A voice bellowed back from the rear of the store.
"WHAT BE YOUSE WANTIN' 'ARRY?"
"DERE'S BES A MAINLANDER 'ERE DAT WANTS TO SEE YOUSE."
"WHAT DOES HE BE WANTIN'?"
Harry looked at Bill.
"What's youse be wantin' to see me brudder fer?"
Bill shook his head.
"I was told I should see him before I go to the lighthouse."
Harry looked puzzled.
"Why bes youse wantin' to go to da light'ouse?"
A voice from behind him, made Bill jump.
"Fuck."
Again he nearly shit my pants.
"What is with you people sneaking up on others."
"Yes, boy. What's youse be wantin' wit da light'ouse?" Harry wondered.
Bill took a moment to gain his composure.
"My name is Bill Williams. I bought the light'ouse. I mean the lighthouse."
Henry took my hand and began shaking it furiously.
"Of course, Mr. Willams. Dat fella Dave Wills called me and told me youse was comin' 'ere to look at dat old place. I am so glads to meet youse."
He stopped shaking my hand and shook his head.
"Sorry about earlier, out dere on da 'ill. I mights of given youse a bad impression of me."
Henry Tucker
"So that was you driving that old green Ford?"
Henry nodded.
"Yes, boy. Ise 'ad to go to Deer Lake to git some pills fer me prostate. Da doctor in Deer Lake told me it were too big, so nows Ise 'as to take dese pills to keep it from gettin' any bigger."
Bill took a deep breath.
"Well you were rather rude."
"Well, me son. Youse were parked in the middle of da road. 'ow cud Ise git pat youse?"
"You could have just politely asked."
"Yes, boy, Ise cud 'ave I guess, but Ise was in a 'hurry. I 'ad to get 'ome to take me blood pressure pill, before Ise cud take me prostate pill."
Bill was utterly confused and lost for words.
Henry laughed.
"Youse jest be lucky dat it twas me dat were out dere on da 'ill and not Freddy Simpson. Dat young whippersnapper probably would have pushed your truck right into da ocean."
He leaned in close to me.
"Freddy was born without a full 'ead of brains, ifin youse knows what I means."
"I think so."
Henry took Bill's hand and started shaking it again.
"Anyways, no 'ard feelins me son."
Bill had to smile.
"Ah sure. No hard feelings."
He took his wallet from his front pocket.
"Mr. Wells said I should settle up with you."
"Fer what?"
"He said you supplied me with food and sundries and such."
"Bye, Ise gave youse some food, but I don't knows what dem sunday tings are."
He looked at Henry.
"Does youse knows what 'e bes talkin' 'bout?"
Henry just shrugged.
Bill explained.
"It is stuff like cleaners and laundry detergent and toilet paper. Things like that."
Henry nodded.
"Yes, me son. I puts some toilet paper and such in the house and somes basics, but I tinks youse best be looking at what else youse might need and then we will settle up.
'ows dat sound?"
Bill nodded, returning his wallet to his pocket.
"Okay. I will take a look at what you got me and then make a list of the other things I need."
Henry nodded.
"Dats sounds like a good idea, me son."
"But while I am here, I might as well pick up some beer and rum and maybe some scotch."
"Scotch?"
Henry and Harry looked at each other, puzzled.
"Youse wants us to find youse a man from Scotland?" Harry wondered.
"No. I am talking about Scotch Whiskey. Single malt."
Henry nodded.
"Yes me son. I knows what youse be talkin' about."
"So you have some?"
Henry shook his head.
"No me son, but I tinks we might still 'ave some Aqua Velva aftershave 'ere somewheres."
Bill stared at the man in confusion.
"Why would I want Aqua Velva aftershave?"
"Well me son, I'se tasted dat scotch stuff before and I'se tasted Aqua Velva and I'se prefers the Aqua Velva."
'I'm in hell,' Bill thought to himself.
"Then I will just get some beer and cigarettes."
"What kinds of beer does youse want?" Harry asked.
"What would you suggest?"
"Rum," Harry snapped back.
"Ise not bes a beer drinker."
"But if you were,' Bill explained, "what beer would you recommend?"
"Boy, Ise gots to be 'onest wit youse. Never did likes da beer. Best youse be askin' 'enry."
"Jest git 'im a couple dozen Black 'ouse," Henry told him.
He looked at Bill.
"Its bes da favourite of peoples 'round 'ere."
"Then Black Horse it will be."
Bill watched as Harry went to the cooler before looking at Henry.
"Where can I find Matilda Dove?"
"Matilda?"
Henry's face went pale.
"Youse wants to sees Matilda?"
Bill nodded.
"Yea. I have the documents for the sale of the lighthouse and we have to go over them before we sign them."
"Matilda 'as to sign dem?" Henry wondered.
"She owns the lighthouse, doesn't she?"
Henry looked at Harry, who had just returned with Bill's beer.
"Yes, me son. Matilda, she bes ownin' da light'ouse fer sure."
Bill nodded.
"Then she is the woman I have to see. I assume she is an older woman?"
"Dat she's bes."
Henry put his hand on Bill's arm.
"So, youse knows 'bout Matilda Dove?"
"Of course."
"And it don'ts be botherin' youse?"
Bill shrugged.
"No. Why should it? She's a nice woman, as far as Mr. Wells is concerned."
"So Mr. Wells been talkin' to 'er."
Bill nodded.
"Talkin' to Matilda Dove?"
Again Bill nodded.
"He made the deal with her for the sale of the house."
Henry and Harry looked at each other and then back at Bill.
"Well me son. Ifin youse not bes worried 'bout talkin' to Matilda Dove, den youse will fits right in 'ere in da Bay."
Both men shook Bill's hand.
"So where can I find her?"
Henry pointed out the door, toward the lighthouse.
"Best ise can tells youse is dat ifin youse goes to da light'ouse, den chances are youse will find 'er."
Bill smiled and nodded.
He paid for the beer and bought a couple packs of Export A cigarettes and walked out the door, saying goodbye to the Tucker brothers.
"Dat mainlander must be 'avin' one huge set of balls," Harry commented as he watched Bill get into his truck.
"Ifin 'e has da balls to bes talkin' to Matilda Dove, den 'e be one fuck of a man."
Henry waved at Bill from the door of the General Store.
"Yes brudder. He bes a much braver man den Ise bes. Wouldn't be Ise talkin' to dat old woman."
Harry put his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"With da 'istory dat youse two 'as, Ise don't bes blaming' youse."
Bill sat in the cab of his truck and lit a cigarette, as he waved to the two, obviously identical twin brothers, that he had just met.
"What the fuck have I gotten myself into?" he wondered.
He closed his eyes. He could almost see the beaches of Jamaica.
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was the lighthouse, in the truck's rearview mirror.
That, at least, brought a smile to his face.