Aretha crooned on the stereo while Sarah and Kathy shared a cigarette at the half door. Ruth went to join them. Charlotte had gone in search of board games. Swathes of mist floated over the water. There was a full moon. Night-time creatures rustled and called out in the dark. An owl whoop whooped close by. A dog barked in the distance.
Sarah suddenly ducked and screamed.
“What the hell was that? Look – over by the lamp.”
Something was flapping madly by the light.
“Calm down. It’s only a moth,” said Ruth. “Shut the door. It’s the light they’re attracted to.”
“A moth? It’s bloody massive, just look at it, are you sure it’s not a bat?” wailed Sarah. “Go on, Ruth. You get it, kill it.”
“No need to kill it.” Ruth was edging slowly towards the lamp. Gently, she caught a wing and held the flapping insect.
“That’s some bloody mutant species, get the thing away from me,” said Sarah, backing away.
“Come on now, don’t be such a coward –”
Instead of ejecting the unwanted visitor into the night, she chased Sarah around the kitchen table with it.
“Stop it! You’ll be sorry, Ruth… I’m warning you. It’s not funny,” Sarah wailed. Seeing the terror in her face, Ruth relented and freed the giant moth back out into the night.
“I’ll get you back, you witch. Just wait and see, Ruth. I’ll get you back,” Sarah said. She’d begun to wheeze.
“Ah, come on. I’m only having a laugh. Relax,” Ruth said.
“A laugh at my expense. I’m still getting you back.”
“Found it!” shouted Charlotte from the top of the staircase. She was holding a faded box of Monopoly for all to see. “I knew it was here somewhere.”
“Found these too,” shouted Kathy. In each hand she held a six-pack of bottled beer.
“Where on earth did you get those?” asked Charlotte.
“In the cupboard next to the fridge.”
“You’re like a sniffer dog,” said Ruth.
“No one’s forcing you to have any,” sniffed Kathy.
“We’re sorted,” said Charlotte, setting up the board. “Okay, everybody to the table. Let the games commence.”
A pleasant couple of hours passed by where Ruth proved to be an astute speculator. She’d just acquired the Mayfair property.
“You’ve left nothing for the rest of us,” moaned Kathy.
“I’m homeless and broke,” said Sarah joining in. “I’ll be sleeping outside your property in my cardboard box.”
“Don’t worry, Sarah, I’m sure we could come to some arrangement,” said Ruth. She liked this game.
“Depending on the exam results, that could happen sooner than you think,” Sarah muttered.
“Code red. That’s a violation. No exam talk,” said Ruth. “Come on, we all agreed. Any more exam talk will result in an immediate rescinding of any beer allowance.”
“Sergeant Major,” muttered Kathy. “Anyway, there’s no need for Sarah to camp outside,” she said. “There’s always Luke’s fishing trawler.”
“That’s a second code red violation right there. No talk of boyfriends either,” said Ruth.
“Just ’cos you don’t have one,” said Kathy, swigging from her bottle.
“Gee thanks, Kath,” said Ruth.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
Sarah was ignoring the conversation and looking secretive again. There was definitely something going on with her.
“Have you seen the expiry date on these bottles?” asked Kathy, peering at the base of her empty bottle. “It was actually six months ago. They’re out of date by six whole months.”
“Tastes okay to me,” said Charlotte.
“Me too,” said Ruth. “It doesn’t get better than this. A roaring fire. Monopoly. Out-of-date beer. What more do we need?”
They laughed.
It was true they were having a good time. But there was something else too, something odd. Ruth couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was but as she joked with the girls, she had the strangest feeling there wouldn’t be too many more times like these. It was like a premonition.
There was something in the air.
Kathy
The Blue Pool
August 1991
It was a strange breakfast. It had been a strange summer. In fact, thinking about it now, the whole year had been strange. Kathy had more or less forgotten what normal felt like. She’d always thought of herself as happy-go-lucky but lately she found herself expecting the worst from any situation no matter how innocuous or mundane.
It was the morning on their first full day at the Blue Pool. It was early. Kathy was sitting outside the cabin at the front in a striped deckchair. Remaining still, she watched as a plump-chested thrush edged close to her. An empty bowl and a spoon sat in her lap.
