Ted.(Stephen Pearmine) A new short story.

Trevor was a man in his early twenties and loved to go to all the pubs and bars in the city where he lived. The nearest pub was only a ten-minute walk from his place, so ideal really. His favourite part of the week was finally here after a long week at work. It was Friday and in his bedroom he was getting ready to go out. He couldn't wait. His first port of call would be The Witherton Arms. It was a bit further than the nearest pub, but that night he was meeting a mate there. It wasn't the cheapest place in the city, it didn't matter too much as they'd only stay there for a couple.

  Dead at 7pm, Trevor said goodbye to his mum who was sitting in the living room watching TV, then left the house, not wanting to be late.  Where he lived was quiet, which was nice, but within three streets of his journey the crowds would appear all heading to their favourite places for a night of drinking.
..................

  Twenty minutes later, he'd made it. Inside the establishment it was packed. Trevor saw some familiar faces on his trip to the bar, like Ted, who he'd drink with sometimes on weekdays when it was quieter. He was in his sixties and loved to tell bad jokes. He was a legend in these parts. Trevor gave him a nod and the older gent nodded back. Through the crowds he saw his mate waiting at the bar. His name was Mike. He'd known him since school.
  He approached him and said, "Alright mate, how's things?"
  Mike turned to him. "Geezer, good to see you. Want a drink?"
  "Yes mate. Pint of my usual please."
  "Sweet."
  After their first couple of drinks, it got messy. Shots started appearing bought by someone else supposedly. When Trevor looked at the time, it was 10.32. My God, time flies when you're having fun. The next time he peered at his watch it was just past midnight.
  He woke up the next morning and that was the last thing he could remember. What the hell happened after midnight? His head didn't feel too good, but by all accounts it had been a cracking night. Thankfully, it was a Saturday, so there was no work until Monday. He got up, ate some breakfast, then by midday headed to the nearest pub, The Railway Tavern.
..................

  Two days into the working week, Trevor decided to go to the pub from last Saturday. He knew Ted would be there. 

  The Witherton Arms was dead, which was no surprise, being a weekday. Old Ted was sitting near the fruit machine watching someone else play it.
  "Alright, mate. Want a drink?" asked Trevor as he walked to the table.
  Ted looked up a bit startled. "In my senior years I didn't see you there, boy. Yes, that'd be good."
  Once the drinks had been served, they chatted about football, then Ted started telling his bad jokes. The nice thing was, it was a pub where most people knew each other.
  Jeremy, who was a local as well, who was sitting close by, then said, "The bleeding jokes you tell are not funny, mate. I know young Trevor over there won't say anything, but they're not good, old timer. Hear what I'm saying."
  Ted burst out laughing, then added, "I only told them, Jeremy boy, to annoy you."
  Jeremy smiled, then took a swig of his ale, before replying, "Even though your jokes are rubbish, you're a good man, Teddy boy, this pub wouldn't be the same without you. Here's to you, old Ted." He raised his pint to him.
  Ted did the same. "And here's to you Jeremy."
  Ted turned to Trevor and said quietly, "What a bloody cheek. My jokes are legendary."
  Both laughed.

  By 10pm Trevor decided to leave. It was an early start in the morning. "See you, Ted. See you over the weekend, maybe?"
  "Yes, mate. Looking forward to it. By the way, haven't you got yourself a girlfriend yet? You aren't getting any younger, boy."
  This was something Ted always asked him, and he answered the same as he always did. "I'm still young, mate. I haven't got time for a girlfriend. I've got loads of other things to do first."
  "Well, one will come along when you least expect it. See you, mate. Have a safe trip home, boy," he said, taking another gulp of his pint.
  "Yes, mate, and you too," he replied, then he made his way out of the pub.
..................

