Chapter 10 - Closing Time
Just as Ewan starts to believe that the worst day of his life is over things start to take a turn for the stranger.
Welcome to chapter 10 of this epic exclusive YA urban fantasy saga. Feel free to reach out or comment if you like this story. Your feedback is what keeps the magic flowing.
Once Mackie and his gang had left the tension in the shop released and Ewan felt like he could breath again. Anna was just standing there staring out the door unable to believe what just happened.
Eventually Mac broke the silence, “can I have a large fish supper please?”
It took Anna a few seconds to realise that Mac was actually talking to her, “of course you can, you can have whatever you want.” She then proceeded to wrap up the largest portion of chips Ewan had ever seen with two large pieces of battered cod, drenched in plenty of salt and vinegar and with a large pot of fresh mushy peas added on for good measure.
Anna handed over the package of food to Mac but couldn’t seem to let go as he reached out for it.
“This ones on the house, to say thank you, I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't shown up when you did.” She said.
“I was just on my way back from fixing my brothers car and wanted some supper. I heard that idiot mouthing off and I remembered him from school. His family's a bit dodgy, but he’s all mouth and always backs down when fronted.” Mac replied.
“Do you, think, they might…?” Ewan struggled to get the question out. His heart was still racing and instinctively he reached for the inhaler in his pocket.
“What, come back? Nah… Like I said he’s all mouth and nothing without his mates to back him up. He wouldn't dare, but if if he does, I'll make sure he knows, what's what.”
Ewan smiled but still wasn’t convinced. Anna seemed to have have almost forgotten about it as she stood smiling and staring doe-eyed at Mac whilst still holding the bag of fish and chips.
Mac smiled back and nodded towards his dinner as Anna finally realised she was still holding on to it. She sheepishly let go of the food as Mac made to leave.
Before he knew it Ewan blurted out another question. “Mac before you go, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, sure,”
“I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything, but why did you step in. Most people would have kept on walking and not wanted to get involved. But you did, why?” Ewan asked.
“I dunno, seemed like the right thing to do. Like I said, I recognised Mackie and even with his mates he's just a bully. And you have to stand up to bullies or else they'll walk all over you and you’ll never be rid of them.”
Ewan just stood and listened whilst Mac continued.
“Besides I remembered all the times your mum stood up for me when my old man was drinking, before he got banged up. She was good to me your mum. She'd never see anyone go hungry and always had some extra chips and a little bit of roe if there was nothing for tea at home. And I always hoped, one day I'd be able to repay her in some way.”
A lump formed in the back of Ewan’s throat. Sally had always said that the chip shop was an important part of the local community, but Ewan had never realised the effect both his mum and the shop had had on so many lives. Ewan nodded as he thought back to the day of his mum’s funeral, marvelling at the size of the crowd that had turned out to pay their respects, and now he knew why.
Anna was eventually able to find her voice, “well thanks anyway, you don’t know how much we appreciate that, don't we Ewan. And don't worry, there’ll always be some extra chips here for you.”
“Well that’s definitely worth risking getting in to a fight for.” Mac said winking at Ewan. As he talked Ewan thought he could see Mac’s eyes light up and the gruff exterior seemed to melt away. Mac smiled at Anna and she smiled back.
“Well, best be getting off then, before these get cold. Thanks for the chips.”
“No, thank you, you're our hero, ain't that right Ewan?”
“Guess so, yeah, thanks.”
Mac walked out the shop as if the last ten minutes had never happened.
“Wow, that was intense… I could do without that every night.” Anna said.
“Yeah, dad’ll have to employ some security if that keeps up,”
“Or he could just kung fu them himself and throw them out.” Anna said laughing at her own joke.
“What do you mean, just ‘cause he’s Chinese doesn't mean he's into kung fu, not every Chinese person is a kung fu master you know.”
“Sorry, I just thought your dad…, what with his background…, I'm sure I remember that granddad said something once about your dad being some kind of soldier back when he was younger.”
Now it was Ewan’s turn to laugh.
“What? Dad? A soldier? I doubt it, I know he can be a bit strict on occasions but really? He hates any mention of anything violent or anything to do with fighting. He caught me watching some old kung fu film online once and he went mental and threatened to cut off the internet.”
“Talking of your dad, don't you think it's a bit weird that he's not back yet?”
“I dunno, it's not like him to be out late, but he said he might be.”
