‘I’VE BEEN SITTING here for ages. What are you doing?’ said Will.
‘I’m on my way. Who is with you?’
‘No one, who would be?’
‘I can hear people,’ said Anna.
‘Well, you would wouldn’t you? There are other customers. Do you think they open up just for me?’
‘It sounded like you had a girl there.’
‘A girl pushed her way past, is that what you mean?’
‘You said, “Sorry” in a sweet way.’
‘I’m losing my temper, I won’t be so polite next time. If you take much longer, she’ll have finished her drink and come past me again.’ His wife, Anna, got the message.
The call ended, and Will breathed, ‘Bloody women.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean you.’
‘Girlfriend trouble?’ asked the girl opposite. She shook her jet-black locks free from ribbons and looked at his left hand then directly at his sapphire eyes. ‘Not married?’
“Thailand’s Finest”, a new coffee shop in northern Thailand, catering for discerning English folk, who had found a second home to meet and drink their favourite tipple with a difference.
Background chatter didn’t disturb Will’s determination. ‘Did you see the game last night…’
‘I hear Faberge has a new line.’
‘Yeah, but I can’t afford even Avon…’
The server girl, Patsy, in a too-small apron collected empties.
‘Would you like another of Thailand’s Finest?’ she asked.
‘One for me, and, how about you?’ said Will.
‘Thank you, kind sir.’
‘Are you a reporter?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because all the other people in here are familiar to me. I would have noticed you.’
‘I’ve been recommended to sample the excellent local beverages here. I thought I’d try them.’
‘I see, do you have a business card?’
‘So, you don’t believe me?’
‘We need to be careful who witnesses our little delight.’
‘And what delight do you mean?’
Will clapped his hands, coffee cups, mugs and glasses were replaced on saucers or the tablecloth. All customers and staff turned and stared at the “new girl”.
‘Now, please tell us, who are you?’
‘I fancied a local brew of Thai coffee and was told this is the place to come.’
‘Really, can I ask, who advised you?’
‘Just some guy I was talking to.’
‘I see.’
The others, inched closed, eyes as if glued to the newcomer’s head, they weren’t blinking. She swivelled her hips, her buttocks tightened and studied her new cup as if expecting a vision to appear on the smokey brown liquid.
‘Your card gives a name and a phone number, but no job description, or company details. Why?’
‘That is my name. I work for myself.’
‘Well, Miss or Mrs Angeline Stokes, you are in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Am I clear?’
‘Oh, look, here comes your wife,’ Angeline said, closing her eyes, head in hands.
‘Ah, you know her do you?’ The staff all moved that bit closer.
There was no place to move. The server opened the door and welcomed Anna to the seat next to Will.
A cloud of scented steam rose behind the counter, the server poured another mug.
‘No need to get up, Anna, certainly not in your condition,’ Patsy said as she placed the hot coffee on the table.
Anna tucked the white dress under her legs, beaming at Angelina. ‘Hello, I thought you would come.’
‘Hello, Anna, please ask your husband to let me go.’
‘You asked about our baby. Well, here she is,’ Anna rubbed her lump.
A loud click was heard at the front door, shutters dropped at the windows, light dimmed.
‘What are you doing, I want to go,’ said Angelina.
All that could be heard was the steaming and plops of drips of coffee filling a jug.
Will looked up at two of the male customers and nodded. The men stood on either side of Angelina, gently lifting her under her armpits. ‘Let me go!’ she squealed, as they moved her to a large trestle table, and clamped her wrists to the cuffs fitted under the wood. One of them placed a stool for her to sit on.
A large feather cushion was patted in front of her breasts. ‘What are you doing?’ the prisoner asked.
Anna groaned as she stood, leaning forward and using her hands to push herself up. She moved to the table, arm on hip, and the server girl aided her up, until lying on the cushion.
Her huge white robe was lifted to her hips, and she rubbed and patted her nine-month bulge.
Behind Angelina, the server was fiddling in the cutlery drawer, she handed a spoon to each of the guests. Angelina didn’t get one. She wasn’t going to complain.
Anna’s groaning got louder, her husband clutched her hands, putting his spoon in his mouth. Blood crept between his lips. The razor-sharp edge nicked his mouth. Coffee was forgotten, and guests and staff circled the trestle. A man forced Angelina’s head down, Anna clamped her teeth to Angelina’s prominent jugular vein, and blood flowed, Angelina screamed, and the others licked their lips.
Anna arched her back, she sucked, panted and sweated. Angelina’s eyes were swollen like boiled eggs, but she was silent. Anna, sucked louder, as did her scream as a bald and bloody head appeared between her legs. The child’s shoulders eased out, fluids spilt, and the viewers gasped with joy.
Will released one of his wife’s hands as he removed the spoon from his mouth. He looked at each of his guests and nodded at them. Politely they fought their urges until he moved first. He leapt like a tiger feasting on a writhing boar. His spoon cut into his son’s soft skull, Will licked his lips, and blood splattered his cheeks. The next spoon thrust dug deep into the boy’s thigh, soon spoons were clinking together at all angles, as they dug deeper for new flesh.
The server chewed and sucked on the umbilical cord, then handed a full spoon to Anna.
Angelina toppled from the table and was forgotten on the floor. The feast was the only important matter occupying the minds of the eaters.
All too soon the child was eaten. Any remains were dumped with Angeline’s. Wrapped in black plastic sacks, placed in bins in the back.
The door was unlocked, blinds lifted, and chatter recommenced.
‘Yeah, but we should have scored in the last minute…’
‘Maybe I’ll sample that perfume…’
Patsy took orders of Thai coffee to be accompanied by a small jug with a red liquid, oh, and sugar for those who weren’t sweet enough.
The END
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