A
series of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons vignettes for Christmas 2003
by Tiger Jackson
Deep inside London’s
Green Park on Christmas day, a man stood and searched the sky, as if trying to
catch a glimpse of something. He searched and remembered.
It was almost 10 years ago. He hadn’t
known Charles Gray for long but as soon they’d met, they’d become friends. They
were much alike in many ways; perhaps that was why they understood each other
so well.
Christmastime had come. Both men were
alone in the world. No spouses, no children, no parents or siblings. Conrad
Turner usually volunteered for duty on Christmas Day so someone could be with
their family. But this year, Charles had invited him to come to London and join
him for Christmas dinner at one of the city’s finest hotels, and promised a
chess match for afters. They were both excellent chess players, so the battle
would be a long and challenging one.
They had lingered over the fine meal, talking
comfortably about many things, completely at ease with one another. As they
finished their coffee, the waitress had hovered uncertainly.
“Is there a problem, Miss?” Charles had
asked.
“Oh, no, sir,” she had replied. “I’m
just not sure whether I should give the bill to you or your son.”
Both men had looked at each other in
surprise. Conrad was only twelve years younger than Charles, but Conrad’s hair
was a pure deep black and his face so smooth he looked to be much younger than
he was. Charles, on the other hand, with his silver-white hair and his
distinguished face did fit easily into the role of Pater. Conrad began to
chuckle, then laugh helplessly. Fortunately, Charles also saw the humour in the
situation and joined in the laughter.
When he could catch his breath again,
Conrad had reached for the bill, saying, “Here, Dad, I’ll take care of
it!”
“No, son, I invited you so
I’ll pay,” replied Charles.
“Thanks awwwwf’ly, Dad!” Conrad
had finished in a pantomime parody of an upper-crust accent.
They had dissolved in peals of laughter
again, while the poor waitress simply looked from one to the other, aware that
she was somehow the cause of their mirth but quite unable to see why. They did
not explain. It had remained a private joke between them for years after.
It was Christmas Day again. Captain
Black watched the clouds drift across the sky over London. Watched for what he
knew he would not see there. The place he wished he could be today.
Home.
OTHER
STORIES BY TIGER JACKSON
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