Ghost Club by S C Alley

Author:S C Alley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781480083
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
Published: 2011-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

— Replay —

Derek had overslept. Missed the bus. His father took him to school in the Morris Minor. Not the old Morris Minor, of course. Not the one he’d left half his face behind on, all those years ago. This one was the lovingly restored, shiny and caressed lump of metal he bought out of Morris Minor Monthly as a replacement. It seemed to Derek that his father’s own flesh-and-blood minor wasn’t good enough. Derek didn’t come with four wheels. He didn’t come with character. Or, at least, not the character his father was hoping for. Nor did he come with room in the back for books, like the Morris Minor Traveller estate did.

They sat in silence. Neither of them could face a conversation about the night before. Something told Derek that they’d probably never mention it ever again. That’s the kind of family they were. Kill him. Sounded like a good idea to Derek. He couldn’t imagine his mum would stop him. Derek could slaughter him right in front of her and she’d just put the kettle on to boil whilst she cleaned up the mess. Useless.

Derek played around with scenarios in his head. Could he do it? Would he do it? Would She leave him alone if he did? They inched forward in the Guildford traffic. He turned to look at his father, whose eyes were focused straight ahead. His beard needed a trim. So did his nose. Right at that moment, Derek hated the sight of him. And he knew that his father hated the sight of Derek.

Derek jumped out at the set of traffic lights nearest to the school and ran. Left his father stuck in the stationary queue with a brief thanks. He had to see Rob. The contents of his bag rattled about as he jogged along. He had to show Rob what he’d got. What he’d forgotten about. But lessons had already started and he’d have to wait for first break.

When it did finally arrive, Rob was looking dreadful. White. Whiter than Joe in a 16th Century cupboard. Alone, he’d folded himself into one of the armchairs and managed to look old. Withered. There had been a loss of dignity. In an instant, Derek forgave him everything. In an instant, they were now friends. There was something deeper between them now, he decided.

Derek knelt down next to Rob’s chair and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Rob, mate. You okay?”

Tired, shadowed eyes looked up at him. “Hey,” Rob said, forcing a smile. “Angry Anderson. How’s things?”

Derek nodded. “Not bad. You okay, though?”

“Yeah.”

“Rob, listen. I’m so sorry. I am so, so sorry.”

Rob was silent for a moment and, for a split second, Derek thought he saw his eyes water. Rob looked at him. Looked into him and Derek was briefly reminded of Her. That first time in the loft. Rob gave another weary smile.

“We’ve got one mystery solved, though, eh.”

Derek gave him a puzzled look and caught a glimpse of Rob’s old familiar grin trying to shine through for a moment.

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