Life in the boondocks ( Challenge Mission)

Posted on Mon Feb 7th, 2022 @ 6:30am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor
Edited on on Mon Feb 7th, 2022 @ 6:36am

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Dorset England
Timeline: 2377
1354 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia stood on the quayside in her home town of Poole, she watched the boats hustling around the harbour. Behind her music could be heard from the pub, a voice now called her name. "Hey Lia, your needed behind the bar. It's getting busy in there". She turned and raised her hand, "Ok Paul, on my way." She now made her way through the busy bar and slapping the odd hand away as it attempted to make its way up her skirt, "Fuck off you dirty old bastard." It was her standard response to gropers, and in the 'Ship and Anchor' there were plenty of gropers.

She wanted more than this, she needed more than this. But since her old man died her mother had cut her off from the family, she didn't like Lia telling people that her Father had abused her as a child. It was true, but her mother refused to accept it. The next few hours became a blur as she served customer after customer, but once closing time had been called she grabbed her coat and headed home.

Lia unlocked the front door and walked in to her apartment, clothes lay scattered around as she had little or no furniture. Sitting on the bed Lia shook her head, she needed to go to somewhere else and quick. But with little or no credit it might be difficult, a plan was required and Lia now thought about how to move up in this shitty world.

The following morning Lia looked out of her window, she could see the harbour in the distance. *What about Portland?* She thought a little about the old naval base and the island, *Its quiet and out of the way*. Getting dressed she made her way down stairs and across the street to the cafe opposite, Lia ordered fried eggs and sausage with a cup of coffee. She also got a couple of rounds of toast, after eating her breakfast Lia went back to the apartment and sat back down on the bed. *I'm going to Portland*, with her mind made up she looked around and simply nodded her head. "Yeah, time to go", she said to her self.

Jumping on the local shuttle, Lia watched Poole flash past. Within minuets they'd arrived at the old navy base at Portland. As the shuttle lifted off she glanced around, *I could always join Star Fleet* she thought. Then shaking her head she remembered, *Nope no can do, not my style to play spaceman*. She walked up to another pub and glanced in, it looked quiet enough looking up she read the name. "Royal George, I wonder if they got any jobs?" Lia had spoken out loud to herself, and suddenly got an answer. "Oh yeah, they got jobs. They been after a barmaid for months now." Startled Lia turned to face the voice, an old man sat at a table with a pint of beer in front of him. "The names Bill, I'm a regular here. Why is a lass like you after a job in a dive like this?"

Lia returned Bill's smile, "I want out of Poole, but besides a job I'll need to find a place to live." Bill now stood up, "If your not fussy, my sister has a spare room. I could talk to her, and you pair could sort out the details?" Lia now smiled again, "Really? That'll be great, when could I see your sister?" Bill pointed at the woman behind the bar, "Right now if you like, she runs the place. The room is upstairs, and she'll even throw in meals if she like you."

Laughing the pair now entered the pub and spoke to Sally, Bill's sister. Lia had both a new job and somewhere to live, all she had to do was return to Poole and get her belongings.

(One Week Later)

Standing behind the bar, Lia watched some tourists causing a bit of a scene outside of the bar. After about five minuets she headed outside to confront them, "HEY!! This isn't some theme park, and these people aren't actors. So kindly stop treating them like idiots, now leave quietly or I'll call the Police." The small crowd of tourists now began to leave, except one. And he decided to face Lia down, "Oi gobby bitch, your here to serve not give bloody orders. I want an apology outta you right now!!" She walked forwards and looked him in the face, "Well I wouldn't hold your breath, because your not about to get one. Now I suggest you run after your friends, because the Police are on their way." The man looked around then suddenly lashed out, he hit Lia with a bottle and sent her reeling backwards knocked out. As she hit the ground he followed up with a kick to her head, then fled the scene as the Police arrived. Sally had run out as Lia hit the ground, she now sat on the ground with Lia's head in her lap. Blood flowed from a large head wound, it didn't look good.

It was three day's before Lia woke up, but she now had a problem. She couldn't see straight, everything was fuzzy and she had a constant headache. A Doctor told her that irreparable damage had been done to her brain, she would in a few years become blind. The headaches would become worse and without major surgery Lia would die as her brain closed down. "How long have I got?" She asked the Doctor, "No more than six months maximum, that idiot really did a number on you." The Doctor replied, he knew it was a lot less but he didn't want to add to Lia's problems. Lia sat in bed and thought about it, she turned to Sally who was sat by the bed. "Guess you'll need a new barmaid Sally, sorry." Holding back her tears, Sally simply took Lia's hand. "You'll stay at the pub, and we'll look after you. For as long as it takes, so don't worry about that." Lia weakly smiled back, she would never see her old age or even get married. "Thanks Sally, I'll try and not be a burden."

Several operations followed quickly, and Lia felt she was in constant motion between the pub and the hospital. Then one morning it happened, she woke up and it was dark. To dark to see, "Sally! Are you there? What time is it?" Sally sat up and looked at Lia, "I'm here love, what's up?" "Put the light on, I can't see you", Lia strained her ears to hear movement. All she heard was Sally crying, "Sally! Sally, its not dark is it? You can see me can't you?" A hand took hers, "Yes Lia I can see you, its a bright sunny day. I'm sorry honey, but I think its happened". Lia hung her head and began to cry, "The Doctor said I had at least six months, it hasn't been six months has it?"

(Two Weeks Later)

Sally and Bill stood outside the pub as the hearse came past, Sally was crying as Bill held her. "She's gone now Sally, don't cry love. Lia wouldn't want you to cry, that girl fought to the last." Sally looked at Bill, "Why Bill? What did that girl do to die in that way?" Bill shook his head, "Buggered if I know, she was such a live wire. One drunk stupid little bastard, and look what he did. I'm glad they caught him before I did, I'd have killed the little shit." Lia was buried in the local church yard, around her grave stood all the regulars from the pub. Flowers covered the grave, but unseen by everyone was the guilty person who had killed her. He was sat in the shuttle awaiting transport to New Zealand, his sentence was life with no parole. Life, something he had taken from a woman he didn't know. But for the next forty to fifty years he would get to know her, for his life was over also.

OFF

 

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