Page 59 of Calling Frank O'Hare

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Two women. One lucky charmer – 1984

Frank got off the bus by Dalston Kingsland station and walked up the High Street. Dalston was a long way from his neighbourhood but he liked it around here. The people were more like him. He was looking for a Chinese restaurant he’d found the last time he’d come here with a friend from work. They did a great chicken chow mein.

He’d just finished one of his moonlighting jobs. Recently, he’d started doing some private teaching on top of his full-time job at the book shop. The teaching had come to him through Gavin of all people. Some friends of his had a son who needed extra help with his English. He was a nice kid who just needed a bit of patience. The parents had been so pleased, they’d recommended him to others. Frank now had three pupils that he tutored. If he’d wanted more, he could have had them but three was enough to fill up his time.

He found the restaurant and ordered the chow mein. He’d been quite bad at cooking meals lately. His two jobs kept him busy, and cooking for himself had no great appeal. Neither did staying in the flat on his own. Ellen had been in the Richmond Park for four months now and, aside from the first few days of her stay, he was only allowed to visit on Sundays. He went every week without fail. Once a month, Adrian got the train from Birmingham and came with him. Occasionally Gavin came too, although she often refused to see him, blaming him for incarcerating her. For some reason, she didn’t blame Frank, even though he’d been the one who’d signed the forms.

The good news, if there was any to be had out of this, was that he and Gavin had been right. Ellen wasn’t an addict, more an occasional user who’d had a very bad reaction. That was the hospital’s conclusion. Their other conclusion was that she may have some underlying mental health issues that needed further investigation. In Ellen’s view, that was absolute rot and the hospital was just looking for an excuse to make more money out of her. She insisted Frank made a promise not to sign any more forms. Frank was already way out of his depth. This hospital for the rich was like a top class hotel with doctors. Doctors who treated him like a fool, a bumpkin, or sometimes worse, a skirt-chasing gigolo. He didn’t know how to speak to them. He lacked Gavin’s authority. So he put his trust in his wife and made the promise. Anyway, as far as he could see, Ellen was her usual self again. It wouldn’t be long before she was home and everything was back to normal.

He'd taken a table in the window so he could watch the passers-by rushing home to be with their loved ones. Maybe not all of them were that lucky. Some of them must be living lives as lonely as his was right now. The waiter brought his food over and he ate it greedily. The only upside to his present situation was that he wouldn’t have discovered this place if Ellen hadn’t been in the Richmond Park. Granted, it wasn’t much of an upside but it was better than nothing.

He was about to order another beer when a woman walked past who looked awful familiar. She stopped at the kerbside and turned her head towards the oncoming traffic. It gave him a chance to see her profile properly. No doubt about it. It was Eve. Siobhan said they’d moved to London. He hadn’t thought much about it at the time. London was a big place and anyway, he was over them.

Eve found enough of a gap to cross and went into a pub opposite. Frank considered the pros and cons of following her. Neither side came out on top, so he made a pact with himself. If she didn’t come out by the time he’d finished his meal, he’d go over there.

She didn’t come out. He paid his bill and crossed the road.

She was sitting on her own, reading a paper at the back end of the bar. Frank’s plan had been to get a pint and just happen to be there for her to bump into. But the need to speak to someone who knew him, someone who was just like him, was bigger than he realised. He walked over to her table. ‘How are yer, Eve?’

She looked up. Her first expression was the same as the one she’d given him when he’d last seen her. Hard. But then it changed. She almost looked pleased to see him. ‘Frank? My God, it is you.’

‘Aye, I just stopped by for a quick pint and saw you there. I couldn’t believe it.’

She shook her head. ‘That’s some coincidence, what? Wait till Billy sees you.’

The smile froze on his face. ‘Billy’s here?’

‘He’s at the bar there. Billy, look who just walked in.’

Frank could not believe it. He’d been so eager to get to Eve that he’d walked straight past Billy. Bollocks.

‘Well, well, Frankie Boy. It really is you. Of all the bars, in all the towns.’

Billy was blocking any chance of a speedy exit. Frank had to admit defeat and go with it. ‘Who let you out of Belfast, Billy Mac?’

‘Never mind me, what are you doing here? Where’s your lady friend?’

‘We’re married now. She’s away. Long assignment. She’s a model.’ He said that for Eve’s benefit more than Billy’s. He wanted her to know he had a wife who was beautiful enough to be a model, even if it made him sound like a wanker.

‘Nice.’ Eve looked like she was finding it hard to appear impressed which made him feel even more of a wanker.

Billy slapped him on the back. ‘Let me buy you a pint, FB. It’s good to see you, man.’

Frank thought of all the times Billy had his back when they were growing up. He remembered him and Billy, and those other two eejits, pogoing to the Undertones in a different time and place. He really wanted to be back in that time now. And if that wasn’t possible, this was the next best thing. ‘It’s good to see you too, Billy.’

It was nine o’clock in the morning. Frank was woken by a call from Gavin. ‘Morning. The clinic phoned me as they couldn’t get hold of you last night. My sister is apparently ready to be let loose on the world again. We can take her home tomorrow.’

Frank was so happy he could hardly contain the joy. ‘That’s fucking ace.’

‘Quite. I’ll see you at one.’

Gavin arrived at one on the dot. The usual classical music was playing on the stereo. Frank thought about asking him if he ever listened to anything that involved a drum and several guitars but decided he already knew the answer would be no.

‘Have you considered learning to drive? Not that I mind acting as your personal chauffeur, but it would make life a little easier for all of us.’

‘I’ll give it some thought,’ said Frank.

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