The Best Man

Part 1

"Ol' Tommy Anderson" ain't 'imself these days. Thirty five years we've been best mates an' not once have I noticed 'im actin' strange. Not once in ma life have ah noticed him to be so damned quiet. What makes 'im so unhappy these days? It can't be my upcoming marriage can it? 'E was delighted when ah told 'im. Had that usual big grin on 'is face.
"Aww, ain't that sweet?", ah remember 'im sayin'. "'Ow are you feelin' Jack? The bachelor par of you gone yet?"
Ah remember ah was laughin' at this. Firstly because ah found it funny but more importantly because ah was nervous that 'e wouldn't take it so well. Ah'm glad 'e did though. Ah don't know what I'd do without "Ol' Tommy Anderson". Everyone needs a mate and Tom's the only one ah got. We first met way back in Primary School when we was seven. Both of us were the odd ones out in the class. The unpopular, poor kids wi' no mates. By High School however, we were popular. But no' inna good way. We were the feared bullies o' the school. Sixteen years old and we were rebellious little bstads, always gettin' in trouble, always causin' havoc. Just the two of us. We certainly weren't stupid though, an' even decided to stay on all the way ta Six Year. But we didn't go to College or Universtity after mind. Instead, we went ahead an' got ourselves ah drivin' license. After that we broke our parent's hearts an' left. We moved into an apartment an' never changed......until now. Now things've changed big time. Ah'm gettin' married an' "Ol' Tommy Anderson" ain't 'imself. Not as 'appy, not as chatty, just no' the way ah knew 'im. It can't be somethin' ah did. Not the wedding surely? 'E is the best man after all. What the bleedin' 'ell could be wrong wi' that?

Part 2

Ah tried talkin' to 'im about it the next day but clearly 'e was in no mood for talkin'. Somethin' happened the other night apparently. Somethin' big. Ah've no idea what it is 'e's done but damnit, ah'm gonna find out. What could possibly be so bad that'd change 'im? What'd the crazy sonovabtch do? Why? At this time, while thinkin' about it, ah'm sittin' beside the phone, waitin' for 'im to phone. 'E's been away five hours. What the 'ell is he doin'? The phone finally rings an' ah get ma answer. Sadly, it ain't very nice.
"If you want to see your friend again then you follow my instructions, understand?"
Ma first question's obviously who the hell this guy is. "Who are you? What'd you do wi' ma best mate?"
"There is a car waiting for you outside. The black limo, tinted windows. Get in, don't phone the police and bring nothing with you. We are watching."
"Now 'old on one bloody-" But 'e's gone. Ah slowly approach the window an' sure enough, a black limo wi' tinted windows is waiting fir me outside. Ah look up at the windows in the apartments across the street an' I see ah man lookin' at me. Now ah have a decision to make. Do ah phone the cops, hopin' the guy watchin' won't notice? Surely ah mistake. 'E's probablly got a sniper rifle or somethin' up there with 'im. But there's other things t'worry about 'ere. Ma bride t'be, Trisha. They can't 'ave 'er as well can they? No, they 'ave "Ol' Tommy Anderson" definete. But who do ah decide to save? Call Trisha an' tell 'er to phone the cops? Ah've only known 'er for a year an' besides, they'll be some more o' the bstard's waitin' at her house won't there? But ah love 'er. 'Owever, there's another decision still. Do ah get in that damned car an' rescue ma best mate who ah've known ferthirty five years? Decisions. Decisions. Sometimes they can be the most difficult things o' yer life. But ah leave an' get in the limo anyway.

