Happy End

‘Everybody Down! He’ll be here in a second, I reckon’ And Becky beckoned them round And made them get on their knees Behind the bar They held their breath And stifled giggles Crouched down Like a twenty-headed beast That writhed and wriggled ‘Happy Birthday, Pete! Another year older, eh?’ ‘I never expected a thing I don’t know what to say.’ Harry couldn’t look at the way Pete held Becky’s hands Still he passed him a beer and said ‘Well, there you go, big man.’ ‘Harry, this is Ron Ron, this is Harry, my brother You guys should really talk to one another Ron runs the caff and Harry’s starting up a place up of his own if he can.’ They raised their glasses up ‘Good to meet you, Ron.’ ‘Ah, pleasure’s all mine.’ Ron looks into Harry’s eyes and recognises how they shine Harry. He says the name to himself Before he’s led away and introduced to someone else ‘Becky, this is Dale,’ Pete’s drunk now, warm inside Dale’s awkward with a sort of Distorted and cautious pride on his face ‘Actually, we’ve met’ ‘Really? I’m sorry,’ says Becky ‘Don’t pretend that you forgot me already?’ ‘Where’d you meet?’ says Pete Big smile, white teeth ‘She was working, you remember It was you that made me ring her?’ It hits Pete, like a fist Where every finger wears a ring He couldn’t blink or breathe or think or anything ‘Yeah, you remember? The twenty-third of November I met you in the Hotel Hacienda We had a couple drinks You knew the bartender You had a Whisky Sour And I had a Monumenta We went up in the lift They was playing Enya That made you laugh You said that Enya sent ya round the bend Pete was scared that you’d been sleeping with men So he asked me to investigate Now, in your defense You was very professional I was very tense But I have to say my favorite part Was the Happy End.’ Ron was in the toilets, washing his hands When he heard what sounded like a man Sniffing a whole gram In one go Harry walked out of the cubicle, ‘Oh! Alright, Ron?’ Ron tapped his nose ‘You ain’t got a spare line?’ Harry smiled, ‘No sweat.’ Handed him the wrap and said, ‘I’m going for a cigarette I’ll meet you at the bar, mine’s a pint of Sea View.’ Ron only had to look at the coke And he knew She was dumbstruck She could feel herself going numb Clutched thumbs in her fists Felt unstuck ‘This is wrong! Fuck this!’ Her stomach heaved ‘You set me up Instead of just talking to me? What about trust?’ Guts twisted Pete was stuck to the spot, his lips shifted He couldn’t make a sound Dale stood still, calm Pete stared dumb Reached out, touched her arm She shook it off So livid, so hurt She walked away without saying another word He was about to follow But saw Dale hiding a smile Then he couldn’t help it He saw red, he went wild ‘Alright, look, son I know we’ve come to have a party So have a couple of drinks And a dance with your auntie But hear this Let’s clear this up right now Your numbers are up, son I have found you out You don’t know who I work for Men who have hurt more Men than the world wars When you were first born They were killing men who were worth more Than ten of your kind Are you out of your mind? Look, don’t worry, son I’m in no hurry, son I’ll have you on the run Like a funny curry, son Go back inside and make sure Your brother’s having fun Just know this: Any day now, I’ll be coming son.’ Becky ran out to the street feeling weak She took a breath Heart slamming its head against the wall of her chest She looked to her left Saw Ron, shoulders squared Talking to Harry Harry looked awkward, scared ‘What’s this, mother’s meeting? Come on, Harry, need your help.’ She walked him off as Ron watched Harry felt himself melt ‘Becky,’ he began But he couldn’t finish He fiddled with a cigarette Held it between his fingers ‘What’s up?’ She didn’t need to ask, she could feel it there ‘You got yourself in trouble with my Uncle?’ ‘Yeah’ He stared at the skyline He tried find the right words ‘I gotta leave town And tonight at the latest.’ They stopped walking, turned Looked into each other’s faces ‘And I want you to come with me.’ Time stopped Harry waited She said nothing She raised her eyebrows Like he did on the night they met In this way they spoke at length And his heart heard what her eyes said He said nothing He just felt and hoped that he was understood Then she felt something in her melt And lightning flashed and thunder shook He stared at her until she heard him Felt an energy go surging through her person Something in his eyes She felt her body bursting She kissed him And it reached a part of her that had been sleeping And she felt his heart beating in her own She felt complete and so known They didn’t speak Ran down the street Leon had the motor running And they jumped in the back seat Becky felt peace when she looked at his face ‘Lets us three get on a plane and open up Harry’s Place’ He stared at her, ‘Really?’ She nodded, his pulsed raced He reached down beside him Brought out a suitcase Stuffed full of cash Leon smiled at them both ‘Let’s fucking do it,’ He said Away they drove Dale and Pete Were in a pile of trainers and feet Clenched fists and black eyes and chipped teeth Their dads had tried To get in-between them It was like they couldn’t wait to get involved Graham was beating David’s skull with his elbows David was kneeing Graham’s nether regions And Miriam was at the bar weeping Ron was pleased as punch With the outcome of the evening While Becky, Harry and Leon headed for the beyond Off to Dover for the ferry And from there, wherever Harry looked at Becky ‘Let’s feel this way forever?’ Off to Dover for the ferry And from there, wherever Harry looked at Becky, said ‘Let’s feel this way forever!’