Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 07:11:54 -0700 (PDT) From: steve martin Subject: joe storms out (celebrity section) Memory Loss Gives Ashley An Unexpected Gift! This is a story about television characters in the soap "Coronation Street", (copyright Granada TV), and is in no way a reflection on the characters, production company, actors playing these characters, or how people should conduct themselves in real life (hanky panky without a condom is just not good!!). This is a work of the writer's strange but true imagination, and should be treated as such. If you like what you have read, please let me know at shagmyass@yahoo.com, and tell me if you want to hear more from this series. This first story is a build up, so you have been warned, there is no action involved, but if you decide you like where this storyline might lead, let me know, or else I will just leave it and let it die a death!! A note to our American readers, you probably will not understand this story at all, as you don't receive the programme featured on your screens, or if you do, it is likely a little behind our own episodes. Apologies for this, but we readers from the United Kingdom often have to put up with this problem in reverse, so just for once, let us have the upper hand!! I hope you all enjoy this, it is a little different from other stories you have read, I hope, and is different from stories I have submitted before (see "Adam seduces Summer bay" series to see what I mean). P.S. If the series goes ahead, it will be titled "Memory loss gives Ashley an unexpected gift" so you will know what to look out for!! Chapter 1 Joe storms out. Joe Carter, the assistant manager in Baldwin's factory, stormed out of the Rovers. He'd just had a huge argument with Geena in front of everyone, and declared he was clearing out for good, before charging through the doors like a bull. He got in his car, and drove off at high speed, leaving the vision of beautiful Geena, who had come after him, in his rear-view mirror. He'd leave her to stew for a few days, and then go back for the apology she always gave. Stupid cow, he thought, no matter who's to blame she's always the one to say sorry, and does anything he asks, like getting his pole in her tight little arse, nothing like it. He rounded the corner, and, driving too fast, swerved suddenly to avoid the dog in the road, sending the car headlong into the canal. On impact, Joe, who never wore a seatbelt, smacked his head off the windscreen, knocking him out cold. Ashley was coming back from one of the butcher shops he and his dad owned, in the freshly scrubbed van, when he heard the splash of Joe's car landing in the water. Pulling over, he ran to the canal edge, and seeing that someone was in the driver's seat, dived in and swam to the car door. After a short struggle, he yanked the door open and pulled Joe out. He managed to drag him to the bank, and having got him to dry ground, worked to revive him. Joe woke up, but was groggy, and couldn't give Ashley a clear answer to anything he asked. So Ashley helped him to his feet, and walked him to the van. Once he had Joe comfortable, Ashley drove him to the hospital, where Joe was admitted. The nurse asked Ashley for details, which Ashley gave her, as well as he could, telling her Joe had no family he was aware of, his age at a guess, and so on. "How is he?" Ashley asked. "Well, so far he has no memory of anything other than his name." Was the nurse's reply. "Is there anyone we can contact, anyone close to him at all who needs to know?" Ashley was about to give her Geena's name, and the number of the Rovers, when a plan began to hatch in his mind. "No," he said. "There's no-one, just me. I'm his partner." At that news, the nurse let Ashley in to see Joe, warning him that he may not recognise Ashley, but that it was part of his condition. Just as expected, on sight of Ashley, Joe gave no indication he knew him. "Hiya Joe" Ashley said. "Hello." Joe replied. "'Ow are yer?" asked Ashley. "Not too bad considering." Joe answered warily. "Look, I know you know me, and don't take this the wrong way, but who are yer?" "Don't yer know me a' all Joe?" Ashley asked, appearing hurt for Joe's benefit. "Sorry, no, should I?" Joe said. "Joe, it's me, Ashley." Ashley stated. "Ashley?" Joe repeated after him, as if it were the first time he had heard the name. "Joe, we've been together for the past year now, don' yer know me a' all?" Ashley queried, squeezing out a few crocodile tears for good measure. "Together?" Joe said. "You mean." "Lovers Joe, that's what I mean." Ashley replied, finishing the sentence for him. "'Ow can yer not remember our special times together?" "Lovers." Was all Joe said, astounded. "Yeah Joe, and bloody good together we are too, according to you, the best you've ever 'ad!" Ashley stated. "If I could just remember anything." Joe lamented. "Don't worry." Ashley reassured him. "We'll get yer 'ome, and you'll be right as rain in no time." "Where do I, I mean we, live?" Joe asked. "You'll see tomorrer." Ashley replied, going through the options in his head as he said it. There were a flat above one of the shops, own entrance an' all, he thought, that's perfect, is that. "You get some rest, an' I'll lift you tomorrer." At that Ashley left, leaving Joe to puzzle over the revelations he'd learned about himself. He eventually fell asleep, and didn't wake until the next morning, taking breakfast before having a bath and changing into some hospital-supplied pyjamas. "You'll be getting out of here this afternoon." A nurse told him. "Your friend Ashley is collecting you." Joe smiled at her, thinking to himself how he was going home with someone who was a total stranger to him, despite any relationship they had had in the past. Half one came, and Ashley landed into the ward, grinning from ear to ear. "Ready Joe?" He asked, picking up Joe's dirty clothes in their bag, before handing Joe another bag full of clothes, along with a pair of shoes. "Brought yer these to come home in." "Thanks." Joe said, taking the bag from Ashley. "Just be a minute." And headed for the bathroom to change out of the pyjamas. He put on the clothes, a tight fitting white T-shirt, faded denim jeans, and a pair of boots. With his welltoned body, he cut a fine figure when he came out, and Ashley watched him approaching appreciatively. "Will I do?" Joe asked. "Oh yeah," Ashley stated. "You'll do alrigh'. Let's go 'ome." And with that they left the hospital, from where Ashley drove them to the flat. He let Joe in, and led him upstairs. He'd been shopping all morning, kitting out the flat, as well as filling the wardrobe with stuff that was Joe's size, which he'd got from his clothes last night, when Joe took them off, as well as some clothes for himself, not able to take the clothes from the house, for fear of Maxine realising they were missing. "Remember anyfin'?" Ashley asked, knowing full well Joe couldn't remember something that hadn't existed until that morning. "Not so far." Joe said. "Well, I'll leave yer to get settled in, while I go to work." Ashley said. "I work nights, seven days a week, in the abattoir, so I'll see yer in morning." And, giving Joe a kiss on the cheek, Ashley left Joe to get used to his new home, while he went home to his wife Maxine.