Part 3

Six men were waitin' inside. Clearly filthy rich bastards. Gold watches, expensive Italian suits, nice shoes, the bleedin' lot. An' ah just stood there, standin' out wi' ma torn jeans an' ugly shirt, not sure what to say. Long silence as they share each other glances.
The oldest (or so 'e seemed at the time) spoke: "I'm glad that you decided to join us Jack. Please come in." Ah did as ah was told. "You've made a wise decision."
"Have ah now?"
The six men looked at each other an' nodded. The old man looked at me again.
"You have indeed. But there is another decsion on offer here my friend. You see-"
"You're no' ma friend mate, alright? None o' you bastrds are."
The old man smiled. "We have your best friend Jack. "Old Tommy Anderson" as you like to call him." 'E smiled again.
"'Ow the bleedin' 'ell did ye know 'is nickname?", ah asked.
"I know a lot of things about you and your friend Jack. Does the name James Murdoch ring any bells?" That smile an' then silence.
"W-W-W-What?"
"Hello Jack. Long time no see!"
James Murdoch. Me an' 'im were rivals at High School. Ah always did fancy Trisha ya see. Problem is, 'e did too. 'E was married to 'er for ah couple ah years until that September night last year. The sonovabtch beat 'er. Then ah see 'im as 'e really is. Not old at all. Horribly scarred.
"W-What 'appened to yer face James?"
Suddenly the cheery expression on 'is face disappears an' 'e's more angrier than ah bloody bear.
"Never you mind you little sht!" 'Is friends lookedt 'im in suprise, like they've never seen 'im angry before. He sighed. "Sorry gentlemen. Back to the subject on hand. Jack you ha-"
"Ah don't give a sht! You just bloody tell me what you've done wi' ma mate!"
"I knew this wouldn't be easy", 'e said. 'E drew a gun. Aimed. An' fired. The world around me turned black as the limo slowly drifted further away from home.

Part 4

Ah wake up some hours later thinkin' ah'm dead. But ah'm not. Ah'm not in heaven or hell, ah'm still on earth. All it was was ah tranquilizer gun. Mighta been luck although ah don't know if ah believe in it anymore. Certainly not lucky where ah was, mind. Inna cell. Strapped to ah bleedin' chair. Ready for a bit ah torture. Strange mind. No weapons in sight. Suddenly the door in front of me opens. James walks in an' stops in front of me.
"Are you ready to make one simple decision yet?"
"Not until ah've seen ma mate, you sonovabtch!"
'E nodded 'is head. Two heavies dragged in ma best mate an' threw 'im on the floor in front of me.
"Five minutes", said James and left.
Short silence. "What the bleedin' 'ell's goin' on Tom?", I asked in an instant.
"What does it bloody look like Jack? What do you think's goin' on?"
"A lot of sht ah guess."
"Shut up smart guy an' listen. Don't know how to say it mate but they got Trisha."
Suddenly my heart sank.
"An' what the hell do they want with her?", ah screamed.
"Hey!", shouted Ol' Tommy Anderson. "If you're gonna be an' asshle then don't say a goddamned thing!"
That awkward silence.
"S-Sorry Tom. An' know what's goin' on. This is James's revenge, ain't it? This is the bstards revenge right?"
"Yeah, it is. But-But that ain't the worst of it. 'E wants you to-"
At that precise moment the door opened and James and his two heavies stood there.
"Aw, come on!", ah said. "That was never five minutes!"
The heavies seized Tommy Anderson an' dragged 'im away as 'e shouted, "Do the right thing Jack! Don't do what ah know you'll do, you idiot!"
James stepped forward.
"I trust that you're ready to make your decision?"
"Depends on the question", ah replied.
James laughed ah little. "You're right there Jack, you're right there. But, are you the wise man you pretend to be?"
"Ah ain't wise James. Never done ah smart thing in ma life." 'E tried to say somethin' but ah wasn't done yet. "That's why, if ah find out you've hurt Trisha in any way, ah'm gonna kill you."
"Hurt her? Hah! I wouldn't dream of it!"
Now ah laughed. "You don't remember that night do you? You beat 're you monster, beat 'er to a pulp almost!"
"Monster?", said James. "You may think that I'm a monster but Jack, there a far more brutal monsters in this world." Big glare. "Monsters like you."
"You mind explainin' that?"
"Simple. We were both drunk that night my friend and one of us carried a knife, didn't they?"
The scar. "The-The scar?"
James nodded 'is head, clearly annoyed.
"This where the beatin' come in?", ah asked, miserable.
"No Jack, not at all. You could call this revenge but all I really want is my Trisha back."
Ah nodded my head. Now ah understood everything. Tears were rollin' down ma eyes. My heart was filled with pain as ah made ma decision. Ah hoped it was for the best. Hoped it'd release the misery from ma heart filled with love for one woman.
"Take her then. An' gimme ma mate back. Don't make me tell you twice."

THE END

"A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the nicest things you can be." Douglas Pagels