On the Run with Mary by Jonathan Barrow

Author:Jonathan Barrow [Barrow, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-30T17:27:11+00:00

Now we are outside the Mother’s room. The Keeper pushes open the door and lets Mary in. I feel out of place and decide not to enter yet. A moment later Mary runs out with tears pouring down her face. The Old Mother is dead. I rush in and see a small, stiff body on a sort of makeshift bed. The eyes are still and glazed. And the coat, once a fine reddish tan, is grey, lumpy and clammy. Long whiskers droop across her face. I should guess that she has been dead several days. The Keeper defends himself. It’s not my business. I can’t watch all of them. There’s 300 dogs here you know. No you can’t take her away. She’ll have to be given to the cook for tomorrow’s stew. You can’t waste good meat.

Mary has broken down and is crying her eyes out. Other dogs from neighbouring rooms stand solemnly at the entrance. They realise and keep silent. I take the Old Mother and hide her in a rug. I try to clear up her possessions. On shelves, I see dentures, knitting needles, talcum powder, paperbacks.

As we leave, the Keeper runs forward with an envelope. It is a bill for £200. 18 weeks’ keep. Today, I still receive solicitors’ letters. They will sue.

The Mother will be cremated tomorrow at eleven. The owner of the cemetery rang today and said we must pay in advance. I ask Mary to dress appropriately. She must line her collar with black velvet and, if possible, wear some kind of a veil. She catches a 19 bus which will drop her outside a West End store.

14

TWO HOURS LATER, THE PHONE RANG . I T WAS THE POLICE . They had arrested Mary. She had been caught taking velvet from the haberdashery counter. The Store Detective had been watching her for 20 minutes and she had behaved suspiciously. Stunned and ashamed, I hurry to the police station. The duty sergeant says Mary will appear in court tomorrow morning. Till then, she must remain in custody. She had resisted arrest and tried to run for it. It is a serious offence. He adds that if I pay him £5 he will let Mary escape. But I haven’t a penny on me. Look, would you like to be dirty with me? The policeman cannot make up his mind. He goes with women and has not had a homosexual experience since leaving school. But he is very tempted. I encourage him with details of positions etc. Suddenly with a nervous grin he agrees. We go down to the cells and he asks the gaoler to lock us both into number 17. Before we begin he sprays his already-stiff organ with fly-killer. I ask why. He says he saw a blue-bottle crawling amongst his pubic roots just a few moments ago. During our disgraceful activities, I suddenly hear a key being put into the lock. We leap off the bed and grab trousers and underwear. The door opens and the gaoler puts in a Mr.

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