A Thousand Yards by William Sash

Author:William Sash [Sash, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-13T16:00:00+00:00

Joan arrived home to find Max at the stove, chopping leeks. Three pans simmering on the hob had laid a film of condensation on the windowpanes. By the fire, on the rug, Linda was playing with Tommy and James. She waved to Linda.

‘Can I believe what I'm seeing?’ Joan smiled at Max.

‘Good afternoon.’ Max said playfully.

‘So, you’re not only home for tea tonight, but your home to make tea?’ Joan laughed.

‘Correct you are. How was the walk-out?’

Max poured the leeks into one of the simmering pans and began washing some carrots. Joan took a moment to reply, zoning out for an instant.

‘Good... it was good. It was David’s proposal you know?’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. One of the last things he did apparently.’

Joan wandered over and took the carrots from Max, walking them to the chopping board.

‘Here... you go get changed. Thanks for making a start.’

Max walked over to the table and emptied his pockets, then walked toward the stairs.

‘Max.’ Joan called, ‘Are you okay? With these past few days and... Jesus... last night.’

Max came back to the kitchen and spoke leaning on the doorframe.

‘I’m good... What about you?’ He spoke with legitimate intrigue.

‘I’m fine. You’ve not been sleeping well; look at your eyes. You need good rest.’

Max nodded and gazed to the floor. Tommy coughed from the living room.

‘How are they?’ She asked.

‘Linda's... as good as expected, but Tommy isn't well.’ Max leaned back and peered at them playing on the rug. Tommy’s eyes were red, and his skin was pale.

‘I don't think it's unusual in that neck of the woods. I see kids like that every morning near work.’ Joan said.

‘Really? I never remember that from when I was in school down there.’

‘Times have changed... It doesn't surprise me with all the waste they pump in that river, it can't be legal.’

Tommy kept coughing. Linda shuffled over the rug to comfort him.

‘Everything okay Linda?’ Max called over. Linda nodded. Joan passed Max with cutlery to lay the table.

‘Any luck today anyway?’ Joan asked Max. He shook his head, still looking over at Linda and Tommy. Joan didn't see and looked over to him.

‘No.’ he said, realising. Joan continued to lay the table, then stopped – having spot something.

‘Max.’

‘Yep?’

‘What's that?’

‘What?’

Linda put the cutlery down and picked up the rag of fabric from amongst Max’s wallet and keys.

‘This.’ she said.

‘I got it off one of the blokes last night. That's what I've been chasing all day.’

‘I know this... The fabric.’

Max walked over to her at the table. She held it under the light. The yellow light glaring through the blue and red interwoven fraying fibres.

‘...That’s right. It's from one of the lines they make at our place.’ She said.

‘The Tannery?’

‘For the workers. I moved buildings when they set it up.’

‘Set what up?’

‘The line. They moved the offices to the new building.’

‘Definitely?’

‘I helped with some of the designs a few years ago after they moved me out of accounting.’

He chuckled, soured a little with embarrassment

‘Oi, tea’s ready soon.’ Max shouted to James. Joan laughed.

‘What’s the best way in?’ Max asked Joan quietly.

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