“Hi.”
She jumped, thinking she was alone.
“What’s that you have?” asked Sarah looking over the half-door.
“Chicken soup,” she replied over her shoulder. “Out-of-date chicken noodle soup.”
“For breakfast? Ugh.”
“There’s not a lot of choice.”
“Taste alright?” Sarah looked dubious.
“It’s not bad actually. There’s some left on the hob if you want.”
“Guess I’ll have to. There’s nothing else until Charlie goes to the shop.”
Sarah joined her on a rusty deckchair with a bowl of soup. She was bare-legged and wearing a T-shirt with U2 tour dates. Her hair was even more matted than the day before. On her feet she wore unlaced Dr Martens.
“Good look,” said Kathy.
“Who cares?” she shrugged. “It’s only us. No boys.”
“Not a mention of any either, right?”
“My lips are sealed,” she said, slurping.
The ban on guy-talk suited Kathy. It didn’t help to talk about Josh. There were only so many times she could say the guy was a shit. There were only so many times she could listen to the others say that he was a shit. She knew they saw it as being supportive but in demonising him they made her feel ridiculous and a fool, however unintentionally.
Josh had never once enquired about the pregnancy. Never once had he come anywhere near to enquire about her plans. He’d stayed out of her orbit completely. There was that one time that their paths had almost crossed. It was outside the porter’s office as he was heading towards the Aula for the debating final. Ruth had grabbed her arm and steered her hurriedly in the direction of the college bar. She’d only realised what was happening when Charlotte and Sarah turned to hiss like angry swans at the retreating figure of the long-haired student.
She was grateful the others didn’t bring up her experience in London. Not in her earshot anyway. It was another episode that she didn’t want to dwell on. She would of course always be indebted to Ruth. She’d been a rock – a shoulder to weep and sniff on home to Ireland on that awful bus.
She’d made the right decision. She’d have coped with reaction from her hometown. In a way she’d have relished parading a pram up and down Mainstreet, the downcast eyes, the backward glances. As for her parents, they’d have come round in the end.
The truth was that she’d make a useless parent. She’d had a brother and look at how she’d betrayed him. If she couldn’t stand up for him, how the hell could she bring up a child? She just couldn’t do it. It would be too unfair. She couldn’t inflict herself as a mother on any child. She had no regrets. The tears she’d cried on that bus were tears of relief and not regret.
“Did you hear all those noises last night?” asked Sarah, lifting the bowl to her mouth.
“What noises?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t hear,” said Sarah. “The clattering noises outside the window and all that banging – like a door not shut properly. There were voices too.”
“Oh, that,” said Kathy. “That’ll have been the White Lady.”
“Stop right the
re. We had enough of your freaky stories last night,” said Sarah.
The previous evening when Monopoly fell into disarray, she’d recounted a ghost story – a local folklore tale that she’d read in a book in the bathroom. The white lady was a woman whose family had locked her up against her will in the local madhouse. She’d embellished and exaggerated of course, so that her version of the story was infinitely more ghoulish and terrifying.
“I know what you mean about the banging,” said Kathy. “I heard that too. But I can’t say I heard voices.” She thought a moment. “Sound travels a long way in the countryside though. It could have come from miles away.”
“No, it didn’t. I’m sure of that,” said Sarah. “It sounded like it was right outside this cabin.”
“Really? Ssshh then,” Kathy ordered. “Be quiet and listen.”
Sarah cocked her head.
“Hear that?” said Kathy. “That’s the sound of the breeze in the trees. It’s the sound of wind swishing through the reeds. That’s what you heard. At night everything sounds different. Spooky. Everything’s accentuated at night.”
Sarah looked unconvinced.
“Okay then, have it your way,” said Kathy. “Maybe you are right. Maybe there was someone outside last night. Maybe it was the lonely idiot son of an elderly farmer – no longer able to restrain him from wandering the countryside at night. Maybe he’s out there in the reeds right now,” she pointed, “stalking us, lusting after female company.” She paused to look at Sarah. “Perhaps he isn’t graced with human form – a phantom lurking in the gloom and shadows of the night.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” Sarah pulled a face. “I know what I heard. And I’m glad I’m sleeping upstairs. Whatever it is will get to you first!”
