The Problem Solver





There is a possibility you’ll strike out! Well we weren’t gonna lie to the guy, I mean it’s happened to me a few times! In this line of work you got to know how to communicate as well as listen! Listening is very important,, not enough people listen, I mean really listen, get to know what the other person thinks. Practice is another thing, Saying hello to someone, communicating with the guy at the store, getting to know the folks around you, I tell them it’s useful, especially when you’re about to meet someone for the first time and you’re really sweating!

I wait in the car., it’s a downtown bar in L.A ! He checks his tie before crossing the street, clutching his phone incase he needs advice, I mean come on it’s only natural for the guy to feel nervous in a place like this, especially where there’s competition.

A few seconds later he tells me he sees this broad at the bar, instantly he knows she’s the one; I tell him there’s a conversation theory, that men feel they can’t talk to women, “I mean really attractive women” the way they talk to other guys or ordinary looking women without it seeming like a come on! “Just be natural, treat her as a person and don’t come out with any corny lines like telling her she’s beautiful!” “A woman like her probably hears that a thousand times!”

“What shall I say?”

“ Anything.” “Find out what she likes, “Start by offering to buy her a drink!

“What if she refuses?” he inquires as if expecting to fail.

“Then we’ll just have to try something else/”

, Remembering my advice to stay calm. He replaces his phone in his blue suit and sits on a stool a few feet away, I notice that he keeps looking around, clearly he’s nervous, with a broad dressed like that any guy would be !. Realizing he’s gonna blow his chance, he offers to buy her a drink? She hesitates for a second, before accepting! He orders two Vermouths, then the conversation begins. “I can tell by her body language that he isn’t making her uncomfortable, it’s important I always tell them, recognizing someone’s body language, that and being a good listener!

Outside people are leaving with their dates, he hails a Taxi; I drive off knowing my mission is done!

It doesn’t mater where he takes her, come to think of it it doesn’t matter where we take any of them, male, female, business, friendship, it always ends the same! I make a call and tell the guy we’ve connected with his wife and to send the money to our account in Sicily.

The next day the headline reads:

Wife Of Corporate Boss Found Strangled In River.

Sometimes it’s hard getting to know people and gain their trust, but like I tell all our recruits, when you gain their confidence this job really pays off!

THE END

Acting Circle

The rare Camberwell Butterfly could be clearly sighted resting upon an apple tree within his bright Sussex orchard. He considered himself exceptionally privileged; usually they preferred warmer climates such as places in Europe or the Far East. However, being both a renowned thespian and a keen lepidopterist, Sir Timothy Atherton knew they sometimes traveled further than considerably expected, something he feared had happened to his wife Dame Agnes Atherton, whom it appeared had gone missing in Boston Massachusetts. Timothy is eighty three his wife is eighty six.

The phone rang on his desk. He glanced out at the wire-mesh window as if expecting someone to appear, and then nervously picked up the phone as if this was a more promising audition and announced:

“Hello.” “Sir Timothy Atherton, may I be of assistance?”

“Hello Sir Timothy.” “My name is Sergeant Corber from Boston Massachusetts, I need-“

“Have you found her?” Sir Timothy interrupted. “Is she alive?” “What’s happened?”

“Ah, I’m sorry Sir Timothy, but we haven’t found your wife yet!” “She disappeared after a performance at the theatre with members of the performance; “I don’t want to sound satirical, however she has been missing for over two weeks now Sir!” “And no one at Logan Airport or anywhere else has seen her go through, is it possible she had a forged passport?”

This brought Sir Timothy to the point of indignation and it was only his British reserve that stopped him going over the edge.

“What would a British Actress be doing with a bloody forged passport in Boston?” He inquired, more wearisome than agitated, because of how the past weeks had affected him due to natural concern!

“I realize how it sounds to you Sir Timothy, began the Policeman as if he was talking to Royalty, however we do need to consider all options!” “Does your wife have any illnesses that may have caused her to wander off?” “Alzheimer’s perhaps?” “Is she Diabetic or on medication of some sort?”

“I’ve already answered these questions!” “I’ve told the Police in both our countries!” “I keep answering the same questions!” he stated pityingly, “I don’t know where she is, I just want her back!” “Please can you help me?”

