The Care Vortex
by
Sam Smith

Chapter One

Where The Principal Protagonist Is Introduced

Not yet. Not till the next turning.
      Along this road he can yet kid himself that he isn't bound for work. Work thoughts are therefore not permitted inside his morning mind.
      As agreed, he is late. Kate had to be dropped off at gym. Helen will collect her. If Sue could drive there'd be no need for Her to self-importantly collect Kate, and then stay on all day saying How Good She Is To Us. If She hadn't been that good to Sue then maybe Sue would have learned to drive. Barry feels a linear kinship with Sue's ex-husband in their loathing of Sue's mother. (Ergo: circumstances create emotion.)
      Leisurely late. Legitimately late. Diane will give him a handover. He can take his time. Negative work thoughts.
      He could - unlikely, but he could - along this road, be bound elsewhere. This road of itself doesn't end in work. Along this road he can take his time - time to look beyond the line of weeping willows to the water meadow, pretend an interest in the nesting swans, ape pleasure in a glimpse of their snowy sinewy necks. In this, his own car, he can pretend to be listening to his own jazz tape … before his day is irrevocably overtaken by pop.
      Not yet.
      On this road he can yet give in to the temptation to drive on, take an arbitrary right, left; and go on until he comes to some hills … To wander there the daylong under the sky ... And should a child be murdered in those hills, how to explain his being there? On impulse he took a right, then a left…
      Past the corrugated barn, past the overgrown garage of asbestos panels. Next, on the bend, is the low stone wall around the white cottage, perspex conservatory, garden of delphiniums and hollyhocks. A life separate from his.
      He signals, slows and turns.
      Now he is on the road into the village. Now he is driving between dense hedges of clipped hawthorn, a blinkered track into a trap. Only one feasible direction now. Onward to Bridge.
      The name acknowledged, his heart rate increases. Here the first house of the village with its meadow prospect and over-trimmed lawn, illegally watered at night by sprinkler via electric pump - another public-minded citizen.
      Other houses properly rustic, wooden tubs with plants. Anywhere houses, neat and tidy. Slow for the bend by the shop. Telephone box. Last shift, Crystal phoning from there demanding to be collected and, being refused, walking through the village shouting. Followed by the egg battle. Handover jokes - yolk was on him, girls eggstatic, eggciting shift … another work shift without cause or consequence - eggsistantial. A shift now two days old and overlaid (overlaid!), ancient history.
      A whole new world awaits him. What plans are afoot for this Saturday night? The very thought has tiredness threading itself through his teeth.
      Into the narrow bit by the stream, iron railings through concrete posts.
      Now the farm entrance with its shit and straw and the long grey wall of the barn. Brake, signal left, and park. Two cars and the minibus. Only Diane's here. Good.
      Collect his stuff from around the inside of the car. Delay.
      He tells himself that he'll listen to the end of this Ian Carr number.
      The bridge across the ditched stream is a wooden suspension bridge. At either end are tall, twin uprights. Bolted timbers descend and ascend in green-brown wood to the two pillars on the far side. Barry expects, always, to find it burnt down on his arrival. No more job.
      But the bridge is intact. No reprieve today. No pardon. No escape.
      He pushes open the car door.

site : Bridge House
c.v. : Barry Geoffrey Gresham
previous surname(s) : -
age : 38
ethnic origin : British
siblings : 2 brothers, both older
marital status : twice married, second current
children (sex & ages) : boy(8) girl(10)
driving license : yes, 1 endorsement current
passport holder : yes
police check : yes
o-levels/GCSE(No.) : 5
a-levels : -
degree : -
previous places of employment (in descending order, most recent first, no. of years in each, position held.)
The Firs. Leics. RH for EBD boys, 12-18. RSW. 3 yrs.
The Place. Walsall. Independence Training Unit. 16+ Both sexes. RSW. 4 yrs.
Four Ways. Herts. Therapy Unit. Both sexes. RSW. 4 yrs.
Culeway School. Peterb'gh. Mentally & physically h'cap. 12-18. Care Worker. 5 yrs.
Pharmacon. Peterb'gh. Pill factory. Quality Control. 2 yrs.
Mrs Barton's Kitchen. Peterb'gh. Quality Control. 3 yrs.
Mills & Baker. Peterb'gh. Wine Merchant. Driver. 1 yr.
present position : Senior Care Worker
time with RETURN : 3 yrs
comments : Experienced. Steady. Unambitious. Enjoys outdoor pursuits - mountain walking, etc.