by John Riley
iii
Below Ground
He never could play the piano, always wanted to, so what a bit of luck when a man with an old battered suitcase turned up on the doorstep. The wife answered.
“Hey, get this, Hughie, this guy wants to grant a wish for some deal.”
No answer.
“Hughie, you hear me?”
He shuffled up beside her, his face in permanent strife, giving her that stare as to the reason for disturbing him reading his newspaper.
“Let me deal with this,” pushing his way around her.
“Son, I ain’t got time, not interested in what you sell.”
Mr Bainbraker then attempted a thin smile, coaxing his wife back inside and just about to close the front door.
“Sir, I shall pay you 100 dollars, here and now, if I do not give you what you have always wanted. To play the piano? Right now, I shall grant you a wish to escape into a world of music. You always wanted to play the piano, just like your Ma did.”
“What bottle did you escape from?”
He turned back to his wife.
“What have you been telling him?”
“Nothing, he told me you always wanted to play.”
“Sir, give me a minute. All I need is for you to donate your soul when you die to the cause. Simple as that, and I shall bring you a dream fulfilled. If I fail, to give you what you want, then I shall pay you. You have my word.”
He reached down and pulled out a wad of dollar bills.
Mrs Bainbraker’s eyes lit up. Mr Bainbraker chuckled.
“Hell, boy! I ain’t got much use for my soul after I’m gone. When dead, you’re dead. You don’t believe in all that hogwash about an afterlife?”
The money did look like an attractive prospect. They could do with it after what both had been through.
Sam smiled.
“Well, not for me to say Mr Bainbraker, now to business.”
At the end of the deal, Mr Bainbraker was thrilled to hear himself play the piano beautifully as ever he could imagine. He couldn’t believe it. Hellfire! The guy had given him the money. Forced him to take it as an extra gesture.
However, to Mrs Bainbraker, the piece her husband played sounded no different to what it always sounded like. A riot of discordant noise. Anyway, she got her wish and now preoccupied with how she looked in the mirror. She looked so young, even though 80 years of age. Well, anyone seeing what reflected would take issue with what promised and what is real.