  The weekend was finally here. By 7pm Trevor left the house with his good clothes on. His mate Mike wasn't about tonight, but he knew Ted would be about. He'd talk to him for a little while, then head somewhere else to meet another mate called Simon, who he hadn't seen for about three weeks, as his friend had been in London for work. When he went into the pub, he looked for Ted everywhere. Trevor went to the bar where he knew the Landlord quite well.
  "Alright, Keith. Where's old Ted tonight? Strange for him not to be about."
  The man in his fifties looked at him gravely. "I've got some bad news, mate. He died last Wednesday. A heart attack, someone said. Sorry to have to tell you that. Terrible news."
  Trevor was shocked. He'd only seen him the other day. "Oh my god, I didn't expect to hear that. Bloody hell."
  Keith was sad, because Ted was a good customer and friend. "Sucks, mate. What are you drinking, usual?"  
  Trevor didn't know what to do. Maybe a pint would help. Solemnly he replied, "Yes, mate. Just the usual. Thanks."
  Once the pint was served, Trevor made his way over to the table where he had sat with Ted recently. He still couldn't believe the news that his mate was dead. 

  An hour later, he met Simon in The Kings Head, which was a twenty-five-minute walk away. Unlike last Friday, he just didn't feel in the mood anymore. He drank 3 pints, then said to Simon he felt tired and might head home.
  "Yeah, sure, mate. I didn't fancy a late night anyway. Sorry to hear about Ted. Shocking news, mate," Simon said sadly.
  "Thanks. Yeah, he was a top bloke. See you later, mate."
  "Yes, see you, chap."
  With that, Trevor left for the walk home.
.................

  Two weeks later, he attended Ted's funeral. Most of the pub turned up, and the church was packed. There were other people there he didn't recognise, but he mostly stayed with the people he knew. Supposedly, Ted was married once, many years ago, even though he never talked about it.

  That day was a good celebration of his life.
.................

  A day after the funeral, on a Tuesday, Trevor went to the pub where he last saw Ted. While he stood at the bar waiting for the bartender to serve two others, Trevor peered over at the table where he sat with Ted a lot of times and observed a girl sitting there. Straightaway he found her attractive. She had long dark hair and wore a nice white blouse with fashionable black jeans and trainers. She noticed him looking her way and gave him a smile. He decided to walk over and introduce himself. It wasn't something he would usually do, but what the hell?
  A metre from her, he said a little nervously, "I don't usually do this, so forgive me, but I've never seen you before. Are you new to the city?"
  It took her a moment to answer, "Yesterday was my Grandfather's funeral. I don't come from around these parts. I'm staying with my parents at the moment. We're in one of the hotels. I'll be going back home tomorrow afternoon."
  It was Ted's funeral yesterday, but to his knowledge, Ted never had children, or none he ever spoke of. "Actually, I went to a funeral yesterday. It was a bloke I knew really well. His name was Ted. Very sad really, we used to have a good laugh."
  She looked shocked by this. "Oh my God. That was my Grandfather's name. What an odd coincidence. That's the reason I'm here tonight, because my Grandfather always told me that this was his favourite pub in the city and would always sit at the table closest to the fruit machine. We must be talking about the same person?" 
  Trevor was now in shock himself. "The Ted I knew loved his football and telling really bad jokes."
  She laughed out loud, replying, "I can't believe it. We're talking about the same person. What are the chances of that? I'm surprised I didn't see you yesterday if we were both there."
  He really liked her, but didn't want to come across too strong. "Unbelievable, isn't it? There were loads of people there, I don't remember seeing you either," he said, laughing to himself.
  She then looked upset. "I only saw him twice a year, usually in the summer months and at Christmas. He would catch the train and visit us. I think he preferred being in this pub to anywhere else, bless him."
  She had lovely blue eyes. "Sounds like Ted," he said, bemused.
  "It's quite sad really. My dad, his son, didn't always get on. But my dad thought it was important for me to know him. Even though I didn't see him that much, I thought he was lovely," she answered. "Would you like to come and join me? Now we are properly introduced."
  "Yes, I would, very much," Trevor replied excitedly.

  For the rest of the evening they chatted about anything that came to mind. When it was time for both to leave, the girl whose name was Alison gave him her mobile number.
  "What are you doing tomorrow morning? Fancy meeting up?" she asked.
  "Yeah, most definitely, " he answered. "I had better head home now."
  "Me too," she said. "See you tomorrow. Goodnight."
  "Goodnight."
  Trevor went one way and she went the other.
  As he walked home, one of the last things Ted said to him came into his mind. 
  "Well, one will come along when you least expect it."
  Even though he was on his own, he looked up at the stars and said with a smile on his face, "You're right mate. She came along when I least expected it. You're a legend, mate. Rest In Peace, my friend, and I'll never forget you."
  He then made the journey home.


The End.

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