Glynn, Not Lynne

Short dark story

'CANNOT BE. YOU?' asked Glynn as he peered into the darkness. There was a whispered shuffle of leaves. The young man brushed aside branches, straining ears and eyes. His hands and cheeks were losing to the wild rose bush. He ignored the sting and the dribble of blood as he pressed ahead.

Bursting through the grabbing twigs, he stumbled and righted himself on the rocky slope as his trainers splashed at the water's edge. The moonlight battled clear of clouds.

'It is you,' he said, pointing at the dark form floating on the ripple-free water. 'What do you want?'

Once more, the cloud switched off the light. Pitch darkness, then it was back; the full moon glowed, illuminating the wet surface, and the pond glimmered, but vision no more. She was gone.

Glynn panted; an owl screeched as it swept low above the bull reeds—a splash, then silence. Glynn found a more accessible route back to his tent.

He sat alone, panting, 'What did I see? Was that my Mum again?'

Sleep overtook; five hours later, he found himself slumped, bent like a furless bear.

'Christ, my neck aches,' he stretched, twisting and turning.

'Glynn, Glynn.' He heard shouts in the near distance.

He stood and waved, 'I'm here, Dad.'

'Please, son. Don't do that again; you had me scared.'

'Sorry. I needed space to think.'

'What is there to think about? You passed all your exams with great results. You've been accepted into one of the country's top universities. Just say yes.'

'Dad, I'm not sure I want to keep learning; I want to earn money.'

'Look, Glynn; I wanted to talk seriously with you. I guess now is as good a time as any.'

'Go on then, what have I done wrong?'

'No, nothing like that. I'm delighted with your school reports and your marks.'

'What is it then?'

'I've been single since we lost your Mum, and, eh, I've met a lovely lady.'

'Oh, I see; you are happy to shove me off to uni so that you can get a woman?'

'No, it's not like that. It is time for me to move on with my life. You are a grown man; you have a future to plan.'

'Maybe, I don't want to plan anything.'

'Son, it's time you mixed a bit.'

'How do you mean? I've plenty of friends at school.'

'Yes, but they are all boys.'

'Maybe that's because it's an all-male school.'

'Listen, years ago, your sister died, then your mother committed suicide, and you did not want to even speak with women. You wouldn't talk to the lady doctor, even when you needed your jabs at school, you wouldn't allow a female nurse to touch you.'

'So?'

'If you remember, you wouldn't go to the local school because "There are girls". And what about the university? There will be girls there, is that why you refuse to go? Do you have gynophobia, as the psychologist suggested? A hatred of females?'

'That could be part of it. But I'm not gay if that's what worries you. And I want to earn money at home on my laptop.'

'How about my happiness? Don't you think it is time I found a new love?'

'Not if she moves into our house.'

'Dawn and I have become close, I mean, romantically, and I'd like to marry her. So yes, she will live with me in our house.'

Glynn turned and marched off, leaving his Dad hands on hips, shaking his head.

Glynn's father, Jack, bent and started packing the tent and other clutter strewn about, then changed his mind and followed his son's path. 'Why am I creeping,' he asked himself, peering ahead.

Glynn was cross-legged at the water's edge, mumbling and weeping. His father crept closer to hear better. Terrified to snap a branch, he leaned one ear between leaves, straining to listen to his son's thoughts.

'I know, Mum, I didn't want you to kill yourself. But, we can be together in the water.'

Jack gasped and fought his way to his son.

'Don't even think about it. I won't see Dawn if that's what it takes,' said Jack as he hugged his son.

'Dad, you don't understand; you never did.'

'What do you mean?'

'Mum didn't kill herself because baby Lynne died of baby cot death.'

'I don't understand; what are you talking about? The doctors all agreed. You were too young to understand.'

'Dad, I was ten years old; I understood you, and Mum loved Lynne more than me.'

'That's rubbish. We both loved you equally.'

'Well, now you've only got me to love, unless…'

'Son, enough of this. Let's go home now.'

'No, let's not. I will live in the tent; you can let that woman take Mum's place.'

'Please, don't be daft. If you are serious about running your own business, how are you going to, with no electricity?'

'Don't worry about that; I can use the free WiFi in any coffee shop.'

'Come on, pack up, and we'll return home.'

'No, don't you want to know what happened?'

'What are you talking about?'

'Mum was ignoring me as she bathed and powdered, "Darling Lynne", darling daughter giggled and rolled left and right; I asked Mum for a drink and a cookie, but she just said, "Later, dear". That was not what I needed to hear. The doorbell rang, "Look after your sister", she said as she skipped downstairs. After a few minutes of mumbled conversation at the door, I decided; I knew what must be done.'

'You are scaring me. What did you do?'

'Oh, not much. I just laid across Lynne's face, placing my "fat little belly" over her "cute little mouth and nose ". Then Mum rushed in. But she was too late. Lynne was not breathing. Mum called an ambulance; they were way too late. When she answered the door, Mum lied and said the baby had rolled over, and she suffocated herself. It was recorded as a cot death. But I killed her.'

Glynn's smile caused his father to shake and tremble as if in a fit.

'So all these years, she and you lied?'

'Yeah, but not for that long as she killed herself,' Glynn laughed. 'Now she visits me every time something happens family-wise, for example, you get a girlfriend. Then I see her on the water, teasing me.'

'How teasing?'

'She always drags my sister with her.'

Jack lifted a rock and clubbed Glynn's head in one smooth move. He slumped forward into the water. Jack held him there for two minutes. Then he went home.

'Hi, Dawn, yes, it's all okay; Glynn doesn't mind you coming over. See you later.' Jack smiled as he returned the mobile to his pocket.

The END

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