As if on cue Ewan could feel his phone buzzing in his pocket. He took it out and tried to look at what was left of the screen.
“Wow, Mackie did make a mess of that didn't he?” Anna said as she eyed up the state of the smashed screen, “How did you manage to get yourself mixed up with a thug like him?”
Ewan shrugged, “I’ve no idea, I think he just decided I’d make an easy target.”
Anna gave him a hug, “well I think you’ve seen the last of him for now.”
“Do you recon?”
“Yeah, he’d not be that stupid, he knows what Mac would do to him?”
“Let’s hope.”
Anna looked again at the smashed phone in my hand. “Be careful you don't get any glass in your fingers.”
“I know I could have done with a new phone, but dad’s going to go mental when he sees this. What am I going to tell him?”
“I dunno, can you still answer it?”
“I think so.”
Ewan carefully touched the glass screen and tapped the flashing message icon. It was difficult to make out the message behind the mass of cracks.
“It's from dad, something about him being held up with business and he’ll be back tomorrow.”
Ewan looked again at the screen and tried to scroll the message up “Also, he said not to worry, and everything will be sorted soon”
“That’s weird, what’ll get sorted soon?” Anna asked.
“Beats me, I haven't got a clue what he’s talking about. But do you know what's even weirder?”
“What?”
“That's the first text message I've ever had off him, I didn't think he even knew how to use his phone. It took him long enough to work out how to answer a mobile phone. He only keeps the one he’s got for use in case off an emergency.”
Anna just shrugged her shoulders.
“Look, I don't think we're gonna get many more customers in tonight, and after our earlier adventures why don’t we call it quits and close up early for a change.”
Ewan was more than happy to agree.
“Ok, so will you help me lock up please?”
“Of course, but I'm not really happy leaving you here all alone, do you want to grab some stuff and stop at my mums tonight?”
“Nah, I'm good thanks. Dylan should be due any minute now anyway. We’d already arranged for him to have a sleepover tonight.”
“Ok, I’ll wait till he gets here then call a taxi.”
Anna locked the front door to the shop and turned off the friers whilst Ewan continued the wipe down of the counter tops and the food cabinets.
There was still a fair amount of food left, including all the suppers left behind by Mackie and his gang.
“I hope your dad doesn’t notice all this food going in the bin.” Anna said.
“They’re due to be emptied in the morning, so with any luck he’ll never know”.
Ewan continued with mopping the floor whilst Anna took the rubbish out.
“Ewan, what’s this? It looks important,” Anna said as she came back in to the shop holding dad’s strange envelope.
“It’s dad’s, it was delivered earlier. I thought he took it with him when he left.”
“Well it was in the bin in the hall. What’s that funny writing on the cover?”
“What do you mean funny writing? It’s got dad’s name and address on it.”
“Well it might look like that to you, but to me it’s just a load of scribbles.”
“I know this is going to sound weird but, if I kind of squint at it out of the corner of my eye then it looks like Chinese but when I look straight at it I can read it perfectly,”
“I didn’t know you could read Chinese?”
“I can’t, or at least I couldn’t until earlier today.”
“So what does it say?”
“I dunno, I only read the address,”
“Duh, why don’t you read it. It might give you some idea why your dad’s late.”
Under normal circumstances Ewan would never have dared read anyone else’s mail without their permission, but today hadn’t exactly been a normal day and a part of him was worried why his dad wasn’t back. Lian’s strange text message also didn’t do anything to ease my concerns.
Turning the letter over again Ewan looked again at the red seal and wondered what it all meant. The letter inside was written on the same kind of ancient looking parchment as the envelope. Carefully he unfolded the paper. The writing appeared use the same script as the address and Ewan once more had that strange feeling of knowing what the letter said rather than reading it directly.
“Brother,
It has been many years.
I have news of the utmost importance to share and it is with deep regret that I have to break my promise and seek you out once more.
I humbly request that you prepare to meet me as soon as possible at the site where we last parted company.
We need to put aside our past differences and forge a new plan.
I fear He has returned.
Hóu”
Ewan stared at the letter before looking up at Anna who appeared to be as equally shocked and confused as he was.
“Is that some kind of joke? I never knew your dad had a brother.”
“It doesn’t look like a joke and it certainly doesn’t feel like one, and as far as I know dad hasn’t got any other family, other than me.”
Just when you think things are getting taken care of… there’s a new mystery that pops up.
This is good!