“We are trying Sir Timothy!” “I do empathise Sir; “Your Producer Peter Thorson , he’s American-?”

“American English!” Confirmed Sir Timothy.

“American English!” “Yes Sir.” “He was the last person to see her so to speak?”

“He drove her back to her Hotel after she went out with her fellow Actors and some others to celebrate.” “In the morning he phoned me to say he’d visited the Hotel and the Receptionist said she wasn’t in her room!”

“But she had reached the Hotel Sir?” “I mean apparently she did sign the register, I mean we do have a copy of her signature;

“That’s what they told me.”

“And you visited Boston Sir, but to no avail; “Are you prepared to come over here again?” “I mean I realize you’re going through a lot of stress about your wife’s disappearance-“

“I will try.” He confirmed pityingly, “It’s just my Doctor and my Producer told me to rest, I know it sounds like an unlikely combination, however I will try!” “I have your number, can I call you if I need too?”

“Of course Sir Timothy!” Exclaimed Sergeant Corber empathically, “And if we have any news Sir we will contact you immediately!” “Er, this may sound intrusive, however does anyone visit you, because I phoned yesterday and you appeared to be out, I even left a message on your phone, did you get it?”

“No!” I checked my phone this morning out of curiosity, there weren’t any messages on it!”!

“Ah well perhaps it was some continent fault, if that’s the right term.” “Does anyone visit you Sir Timothy?”

“Yes, I have a House-Keeper!” “I never really wanted one, however my Producer Peter Thorson insisted after what happened, he said he was very concerned!” “You will contavt me won’t you?” “I mean we are very close.” Exclaimed Sir Timothy, not caring if it sounded like a cliché.

“We will Sir.” “We’re all searching for her, and we’ve notified all the other States just incase; “They have your number as well, so if anything happens I promise you’ll be contacted!”

“Thank you!” “I do appreciate what you are trying to do!”

“You’re welcome Sir Timothy.” “Have a nice day.”

The phone clicked out of existence and Sir Timothy replaced the receiver and glanced out the window. The Rare Camberwell Butterfly was still there. Its Latin name was Nymphalis Antiopia, its American name somewhat ironically was Mourning Cloak! Sir Timothy had told this to Peter Thorson when he had first came to visit him and Dame Agnes Atherton many years ago at their home in Sussex. One had been seen by Peter and he had asked Sir Timothy what kind it was because it was well known that apart from being one of Britain’s leading thespians, he was also a keen lepidopterist. He also told him it was the first present he had given to his future wife Dame Agnes Atherton when they were both children in the Northern Town of Doncaster. As if rehearsing for a play he began to reminisce of his past:

Sir Timothy Atherton was born Timothy “Charles, his Father’s first name” Atherton in 1918 in a small Doncaster road where unemployment and poverty destroyed so many dreams that it was no wonder the local cinema with its Silent Film era was a means of escapism that in time would lead to him and his future wife’s successful attempt!

Dame Agnes Atherton was born in 1916 and though also in Doncaster her Parents were both rich and owned a set of clothing stores. She was born Agnes Lemingsworth and her Parents were called Miranda and Alex. Her Father owned the stores and her Mother was a qualified Accountancy Lawyer.

Sir Timothy’s Parents however were far less glamorous His Father had only managed to do menial jobs in decaying factories and his Mother helped out whenever she could.

Although both hard workers with talent and determination, for some reason they had not worked in any of the clothing stores owned by Dame Agnes’s Parents, even though Lemingsworth clothing was as successful then as it is today! However when Sir Timothy was seven all that was to change, with his Father’s death from leukemia and the discovery of The Acting Circle!

The Acting Circle as it was so grandly referred to was in truth a disused building that the local authorities had turned into a Drama Class to keep children out of their Parents way after school, especially with rising unemployment giving way to family tension and even in the worst case scenarios alcohol and domestic violence. It had been decided that to give them the illusion of hope what with the fascination of the coming Hollywood era, was better than nothing! Sir Timothy however did not see it as an illusion but a step to a more inevitable reality!

