The Jagged Edge of Sanity

What happened to Chris?

Chris grew up in Muswell Hill in North London, son of a taxi driver, and an addiction drenched mother, who left the scene in search of brown when he was just a child. At seven, that was sadistic, old enough to remember he had a mother but cruelly young enough to forget the intricacies of her identity and yet his idolatry manifested into a tornado of despair.

He bounced through high school, side stepping emotional relationships, dodging public speaking and hiding in plain sight. When he was sixteen his father, Barry, met a new woman called Kim, she was a bitch. Kim was slightly older than Barry and her children had fled the nest. One night in front of the TV she said,

“Barry, I’ve had a think about things and I want to move in. What do you think about that?”

A tired, overworked, and grateful for any attention Barry, looked up from the TV and said,

“Yeah, sounds good, but I’ve got to warn you, I snore.”

Kim laughed and said, “I know you do Barry, which is why I want the bedroom Chris is in.”

Barry sat up, perched on the edge of the sofa, “What? Where will Chris sleep, he’s only sixteen.”

“At sixteen he can join the army, for goodness sake, he’s not a child anymore. Well, if he has to stay, he can sleep in the garage. It’s got electricity and a window. He’ll be fine, anyway I want you Barry, just you, all to myself. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

Over the next week, Barry and Chris emptied the garage of all the junk and stuff that gets collected over the years and never used. Once it was all finished, Chris had a Z bed, a table with his PlayStation and TV and a set of drawers. It was ugly, damp, and smelt of oil, the walls were bare brick, and it was cold. The wind would break through the garage door like he was in a Siberian Gulag cell.

However, Chris would be told how lucky he was at having his own room by Kim, with cowardly Barry standing behind her, keeping stum. She was a smiling assassin, moving in with a cheerful exterior but secretly harbouring plans of taking over the castle. Chris decided to keep his distance. He bought a second hand toaster and a kettle, he lived on toast, cuppa soups and Pot Noodles.

After finishing his drab school, Chris went to the local college and did a catering course, he had plans of becoming a top chef. After sailing through his BTEC he was encouraged to sign up for university by his tutor. He showed good organisational and leadership skills, his teacher thought he could go far in the industry.

After living in a grey, cold, garage for two years it was now 1997. University was still free, so there was nothing to lose. After careful consideration, he decided to attend the University of Brighton, he had been to Brighton as a young kid and had great memories of days out. Plus, it was two hours from his dad and Killjoy Kim.

Over the course of the first week, Chris met some new friends, they were doing the same course and had a similar sense of humour. He rented a room in a house share and lived with the lively Dustin and Wes. Dustin was from Barbados, he was crazy on a night out and Wes wasn’t far behind. Dustin became his best friend for those university years; they were two peas in a pod. They all enjoyed a night out and sometimes it got messy. There was plenty of alcohol, smoking, and rowdiness when the lads went out. A few others always joined in and they were Tony, Gaz, and Jay. The stories the following mornings were shocking as they sat in the café, eating a full English, reminiscing and piecing together the night before.

Chris found himself a part-time job in Yates’s Wine Lodge in the city, he enjoyed it although it was hard work but was good experience for him. He got on well with the assistant manager, Phil, he was only a few years older and made him feel welcomed and appreciated. Brighton felt like home to him; he left a place in North London where he was invisible and came to a place where he felt part of something. He was respected and liked, he had good people around him, and he was doing a course he really enjoyed.

The boys made it through university and managed to scrape a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Management. Chris was amazed and incredibly proud of himself, even if he did keep it to himself. He was going to miss his new family in Brighton as it was the first time in years that he felt wanted and loved. He was dreading going back to his dad’s garage and living with Killjoy Kim. However, before they all left university and went on their merry ways, there was one more night out, a night to end all others. They were all going to meet down the pub and see where the night took them.

The unpredictable party animals, Wes and Dustin were running late as usual, but they decided to go to the new club, it was called Monroes. There was plenty of booze, dancing and a little bit of naughty narcotics for Chris. Everyone was off their heads in the club and after several hours they decided to get some food at the kebab shop. By the time they got there they were knackered, for some reason the police had chased them, and they legged it down an alleyway. Whilst finishing off their greasy kebabs, party animal Neil and a few of his mates arrived. They told them about a house party they were going to and that they should go with them. On route they decided to find random presents for the host as a kind of thank you. A traffic cone, hubcaps and a for sale sign were just a selection of the bizarre gifts a drunken mind can seem like a good idea.

The party was great; the music was amazing, a selection of 90’s hip hop and Brit-pop, the atmosphere was buzzing, the host was a pretty girl called Sara. Chris was blown away; she was stunning and they had so much in common. They talked all night when they could, until the boys drove her crazy with their chaos. At one point, his crazy mate Dustin got stuck in a tree!

Chris thought she had amazing eyes, they were big and brown like ‘Puss in Boots.’ Her hair was curly and dark; it was tied up with curls hanging down the side of her face. She had a tight black dress on and smoked Silk Cut. She looked like something out of a 90’s music video.

They spoke about their parents and their upbringings. They had different issues but could empathise with each other. They were both at an age where their lives were coming to a t-junction. They had tough choices to make and felt alone, but as the night went on, they realised they would be stronger together. They kissed in the corner, but suddenly there was a round of applause from the party goers. Sara became shy, so they got up and walked into the kitchen, they kissed again, holding each other tightly, ‘Love Kicks Starts Again’, from Example was being played on the stereo, Chris didn’t want it to end, it felt perfect.

