EmptySeatsand Hearts

ShortStory By MarkLaming

Alexignoredtheir stares,heardthe unkind remarksand continued to readhis newspaper.Therewere somanyempty seats onthe Londonundergroundtrainwhich was unusual fortherush hour.Thecrowds were there, theonlydifference todaywasnobody was choosing to sit by the manwho wassitting next to him. Andwho couldblamethem,the smell wasterrible.It wasenoughtoturnthe strongeststomach.However,themantheywere avoiding certainly wasn’t bothering Alex. He watchedas fellow travellers went togreat lengths to avoidthe stretchofseatsthey occupied.Theypreferred to become wedged betweenotherpassengersbustling forabetter position. Theirclothes becamecrumpledas theyrubbedagainst eachother.Heobserved theirscrewedupfaces as weakmeaningless apologies were made andsoon forgotten. Thentherewerepeople hangingon to thehard blackball attached toa taughtspringthathung fromthe ceiling -the traveller’s steadying tool.Surely grasping thatdirty thingwiththe millionstickyfingerprints harbouringgermsmust have beenfar worsethan sitting by themannext to Alex.Hewasannoyed nobodyappeared to feel anycompassion forthis manwho wasclearlygoingthrough abadtime. Insteadtheirsilentdeclaration rangoutloud astheygawped at his clothes,frayedtrousers patchedupcrudely with asafetypinholdingajustaboutzipper together,Aleatherbelt engrainedwith remnants ofbluepaintheldupthe trousersthatweretoo large forhim.Heworean oldfadeddenimjacket thathungonhissmall bonyframe.Theonce whiteteeshirtwith food stains wasnow ruffled thin cottonbeyond anyone’s laundering skills.Hisscuffed grubby trainers were obviously onceexpensivedesigner footwear.Surelythe garmentshe wore must have beenonesthecharityshopthrewout. Thisman’s thinsad hollowfacerockedfrom side to sidewiththe motionofthetrain. The shavenhead revealed scarsfromhiseveryday battlesprobablyfrom leaninginto bins to extractfoodandanything ofuse to him.

Thenthetraincame toa suddenstopin atunnel, resultingin alongwait. Silencehungheavy as everyone listened to the announcement, anoisy scratchysoundwithan apologyaboutanincidentfurtheruptheline. Anextratenminutesdelaywas to be expected. Theair wasfullofsighs, longdrawnouttutsas travellerschecked watchesandloosenedtiesas theheatincreased.With thenoisyenginenow silencedthecarriageno longerthrobbedunder their feet.Thesound was replacedwithpeople moaningaboutthe poorserviceonLondon Underground.Theheat sawpassengersopenthe littleslattedwindows. Thisbroughtinstaleair, thesmellofthetunnel thatwasquiteoverpowering. ling to gethimhome to thefamily.

Thestinkyairincreased and Alex observed peoplenowshuttingthe windows.Thenewcrisis; the revoltingsmellfrom outsidehad overtaken anyinterestthetravellers hadinthepassenger next to Alex.Suddenly therewas aworseodour to avoidthanhim. Someoneevencame overand askedifthey couldclose the vent above hishead.

Everyone onthattube trainmusthavewonderedjustwhyAlexhad remainedseatednextto thisman fortheentirety ofthejourney.He showednosignsofbeing killedoffordidthey thinkhe’d undergonean operation to remove his senseofsmell?Butthen again,whyshouldn’t he sitnext to hisbrother Stevenwhoheloved dearly? They were travel-

Onthattrainjourneyobservingthe cold-hearted people Alex toldhimself thatthey knewnothing about Stevenwho’d foughtinAfghanistan andcameback abroken man. Withshellshock andunable to come to termswithkillingother humanbeings,hewent to pieces. Whenhe returned to the UKand wasdischarged fromthearmy he refused counsellingandnever madethejourneyback home.Hesimplydisappeared courtinghis cold dark depression. Alex’s family were distraughtas theymadeenquirieson Steven’s whereabouts,to no avail. They continued searchnot kn ifhe wasdeador alive. Thenon one wonderfulmorning, acall came

London. Andnow Alex wasbringinghim home.Itwasgoing to be adifficulttime and thefamily wouldhave to bepatientand give him space. They’d allagreed not tocomplicate and overcrowdhishomecomingwith toomuch love andaffection. The mainthing washewas safeandeveryone was relievedhe’d been found. Sittingnext to Steven onthattrain Alex felt soproudofhis brother. Mostofthepassengers hadleftthecarriage, takingtheiremptyhearts withthemandleaving theseatswherethe two brotherssatquietlyalone withtheirthoughts.