Coffee Time Stories

9 Corry’s Story

  As the sun set over the sea, dark clouds gathered in the south west, creating a fiery sky bright with orange glow on purple clouds. The sun slowly disappeared beneath the horizon leaving its reflection on the sea and the clouds growing thicker and heavier. As ever darkness edged its way from the east but tonight darkness came from the west as well as the storm clouds drifted in, giving the impression of curtains being drawn for the night so the world could pop on its slippers and snuggle down in a cosy armchair. But there was nothing cosy about the evening as Corry scuttled his way home beneath the growing darkness. He didn’t even stop to admire the beauty of the sky because it was getting late and he was cold and his mum didn’t like him getting home too much after sunset. He hoped it would be something good for dinner, something warm and delicious but not soup, Corry hated soup. If he could have anything in the world, it’d be shepherd’s pie, oh he’d love shepherd’s pie tonight with peas and gravy. That would be bliss. The thought of happy food kept him warm until he finally got home.

  ‘Hi mum’ he called out but there was silence. ‘Mum? Lisa?’ he called again but there was nothing. He went through to the kitchen. The table was set and there was soup on the stove, but soup for dinner was the least of his worries now. He stood at the bottom of the stairs and called out again.

  ‘Mum, Lisa!’ Nothing. The house felt cold, quiet, dark. He could feel his heart pumping, he’d have to go upstairs and have a look but he was scared, 12 years old and still scared of the bogeyman. He ran up, his breathing quick, his heart quicker. He darted into each room, empty, empty, empty. There had to be a logical explanation but he couldn’t think of one right now, his mum was always there when he got home. Where was she? He went downstairs where he felt safer. He switched on the TV and then switched it off again. He sat down but stood up immediately, unable to settle, unable to think. A crack of thunder ripped through the air as tears welled in Corry’s eyes, something was wrong, very wrong, a few seconds passed but it felt like a lifetime as the rain crashed into the windows.

  The key in the lock made him jump out of his skin, he sniffed back the tears and ran to the living room door. There was his mum and sister shaking umbrellas and taking off wet coats.

  ‘Ah there you are love, we came out to get you cos it looked like it was going to rain. We must have missed you.’

  Corry smiled, his heart still pumping, his eyes still watery but his mind returning to sanity.

  ‘Oh.’ he grunted turning away so neither of them could see either the smile of relief or the state he’d got himself in. He’d never been so pleased to see someone in his life and soup had never tasted so good.