His Mother knew how much he Movies and although they had taken him for rare treats when his Father had been alive, it was now even more harder to do. So she would buy a magazine and talk with him about what he liked, whilst offering parental advice for her son to make something of his life by insisting he attended The Acting Circle. After all it was free and once you got past the usual beurocracy of proving your name and signing your address whenever you attended everything was fine! However Sir Timothy remembered differently, even if he had told his Mother only what he thought she needed to hear!

The other children hated him, or rather his talent They despised the independent way he improvised when the woman teacher would ask them to pretend the were, say for instance driving a car. Whilst the other children merely ran around with their arms in obvious positioning going broom broom to the point that it seemed as if it was a cult, Sir Timothy would go through the motions in a more appropriate status, He would open the door, he would make the noise of the door as he shut it after bending down to indicate he had become seated, then he would turn the ignition key and put the car into gear before starting off on his imaginary journey that was never as good as the ones on the silver screen! The teacher was aware of what the other children thought and being young and inexperienced she considered it more acceptable to isolate one child than the whole classroom! So although she knew he had true potential, she would find ways to criticize him. “It was time wasting!” “It took too long!” “He was showing off!” The other children agreed, “He was a cocky little blighter!” You remembered your place up North.

Sir Timothy however did not consider this his place, and so determined was he to prove this to himself even more than to other people, that he would risk the glares and taunts of the other children when, after class, he would run from The Acting Circle, dodging them as he ran through the streets always past the rubble of some disused factory till he came to an open park, where, for some reason, “Perhaps the sightings of more refined people” they never ventured to follow!

One particular day Sir Timothy remembered, having successfully dodged them yet again, he saw something on one of the Roses that drew his attention, as if he was watching the flickering of an Actor or Actress on the movie screen. It was indeed the very first sighting of a Rare Camberwell Butterfly. At that time, “along with so many working class families” he had very little idea what it was. However he was scholarly child and his reading ability had given him enough knowledge to know it was not a common Moth but a Butterfly, though what kind he did not yet know!

Sir Timothy remembered how he had sat on the Park Bench as if “He” was the audience. Then as if wanting his performer to receive well earned applause, he held out his hands in a open cup greeting and waited. The Butterfly flittered around before coming to rest gently upon the palm of his right hand, then rapidly, yet with winged caution, began edging its way to the centre, where the fluttering of its wings caused not merely a flickering sensation but a gentle warmth like the touch of the silver screen upon the lives of so many in those days! He closed his hands a mere tiny fraction and glanced up at the bright summer sky, as if to give thanks for being allowed to have made this discovery.

“What do you have there?” Inquired a polite educated female voice, that by its inquisitive tone no doubt belonged to a child.

Timothy looked up to see a well dressed girl in a green chiffon dress with frilly sleeves and radiant black hair. She smiled as if at a formal function.

“My name is Agnes Lemingsworth!” She concluded her smile showed that unlike with The Acting Circle, here he was being accepted for himself.

Timothy held it out as if offering a gift to a Princess.

“It’s a Butterfly.” He announced, more in fascination than knowledge, “Would you like to hold it?” “I don’t know what kind it is, though I do know you have to be careful because their wings are delicate!”

Agnes nodded in silent confirmation and held out her hands to receive her gift willingly! The Rare Camberwell Butterfly seemed to scrutinize its new offering before flittering onto Agnes’s hands that were cupped exactly like Timothy’s, As if she too possessed a talent for acting!

“It feels like silk!” She announced, “My Father and Mother own shops that sell clothes’ “Where do you get your clothes?”

Timothy now had an uneasy look on his face and Agnes sensed that she had handled the situation badly, and decided to make amends by stating: “Oh please, I wasn’t making fun of you!” “It’s just that my Father sometimes throws away clothes if he gets too many, and I was wondering if you’d like some?”

“Yes please.”

“Where do you live?” She inquired.

He told her.

“What do your Parents do?” She inquired, “If they don’t work I won’t be ashamed of you!” “My Parents say it is wrong to look down on others if God has blessed you, I think God blesses us all!” “Though my Father says hard work is necessary as well as determination!”

“My Father died.” Announced Timothy, “He died of what the Doctors referred to as Leukemia, I checked it in a book!” “I like to read a lot.” “I live with my Mother.” “I’ll check what kind of Butterfly this is, if you want me too!”

