Short Story for October 2002 |
Advert for Alice |
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By |
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Alice
would not normally read the free paper. "Just
full of adverts no use to anybody," she would say to herself and toss
it in the pile under the sink ready for recycling. But
this ad caught her eye. It was different and sort of intriguing. So she
patted her short, fair curly hair, settled herself down tidily at the
kitchen table - and read on. 'A
woman - wanted for short term assignment. Good rates of pay (satisfies
National Minimum Wage). Possibility of personal danger. Immediate start.' Then
there was a PO box number for replies. She
pondered the words carefully - 'personal danger', 'good rates of pay',
'short term contract'. What could it mean? Surely an employer couldn't put
an employee into personal danger deliberately. There must be a law against
it. In
Alice's tidy world, there was a place for everything and this advert
didn't fit. But she remembered another ad she had replied to. It had led
to quite a bit of excitement in her life and the memory still left her
tingling. Perhaps this could be the same. After all, what could really go
wrong. The house was tidy, the bills were paid and her husband was
preoccupied with his work at the Bank. She had time on her hands. There
could be little to lose and perhaps a little bit of (carefully controlled)
excitement to be had. The
letter she penned gave brief details about herself, enclosed a photo
(requested in the small print) and asked for a job description. 'Keep
it formal', she thought to herself. 'Just
because the job's a bit unusual doesn't mean that they can't observe
proper procedure'. The
thought of them observing proper procedure reassured her. Proper
procedures kept everything organised and efficient. Even 'dangerous'
situations could be safe with 'proper procedures'. Alice
stamped the letter from the supply always kept in the top drawer of the
sideboard in the kitchen and she hummed contentedly as she made the short
journey down to the post box. Spring
was coming and the trees were just beginning to bud. Soon they would be
bearing brightly coloured flowers. Tree blossom was always nice to look
at, she thought, but somehow made the front garden look so untidy when the
it fell to then ground in early Summer. Her
heels clicked on the pavement. The sound reminded her of the typewriter
she had used at the accountants where she worked for the first four years
of her marriage. No need for her to work now. Tom made enough to keep them
comfortably, especially now the kids were out of College and in their own
jobs. The
suburban semi-detached houses to her left and right seemed strangely
quiet. If there were other ladies, like Alice, with time on their hands
waiting for their families returned to the fold, they were not showing
themselves. Alice wondered how many of them had been curious enough to
consider answering the ad. The
letter box appeared in front of her. 'Last
chance to change your mind', she told herself and then quickly dropped it
through the slot before indecision got the better of her. Then
she dismissed the matter from her mind. There were some small fresh
grocery items to purchase and it was a while since she had bought any
clothes. Perhaps a trouser suit would be suitable for the interview. Less
fussy and constraining than the slim line knee length skirts and white
blouse she normally wore. 'More
appropriate for an action lady', she thought as she
jumped onto the bus that would take her down into town. ---------------- The
car that arrived to collect Alice, two days later, from outside her house
was large and smart. Alice had never paid much attention to differences
between car manufacturers. A car was a car - it got you from home to
school on the kids run or took you to the supermarket for the weeks
shopping. However,
even Alice, could tell that this car was something extra. It smelt
different - a sort of mixture of leather polishes with a tang of something
indecipherably spicy. It purred along silently through the Surrey roads,
like the big cat that was part of it's trade mark and was driven by a
smart chauffeur who very politely called her 'madam' but refused to be
drawn into conversation. Town
houses soon disappeared from view and were replaced by country hedges and
small villages. Eventually, a huge pair of black and gilt wrought iron
gates slid automatically open and the car swept majestically up the drive
to a huge house of spires and cornices. Alice was enthralled. It was like
being carried along on a magic carpet - and all for just answering an ad
in the free paper. The
house entrance and hall were as large and imposing as the gently curving
private drive. Once inside, the chauffeur handed her over to a dark haired
man wearing the serious professional smile and style of a butler. He
wouldn't talk either. The
