"Pastiches de Oggbashan Story Event"
In December of 2012 Oggbashhan wrote his story '
Christmas On Duty
'. He put it in the Romance section and so shall I. The only major difference in my add on to his original is he wanted to have the date in the 1960's before texting and mobile phones. Mobile phones were limited to phones installed in cars or other vehicles in 1973 and texting didn't start until the late 1970's. Because of this, and the calendar, I have set the story in 1975, sorry Ogg.
I want to thank Eric and Glenn for taking the time to give it a beta read.
*
"Could you be Mr. Jones to my Mrs. Jones, in a hotel over Christmas? I paid for Henry and me to go away. I can't face the hotel on my own, so why not with you?"
"Are you sure, Belinda? You don't know me that well."
"Four days should remedy that, Alan. So, are you Mr. Jones? Or aren't you?"
I hugged her.
"For you, I'm Mr. Jones. Where is this hotel we are going to?"
"In the country near Tunbridge Wells, Shit! We have to be there before eleven tonight. Henry was driving me there and I haven't got a car."
"I have. It's parked outside, loaded with my suitcase for a long weekend away. I can drive us there. Where is your suitcase, Mrs. Jones?"
"Over there." Belinda pointed to a corner of the room. "I wasn't sure whether to go or not. A romantic Christmas in the country sounded great for a couple. On my own I'd probably have drunk too much and been too sorry for myself. But as Mr. and Mrs. Jones we could enjoy ourselves and drown our sorrows in each other and alcohol."
"That sounds like a wonderful Christmas, Mrs. Jones."
It was. The only one under the name of Jones but the first of many as Mr. and Mrs.
********
The drive took them an hour and a half through the scenic countryside. They arrived at eight with plenty of time to spare. The room was fantastic but the company was better. At 12:01am they enjoyed the first of many, wonderful sessions between the sheets in the beautiful town of Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Like all good things, the four days came to an end, to soon. The drive back to London seamed to take forever. They would both need to report back to work the next day. All Alan could think about was why couldn't he get a girl, no a woman like Belinda for his own?
The next day at work it was just like old times. Alan stayed in his department and Belinda in hers. New Years Eve was going to be just like Christmas Eve for Alan, he had agreed to work the phones again. When he showed up he was surprised to find Belinda there also.
"Belinda, are you working the phones instead of partying for the New Year?"
"I heard a certain someone was working alone again and I just couldn't let him do it by himself."
"I figured you would have a party or two to go to."
"And just who was I suppose to go with?"
"I don't know I don't have an answer for that."
"Well I do."
"OK, I'll bite, who?"
"The only man for me is Mr. Jones."
Like the week before they manned the phones until 6pm. As they shut everything down for the last time in 1975 Belinda asked him what his plans were for the four days.
"I know this little R&B pub a few blocks away from my flat. I was planning on bringing in the New Year there."
"That sounds marvy; I've never been to an R&B before. If I get out of hand will you watch over me and keep me safe?"
"Just like Gladys Knight and the Pips, with 'Every Beat of My Heart'."
Belinda looked at him, this time not as the guy she spent four nights with but as a potential partner for the future. They got to his flat and then walked down to the newly opened 606 Club. It hadn't been opened that long so they didn't have live music for the evening, but they did have a large selection of recorded R&B songs.
They walked in and were seated right away. The waitress took their drink order and they began to enjoy the sounds. It must have been around 10:30pm when it happened. They sat and were just gazing into each others eyes when the song, 'Me and Mrs. Jones' came on. Belinda listened to the words and began to tear up.
Alan looked at her and asked if she was alright, she said yes, just over come with joy. They stayed at the club for a while longer but decided to ring in the New Year back at Alan's flat. For the second time in two weeks they spent the better part of four days in bed together.
Monday, January 5th 1976, was the start of a new week and the start of a new year. Alan needed tea and he needed it badly. As he entered the break room he could hear the ruckus going on a head of him.
Henry was yelling at someone and trying to pull them elsewhere. Alan finally got a look at who it was and his blood ran cold. Henry was trying to drag Belinda into another room.
With out thinking Alan walked up to Henry and said, "It might be in your best interest to let go of her hand and get out of here as fast as you can."
"Why should you care dummy, this has nothing to do with you."
"Really Henry, you start off a conversation with an insult? For your information this has a lot to do with me. You see she and I are engaged."
"Why would you want to be engaged with a whore?"
"Henry, when you insulted me I let it ride. Insulting Belinda is a different story."
"Shit dumb ass, she's fucked over half of the male..."
That was all he got out before he found himself flying across the room. Alan reached down and offered Belinda his hand.
"Mrs. Jones, will you marry me?"
Belinda looked deep into his eyes and squeaked out, "Yes."
The office manager came running into the room and wanted to know what was going on.
Alan looked at him and said, "Henry was trying to force his will on Belinda and I told him to leave her alone. He called me a name and I let it slide. He called Belinda a name and I told him not to because we were engaged and he did it again.
"I gave him a chance once but the second time resulted in him getting hit. Now would you please get him out of here before he says something else and regrets it later?"
"Alan, don't you mean you regret later."
