Enough – creative writing

William Peterson rapped his knuckle against the hollow ply-board and poised the familiar stench of damp cigarette stubs and oil into his lungs. The finger-stained door flapped open carelessly and the flabby big(p) echoed go the concrete walls. A hand appeared, thrusting some worn keys towards William. It belonged to Janet. She was only fifty-ish, but the 15 years spent doing no liaison in the fumes had eroded her eyes deep into her seem and had bury her personality even further buck. William didnt even nod in acknowledgement speaking to Janet would have been desire conversing with a piece of machinery. The door closed.William was late, as usual, but didnt hurry. He walked casually across the bus station, passed a small line of irritated passengers, and consequently clambered aboard the number 51 bus. Once in the drivers seat, William remove his coat slowly, much to the annoyance of the passengers, who were either looking purposefully at their watches or directing quick, f ictive glances in his direction. They started to board. First in the queue was a young mother carrying a chubby queer awkwardly on her narrow hips.Her face was sallow, and she wore a frown that was accentuated by two smooth streaks of disgraceful lip-liner. An old lady sidestepped up next, balancing a puffed ball of grey hair precariously on her head. She spent several minutes counting out the exact fare in five dollar bill pence pieces, before falling into the nearest seat in one robotically arthritic movement. Following her was Williams friend Sam, a tall black man. He was wearing a brand new baseball cap that senile him considerably. After greeting William and paying for a return ticket, Sam turned and beamed at the chubby baby, and then climbed the clammy steps to the top deck. Then three teenage girls giggled their way on to the bus, just terminate their conference.Oh-my-God, did you hear what happened?I know, shes such a bitch.Their self-absorbed world of mobiles and Bac ardi Breezers swept its way to the back sit down and settled. Only a just a(prenominal) more people climbed aboard and the bus was not even a quarter full.William checked his watch, and tried to start the engine. It wheezed for a few seconds and then stubbornly staggered into silence erstwhile again. This bus reliability had ventured beyond temperamental. Cursing inwardly, William gingerly twisted the key for a second time It started give thanks God. The 51 pulled out of the concrete hovel into mellowing autumn sunshine. The bus groaned, stretching its filthy bodywork as it picked up speed. It was late afternoon.The girls at the back laughed some more and rearranged their bulging shopping bags. William visibly relaxed and sank deeper into his seat. The soft pad had moulded itself perfectly to the shape of the buttocks that had occupied it for so umpteen years. For a moment, William almost regretted that he had decided to retire in two months time, but this absurd feeling quick ly passed as he recalled how much he hated the job. The sweet-sour smell of cigarette smoke wafted down the steps.No smoking yelled William all over his shoulder, though he felt utterly hypocritical as he did so he smoked like a chimney himself. As he turned back round, William looked with horror at the road ahead. Directly in front of him was a young girl, staring up at him, rooted(p) with fear. William screeched on the 51s protesting brakes and prayed for the first time in his lifeFinal ChapterA crushing semi-silence had descended on the courtroom. The second-hand of a clock was jumping round somewhere above Williams head. In front of him, he could intoxicate Carla Greene travel sedately. Still sporting the same hideous shade of lip-liner, she stepped up to the witness box. The dark curves round her mouth buckled and puckered as she started to speak, and William fixed his eyes on them, though he did not hear what she said. He was transported back to the day when Carlas lip-lin er had formed a great oval, and when her mouth had issued piercing screams as she pointed at a small, lifeless mound in the road. He had been haunted by that image ever since, and saw her face almost every time he closed his eyes. Williams chest tightened and he took a deep, choked touch that brought him back from the verge of breaking down into tears. The reasoning(a) of it made several people look over at him.William dipped his head down to avoid their stares. He knew the girls parents would be looking, and he couldnt face them. The annoyance of this guilt was worse than anything he had felt before. He dared not look up. Instead, he pretended to be engrossed in picking a callous on his thumb. After a while, Carlas voice halt, and the sound of the clock ticking could be heard again. William ventured a glimpse up, and was relieved to see Roses parents were looking at the judge. He studied their faces the mother, despite her show of strength today, could not hide the devastating grief she ostensibly still felt. Though quite young, her skin appeared dull in the harsh light, her eyes were puffy and her brow was lightly wrinkled. The father, who was receiving counselling along with his wife, looked vacant and bewildered.Though William had told himself countless times it had been an accident, blame had engulfed him during the past few months. A part of him still couldnt accept that a moments lapse in concentration could destroy a young life, and ruin the lives of a whole family. William had wanted the court case to be over, so that he could put this all behind him, but now, actually sitting in the court room, confronted with so many sad faces, he felt that he would never be able to do that. Somehow a sentence of community service the norm for a charge of driving without due care and attention, wasnt tolerable to heal the wounds left by the accident.The court was adjourned for the day, and some window blinds were opened as they all stood, allow thick shafts of sunlight into the room. The general mood lifted slightly and a low hum of conversation developed. William saw Cynthia up in the gallery and also noticed Thomas peering over the high railing, his aplomb blue eyes darting around inquisitively. After a few moments, Cynthia turned and smiled at him. At least, William thought, he had people around who cared for him. William walked out of the courtroom, staring at the green carpet tiles beneath his feet as he did so. Once in the corridor, Mr OBrien walked over and spoke to him briefly. The conversation passed completely over Williams head.I think youre exhalation to get away with a relatively short sentence of community service, Mr Peterson. The evidence the girl gave was hardly incriminating.MmmmSo, Ill see you tomorrow then.Uh, yes.William could see through into the foyer where Cynthia and Thom were waiting, and he willingly broke off the contrived conversation to hurry off and meet them.Hi dad Cynthia said, kissing him on the ch eek, Howve you been?Oh, Im fineI see you didnt manage to find anyone to look after Thom, then.No, but he was fine up in the gallery didnt hear a squeak out of himNo, but a court is no rear end for a child.Cynthia fell silent at her fathers criticism, but readily took his arm as they walked outside. The Crown greet was a Sixtys building, and through the door they were greeted with a typical concrete courtyard, complete with matching shallow flowerpots in which some thoughtful person had planted beautiful purple pansies. Their colour pinpricked the otherwise monotone surroundings. William and Cynthia stopped so that Thom, who was playing on the steps, could catch up. It was then that William saw Rose Eliots parents exiting through the doors behind them. They were walking slowly as Mrs Eliot was obviously heavily pregnant, a fact which had escaped William until then. He watched as they came down the steps past Thom, and saw them look at him.Suddenly, William found himself walking ov er towards them. He didnt real know why. He just realised that he desperately needed to speak to them, to tell them how sour he was, to tell them he would never forgive himself Mr and Mrs Eliot looked quite shocked at first, but as William drew closer, they just looked expectant, as if they had wanted to speak to him as well. When he had reached them, William said the only thing he felt that he could, the only thing he wanted to say, and the only thing, it seemed, they wanted to hear.Im so, so sorry.That was all. That was enough. That said more than a whole court case could say, or a huge glob of flowers sent to a funeral could say. It was enough.