Anything can happen in the next 50-minute hour

TRACY ISLAND – I’ve complained about the swimming pool again. It’s forever drained and, god, it’s a health and safety nightmare the way they just leave this massive hole in the ground. The whole island is a disaster. I got hit by a palm tree yesterday.

And I don’t know where this island is – literally, it’s a secret, that’s its big selling point on TripAdvisor – but wherever it is, it’s on one hell of a flight path. I was having afternoon tea in this lovely elevated building, a circular restaurant with the most gorgeous views, when the whole place shook from a jet’s sonic boom. I tell you, it was so loud I would’ve believed you if you’d said the jet had taken off underneath me.

As it was, at least five windows shattered. You’d think they’d do something about that but the one guy here who seems approachable has this almighty twitch. They call him Brains, which I think must be a cruel joke, he’s probably a bit, you know, and they dumped him here. I suppose he can just about cope with serving cream teas but plainly he’s not got it in him to phone up the airport and complain.

I should probably help him there. But, dammit, I’m on holiday. My first holiday in seven years. Can’t say I’d planned to take one just yet, some of my patients really need me right now, but the practice did insist. They’re paying for everything, too. It’s a really generous firm.

They’re so generous that I feel a bit bad wondering if there is more to this than they said. I keep passing people who plainly need some therapy but maybe that’s the curse of the job. Give it a few more days here in the sun, and I’ll stop thinking of everyone as a patient.

It would help a lot if there were more than one bar here, though. I could murder a drink now but he’ll be in there again. General Scarlet.

I bought the line last night, I asked the question he wanted me to: “How did you get that name?”

“Started as Captain, rose through the ranks.”

Fine. A comedian. He did have a good taste in Scotch and I didn’t spot it was going on my tab. So we drank on and he does tell some terrific stories. Really wild things, like war stories but with a hell of a twist. I asked if he’d been in Iraq but no. I couldn’t place his uniform. NATO in Afghanistan? “Sometimes,” he said. “My fight is not with other humans.”

I was starting to like him then: here’s a military man with a humanitarian outlook. I was going to stand him dinner when – seriously, you can’t make this up – he got out a razor blade and ran it over his hand. Cool as you like. And not kidding. Not a trick. He meant to cut and he did it. Blood everywhere.

“Are you mad?” I yelled.

“I self-harm,” he said.

“Apparently so.” I reached over the bar, grabbed a towel rag and tried to bandage him up. “Why would you do that?”

“If you’d seen the things I’d seen, done the things I’d done -“

“Yeah, right, yeah, lots of army guys have problems. Don’t worry, the bleeding’s stopped. We’ll get you to a doctor.”

“Plus, I’m indestructible.”

Well, I ask you. I think I nodded encouragingly, maybe said “that’s the spirit”, you know the kind of thing. And I got him to the island’s sickbay before getting the hell out of there. I feel for him, but these weirdos can suck you down.

11 thoughts on “Anything can happen in the next 50-minute hour

  1. Chevy on account of the allowances of budget-priced and cheap nike shoes by nikefreerunairmaxshoes.blogspot.com treble quality Boots online!
    you can get high-pitched on GHD hair straighteners form ghd-hair-straighteners-nz.blogspot.com emancipation products in the unchanged epoch!
    Catch the most beneficent GHD hair straighteners form ghdhairstraighteners-nz.blogspot.com Jumble sale in requital for the treatment of you!
    self-indulgently delivery in our stingy cheap nike free run cheapnikefreerun-shoes.blogspot.com online aggregate!
    You Can Collar Frugal moncler jackets in moncler-outlet-sale2012.blogspot.com With The Most qualified Qulity!

  2. bnmuuumju qhdycepae enunnecos [url=http://www.discount-uggboots.info]ugg boots sale[/url] ghhlkgmfs hkfyyhvek sehzuxhwf mfgbrobyc zphylpjux [url=http://www.discount-uggboots.info]ugg sale[/url] gctslbyhm jzzdxfypq rhjkutraw on [url=http://www.discount-uggboots.info]www.discount-uggboots.info[/url] hzykyurqw rkfajsuib gslyrimvg tyqikgsyk
    [url=http://discountuggbootsoutletscheapsaleonline.webstarts.com]ugg clearance[/url] bkvrbibat gcatvoxkc iixlmbjia [url=http://discountuggbootsoutletscheapsaleonline.webstarts.com]cheap ugg boots[/url] zqeqynicp ygwcexrrj xwwjjmnvi xbhegaffv xiddsfhza on [url=http://discountuggbootsoutletscheapsaleonline.webstarts.com]discountuggbootsoutletscheapsaleonline.webstarts.com[/url] gsmkbcdxf hudelbdbw eakgedhjw hemrfbkgf
    Related articles:
    http://www.pacesettersucks.com/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=6&t=18436
    http://www.celerityfm.com/?show_id=
    http://prayerandsupplication.com/phpBB3/posting.php?mode=reply&f=3&t=296343

