A Friend In Need

The doorbell clanged and chimed around the house, not once, but three times.
‘I’m coming, I’m coming!’ Ann shouted as she walked from the living room into the hall. She peeped through the spy-hole and let out a sigh.

She opened the door to be greeted by a vision of a mascara-sodden weeping pile of clothes that vaguely resembled her ex-best friend.

‘Tina, I’ve not seen you for ages. Bloody hell. Whatever’s the matter, come in, come in.’ Ann stepped away and let her blubbering friend into the house. Her heart sank, this was the last person she wanted to see, she thought she had finally let the friendship lapse, but she knew she couldn’t let a friend in need suffer. Tina had become obsessive and overpowering in recent years and Ann was glad to let things slide away gently.

‘Come on, in there and sit down.’ Ann tried to use soothing words to attempt some semblance of control from the obviously hysterical woman.

Tina sat trembling in the armchair. Sobbing and wailing, she tried to piece her words together.

‘He’s got someone else, the bastard’s got someone else. What am I going to do. Oh my God what am I going to do?’

Tina’s bosom heaved as she weeped and wailed her way through her words.

‘Calm down Tina, look, I’ll make us a cup of tea. We’ll have a ciggy and you compose yourself a bit.’

Ann made the tea as quickly as she could. Picking up her cigarettes she went back to Tina in the living room who, by now, was calming somewhat after the initial onslaught.

‘Tell me Tina, what’s happened, what’s going on?’ Ann spoke the words as soothingly as she could, in the hopes her friend would impart her dilemma without having hysterics again.

‘I was, I was, errrm,’ Tina’s voice began to falter again.

‘Come on love, let it out, tell me everything,’ Ann spoke softly.

Tina cleared her throat, took a gulp of tea, threw her head back and began to speak.

‘Right then. I was on the internet, using David’s e-mail address. Well you know me, I can’t be bothered to set up my own contact. Anyway I was looking up a book I’m after on Bettabooks.com and this e-mail arrived. It was from someone called Flowapowa.’

‘And?’ Ann questioned.

‘And it said something like, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,’ Tina just about managed to get the words out before bursting into tears again.

‘It’s probably someone from work Tina, you know how he has to meet people all the time with his job.’ Ann was trying to put some perspective on this to enable her friend to see some sense.

‘For God’s sake Ann! Flowapowa! I looked the name up on the member’s list. It said it was a female from Cornwall who was single and ready for fun! I mean Jeeeeez!’ Tina stumbled the words about between sobs.

‘You poor sod, oh dear, oh shit, oh buggar! I don’t know what to say. You are sure?’ Ann enquired.

‘Oh too bloody right I’m sure. He’s supposed to be at a meeting in Redruth tomorrow, some bloody meeting that will be!’ Tina was wailing again and Ann put a friendly arm around her.

‘There, there, come on Tina, come on love, I’m sure you’re wrong, it must be a mistake, something you misread possibly?’

‘No,’ she spluttered, ‘I know what I read, and I know what he’s doing. The bastard, I’ll kill him, I swear I will kill him!’

She took another sip of her tea.

Ann held her friend close to her smoothing her hair whispering, rather than speaking, her words.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll get this sorted out. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding. Look why don’t you go home and get some things together and come and stay with me for a few days.’

Tina sniffled into her tissue.

‘Yes, perhaps you right I need a friend at the moment,’ she blew her nose hard and dabbed away the tears from her eyes. ‘I’ll pop off home now and get some things if that’s ok.’

‘Yes, fine, you do that,’ said Ann regretting that she had ever let her in the front door.

Tina picked up her bag, adjusted herself, gave Ann a fleeting smile and left the house.

Tine started up her car engine and smiled broadly to herself. She picked up her mobile and dialled.

‘Hello my love…yes it’s me…look Ann’s been in touch she has got some man trouble and needs a shoulder to cry on for a few days…Yes I’ve not heard from her for months, but I can’t let a friend in need down.’

Tina laughed, took some more Prozac, and drove off.

All content on this site is subject to copyright © 2000/2006If you wish to use anything either text or graphics please ask permission

All content on this site is subject to copyright © 2000/2006
If you wish to use anything either text or graphics please ask permission