22 February 2013
Walk On The Dark Side - Chapter 1 Chapter 1 - At the Beginning
Martin stormed into the kitchen angry as usual, going about the house slamming doors, this was always a bad sign so early in the morning. Jennifer shouted out Martin 'what's up with you today? Martin, didn't even bother to reply to his wife, they had come to this understanding over the years. Jennifer placed Martins breakfast down on the table in front of him,she sat opposite with just a cup of tea, 'so what's the problem' she asked. Martin had just picked up his newspaper intending to ignore his wife once more, instead he looked up over the newspaper and said"his lordship is coming again today", Jennifer answered "Oh no not again that man is becoming a complete nuisance". Both Martin and his family relied completely on his father Alberts money, although they hated him forever coming around, it was like having a constant jailer overlooking your their every move. Martin looking at his wife said "If she wasn't here we would have a much quieter life", Jennifer replied "You would think Helen was his daughter, not ours the way he has taken over her life", "couldn't agree with you more", he said as he got up from the table. "I'll be off then see you later", Jennifer asked "where are you going Martin", he replied " just down to the club, don't wait up I'll be late back", without waiting for a reply he left closing the door behind him.
Jennifer finished tidying away while thinking about Martin and her two sons, Tom and Tim, they hasn't come home last night, Martin and her two boys where always together, she thought literary they where as thick as thieves, but she loved the bones of them, their daughter Helen though was a different matter.
Helen was a bright and beautiful child with long dark hair and beautiful blue eyes, she liked to wear elegant smart clothes. Although she looked quite tall she was just 5ft 4inches. Her friends and family called her 'gifted' ,she had an this uncanny gift of knowing just what others where bout to say before they even had the chance to open there mouths.
She was the youngest child in the family of three children. Tom her eldest brother and Tim just two years younger than Tom. Both boys resembled their father Martin, medium height, very fine brown hair, the most striking feature was their lean long faces with piercing eyes and angry expression on each of their face at all times. The boys also had inherited Martins greed for material things in life, forsaken all others, woe betide anyone who got in the way, there was nothing they wouldn't do to get out of life what they considered to be theirs.
Helen had inherited some of her mothers looks but not her characterises, or her eyes her mother had the same evil eyed expression her husband and two sons had. Helen played little part in her families life. Jennifer's life was devoted to her husband and her boys there was no place in it for Helen. This did not upset Helen in any way she always being a happy child people always warmed to her and the love of her life was her grandfather, and she knew he loved her dearly.
Albert, Helen's grandfather was a very large man, quite tall. Whenever Helen saw her grandfather he was always so well dressed never without his trilby wherever he went. Helen loved her grandfather so much more that her mother, father and two brothers, she feared them for some reason, she just could not but to words why she felt this way. Her grandfather adored her from the moment she was born, Helen became very special in his life.
Albert had never been very close to his only son nobody really understood the reason why. But Albert knew that Martin and his two grandsons where always getting involved in some sham or other and expecting him to pick up the pieces but not for much longer thought Albert, its Helen he would need to protect. He was to visit his sons family at seven-thirty this evening he knew he would get a chilly reception from both his son and daughter-in- law He felt sure of that. He also knew his two grandsons Tom and Tim, had no love for him, but he thought 'best the devil you know'.
Albert deep in thought for a few moments decided to phone and cancel his visit arrangement for tonight and invite the whole family over for Dinner tomorrow night at eight o'clock to give them the news about his holiday, the University and his new will, haha he laughed quietly to himself , if Trevor had heard him he would likely thing he was loosing his mind laughing out loud to himself. He was so much looking forward to tomorrow night.
He thought about Martin's wife Jennifer was a very cold hearted daughter-in law, she was incapable of giving anyone a warm welcome.When Albert called though would put a smile on her face and give him a swift kiss on the side of his cheek, but that was likely due to the fact that Albert was a very rich man.
