Mission Impossible

Coffee Break Tale

Tom moved slowly. With his cap pulled down over his forehead, eyes scanning the pavement from behind dark glasses, he searched for clues.

He knew the trail well. The only time he needed to look up was to check the little green man on the High Street but after that, it was straight down to the sleazy end of town. He should have the matter wrapped up before he reached the Picture House. Occasionally he stopped, bending down to examine the ground more closely or to move an object with the toe of his shoe. The most insignificant item was often the most vital. “You all right, sonny?” Tom blinked and looked up, removing his sunglasses as he did so. “Lost something, have you?” The elderly man gave a small smile. Tom’s cheeks started to burn. “Yes – er, no…” His face grew hotter. “Everything’s OK, thank you. Thank you,” he repeated, suddenly aware of a knot in the pit of his stomach. It was like when he’d been disciplined for inattention during a maths lesson and thought he would be sent to the Head. Luckily he’d got away with being moved to the front. “In order to learn you first have to listen.” Mr Judd’s voice filled the classroom. But Gran losing her keys was worse than any telling off.

Be a good boy and keep an eye out for her, will you?” His mum had given one of her smiley laughs. “You dreamers need to stick together.” She’d ruffled his hair, something she hadn’t done since he’d started secondary school. Tom straightened his shoulders. He’d enjoyed the film and he knew Gran had too; he’d heard her gasp and felt her wriggle in her seat at the fast action bits.

He thought of the good guys, confident of success. Taking a deep breath he continued his search.

“The only thing that’s been handed in is a folding walking stick,” the girl at the ticket desk told him. “No car keys. Sorry.”

Tom turned away, pushing his hands into his pockets. He felt the knot inside him tighten several notches. What now?

He screwed up his face and thought hard. Maybe someone had found them and handed them into the police station. Gran would know where that was.

Or they could be concealed in a corner of the lift? With these thoughts buzzing in his head Tom pushed open the cinema door and set off on his mission once more.

It was hard to keep upbeat without any clues to follow but thinking of his mum’s smile made him feel better.

They have to be somewhere, he heard her tell him.

At level three Tom stepped out expecting to see his gran standing where he’d left her, where she said she’d stay and wait for him. The ever-tightening knot sent his body into high alert. Don’t say she was lost too… He looked left to right before breaking into a jog. As he moved along the row of cars something caught his eye. He slowed and tried to calm his thumping heart. Why was she bending down like that? Was she ill?

As he moved towards her she straightened up, stretching her arm out. Pointing it at the cars she slowly turned around, knees slightly bent, just like in the film they’d seen. And just like in the film, one of the cars flashed its lights. Tom grinned as the knot unravelled. “Your keys, you found them!” His voice echoed around the concrete.

“I must have missed my bag and dropped them on the ground when we got out the car.” She had a smiley laugh too. “I must pay more attention.”

For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Tom put his arms around his gran and hugged her. Something he’d not done since moving up to secondary school.