This is the eleventh part of a fiction serial, in 980 words.
As the water from the shower head cascaded over her face and body, Anita could hardly believe that a week had passed since Mike had gone missing. Last night had been bad. Restless with indigestion, and the baby seemed to have shifted onto her bladder, so she had been up a few times to pee. Twenty-eight weeks pregnant tomorrow, only twelve more to go to the due date. And so much to take in, as well as to deal with.
Her first stop that morning was at the bank. She asked to see someone privately, and had to sit waiting for almost an hour until an adviser was free. The young woman listened patiently as everything was explained. Husband missing, the money worries, what to do about bills, how to access cash. When she was sure that the customer had stopped talking, she nodded, deliberately placing a concerned look on her face.
“I do sympathise, Mrs Hollis. However, you do not have a joint bank account, and your husband has not given you power of attorney to access his. I’m sorry to tell you that I cannot discuss his banking or finances with you. It is simply not allowed. Not only is it against bank rules, it is contrary to the Financial Services Act, so technically illegal. But you are also a customer, and have been for some time. I am sure if you experience any financial problems, we will be happy to extend your overdraft, or perhaps you could apply for a loan? What do you earn at the moment?”
Anita pointed at the large bump on her abdomen. “I gave up work on Mike’s suggestion, when I got pregnant. I am not earning anything, and depended on him completely”. She could feel the tears forming, and fought against them. The woman was wearing a name badge, ‘Joan Hall’. Anita tried another approach. “Joan, you can see the situation I am in. Isn’t there someone who can transfer some money from Mike’s account to mine? You don’t have to tell me how much is in it, or anything about it. But I can prove we are married, and I will soon need extra money for the baby stuff”.
But her face was set. “I can only repeat what I have just told you. Perhaps family members could help you out with some cash? Or maybe you should consult a solicitor?” Angry now, but feeling deflated, Anita stood up. “Well thanks for nothing, Joan. A solicitor? How am I supposed to pay for that? So much for being a loyal customer of your bloody bank!” With that, she picked up her shoulder bag and stormed out. The tears came once she had got into her car, and she waited until they stopped before driving home.
Claudia rang in the afternoon, and told her that Betsy was much improved. “She is already having some physio, Nita. Her speech is slurred, but they are sure it will improve with therapy”. Although she didn’t want to burden her friend with her own troubles, Anita couldn’t stop herself telling her about the money, and the issues at the bank that morning. “Christ, Nita, you should have said something. Come on, I’m your best friend. Text me your sort code and account number, and I will transfer a thousand today. When that runs out let me know. We made a huge profit on the London house, and Betsy doesn’t even touch her pension at the moment. You must tell me whenever you need anything, promise me. And what that woman said about a solicitor made sense. Contact the guy who did the house sale, you must remember who it was. See what advice he can give you”.
Although she was feeling guilty now, Anita didn’t refuse the offer. She knew she would need it. “Thanks so much, Claude. What would I do without you? You will get it back once this mess is all sorted, I promise you. Give my love to Betsy when you see her”. It was only a temporary reprieve if Mike didn’t reappear, but a very welcome one.
The name of the solicitor was still on her contacts, so she rang the office and made an appointment for the next morning. Still suffering with indigestion, she knew she had to eat something, so made a big bowl of porridge with honey stirred into it. That was comforting, just what she needed after the stress of the day.
It seemed impossible not to think about all that was happening. She was missing Mike badly, even though her anger against him was building. One moment she was sure something terrible had happened, as he would never have left her in this awful situation. But then she started to imagine that he had just walked out on her for someone else. Uncaring, unconcerned, leaving without a thought for her, or their unborn baby. Still, the anger was actually a positive thing. It made her stronger. If she imagined that Mike was gone, and she was on her own now, it provided the incentive to get on with trying to sort her life out.
I was getting close to six, and she got ready to watch the evening news. You never knew if something might turn up, some report of a man found somewhere, having lost his memory. As she picked up the remote control, there was a loud knocking on the front door. They weren’t using the doorbell.
Three people were outside. One of them was a woman; middle-aged, short hair, and a stern expression. The other two were men, dressed in dark suits and looking blankly at her. The woman held up a sheet of paper, and spoke in a loud voice.
