The start of a new chapter

No matter how hard he stared at it, the screen remained blank. His inbox remained empty. Devoid of all activity. He ignored the folder that read: debts.

For the umpteenth time, he refreshed the page.

And again.

And again.

A voice sounded behind him, making him jump.

“Aren’t you going to come and have dinner with us sweetheart?” She put her hand on his shoulder, gently.

He turned round to smile briefly at her before turning back to the screen.

“Sorry love, I need to stay here to monitor my orders. They’re coming in quite quickly now you know!” He feigned enthusiasm.

She nodded understandingly and gave him a light hug before heading back to the other room.

He couldn’t bring himself to tell her.

“You will spend some time with the kids tonight though, right honey?” She threw over her shoulder.

“Of course! Just give me ten minutes or so…” He grimaced silently. Hopefully by then the orders will have started coming in.

When he heard the warm tones of her voice in the other room, he let his shoulders slump, and his head dropped into his hands.

Please! He prayed. He’d worked so damn hard. He’d risked everything! It couldn’t all be for nothing… please say it wasn’t all for nothing.

The wind whistled through the gaps in the roof.

He shivered and hopelessness consumed him. His plan had failed. He had failed. No – he had failed them. They all deserved more than this – and this was all he could give them.

He shouldn’t have risked using all of the money…but he’d really though people would want to read his –

Ping!

He snapped to attention.

Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!

With shaking hands, he clicked on the notifications.

Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!

Ping! Ping! Ping!

He looked at the first three notifications…

Order requests for The Midnight Game by Harvey Mayo:

Molly.wood.books.com – x20 copies (Hardback)

Order requests for The Midnight Game by Harvey Mayo:

Britneys_bookmarks.com – x25 copies (Hardback)

Order requests for The Midnight Game by Harvey Mayo:

We.love.books.com – x40 copies (Paperback)

He looked at his screen in joy and disbelief – It couldn’t be…he rubbed his eyes and peered at the screen.

He’d done it!

Ping!

He worked out the numbers in his head…

…eighty-five copies of his newly published book already in demand!

That meant that he’s already made a minimum of £100… if there was any left from paying rent, he could buy Elsa some new fabric so that she could make a new dress…

He could buy Emily those ballet slippers she always wanted…

He could buy little Jonny some toys, or perhaps a new blanket…

He could buy his Mother that medicine she needed for her cough…

In ecstasy, he imagined all of the things he could do if orders kept coming in.

The possibilities were endless.

He felt like crying. If things kept going like this, they would be out of debt and finally be able to afford the rent!

Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!

He looked at the screen – fifty new notifications.

For a moment before, he thought he’d made a fatal mistake using their savings to get the book published...

And now he wouldn’t have to tell Elsa and the kids that they were in too much debt, and needed to move in with Aunty Marlene… they could stay!

Maybe even buy a house of their own.

At this, it all suddenly felt like too much to handle, and he sat down, his head swimming disconcertingly.

He  pulled himself together and forwarded all of the notifications to his manager and dear friend, who he’d arranged would take care of the transactions for ten percent of his profits.

Just then, a different notification popped up. He clicked on it.

£1000 has been transferred into your bank account.

He felt like screaming and dancing all at once!

One hundred and fifteen new notifications.

With trembling fingers, he punched out the number on his phone.

“Hello? This is Lloyds Bank; how can I help you?” The voice droned.

“Hello… I’d like to” he struggled to get the words past the lump in his throat “pay off my debts, please.” He blinked rapidly.

When he put the phone down a couple of minutes later, he felt more in control of his life than he’d ever felt before. He felt light – as though a great weight had been lifted from his back.

Elsa – he had to tell Elsa! She would be overjoyed!

His door burst open, bouncing back off the wall with a crash.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Emily squealed “Your book’s all over the internet!”

She waved the cheap phone in his face, and threw herself on him, hugging him tightly.

He hugged her back fiercely.

The door opened again, and Elsa came in with Jonny. She walked quickly over to him.

“Is it true? Your book took off?” She looked at him with such pride on her face, he wanted to kiss her then and there. She swallowed and looked at the worn away carpet beneath her feet.

“What does this mean? For us?” she looked up at him, barely concealing the hope in her eyes.

Something about her looked different – and it took him a moment to realise what it was. It was the light of hope in her eyes – it had been so long since he’d seen that sparkle that he’d forgotten what it looked like. It snatched his breath away.

Jonny screeched and reached his chubby arms over to him – breaking him out of his trance.

He took him tenderly into his arms, and Jonny stopped screeching.

“It means that we’re free.”

He looked meaningfully at her, and she met his eyes, dazed. They stared at each other.

Free.

Like birds set free from the metal cage of poverty.

She moved to him slowly and rested her head on his shoulder. Emily came running and launched herself into Mommy’s arms.

Together, they stood in the small, box-like room.

Ready to face the endless possibility of their new future.