At six in the morning, people were drifting off, and taxis were coming and going. Everyone was exhausted and poor Sara was looking around at the mess. Chris had fallen in love, this was his first time he’d felt like this, he didn’t want to leave Sara, so offered to help her clear up the mess. They decided to have a nap first and them crack on with cleaning the house and garden around lunchtime. That didn’t really go to plan, and they both slept until five in the afternoon. They were cuddled up together on the sofa, it felt so right.

Chris got up first and being a gentleman he started fixing up the garden. He was picking up cigarette butts, empty cans and general litter. The garden chairs needed fixing and there was damage to the shed roof which Dustin had caused from falling from the tree. Sara got on with the kitchen and living room, which wasn’t too bad as most of the people were outside. It took a few hours and once the house was finished they showered and went out for food. They laughed as they remembered the night before. The goofy presents Chris and his mates brought her. The drinking games, dancing, singing and kissing. Sara held Chris tight for the whole date, she felt safe and was infatuated with him.

Chris stayed the night; he never ever left her side again.

Chris was promoted at his job at the wine lodge. He eventually became a full-time deputy manager. Sara and Chris rented a small apartment in Brighton. They didn’t have much but made the most of what they had. Sara was incredibly resourceful and decorated the entire apartment for under £100. Sara loved to thrift shop, it was a hobby of hers. She was a hairdresser in a local salon during the day. Life was good for the young, loving couple.

Within three months, a besotted Chris had proposed to Sara, she said yes. It was a small wedding, and Chris invited the boys. Two years later they had two children, it was a crazy period in both of their lives. That one night had changed everything.

A few years later, Chris received a phone call telling him that his father had passed away, he died from a heart attack. Chris had barely seen him in years, and Kim was arranging the funeral; it was on the following weekend in Muswell Hill. Chris was sad but not devastated, they hadn’t had a good relationship since Kim got involved.

He took his family to the funeral and met with distant relatives and caught up with the family gossip. He noticed an elderly woman at the crematorium, she was with a man and they kept themselves to themselves. The lady kept looking over at Chris and his children and he wondered who she was. He asked a few of the mourners who were as equally baffled.

After the service, Chris and his family were walking towards the car park and the lady followed them. At first Chris just thought she was going back to her car, but she stopped him and said, “Chris, is that you?”

He replied, “Yes, I’m Chris, how can I help you?”

The lady looked nervous and said, “Chris, it’s me. I’m your mother.”

A stunned Chris looked at the lady and didn’t recognise her at all. She looked old and frail. There was an elderly man stood around ten metres behind her, he was clearly with her but giving her some space.

Chris was dazed and replied, “Really, what are you doing here? This is crazy. Why now?”

The lady looked upset and said, “I’ve been in contact with your father, but he wouldn’t give me your address or number. I’ve been trying to get in contact for ages, but your father wouldn’t let me. When I heard that he had died, I thought this was the only opportunity I had to see you. I know it’s not perfect, but I was desperate.”

They all decided to go for a drink at a local pub to talk. Chris was confused; he had just lost his father but regained his mother. He wanted to hear what she wanted to say, he had nothing to lose. She was lovely and grateful, she told him that she had to leave the area due to her drug addiction. She’s been clean for years and had remarried ten years ago, to Vincent.

Over the following year, they met up several times and got on extremely well. Vincent was a nice guy; he was a hotel owner and had three hotels. Two were in Britain and one was in Barbados. The generous Vincent was impressed with Chris’s work ethic and knowledge of the hospitality industry. They spoke about various opportunities and Chris’s ambitions; they got on really well.

Vincent made Chris an offer of a lifetime, something that he knew would benefit both of them. Vincent offered him the opportunity to manage his restaurant in his hotel in Barbados. An excited Sara had agreed it before Chris had let it sink in. After a few minutes they were both hugging and talking about a new adventure in the exotic West Indies.

After the Visas were issued and their furniture was in storage, Chris, Sara and the two beautiful children were on their way to paradise. They were so excited, they were given accommodation on the grounds of the hotel until they were ready to find their own place.

On Chris’s first day he donned his new suit and was really excited. It was hot and sweaty, there were palm trees swaying in the breeze, it was beautiful. On arrival he was introduced to the staff in the restaurant and at 11am he was scheduled to meet the General Manager of the whole hotel. He was nervous and wanted to make a good first impression. Chris put his brave face on and walked in to meet his stepfather in the reception area. They had a brief polite conversation and walked to the GM’s office. The secretary let them in, they sat down on the sofa near the desk awaiting his arrival. There was a bathroom in the connected room, they heard the toilet flush, the door opened. Chris couldn’t believe it, his mouth dropped open.

The hotels General Manager was his crazy university friend Dustin, his best mate ten years ago. They both smiled at each other and began laughing. Vincent didn’t understand and said,

“Do you guys know each other?”

Dustin turned to Vincent, smiled and said,

“We lived at together at university, we’ve had a few adventures. He’s my best friend. Tonight, we are going to have few rums and reminisce. What could possibly go wrong?!”

The End