“Anita Hollis? We have a warrant to search this house. Please sit down, and do not touch anything”.
Eek!😱
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Oh yes, it’s an ‘Eek’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Woah! What a shocker at the end. Just when Anita was gaining strength and courage (even with no help from the bank) there’s another hill to climb. Well done, Pete.
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Thanks, Jennie. Things do keep piling up in her life.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You’re welcome, Pete. She is handling things well.
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At banks, you’re approaching my life. 😉
You only get to know them when, as I did after years, you realized that you don’t get any information despite your own name. 😉 MIchael
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My wife worked for the two biggest banks here, from 1998-2018. I know what goes on in banks too. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am just in the process of learning (and I am in the process of preparing some complaints.;-) Dont worry, they are not the biggest banks in Germany, they are these so-called cooperative banks.
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The estate agents didn’t take long to turn up, you can’t trust the banks nowadays 🙂
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Cheers mate. Despite the homely advertising, the banks are not our ‘friends’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Have you been living a double life, Mike?
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Hang on, Pete, I’ll just go and ask him. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Poor Anita, I feel so sorry for her. Thank God for Claudia!
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Good old Claude. Solid as a rock. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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OH dear – what have you been up to, Mike?!!
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I can only imagine, GP. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yikes. Hope she has already used the bathroom. She may have to stay sitting down for quite a while as they search the house.
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I’m sure they will let her use the toilet. Even if someone has to stand outside the door. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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LOL
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Pete, you are certainly keeping us in suspense with this story…great tale!
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Thanks for sticking with it, John.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh my gosh. My heart! I don’t know if I can take it all. Lol. This one is fun to read so it must be fun to write.
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Thanks, Lisa. Yes, I am having fun with this one. In contrast to my ‘dark’ fiction, this has a nice ‘silly’ feel about it. And using the names of other bloggers is the icing on the cake. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Just perfect for a creative mind.
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(1) “…the baby seemed to have shifted onto her bladder, so she had been up a few times to pee.” After reading that, my thoughts shifted to Blatty, who spoke about teardrops in the rain rather than pee drops in the toilet.
(2) Joan proposes a loan. Is she the loan arranger? If so, why does she wear a badge, but not a mask?
(3) I was hoping the bloody bank would approve a transfusion to Anita’s account. Joan’s refusal makes me see red. but thanks to bloody Claude, who doesn’t have the heart to engage in monetary blockage, I remain sanguine about Anita’s financial survival.
(4) Claude insists on helping Anita. “It’s my way or the Hall way.”
(5) So Anita made herself a big bowl of porridge. Did she eat her peas porridge hot or peas porridge cold? Since she ate it right away, I guess she doesn’t like her peas porridge in the pot, nine days old.
(6) It was almost time for the 6:00 news. As Anita “picked up the remote control, there was a loud knocking on the front door.” The three visitors arrived at her Home About Six. Just like everyone else except Mike.
(7) I know Anita has a bump on her abdomen, and that the bump comes off in twelve weeks. I just hope she doesn’t get bumped off by the three suspicious characters at her door.
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Thanks for your outstanding work today, David.
Six pm is a recurring theme in this story, as you have noticed. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well done, Pete. I feel sorry for her. What’s Mike up to now?
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That would be telling, dear Cindy. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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This is building well! Excited to read the next episode tomorrow!
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Pleased to hear that, FR. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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By the way, have you posted anything lately? Despite re-following, I still don’t seem to be getting your posts. 😦
If so, send me a link here, and I will try -re-following again.
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Not posted anything, having a bit of a breather, but got universe posts scheduled on Sundays and there’ll be a Monday movie. 😊
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That’s fine. I will keep an eye out on Monday. 🙂
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You’re having a lot of fun with this story!
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Yes, something different from my usual ‘dark’ stuff, Jude. 🙂
It is actually getting the most views of any of my serials.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Everyone is wondering how they will be cast!
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That’s about it for most of the characters now, Jude. I gave you and Sue some ‘good roles’, and ‘Anita’ is a blogger and writer too. 🙂 Both the detectives mentioned so far are also on WordPress, as is the Indian reporter.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Fraggle’s lipstick lesbian had me in giggles 🤭
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