if I will go that far.”
      “That sounds very mysterious.” She lowered her head a little, and her voice. “It seems a bit like you are running away.” She smiled but almost at once she looked a little shocked. “I’m so sorry: that was very rude of me. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
      “That’s alright; it’s no big deal, and actually you are right in a way.”
      “Oh dear; me and my big mouth. Nothing serious I hope.”
      “I’m not running away from the police if that’s what you mean.”
      There was a longish pause before the girl spoke again. “Do you mind me asking; is it a girl?”
      “Is it that obvious?”
      “We’ll I can’t think of many reasons why a…” She stopped mid sentence, unsure if she was going too far.
      “Why a…” Jake prompted her.
      “Why a good looking man should run away.” She could not conceal her blush as she rushed the next part. “If it isn’t the police then it’s likely to be a girl.”
      “Sounds like you know about these things.”
      “I do. I used to be a police officer.”
      “Used to be?”
      “Yes, and I guess that I’m running away too, but that’s a long story.”
      “They usually are. So who are you running away from; a man?”
      The girl smiled, nodded and drawled. “Yes – from a man!”
      Jake laughed as he put out his hand.” Touché,” he said’, “I’m Jake.”
     The girl took Jakes hand, and said “I’m Ali.”
      “Ali?”
      “I was christened Alicia but that’s a bit of mouthful; Ali is much easier.”
      “Pleased to meet you Ali; it’s been lovely talking to you but I’m afraid now I must say good bye. As I told you I have a coach to catch.”
      “Me too! Just give me a mo to drink up and I’ll walk with you – if that’s OK?”
      “Certainly is!”
      Two minutes later they were walking back to the concord chatting comfortably.
      “So what’s this about being a cop?” Jake ventured. “You look too nice to be a cop.”
      “Oh wow there. There are some very beautiful female cops. And in any case being a good cop does not depend on looks.”
      “No I guess not, sorry. Perhaps I was flirting a little.”
      “Well flirt no more. You’re just about to sail into the sunset remember.”
      “And if I wasn’t?”
      “Well that’s another story.”
      “Another story! Well there you are. Stories are right up my street.”
      “Meaning?” Ali asked with a quizzical glance.”
      “That’s what I do. I’m a writer; well a journalist to start off with.”
      “A writer. Now there’s a thing.”
      “Meaning?” Jake replied in kind, raising his eyebrows.
      “Well, if you’re a writer, a whiz on stories, you should be able to tell me your story.”
      “Not until you tell me yours.”
      “How long have you got?
      Jake smiled. “Just the potted version then.”
      “Just that part about why I am here then.” She paused. “When I was a copper I met a lot of villains. Well, like a fool I fell for one of them, and like a fool I thought I could change him. Like a fool I…” She looked at Jake and she could see that he was listening intently. “Well I guess you’ll guess; I didn’t. To be blunt he was a villain when I met him, and he was a villain when he left me, but not until he had squeezed every last cent out of me. He left me with nothing except a load of debt, and no job.”
     "Bummer!” Jake muttered, “Quite a story.”
      “Well I hope that yours is lot more interesting from beginning to end.”
      Jake laughed out loud. “Oh yes; I can tell you the beginning, and a bit about the middle, but as to the end who knows.” He paused. “There’s you, you see: after all I don’t know in how many pages you are going to appear in my story.”
      “Why should I be in it at all?” Ali asked with a kind of a half smile.
      “Well now, that’s up to the gods or whoever it is who plans these things, but don’t you see, you are already in my story; and I am in yours.”
      Ali stopped walking and gave Jake another of those quizzical looks. “Perhaps I’ll be like Alfred Hitchcock. He appeared in every film he directed but never had a speaking part.”
      “Bit too late for that.” Jake laughed. “You have never stopped talking since you said, “Do you mind if I sit here?”
      “And did you mind?”
      “Of course, but I think I’ll get over it.” he said smiling. “I’m sure I’ll think about you from time to time, when we’ve gone our separate ways.”
      “Well in that case,” Ali said, half turning to face Jake, “I’ll just have to be one of those people who come on and does a scene or two early on and then are never in the movie again.”
      “Oh that would be a shame; I’ll have a word with Alfred, he and me are like that.” Jake linked his thumbs and forefingers. “Get him to give you a bigger part.”
“Oh yes. Then why can’t you get me the female lead if you know him that well?”
“Don’t know yet; depends on how my story goes.”
      Ali was just about to speak again when Jake stopped her and took her hand.     “Perhaps this is where our story ends Ali. Your story goes one way and mine goes another and they just happened to come together today. So we both have a short speaking part in each other’s story.”
      “Is that all it is?” Ali looked a little crestfallen. Don’t you believe in fate?” she asked.
      “I don’t go much for fate but it has been kind of nice that our stories have merged   for a little while, but here we are – at my bus.” Jake could not help a curious empty feeling; something not quite right; a strong sense that he was at a cross-road; but uncertain as to what his next move should be. Lamely he took what must have seemed to be the easy option. “It’s time to say goodbye I guess.”
But Ali did not share Jake’s uncertainty. “Not so fast big boy.” She squeezed his hand. “Maybe I can get an extra line or two in this blockbuster of yours after all.”
      “You can?”
      “Sure I can!”
      “How so?”
      “Because this is my bus too.”
      Jake’s face lit up. “Is that so?” He said, “In that case it looks as though you’ve got yourself a leading part. Since he went up there my old friend Hitchcock must be a faster worker than he used to be.” He reached down and grabbed Ali around the waist and pulled her up onto the coach where they intended to spend the rest of the journey together.
      Soon they were settled and cosy and as the miles went by so their comfort in each other’s closeness grew. When eventually tiredness came, their eyes growing heavy and sleep waiting to overcome them, they prepared to enter what would surely be a shared dream. At just that point Jake managed to mutter, “Now I know.”
      “What do you know?” asked a sleepy Ali.
      “That there is such a thing as fate.”
      There was no further response from Ali now in the last moment of wakefulness before sleep overtook her. But a slight movement as she snuggled her face closer to Jake’s chest told him that she had heard.