Autumn

JAKE WILSON

JAKE WILSON

Eight months ago, Jake Wilson packed up his family and emigrated to Canada from the United Kingdom. A regional manager for a global finance house, Jake agreed to move overseas for a well paid, two year posting. He, his wife Lucy and their two children settled quickly into their new surroundings. The people who found it hardest to adjust were those they’d left behind. Even after more than half a year, Polly Wilson – Jake’s well-meaning but highly strung and over-sensitive mother – still finds the distance between her and her son difficult to deal with. Mrs Wilson and her husband made their first visit to Canada several weeks ago, but it did little to reassure her. If anything it’s made her even more neurotic. Jake has grown to dread the weekly telephone calls from home. It’s now the early hours of Tuesday morning.

#

‘Jake? Jake, is that you?’

‘Mom? Bloody hell, do you know what time it is?’

‘Are you okay, love?’

‘Apart from being woken up in the middle of the night I’m fine. Why shouldn’t I be?’

‘Haven’t you heard?’

‘Heard what? Bloody hell, Mom…’

‘There’s no need for the language, Jake, we were just worried about you, that’s all.’

‘Why?’

‘Are you far from Vancouver?’

‘It’s on the other side of the country. It’s thousands of miles away, why?’

‘Because something’s happening there. I don’t know what exactly. I don’t think anyone knows. Your dad and I saw it on the news and—’

‘You’re not making any sense. Look, Mom, I’m really tired.’

‘I’m sorry, love. It’s just that you’re all so far away and we worry about you.’

‘I know, I know… What are you doing up so early, anyway? It’s before seven there, isn’t it?’

‘Your dad couldn’t sleep. You know what he’s like once he’s awake. And once he’s up and about I can’t relax. He woke me up with his shuffling and his moaning so we both got up and came downstairs. We were watching the news, and when we saw they were talking about Canada we thought we should call…’

‘So what exactly is supposed to have happened in Vancouver?’

‘They’re not sure. No one’s saying much. No one seems to know.’

‘So you’ve woken me up to tell me that no one knows very much about what’s happening in Vancouver? Come on, Mom, I’ve got an important meeting first thing tomorrow and I can’t afford to—’

‘No. Listen, son, something’s definitely happened there but they don’t—’

‘Well was it an accident or a bomb or…?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Mom, you’ve got to stop this. I know you mean well, but this isn’t little old England. This place is huge. Just because something’s happening in the same country, it doesn’t always mean it’s going to affect us.’

‘But this sounds serious, love. They say the city’s gone silent.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean? Vancouver is a massive city for Christ’s sake. There are thousands and thousands of people there, millions even. You don’t lose contact with millions of people just like that.’

‘I know, but—’

‘You can’t lose contact with a whole bloody city, Mom.’

‘I know, but they have.’

‘What channel are you watching? Are you sure it’s genuine? It’s not just a film or one of those drama-documentaries, is it?’

‘Jake, your father and I are not stupid. I know what I’m watching. It’s the news and it’s real. We’re sitting in front of the television right now. I’m only telling you because we’re concerned about you, Lucy and the boys.’

‘So tell me again, what exactly is it they’re saying?’

‘Your dad says to put your TV on, son. You’re bound to have some news where you are. You’re much closer than we are.’

‘Okay, give me a second.’

‘What can you see?’

‘Hold on, that’s strange.’

‘What is?’

‘I can’t get a picture on some of the channels. Cable must be down. Sometimes this happens when…’

‘What about the radio? Try your computer, son. Try the Internet.’

‘Hang on, here’s something.’

‘What are they saying?’

‘Christ, Mom, it’s just like you said, they’ve lost contact with the area around… Hold on, you said Vancouver, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, why?’

‘Because the station I’m watching here is talking about Winnipeg. That’s miles away. And Seattle, and Portland. They’re talking about a massive part of the country. Bloody hell…’

‘Are they saying anything about what’s happened, Jake? Do they know why—’

‘Christ, Mom, they’ve put a map up. It looks like it’s spreading out from the west.’

‘What is?’

‘I don’t know. Nothing… Just nothing… They’re not explaining anything, they’re just…’

‘Where are Lucy and the boys, Jake?’

‘Lucy’s here in bed with me, the boys are asleep.’

‘You should lock your doors. Don’t answer the door if anyone comes.’

‘What’s the point of locking the door? This isn’t anything to do with…’

‘Jake… Jake, are you still there? What’s the matter, son?’

‘Nothing. Thought I heard something.’

‘What?’

‘Thought I could hear…’

‘Jake? What’s happening?’

‘Mom, I’m going to put the phone down. Listen, I’ll call you back as soon as I—’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Something’s happening on the other side of the river. There’s a fire. It looks like something’s gone into the front of one of the buildings on the waterfront. I can’t see much from here… Hang on a second and I’ll try and… s**t, that’s all I need, the kids are awake now. Bloody hell. Lucy, could you go and…? Lucy? Honey, what’s wrong?’

‘What’s the matter, son?’

‘Lucy? Don’t struggle, honey, lie back and I’ll get you a—’

‘Jake…? Jake, love, are you still there?’

#

Over five thousand miles away and completely helpless, Mrs Wilson listened to the muffled sounds of her son, her daughter-in-law and her two grandsons choking to death.

Their heartbreak was short lived. Within hours both Mrs Wilson and her husband were dead too.