room she now (quite nervously) entered was huge and lavishly furnished
with sofas, couches and all manner of soft furnishing. Colourful drapes
hung along the wall giving the typically English lounge an oriental
appearance. A large desk stood in the window and it was in this direction
the butler pointed her before quietly disappearing from view. The
plush pile on then carpet deadened the sound of her heels. The man looked
up, tensed, appraised her quickly and then visibly relaxed. "My
dear, how kind of you to come out to see me." His accent, although it
matched his traditional Middle East clothes, was not strong. He came round
the table and shook Alice's hand. His hands were particularly soft for a
man, she thought. Not hands use to physical work. With
a gentle pressure on her elbow, he directed her to an ornate sofa situated
in front of his desk and took position at the other end. His eyebrows were
very dark and his eyes hazel brown and he was quite tall. He sat down in
stages, rearranging his robes as he lowered himself decorously onto the
sumptuous cushions. "I
was worried that your photograph might be misleading - you never can be
sure - however, I see you are perfect for the job." "What
exactly is the job", demurred Alice feeling things were going too
fast. He didn't seem to be taking into account that she might turn the job
down. "All
will become clear in a moment." He
reached over and pressed a button. Alice heard the door at the end of the
room open. She followed the sound of the noise with her eyes whilst
keeping a close eye on the Eastern gentleman to her side. She
was reassured to see it was a woman who had been summoned. And
was dumfounded to see her double standing in front of her. Same height,
short, fair, curly hair - even the slope of the shoulders was the same.
Only the clothes were different. Whereas Alice wore a trouser suit from a
popular national chain store she had bought earlier that week, the other
woman wore a beautiful silk dress that seemed straight out of a Parisian
Haute Couture boutique. Her
hand shake was as soft and yielding as her husband's. Her voice had the
same slight accent, cultured and schooled. Like him, she moved like a
person who was used to being at the centre of other people's attention and
being watched. She exuded a charm and a complete confidence that life
would always be on her terms because that was the natural order of things. "I
think she'll do don't you?" "Absolutely
ideal - Shareef - send her through to me when you've had your
discussion". Then
she was gone. She moved with a bird like assurance, effortlessly and
swiftly covering the distance to the large door at the end or the room.
Then she was gone. Shareef
turned to Alice. His brown eyes focused like a hurricane on hers. "Will
you take the job?" "What
job?" "The
obvious job - to be my wife's double. We have to attend some social
functions." "You
said there could be some danger?" "There
could be - but not a lot - we have body guards and there is always other
security, even sometimes secret police from your government." "And
why can't your wife go to these functions?" "My
wife suffers from some high blood pressure and nervousness. These
functions are not good for her because they tire her, she doesn't enjoy
them and the normal dangers of being in the public eye that go with our
position are not so good for her nervous condition." "If
you are in agreement, I will give you a list of dates and times and all
you have to do is attend the event and make small talk. You will be paid
£200 per engagement." Alice
thought to herself the money was very good for a few hours socialising.
She would normally jump at an offer like that. Inside she was saying
"Yes, Yes." To her surprise, outwardly and seemingly in the
distance, a different Alice seemed to be taking charge. "£1,000
an engagement and I will speak to your wife so I am briefed on things I
should know." "That
is a lot just for attending a social engagement!" Shareef's eyes
flashed momentarily with annoyance." "You
must have advertised very widely to find me," responded Alice slowly.
"There can't be many perfect doubles for your wife, even though she
looks very English - so it seems to me I have the supply and you the
demand. Perhaps I should ask £2,000?" Although her pulse was
absolutely racing and her heart pounding in her chest, her outward
appearance was cool. "Shareef's
eyes flashed again and he wriggled in his chair indecisively. Then he
shrugged and smiled. "You
drive a hard bargain, my dear, I will get the employment papers drawn up.
You will receive them in the post later this week. Our first engagement is
next Friday lunch time." Alice
returned his smile, levelly. "I
had better go in and see your wife to be briefed then." As
she laid out the dinner table in readiness of her husband returning, Alice
looked around at the home that had seemed so smart only 12 hours earlier.
