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Samaritan

by tusker 

Posted: 30 July 2010
Word Count: 604
Summary: For Sandra's challenge


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Agnes couldn’t find a luggage trolley anywhere. ‘Oh dear!’ Now the handle on her suitcase broke.

‘Can I help?’ She turned to the friendly voice behind her. A plump man in his sixties smiled with concern.

Flustered and hot, Agnes said, ‘I’ve bought too many mementos, I’m afraid. It’s rather heavy.’

He nodded. ‘My late wife was the same.’ He glanced down at his own small suitcase with wheels, adding, ‘I travel light these days.’ Then he proffered a hand, fingernails well manicured. ‘John Gentle.’

Blushing, she shook that proffered hand. ‘Agnes Merryweather.’

‘Mrs. Merryweather,’ he said. ‘Could I offer you assistance.

‘It’s Miss,’ Agnes said. ‘If you could, I’d be very grateful.’

John Gentle took hold of her luggage by the one broken strap and together they entered departures at Malaga Airport. ‘Oh dear,’ Agnes uttered, looking about her. ‘It’s so busy.’

‘What flight are you on?’ John Gentle laid an assuring hand on her arm.

‘Cardiff. 10.00am.’ she replied.

He glanced at his watch. ‘Plenty of time to check in. There it is over there.’ He pointed over heads.

‘Oh dear.’ Agnes sighed. ‘Such a long queue.’ Now she wished she'd gone to the toilet before she’d left the hotel.

‘Once they open up, it’ll soon shift,’ John Gentle assured her.

‘Are you travelling with someone?’ Agnes asked, trying to take her mind off her growing dilemma.

‘My sister, Jane,’ he replied. ‘She’s sorting out payment for the car we hired.’

‘Where are you flying to?’ She asked.

‘Gatwick,’ he said. ‘Our flight’s not till lunch time but Jane watches those TV Airport programmes so insists we must be early in case there’s a problem.’

‘I can understand that Mr. Gentle.’ Agnes smiled.

‘Tell you what,’ he said. ‘Why don’t I wait here with your luggage while you have a wander.’ From his smart beige linen jacket pocket, he took out a magazine on sailing.

Sensing her Samaritan had noticed her discomfort, Agnes accepted and hurried away in search of a toilet and, when she returned ten minutes later, she found Mr. Gentle looking somewhat anxious.

‘I’ve just spotted Jane heading over there.’ He pointed over heads once more. ‘I called out to her but she’s a bit deaf, so I’d better catch up with her.’ He held out his hand and Agnes shook it thanking him profusely for his assistance.

At twelve thirty, Agnes stepped down onto the tarmac of Cardiff Airport, glad to be home and looking forward to giving her neighbour and two nieces their presents and, of course, seeing her cat, Felix, once more.

‘Excuse me, madam.’ A man from customs stepped out as she went through Nothing To Declare. ‘May I ask you to step aside.’

A little irritated at the delay, Agnes did as she was asked and looked in horror at a brown parcel she’d not packed being taken out from under a china bull. ‘Will you come this way?’ The question was firm but polite. Agnes followed the official into an office. ‘Drugs,’ he said to another man. ‘Looks like heroin.’

‘I didn’t pack that!’ Agnes shook with fear.

‘You were seen at Malaga Airport with a drugs trafficker.’ The challenge sounded calm but had undercurrents of menace.

‘That was Mr. John Gentle,’ Agnes said. ‘He helped me with my luggage.’

The uniformed man leaned across his desk. ‘John Gentle. James Dunn. All aliases. Real name Eddie French.’

Many hours later, distraught, Agnes was released into a chilly, autumn night having missed her courtesy bus home.

Then a car drew up and the passenger window hummed down.'Can I help you?' a man's voice asked.













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Comments by other Members



V`yonne at 16:09 on 30 July 2010  Report this post
A cautionary tale, Jennifer. I won't let anybody look after my luggage - I promise ;

tusker at 16:37 on 30 July 2010  Report this post
Thanks Oonah.

Yes, some do get fooled.

Jennifer

Desormais at 17:07 on 30 July 2010  Report this post
That's a good one Jennifer. The first time I read it I didn't scroll down far enough and missed the last line. Now I just read it again.... spooky!

tusker at 17:26 on 30 July 2010  Report this post
Glad you thought it spooky, Sandra.

Who is it I wonder?

Jennifer

Findy at 05:25 on 02 August 2010  Report this post
Nice one Jennifer...drugs, oops, thank god she was able to convince the officials, but will she fall again? Hopefully she's wiser now

findy

tusker at 07:17 on 02 August 2010  Report this post
Thanks Findy.

Jennifer

M. Close at 02:29 on 08 August 2010  Report this post
Nice story with a message for us all. Who was the guy at the end? Was the original guy back or is this another guy trying to take advantage, or another guy just trying to be helpful? Don't answer....having to fill in the blanks makes this story very ponderable

well done,

Mike

tusker at 07:25 on 08 August 2010  Report this post
Thanks Mike.

Yes, the stranger could be anyone.

Jennifer

CharlieMac at 16:06 on 09 August 2010  Report this post
'Miss Merryweather' - got 'sucker' written all over it! However, I should maybe watch my own back in future as I was totally sucked in to John Gentle's decent manner! I'm so trusting, duuhhhhh! Was quite disappointed to read he turned out to be a rogue. Reckon that was his partner-in-crime at the airport. Hopefully Agnes flips him the bird and calls for a cab...


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