MORNING SERIAL
ON THE day that I was due to re-paint the herrings, that’s when I found him. He was in the kitchen slumped over the oak table, a mug spilled and cold tea dripping on to the floor.
In front of him, skewed to one side, was the old Olivetti typewriter that I remembered seeing in the shed the first and only time he allowed me in there. Two books, one on top of the other, were protected by his right hand.
I didn’t know what to do, he was obviously dead. I’d never seen a dead person before. The paper caught my eye, the typewriter reluctant to release it. It read: "Exchange the pebbles. Here is the poetry book I promised you and I found Grandfather’s old log." Then finally in capital letters: "TELL THEM THE STORIES." But how could I, I knew hardly any of them yet?
The brass key was in his other hand, palm up as if he was offering it to someone. I assumed it was for me, so I took the key, the books and the note from the typewriter and went home before the enormity of it dawned on me. Sadly, and with a sense of loss, I told my mother and she called the authorities…
The police ordered me to come back to the cottage. The silver paint pot was still outside with a fine brush resting on top. Anxiously I went in. The old man was gone. He had vanished as if he had never been there.
A policeman sat at the table on Father’s usual chair staring at the typewriter. He looked at me and indicated for me to sit. Watching me carefully he wanted to know if there had been a note in the typewriter or on the table. I shook my head.
I think that he thought that the old man had committed suicide. I knew that he hadn’t. There had been times when there seemed to be a sadness about him that made him a little crotchety, especially when I wanted to go into the shed. I’d just thought that was his nature. Now I suspected that he might have been ill and like many other things he hid it.
I was asked about my relationship with the old man and I said we were just friends and that I’d helped him with the boat and a few other things.
The Herring Man by Cyril James Morris is published by Parthian at £7.99
www.parthianbooks.com