Agnes knew he wanted to change the conversation because he felt embarrassed, so she smiled and said, “That would be nice.” Then added, “You can come to one of our shops if you want!” “Hold on” She still held the Butterfly, “Shall I release it?” She said.

Timothy nodded and Agnes did so. Her dress had a pocket, Agnes took out a pen and a pierce of paper and wrote on it then gave it to him.

“Come after lunch time.” She confirmed, “We close from 12.0 till 1,0 and we’re very busy in the mornings!” “What’s your name?”

“Timothy Atherton/”

“My name is Agnes.” She confirmed

Sir Timothy was disturbed from his reminiscences by the chime of his door that went with his stately looking home, and his achieved Thespian persona. He opened it and there stood Abigail. Sir Timothy had not wanted an Housekeeper to help him whilst his wife was away, that soon turned into a disappearance! However Peter Thorson said that he and the other members of the production were worried, and whilst they kept in contact as best they could, they had busy personal schedules. Sir Timothy agreed, because he was too worried about Dame Agnes to argue.

“Hello Abigail.” Stated Sir Timothy, glancing at her face. She was in her Seventies yet her skin was youngish as if she had been made up to play an older role, or they had run out of one and compromised with another. Sir Timothy had tried not to make his staring too noticeable because he did not want her to suspect.

Abigail inquired how he was and Sir Timothy replied that he was fine in a way that indicated he was suspicious of her and not in the usual independent way!

“Have you been eating well?” She inquired, removing her coat and placing it on a hook of three and going into the kitchen, as if the question was somehow rhetorical.

“I didn’t have any breakfast.” “I received a phone call from Sergeant Corber in Boston Massachusetts about Agnes!” Sir Timothy paused, not wanting to let on that he knew, and was hoping Abigail would trap herself.

“What happened, have they found her yet?”

“No!” He exclaimed, as if this was obvious, “He said he phoned earlier, I checked but there was no message!”

“Maybe it didn’t get through.”

“That’s exactly what he thoughgt.”

“Would you like scrambled eggs, or would you prefer something more substantial?”

“Scrambled eggs will be fine!” He confirmed.

“Anything with them?, I can nip off to the local shop if you want me too incase what you have don’t freeze out in time?”

“Just scrambled eggs on two slices of hot buttered toast and some English Earl Grey, Please.”

Abigail nodded smiling as if he’d obeyed correctly. Sir Timothy left the kitchen to watch television in the dining room.

He had become very interested in the American News Stations, CNN, NBC, entirely because of the disappearance of his wife, although the BBC and other News Stations covered it, though for some reason not as much as he hoped they would! At times he thought they were deliberately keeping it restricted. Sir Timothy clicked on the television by remote control to CNN and slumped on the settee of brown red square patterns as if bored with the whole acting scenario, and since they were talking American Financial matters he decided to reminisce some more.

Although Timothy knew Agnes had accepted him for himself, he still empathized with making an effort, and so washing his face and smoothing down his hair with some stuff his Father had left, he straightened his clothing and told his Mother he was going out and kissed her face in reassurance.

“Timothy do you enjoy going to The Acting Circle?” She inquired, her face smiling in a way that pleaded for only one answer.

Timothy looked at his Mother, and knowing all she and his Father had done for him lied and smiling said:

“It’s great Mum!” “Thank you, I really have to go now!”

Timothy had never really wondered why his Mother did not mention the stuff on his hair because others would!

When Timothy arrived there were two portly Gentlemen outside dressed smartly whom stopped their conversation to look at him, one was a Lawyer the other was a Businessman.

“Hello young Sir!” Inquired the Lawyer, “You look very made up, are you expected?” “You’ve done a very good job with your hair!”

He hovered his hand above Timothy’s head causing him to look up and inquire:

“Are you both Actors?”

For some reason the two men laughed.

“No, well I suppose you could say sometimes.” “I’m a Lawyer and this Gentleman is in business!” “And what do you like to do?”

“I like to act, and I like Butterflies”

“Butterflies ay!” said the Businessman, genuinely impressed, “And have you seen any recently?”

“I saw a Rare Camberwell Butterfly in the park!” Announced Timothy, “It’s Latin name is Nymphalis Antiopia!” “And yesterday I saw an Essex Skipper, it’s Latin name is Thymelicus Lineoala!” “Some people mistake it for the Small Skipper but you can tell the difference because the Small Skipper has black antennas and the Essex Skipper orange!”