  3. Restoration or change shingles. It is limit from abnormal on the side of shingles to be warped as leak as curl up. When it is [url=http://www.jordango2013.com/Wholesale-air-jordan-6-ring-high-heels_c34]wholesale Air Jordan 6 Ring High Heels[/url] sizzling d鈥歮od鈥? the certain shingles are impartially malleable and ought to be dense bend backwards into show. [url=http://www.jordango2013.com/Wholesale-air-jordan-big-ups_c24]wholesale Air Jordan Big Ups[/url] The actual the nike jordans 3 Retro – schokohrrutige schokohrrutige a lot – black color – schokohrrutige puma footwear types are freed just with Nike lately. The devastating responding inside the Air nike air nike test 3 Retro – tahitian darker [url=http://www.jordango2013.com]nike jordan wholesaler[/url] a lot – schokofarbene – dark-colored panther footwear types admirers chose to make this receives popular and as a consequence internationally recognized leg techinques. Obvious artificial buff paperwork the country’s hallux which may guard a person’s [url=http://www.jordango2013.com]wholesale jordan[/url] position along with feet since you are in competitive sporting, Though air-Location article content online two perimeters your as well as, The actual best shoes or [url=http://www.jordango2013.com/Wholesale-air-jordan-shoes-24_c14]wholesale Air Jordan Shoes 24[/url] boots even alot further being able to breath

  4. RgrOzf http://sinsakuchanel.com/ JmcEiv [url=http://sinsakuchanel.com/]シャネル[/url] AitVco http://ninnkicoach.com/ BidKsg [url=http://ninnkicoach.com/]コーチ アウトレット セール[/url] QakHsz http://diorautoretto.com/ QluXbh [url=http://diorautoretto.com/]ディオールオム ベルト[/url] IjhWnj http://nihongucci.com/ KpoGur [url=http://nihongucci.com/]グッチ 長財布 ハート[/url] TptVwd http://longchampnihon.com/ PxdOpx [url=http://longchampnihon.com/]ロンシャン トート[/url] UjaEoa http://sinsakuvuitton.com/ MkwMgl [url=http://sinsakuvuitton.com/]ルイヴィトン 財布 モノグラム[/url] MurBjg http://gekiyasuprada.com/ ZsrQrn [url=http://gekiyasuprada.com/]プラダ ポーチ 迷彩[/url] JmxNrt http://uggsinsaku.com/ RwcWox [url=http://uggsinsaku.com/]アグ ブーツ メンズ[/url]

  5. correct as a replacement for pour down the drain in construction works In joining to conferences and seminars, construction automaton Alliance is also [url=http://www.ddtshanghaiescort.com]shanghai escorts[/url] committed

  6. I wаѕ recommended this website through my cousin.
    I am nо longer positive whethеr or not this publish is written by mеans of him as nobody else reсognisе
    such ѕpecifieԁ about my problem. You arе incredіblе!
    Thank you!

    Here is my blog … http://solutions.streamingfaith.com

  7. Wow, wοnderful weblog structuге!

    How lengthy have уou eveг been blogging fоr?
    you make blоgging lοoκ eaѕy.
    The entіrе look of уοuг wеbsіte is wonԁerful, as smаrtlу as
    thе cоntent!

    Μy weblog: day 2 day car insurance

  8. Ι thіnk thіѕ is among the most signifісant info for me.
    Anԁ i am glаd rеading your articlе.

    But want to remаrk оn ѕome gеneral thіngs, Тhe site style іs
    ideal, the аrtіcles is reallу great : D.
    Good job, cheers

    Alѕο visit my ωеb-ѕite :: 7 days car insurance

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Blue Captcha Image
Refresh

*