This story was first published on the public fiction section of Square Pegs (squarepegs.overspillers.net) by Jiminy

Bill Hartman lay alone in a side ward at Bradford Infirmary. The sides of his bed had been raised to prevent a fall, and palliative treatment meant he suffered no pain. But he could see from the expression on the nurse’s face that he hadn’t much longer to live. Ah well he thought, my life has had its ups and downs but on the whole it hasn’t been too bad, so I suppose I should be grateful for seeing my sixtieth birthday. As Bill lay calmly in the last bed he would occupy on Earth memories came crowding back into his mind.

Although my parents were poor they contrived to keep me well fed and clothed. At primary school I was top of the class, but on moving to secondary school my pass marks became fewer until eventually I left school at sixteen with no qualifications. However, feeling that any job was better than no job at all I found a place as a gopher in a wholesale grocery warehouse: sweeping the floor, stacking crates of potatoes, anything that was needed. Sadly though, I was dismissed for dropping a crate of vinegar bottles and found myself queuing at the local job-centre

After this set-back I decided to pull myself together and make a new start in my life. So after some thought I decided I would like to become a TV repair man. So with this thought foremost in mind I applied for a skillcentre course. Then, after a successful interview, I joined my fellow students at Leeds skillcentre. And although I knew the course would be demanding I resolved to do my utmost to succeed. My fellow-students came from many walks of life, including a failed undergraduate and a Ugandan shop-keeper. But most importantly, our tutor’s excellent teaching methods ensured that most of his students would be successful

Following a high pass-rate it was time for an interview with the careers official who told me that although there were no TV technician posts available he could recommend a career as a TV and radio components salesman which would involve some technical expertise. So, feeling my future was secure I duly arrived at Hi-Tek Components Limited, and after a brief interview I was given a position as technical representative for Yorkshire and Lancashire

It was at a wedding party that I first met Pandora. Her brother had married into a moneyed family and the wine was flowing freely. While dancing a slow foxtrot I felt her bosom pressing close and sensed her vibrant sexuality. After this meeting we soon found ourselves a snug little apartment in Rawdon where we held wild parties with Pandora’s university friends. But after a while the glamour began to fade and I felt I was dreaming the impossible dream. There was no rancour when we parted, just a feeling of je ne sais quoi

My job took me to many places, including the Metropole Hotel in Leeds where I met Tony Marchment in the saloon bar. He had recently arrived from overseas where he made a living doing whatever came his way. But after a while it became obvious that he was a Jack the lad who seized any opportunity to make a living by fair means or foul. So when he offered to make me his accomplice of course I refused. However, when business became slack due to fierce competition from a well-established company I agreed to join him in his dodgy enterprises.

Tony specialised in what he called distraction techniques. In other words I would engage the shopkeeper in conversation while he made off with the goods. This might be a TV, radio or whatever could be sold on the underground market. This worked well for a while until one day we messed up, leaving me to face the music while Tony did a runner. I was hauled before the magistrate who committed me to Leeds Assizes where the judge sent me down for a three year stretch in Armley jail. But eventually when my sentence was commuted to two years for good behaviour I breathed a sigh of relief and resolved to make a new start in life. There’s not much more to tell except to say that I gave up all thoughts of marriage and having kids, but I suppose I’m happy in my own way.

Bill groaned as the nurse came to change his bedpan. His life hadn’t been much to shout about but at least he’d had his dignity. Then later, during the night, he had a strange feeling of floating in the air, then gradually he lost all sense of being as his life ended peacefully. Almost immediately there came a sensation of being enclosed in a dark damp place. Then suddenly there came a feeling of passing through a narrow tunnel into a blaze of light. It was the beginning of a whole new life with all its possibilities for joy or sorrow. Eileen smiled contentedly as her new baby snuggled close to her breast.

This story was first published on the public fiction section of Square Pegs (squarepegs.overspillers.net) by DiggoryVenn

Harry was in the pool at the local leisure centre, enjoying a relaxing swim. There was a commotion at the far end of the pool, and the attendants, walking quickly along each side, ordered everyone to get out of the water and return to the changing rooms. As he did so, Harry saw one of the staff in the water, alongside the motionless figure of a woman in a red and black patterned swimsuit. He knew that costume, with its decorative red bow at the neckline. It was Melanie. She must have been swimming that morning, though amongst the noise and movement of a fairly busy pool, Harry hadn’t noticed her.

Melanie had drowned. Back in the changing rooms, staff told everyone to wait for the arrival of the police. Two constables came and took people’s names and addresses and after a quick initial enquiry, told each swimmer to come to the police station the next day to make a statement. When Harry told the police that he knew Melanie, they kept him there for a little longer and asked him some further questions. As he hadn’t even known she was going to be there, and hadn’t noticed her in the water, Harry was only able to offer limited information.

The police enquiries revealed no information about anyone seen in the pool with Melanie and it seemed that her death had been a tragic accident. At the inquest, there was no evidence to suggest any other cause, and the coroner brought in a verdict of accidental death. The only additional information that came before the inquest was that she was pregnant.

Harry and Melanie had been more than just friends. Not long before, they’d had a brief affair lasting just a few weeks. She’d ended it and had gone back to her long term boyfriend; not because she loved him, but because she was frightened of him. Tim was a control freak and a violent man, though he was not known to the police. Melanie had tried to break away with Harry, but in the end she couldn’t.

Harry wondered if the baby had been his. He’d fallen for Melanie in a big way. Their lovemaking had been wonderful, like a Beethoven symphony performed by the London Philharmonic. Now she was dead, he would never know about the baby.

But there was more that he didn’t know. Tim had found out about the baby, and had questioned Melanie until she told him about Harry, and admitted that the baby was Harry’s. Tim had coldly plotted revenge on them both. It was Tim who had killed Melanie; it was no accident.

He’d lingered in the small learners’ pool, pretending to be a non-swimmer. When some kids came in and started shouting and bombing, as they often did, the attendants moved across to tell them off. The commotion gave Tim his chance. He had taken hold of the bow on her costume, and had swum down to the bottom, pulling her with him. Because he was an unusually strong man, with the ability to hold his breath for much longer than the average person, he’d been able to accomplish the crime without leaving any bruises or other marks that might indicate violence rather than an accident. He’d got out of the pool before the body was discovered, and out of the building before the police came. No-one saw him, and he’d left no evidence of his crime.

All Harry knew of Tim, from a few things that Melanie had said, was that he was an unpleasant character. But when he received a note through his letterbox asking him to meet Tim, he felt that he must go. Perhaps there was something important that he could learn. Tim’s message told Harry to bring the note as identification, as they did not know each other. They met in the poorly-lit car park of the Blue Boar, a pub which Harry had never visited before. Once they had introduced themselves, Tim told him the full story. He seemed very emotional and said that he wanted to confess, and asked Harry to go to the police with him.

Harry was completely taken aback by Tim’s contrite manner. The feeling of satisfaction at Tim’s confession, and the prospect of justice for poor Melanie, was all he could think of. Those thoughts formed the second-last emotion of his life. His very last sensation was terror, coupled with an excruciating pain, as Tim slipped a knife between his ribs.

Tim removed the note from Harry’s pocket. There would be no evidence of this murder, either.