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These days Ray Hardy spends most of his writing hours on novels. However he has come up with Hardy Perennials a collection of five very varied short stories and goes part way in demonstrating the range of his versatility.

The Reunion

By

Ray Hardy

It was a cold November evening, the rain cascading down in torrents; hitting the windscreen like frozen daggers. Robert, driving home in the warm comfort of his executive saloon from a successful business lunch in the city, feeling replete and well pleased for pulling off the deal of the century, saw someone he had not seen for a long time.
He could hardly see through the window and, so thought the person was a tramp by the clothes he wore and by his haggard appearance. The city was full of tramps and down-and-outs. The dregs of humanity, he thought. As he passed and took another look before turning off for home. He was shocked to see a familiar face from the past.
Robert slowed his car and opening the passenger door to the tramp shouted, "Paul! Paul!.. My god, it is you. Quick, get in out of the rain."
The tramp looked at him and said, "Do I know you, Sir?"
"Come on Paul. Don't play around. It's me, your friend, Bob – Bob Peckham. Just get in."
The tramp quietly got in. Robert could not believe how much his friend, who he had last seen ten years ago, had changed. Paul was never this quiet and reserved. Especially in his company. As Paul began to relax he told Robert to stop the car because he had something amazing to show him, which would change his life forever. Robert at first did not oblige but when Paul started to act scared. He had no choice but to comply.
"Well, what could be so important that it will change my life forever?"
"Do you remember what our last conversation was about. Do you?"
"Yes. We both argued over Carmel Buchannon, who you fancied. But I married her."
"No!" Paul shouted. "I don't mean that, that is all forgotten with. You've forgotten, haven't you. At least I still remember."
"Oh…that! I thought you were joking when you said it. I don't and never will believe in that subject."
They both sat there in silence, each sizing the other up.
Robert: How Paul has changed. There was a time he was the life and soul of the party. Any party!
Paul: When will Robert realise that there is more to life than financial gain. I now know there is.
Robert eventually broke the silence. "By the way, Carmel is having our first child. We thought that we would name him Paul. Would you like that?"
"I would like that. But I very much doubt that I will be here to witness the happy occasion. Things to do; places to go. Anyway, it won't be a boy, it will be a girl."
"How in hell would you know. Unless," Robert jested, "you are in touch with Him upstairs."
"Trust me, and no it is not God. It is something magical."
"Okay, enough of this twaddle. You said earlier about something that would change my life forever. Well, I'm all ears."
"First, what is the time?"
"It's - my god, it's nearly midnight!"
With that last sentence, inch by inch, from feet upwards, Paul slowly but surely vanished in front of Robert's eyes, who was by now, visibly shaken by this. Before Paul completely vanished he had the last word, "I was right, wasn't I?"
Then he was gone.
Robert, scared witless, quickly drove home, only to see his wife with two police officers. He enquired what had happened, only to be solemnly informed by the first police officer, that his friend, Paul Scott had been found dead in his flat at 23.30.
The exact time he had picked up the tramp.
Robert laughed uncontrollably, startling the two police officers and his wife. Paul was right, his life had changed.

The end

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