Neatly dusted, polished and with nothing out of place, it seemed drab when
compared to then sumptuousness of Shareef's mansion. Even the paper she
had been given to make notes on when she spoke to the man's wife was gold
crested. Then with a tiny shrug of her shoulders, she went upstairs to
change into a dress in readiness for her husband. --------------------- Three
weeks later, the social engagements were almost routine. Alice had got
over the splendid sumptuousness, the constant attention from waiters,
waitresses and doormen and the nerves she felt at first remembering the
minutiae of social chit chat 'in character'. Indeed
much of the time spent working was quite boring and she often found
herself drifting into her own thoughts as yet another important personage
tried to impress her. She
had no illusions. What they really wanted to do was impress Shareef who,
it seemed, was quite an important person politically and socially in their
jet set world. Shareef
was always immaculately correct, his hazel eyes would flash with amusement
as she recounted the latest rumour entrusted to her care as messenger. Occasionally,
but only now and then, when an overweight, middle aged and greasy man
would stand too close to her, she would quietly explain: "My
husband is very strict with me you know!" The
stout fellows breathing would increase then Alice would smile sweetly. "He
requires me to tell him about everyone that talks to me and everything
they say! Now what was that you said again? I'm sure I misheard." It
never failed to have the desired affect. Only if the man was even more
influential, richer and than Shareef, would she have to call Shareef to
rescue her and he would do this quickly and with his usual charm, eyes
flashing with an easy smile as he recounted an anecdote to defuse the
situation. Indeed
Alice had insisted that it was written into the contract that she would
not be exposed to any compromising domestic situations. "I
am not really your wife, I am happily married and intend to stay that way.
It's just as well to make that clear at the outset." Shareef
did not like her laying down then law. Women from his country relied on
subtle persuasion. Even his wife who had been brought up in the East
although her parents were from England followed these rules. Alice wasn't
from their land - she laid it on then line. Shareef had not liked that.
Briefly, his face had contorted in anger and surprise. A
ruthlessness showed itself and then, in a flash, was gone with a casual
"of course, my dear." Alice remembered and pondered the exchange
but came to no conclusion. He was a man typical of his breed, she thought.
He just liked to get his own way and dismissed the matter. Several
weeks later, they were outward bound on a short flight from London to
Jersey for an afternoon meeting and evening function. He had the inside
seat and she the window through which she had been watching the puffy
white mass of cotton wool clouds billowing below. Shareef
focused on his beautifully manicured hands which he splayed out in front
of him almost touching the seat ahead of the small private jet. "I
need to brief you on some matters for this evening, my dear. There is a
man you will meet (very well connected) who used to know my wife before we
were married. You will need to be careful or he may see through our
'little arrangement'. Alice
stiffened. "I
hope you are not suggesting any change to our agreement," there was a
fierce quality in her voice, although their words were hardly above a
whisper. "All
I'm asking is that you carry out the usual role at the function and then
you and my wife will switch places later in the evening for the private
gathering. "But
I thought your wife was in Surrey." "She
is not, she is in Paris and will be flying to Jersey later today there has
been a change of plans." "But
won't people recognise her, Jersey is a small place?" "Our
national costume with its veils will take care of that." Alice
wrinkled her tiny nose in disapproval. "I am not sure I'm at all
happy with this. Why couldn't you have discussed it with me before
hand." "There
was no time. I had to make the arrangements with my wife at the airport by
mobile telephone when I heard who was going to be in the delegation. My
wife had no more warning than you. This meeting is of the utmost
importance and we have to take the appropriate measures to deal with the
situation. Nobody is asking you to do anything you haven't agreed to. Alice
lapsed into a slightly petulant silence as she pondered the implications.
However, it seemed straight forward. At a point in the evening, she would
exchange roles with Shareef's wife and that would be an end to the part
she would play. She
made a note to get a romance novel at the airport in case she was stuck
somewhere waiting without a access to a television. The
private party would be over quite soon after the public function anyway.