Both men gave an impressive Mmm!

Agnes appeared with her Father, “Daddy this is the boy I told you about, his name is Timothy, he likes Butterflies.”

Mr. Lemmingsworth held out his hand reassuringly and Timothy shook it.

“I’m very pleased to meet you young man, have these two Gentlemen learnt anything from you?”

“Oh quite a lot, interrupted the Businessman, I think with the right encouragement he could go far!”

“I’d definitely defend that opinion!” said the Lawyer

“Where do you learn to act young Mr. Atherton?” Inquired Mr.Lemmingsworth.

“The Acting Circle Sir.” replied Timothy.

“I done you two slices of toast, you have a knife and fork if I remember.”

“Why would she need to remember?” “It’s not bloody King Lear!” thought Sir Timothy, who had played the role himself to outstanding acclaim!

Sir Timothy looked after hearing the sound of the plate being plunked on the table, there were two slices of hot buttered toast covered in scrambled eggs, he always insisted on using five and saving one for his morning breakfast.

Sir Timothy muttered, “Thank you Abigail.” as he began to get up.

“Isn’t that Boston Harbour?” “Look, that’s Peter Thorson, he’s talking to that woman from CNN!” Stated Abigail.

Sir Timothy turned then picked up the control and turned up the sound, before straightening himself as if to give a rendition:

“Well the Police are still searching for her, some people say she was sighted in Charles Street but no one was really certain!” “The last sighting was from a woman who phoned to say she saw someone that fitted her description near Boston Harbour, but to no avail!”

“Have the Police searched the Harbour so to speak?” Inquired the woman reporter, thrusting the microphone at him as if this was am interrogation.

“Well they’ve done what they can so far, and I believe they’ve had divers checking for any signs, though nothing so far!”

“If Sir Timothy is watching, what would you like to say to him?”

Peter Thorson turned to the screen in a Producer type way and announced:

“Sir Timothy, I have had the privilege of working with both you and Dame Agnes for many years, and consider myself entirely honoured.” “We are all with you, and we empathise with what you’re going through!” “If you need any help, call us, I promise we will do everything we can to find your wife, you can rely on that?”

There was a pause as Peter remained sincere, then the woman reporter stated:

“Peter Thorson, thank you very much!” “And now back to the studio.”

Whilst Abigail went to get him his tea, Sir Timothy dropped the control deliberately on the settee, already he seated at the table. He left the sound on in the hope they would return with better news about his wife’s disappearance. Occasionally as he ate and drank his tea he would look up, as if fearing he would miss something if he didn’t, though maybe he was missing things of a different kind as well. Sir Timothy began to reminisce some more. Agnes had showed him round the shop, and now he had not only met her Father but her Mother as well. Although her Mother seemed a little more prying, inquiring about his Parents and how was his Mother coping? Timothy remained polite though did not answer more than necessary.

“Do you like the cinema?” “I know you like Butterflies.” “It’s just my Daughter says you go to drama class and it’s her Birthday next week!” “I was wondering if you and your Mother would like to come with us, that’s if I’m not being too formal?” Inquired Mrs. Lemmingsworth.

Timothy looked at Agnes as if for guidance rather than prompting, “All standing in the shop amidst displays of sartorial elegance” she nodded rather eagerly and Timothy replied “Yes Please, we’d both like that very much.” “My Mother takes me to see films when she can, my Father used to take us more when he was alive.”

He bowed his head as if a sign of respect to all.

Mrs.Lemmingsworth touched his head and smiled reassuringly.

“I understand.” she said.

The first film Timothy and his Mother saw with Agnes and her Parents was a 1925 silent film starring the film Actress Janet Gaynor entitled: The Johnstown Flood. Agnes had black hair like Janet Gaynor, and when her Father brought them all ice cream and lemonade he told her that she looked a bit like her, his sincerity was accepted by Agnes as a genuine complement. She smiled and said: “Thank you Timothy.” She clenched his hand. He had said this on a park bench whilst his Mother chatted in the distance with Agnes’s Parents, Timothy knew a new life for them was beginning to unfold!

