Choices(Kristin Dockar) Choices.

On a dank, dreary July day, where it seemed as if it had been raining for the whole Summer, Wendi decided to take a walk just to get a breath of fresh air.
Great Yarmouth should have been buzzing with life as it was peak holiday season in this ‘down at heel, English seaside resort. It had seen better days but tonight it seemed to have hit a new low.
The promenade was deserted except for some young men in an old car revving up down Marine Street pretending they were Drag Racing. All the rides at Pleasure Beach were shut down, the food outlets were shuttered and only the amusement arcades were ringing out with music but empty of punters.
‘Jeez, this is grim’ thought Wendi as she walked across to the park.

Reluctantly she sat down for a moment and looked around. It was early evening but already there were groups of youths gathering at various points of the park. Looking across to the war memorial she could see a man drinking from a large plastic bottle of cider. What was alarming was that he had lit a fire on the ground in front of him. She hoped he wouldn’t set the bench alight.
Looking to her left, she saw another group of young men, eight of them, all looking aggressively at another group across the park. All were wearing hoodies and some had scarves covering the lower half of their faces.
‘Gangs’ she thought.

Glancing around the park Wendi noticed a middle-aged couple walking towards the war memorial.
Over the years Wendi had seen this lovely green space that brightened this shabby seaside town become more run down. There used to be flower beds which the town council changed with each season. Now the beds were covered in weeds and litter.

After a while, Wendi stood up and started to walk back towards the seafront. For some reason she had the sensation that she was being followed. She stopped walking and pretended to tie a shoelace.
A man with a sleeping bag slung over his shoulders and leading a dog, which was muzzled, stopped near her.
She felt a little scared and decided to stand still and let him pass but as he drew level with her he said ‘Got any change?’
Strangely, he held up a large tin of dog food.
‘I’ve got this for my dog but I ain’t got nothing for me’.
Wendi looked at him and said:
‘Why didn’t you buy a small tin for your dog and something for yourself. That would have made more sense’. And she started to walk on.
At this, looking astonished at her response, he roared: ’ F*****’ stuck up bitch’.

Wendi turned at this and looked at him. He looked so ridiculous but something about him made her smile.
‘Thank you for that. Why don’t you walk with me and I’ll get you a coffee’.
Whoever he was, looked astounded.
Again he roared: ‘F----king bitch. I want money, not coffee’.
‘Suit yourself. I’m going for one, I’ll even throw in a breakfast bap’.
To her surprise he started following, muttering all the time about what a ‘stuck up bitch she was’.

Wendi was a lecturer at the nearby college and looked the part. Neat, tidy, and wearing gold rimmed glasses.
Tables and chairs were placed outside the café and she saw him sit down near the door where a bowl of water was placed for dogs.
Wendi went into the café and ordered two large cappuccinos, a croissant for herself and a breakfast bap. A waiter said ‘let me help you out with that’.
Seeing her companion, he did a double take: ‘Alright Harry, you ok?’
Harry looked uncomfortable and nodded.
Wendi said:’ Give me the dog food’ and removing the ring pull, emptied it out for the dog. She noticed Harry had removed the muzzle.
‘Eat up’ she said briskly. Then calmly drinking her coffee she had a good look at him as he ate and drank. He was not more than a boy. To her surprise he said ‘Thank you’ when he had finished.

‘I don’t want to hear your story’
‘I don’t want to tell it’.
‘Come here tomorrow, same time and I’ll feed you again. I’m on my way to work and always stop here for a coffee before I start’.
Then ‘Do you want to work?’
‘Yes, I hate living like this’.
‘Well walk back to the park and talk to the gardener. He’s desperate for help. Tell him Wendi sent you. That’s two opportunities I’ve given you’.

With that, Wendi stood up and held out her hand. He shook it.
‘See you tomorrow.'
‘Maybe’ he said.

---