The tiny jet was scheduled to take with them back to Surrey, England at 1
a.m. in the morning so that Shareef could attend a television interview
over breakfast in the City. Then
they were landing and the speeding cavalcade of cars was racing them to
the hotel and, as always, in these matters, the social round took Alice's
mind off anything but doing her job of smiling and exchanging
pleasantries. The
early evening was in two parts, a formal presentation then a dinner with
speeches. Everything was fine until the half time and pre-dinner
cocktails. She was returning from a visit to the Ladies and almost ran
into a very tall man with crude, hawkish features. The large ring with its
jet black stone on his right hand told her that this was the man she
had hoped to avoid. "My
dear, what a nice surprise. His arm was stretched out in front of her
trapping her against the door." "My
pleasure entirely. You are speaking later, I understand!" The
conversation was short and Alice made her quickest excuses but the little
that was said left her heart pounding and her legs turn to water. Time
then seemed to slow to a crawl. She responded automatically to what was
said and smiled without thinking. Throughout the entertainment, her mind
was racing. What
had he meant when he said: "I've
always wanted to get to know you better?" And
that didn't fit in all with what she had been told? Then
at last she realised that the public session was at an end and people
drifted off towards their rooms to get ready for the private party. The
tall man caught her eye again and his steely smile made her squirm inside.
It was a knowing smile. It sent shivers through her and conveyed a message
that Alice did not want to understand. Their
suite was a series of connected rooms and true to the plan, Shareef's wife
was waiting in the far room. "What
a bother all this is," she said in her quiet clipped way. "I've
hardly had time to recover from all this running around. Take a glass with
me will you and salute to the success of the evening. Sharing
a drink with a visitor was part of their country's tradition. It was
obligatory to accept but slowed everything down. All Alice wanted to do
was get on with the switch. Perhaps in very hot countries, drinking had
much more importance and therefore it became part of a ritual. Her
nerves were jangling, and almost feeling out of control, she brushed
against a large vase as she reached for the glass. It fell to the polished
floor and shattered scattering shards of glass over Shareef's wife. She
sprang back like a cat and turned away to brush at her gown. "You
would be useless in our country," was her only curt comment. "We
have vases everywhere." Alice
made no reply. They touched glasses and drank. ------------------- The
jet engines whined at full power, pressing her into her seat as the small
plane took off into the night from the Jersey airport. Shareef was in a
very good mood. Full of energy and smiling expansively. "This
evening has gone very, very well my dear! The bargains are all struck and
the deals all signed. You were wonderful and played your part
beautifully!" "Thank
you, my dear," Alice smiled encouragingly and wriggled deeper and
more comfortably into her seat. She was relaxed now and happy. Things had
worked out all right after all. They usually did, in the end. The
toast in the hotel with Shareef's wife had been drunk and the effect was
almost immediate. What powerful narcotic it had contained, Alice could not
even begin to guess, nor did she want to know. As Alice had left the room, there had been an almost silent knock on the door, followed by the click of the door latch. With the interconnecting door almost completely closed Alice was able to watch a very tall angular figure come into the room. He stood for a moment gazing down at the sleeping figure on the bed, sniffed loudly and then started to loosen his tie. Alice did not stay to see any more. "Imagine
the time our little English lady is having now, smirked Shareef
expansively. What a pity she will miss it all. Perhaps she will regret
that when she wakes up. But she will get her severance pay tomorrow
directly into her bank and that may cheer her up." Alice
smiled again, encouragingly. She too had passed some time thinking about
what may still be taking place in that bedroom. Yet for Alice there was
still one danger. Shareef might speak to her in his own language. She
would not be able to reply. That must not be encouraged. ------------------ Two
hours later, as dawn broke Alice stepped off the plane and Shareef
departed for his meeting. Without any doubt, it was the end of the
contract and she reflected on whether things had gone well. What
would happen to Shareef's wife when she woke up? Probably she would go
back to Paris and say nothing of her night. Shareef would never know and
perhaps it would be better that way for her. Had
it been a good idea to answer the advert in the free newspaper? Perhaps.
What she did know was that it had definitely been a good idea to switch
the drinks when she had broken the vase at the hotel. "Clumsy!"
Shareef's wife had said. "See
who's clumsy when you wake up," Alice thought sweetly. What
she did know was that the sun was shining and her bank balance was
considerably enhanced. Her plans for a complete refurbishment of her home
were well underway and she was on her way back to the husband she loved. Added
to that, she was still tingling all over. Shareef had been a handsome and
very ardent lover during their time above the clouds on their way back to
England. After
all, she rationalised, she hadn't wanted him to engage her in conversation
and, as luck would have it, there'd been ample sleeping quarters at the
rear of the plane. It
had been such a tidy solution. The
End
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