“And now it seems a newer and darker life was beginning to unfold.” Concluded Sir Timothy as he finished his meal and considered just exactly where this one was taking them both!

Sir Timothy remembered the somewhat concerned appearance that had been on his Mother’s face, and although everyone else was too polite to mention it, when they returned to their world of poverty, he announced clenching her hand after she had put down the bag of clothes Mr.Lemmingsworth had given them both on the settee for quickness.

“Mummy what’s wrong?”

She smiled, a single tear appeared, then she embraced him and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Lemingsworth have asked me if I’d like to work in their shop.”

Timothy now had concern as to how his question would be acknowledged.

“And?” he inquired.

“I said I would like that.” “He said I can start next week on Wednesday because of some orders!”

“So what’s wrong?” Inquired Timothy.

“Nothing.” She replied, this time embracing him more firmly as if he was the one that needed reassurance, “Nothing at all everything’s going to be fine.”

“For how long?” thought Sir Timothy, getting up from the table and glancing at the portrait photo of Dame Agnes Atherton on the wall, coming down a white Hollywood winding staircase in a 1940’s musical, wearing a long flowing yellow dress that when the arms were raised as in the photo showed long flowing under sleeves with circles of gold, then inner circles of orange and green, as if she was emerging from a stifling cocoon like a beautiful Butterfly! Ready to go forth into the world and spread joy and happiness as she had done so in his life!

“Where are you?” he inquired pityingly.

As if it would help he went over to the photo and stared as if in a museum rather than at a cinema, in a way this was an appropriate metaphor because Sir Timothy believed his ideas were sometimes considered ancient, or maybe he was too much of a traditionalist? He began to remember the Musical film inquestion:

MEET ME MY DARLING

A Romantic Musical Comedy Starring

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

Also starring Dame Agnes Atherton. With special appearance by Janet Gaynor

Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Sir Timothy was however not to intrigued to see Abigail coming in to take the items away to be washed up in the kitchen, not was he too naïve to notice that the skin on her knuckles were not as arthritic as they last seemed. Yet her wrists above the dress sleeves that she kept undone were, as if her flesh had a life of its own and had crawled around to get comfortable, rather than this time to deceive.

“Are you alright?” She inquired, sounding anxious, more for herself than for him.

Sir Timothy turned to look back at the photo: “Yes, he said, I’m fine.” Then Sir Timothy announced: “Abigail would you kind enough to get me some things from the local store?”

“What kind of things?”

“Oh a cake, some butter, some biscuits.” “I think we’re low on orange juice and coffee for when we have Americans over.” “It’s alright, I’ll write you a list, you can go after you’ve washed up! “In fact you can go this afternoon if you want?”

“What about you?” She inquired.

“What about me, I’ll be alright! Besides “he smiled turning to look at her as if she was an audience that needed convincing” Peter will probably phone me soon, or I’ll give him a call.”

Abigail appeared to consider this, her face though normal showed signs of his request being inconvenient, yet unlike her wrists and the skin on her knuckles, no other changes had taken place.

“Had they finally got it right?” He wondered.

“I’ll go this afternoon at three, if that’s alright?” She concluded.

“Three will be fine.” He announced.

He watched her leave, then reassumed his commitment to Dame Agnes Atherton.

Sir Timothy’s favourite film was Singing In The Rain, it was an attack on the falseness of insecure Hollywood Officials that lied to the public as he felt “they” were lying even now to him. The scene where the Hollywood Starlet assigned to take the place of Debbie Reynolds, is shown up when she mimes on stage with Debbie Reynolds in the background hidden behind a curtain, who is then replaced by her two cohorts so the apparent voice of the Starlet is shown up as being that of the true star proved his point, that despite talented Actors and Actresses whom like Janet Gaynor they had been privileged to meet, Hollywood and the studios still believed in manipulation for their own purposes!

The phone rang and Sir Timothy picked it up.

“Hello.” He stated, in the hope it was about his wife’s disappearance, in a way it was, though not in the way he expected,

“Hello Sir Timothy, its Peter Thorson I’m still in Boston-“

“Have they found Agnes?” He interrupted in hopeful response.

“Not yet. I thought I’d see how you were both getting on!” “Is Abigail there, I’d like to speak with her?”