Albert would never venture into their lives except for the love of his beautiful little granddaughter. He made a point of regular visits to the home of his son and daughter- inlaw, he felt child needed protection from her difunctional family. He had witnessed the way the four of them treated the child, and he was not happy about it.
Albert thought he had seen enough of this mad family and their treatment of Helen, he decided that Helen should have the best education money could buy she had to be kept out of harms way.
He knew Martin and Jennifer would want to object but he knew they would not, mainly because they wished to be the heir to his millions. But he had a plan in place to make sure that Helen was his benefactor to his estate.
He smiled to himself, that will come as a great surprise to them, maybe they'll treat the child better then, they will have to please her to get their handouts.
It was friday morning Albert assistant Trevor was busy making plans for Albert to sail away for a holiday for a whole month completely on his own, his assistant was not even going with him, and to follow up arrangements with the university snout Helens future. With these thoughts in mind he jumped out bed slipped into his bath robe singing in his high pitched voice as he did every morning when he was feeling so happy. He sat for a moment thinking about the reasons for seeing his solicitor tomorrow and the effect these changes will have on Helens life, he smiled again to himself Martin, Jennifer and his two grandsons would be furious, well he thought let them be I owe them nothing, except of course making him grandfather to his lovely granddaughter Helen.
Albert arrived at the family solicitors office ,when he got there James the firms Director was sitting in his rather large chesterfield arm chair, he stood up to greet his old friend, they shook hands and both men made themselves comfortable
James expressed concern to Albert concerning some of the changes he had suggested he said"you know you could be causing a lot of problems for Helen, Matin and his family are likely to find a reason to object", Albert knowing and trusting his friends judgement asked"James to draw up a draft closing all loop holes for objection This was agreed and after a cup of tea he was really to leave. Albert shook James hand promising to see him on his return from holiday, then he had a sudden....strange feeling he turned to James and said" On on second thoughts James I think I will sigh my instruction now and on my return from holiday we can make some changes if necessary", "Why the hurry, you are a very healthy man", replied James, "I don't know really, just a strange feeling came over me" answered Arthur, he signed the blank will declaration ready for his draft to be typed and left.
When Albert arrived home Trevor his assistant had good news for him, He said " the Liverpool University was offering Helen a place there for a course in physiology due to her qualifications and grades she already held." Albert was delighted he replied to Trevor, "Well done, thank you Trevor", He thought to himself ' everything was coming together Helens situation was settled before he was off on his holiday, away from this family of hers that would bring her down at every possible turn, should they get the chance.
The night Albert waited for was now here he felt rather excited over the prospect of letting his family know where they stood for once. Albert greeted them with arms outstretched and a wide smile on his face, Martin looked suspiciously at his father thinking he's up to something he could always tell. All six family members sat down to a beautiful meal organised by Trevor. The night turned out just as Albert expected, protest from both Martin and Jennifer "A girls place is at home helping her family" while the protest from Tom and Tim "what a waste of time and money sending a girl to university", Tom and Tim spoke at the same time in agreement "its unfair she is only a girl we deserve it more someday we will have families of our own to care for", All four concerned showed complete disapproval. Albert held up his hand, stop he demanded, with all your self interests you forget about Helen but I will not. Albert turned to Helen, he asked her" what did she want to go the University in Liverpool or stay as her family slave", she answered without hesitation, " I would like to go to University please grandfather", Albert confirmed then "so be it". It could clearly be seem from the atmosphere in the room, Helen now had very fierce enemies within her own family. The thought went through Helen's head jealousy is a killer, She could be so right.
Martine and the boys were furious, woe betide anyone look set on there faces who got in the way, there was nothing they wouldn't do to get out of life what they considered to be theirs and they considered their grandfathers estate to be rightly theirs.
Alberts only son had never been very close nobody really understood the reason but at this moment he knew what this family of his were really c
(Revised) Walk On The Dark Side -96 • Opuss № I