“No, I sent her to get some stuff from the shops!” “What did you want to talk to her about?” “I can tell her when she gets back!”

There was a silence as if a sound would mean the truth would be discovered.

“Er, it’s nothing important, I’ll call back later.”

“Where did you find her?” Inquired Sir Timothy, not bothering to disguise any accusative tone, only I cannot find any mention of her on the internet!”

“Have you found the organization she works for?” “They come highly recommended, a lot of famous people have them!” “You know, to help around the house and even to help with their families and their children!”

“Yes, I read all about them on the internet!” “It’s just I can’t find anything about Abigail, it’s as if she doesn’t exist!”

“Well she probably wants her privacy, you know what the Media’s like, tell them you work for a celebrity and the tabloids won’t leave you alone!” “How are you both getting on?”

Sir Timothy didn’t want to state she interferes, even though he believed she did, so he merely stated:

“Fine!” “I have to leave now Peter, I feel tired, you will phone me if anything happens over there?”

“Of course, we all will!” “Listen, don’t worry, it’s all going to be alright!”

“I hope so!” Replied Sir Timothy, then stated: “Goodbye.” and replaced the phone.

“Was it going to be alright?” He wondered, as he went into his garden shed to study his pressed Butterfly collection. Here he felt secure, hidden from those that wanted to control him as he knew they had wanted to control him as a child” His mind began to reminisce back to The Acting Circle, the other children had learned of his good fortune and when the teacher left the hall for a moment, encouraged the biggest and most ignorant to confront him with accusations that he believed himself to be better than them, Accusations Timothy knew would soon turn into physical confrontation. He knew he would lose in more ways than one and the circle they had formed around him meant his only hope was to lash out, which in fear rather than courage he did. The boy reeled and Timothy leapt on him taking a few blows to his face that poured more blood than the trickle from his confronters nose. Then as the chanting from the ungrateful audience cheered on his opponent the teacher returned, Yet although she shouted for them to stop and pulled the two of them away from each other without any protests, he knew whose side she would be on!

“Timothy, I cannot have a boy of your kind in my class!” She stated more for the benefit of her audience than for him, “I want you to leave!” “You are no longer welcome in The Acting Circle!”

Timothy stared at them all, oblivious to the blood covering his face. In a way he considered her statement a backhanded compliment, because he interpreted it as meaning “Your kind who are talented and will one day succeed.” When he came home however he cried and his Mother comforted him in her embrace.

“It’s alright.” She exclaimed, “We’ll find a better school one day!” She stated with her hands on his face in reassurance, “You will be an Actor! And we will both lead the lives we want, not what they want us to have!”

Sir Timothy remembered his Mother’s words and how she had seen them come true when Timothy at the age of eight got a bit part in a short Silent Comedy, Agnes was also now acting and soon due to their talent “rather than her Parents influence “ they were soon starring together, When they were in their twenties they both married. His Mother was there, though Timothy “Not yet a Sir” knew she was becoming more frail, And even with the best medical attention Timothy knew his Mother was deteriorating and the last thing he remembered was when he and Agnes visited her in the hospital with Agnes’s Parents to announce they were now to be formally known, according to The New Year’s Honours List as, Sir Timothy Atherton and his wife Dame Agnes Atherton!

His Mother smiled. They both clenched her hands and then she died.

Sir Timothy sat looking at his Butterflies, all neatly pressed in green binding books, staring at The Rare Camberwell Butterfly that had become their mascot secretly, then moving onto a Green Veined White Pieris Napi!

He thought of Butterflies and how they emerged from cocoons. Humans as far as he knew did not, except of course in Science Fiction Films such as The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers! Something he had never understood about that film, the fact the hero runs to the Police to get help, as if he knows who he can still trust; How does he know the people he wants to help him aren’t in on it? After all, of you wanted to start taking people over wouldn’t you start with the authorities? The film’s original ending where the hero tries to warn the viewers by telling them they would soon be initiated was deemed unsuitable and so the film was given a further more optimistic conclusion!

“I don’t know who to trust!” he cried, “I don’t even know if they really exist!”

He had gone to Somerset House to check Abigail’s Birth Record. It was there, however like her skin some of the old writing seemed newer, as if they had corrected it and made the same mistake they had made with parts of her flesh. The image he had in his mind was not of Agnes or Abigail, but of the woman in the film, or rather her doppelganger being stabbed by a hay-pitch fork as her alien skin sort to become human in order to deceive them, as he felt he too was being deceived! He knew he had to work quickly, Abigail would be back soon, and he knew what he had to do before it was too late! However he needed to know about Agnes, “What had really happened to her?”

When Abigail returned, Sir Timothy was seated on the settee watching one of Dame Agnes’s old films that he was not in. Sometimes they did not work together, however unlike The Acting Circle there was never any rivalry between them, not even when he was turned down for a role in a BBC adaptation of a play by a well known playwright, although his wife had obtained the female role! Sir Timothy had phoned the Actor to wish him Good Luck and he had gratefully accepted by inviting Sir Timothy to come for a drink, which he and Dame Agnes willingly both accepted!

In times to come Sir Timothy and his wife would work with many famous people, including the Actor whom they had become great admirers of, which was returned in mutual respect. Yet he believed there were those whom respected him and his wife in a more disturbing way, that he had felt was designed to get them to slowly conform into what they wanted them to be, the same way he felt about The Acting Circle!

“I got your shopping.” She indicated the plastic bag as if this quelled any suspicions he might have!

“Where were you born?” He inquired.

She paused and looked somewhat quizzical, “You know I cannot remember, I think it might have been in Manchester.”

“You don’t have an accent.” He stated, now noticing that the flesh on her hands seemed to be moving as if deceiving him by causing wrinkles, rather than remaining smooth skinned! “She’s a monster, there’s something wrong with all of these kind.” he thought to himself as he stared at the fire as if to appear uninterested.

“I left a long time ago.” she conceded.

There was an unacceptable silence, the air becoming thicker, Abigail sensed what was Sir Timothy’s real concern and said:

“I’ll put your shopping away; do you want anything while I’m in the kitchen?”

“No thank you, he stated, watching CNN News that now showed a photo of Dame Agnes Atherton amidst the words:

BRITISH ACTRESS STILL NOT FOUND< POLICE INCREASE SEARCH.

“Fine.” replied Abigail, and left.

“Her hands.” thought Sir Timothy, what is she?” “Where is Dame Agnes?” “What are they trying to do?” “She has to be stopped!” “They all do, before it’s too late!”

Sir Timothy became so engrossed in the news that he became oblivious to a piece of coal that had fallen out into the fire place, however Abigail had not. Sir Timothy noticed her enter and reach down for the small hand shovel, and he knew she had been watching him under guise of concern. “What would you like for dinner?” “Is there anything you need?” “Can I do anything for you?” These were the kind of questions asked by people he believed were trying to control him and his wife.

Her skin, it still looked uneven, as if it appeared to be moving around her hands.

He knew he had to do what was necessary of him, “The poker, no rationality, his hand a mind of it’s own” He picked it up as she remained unaware and violently struck her downward on the skull, he heard a large crack and a different scream than expected, he glanced at the poker, there was no blood, none at all! And now he noticed something unusual, the head was slowly beginning to crack open, then it seemed to fall apart as if an axe had been used instead to split her head in half, and now the body seemed to be separating as if the axe was still being used, yet there was still no blood, only the body slowly separating to reveal another head and body crawling out of the first, like a Butterfly emerging from a chrysalis;

“Agnes!”

The creature was indeed his wife, they had taken her and molded her because her kind were precious, just like they had wanted to mold him in The Acting Circle! And now he could see the bright orange dress that Abigail liked to wear being replaced by a gentle yellow one worn by Dame Agnes;

The phone rang on the dresser, Sir Timothy picked it up, all the time looking at Abigail now rolling around on the floor screaming, but Abigail did not exist;:

“Hello, Sir Timothy Atherton.” He stated.

“Hi, Sir Timothy, it’s Peter Thorson the Producer, they’ve found Dame Agnes in Boston, “She’s alive isn’t that great?”

Realization set in.

“It’s not Dame Agnes, He screamed, it’s not Dame Agnes.”

“Ay, what you mean buddy, she’s here in Boston, we’re going to give you an whole new image!”

And then staring at the creature that was indeed his wife, his hand dropped the phone.

THE END