Kathy wasn’t bothered. Being from a farm, she was used to countryside sounds at night. “Take it from me,” she said, “it was probably a fox or a badger. Lawrence used to say that the sound of a red fox screaming at night is terrifying – like a woman wailing.”
Both girls fell silent a moment.
“You must miss him terribly,” said Sarah softly.
Kathy hesitated. Not because she had to think, but because it was the first time anyone had said it. At the farm no one spoke of him. It wasn’t the thing to talk about feelings. People at college had forgotten. Ruth and Charlotte hadn’t asked – Kathy assumed that like everybody else, they felt too awkward. But she was happy to talk to Sarah.
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you think… you know…” Sarah stumbled, “if Lawrence had like… come out, said he was gay, told everyone… do you think he would have been okay?”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” said Kathy. “I couldn’t have imagined him telling anyone. Not my parents anyhow. No way.”
“They wouldn’t have accepted it?”
“I don’t think so. It would have been an affront to them.”
“So, even if he’d told them, it wouldn’t have made it better.”
“I really don’t know,” said Kathy. “Maybe if I’d bothered my ass. Maybe if I’d intervened –”
“But from what you say, that doesn’t seem likely. And wherever he is, he’s got to be happier than he was on earth. His spirit is free.”
“I hope so. I really do.” She thought for a few moments. “Do you think there’s such a thing as gay animals? I think animals can like their own sex too, it’s not just humans.”
“I don’t know, Kath. I don’t see why not, I’ve never thought about it. Why?”
“Take a look at that thrush over there,” said Kathy, pointing. “He’s been hopping about all the time that I’ve been here. Looks as if he’s studying me, listening to me.”
“Oh, I see. Lawrence in another form – reincarnation, is that what you mean?”
“Why not?” She found the thought of it comforting. “I read a paper recently on the psychology of reincarnation. Interesting –”
“That bird sure is watching you intently,” Sarah interrupted.
“Probably wants my chicken noodle soup,” said Kathy, laughing. As she laughed, the bird flew onto the roof of the cabin next door and then took off.
“In the next life I’m going to be a koala,” said Sarah.
“Why?”
“They look so cute and they sleep all day.” Sarah leaned back into her chair and stretched her arms over her head, yawning.
A sudden wrenching, crunching sound filled the air and she landed flat splat on her bum.
“Bloody hell!”
Two heads appeared over the half-door. Spewing laughter.
Sarah was prone, legs akimbo, covered in noodles.
“Glad you’re amused,” said Sarah. “So glad to be of service.” She stuck her tongue out at Ruth and Charlotte. Gingerly, she stood up, dusted herself off, and got to her feet.
“I’m off to the village for some shopping,” said Charlotte. “I couldn’t possibly have soup for breakfast.” She shivered with distaste. “Ruth and I have made out a list, so cough up your coppers and we’ll have a kitty.”
“Don’t anyone worry about me,” groaned Sarah, rubbing her bum.
“You’ll be fine,” said Ruth impatiently.
“Remember to reserve some cash for the pub,” said Kathy, putting an arm around Sarah’s shoulder.
“Will do,” said Charlotte.
“Are we going tonight or tomorrow?” Sarah was recovering.
“Tonight would be good,” said Ruth.
“Well, if you don’t mind, tomorrow night would be better,” Charlotte interjected. “I think a barbeque this evening – the weather’s good and it may rain tomorrow.”
“That’s fine,” said Ruth.
Clubbing together what money they had in their purses and rucksack pockets, they divided the kitty in two. The smaller part was for the village shop and the greater part was reserved for the pub.
“That water looks gorgeous. Anyone fancy a swim just now?” asked Ruth.
“I wonder if the swim could wait until we get back?” Charlotte sounded frosty.
“Okay. Whatever,” said Ruth.
“We could take the boat and row over to Black Island,” said Charlotte. “It’s less reedy there and great for a swim.” She turned to Kathy. “While we’re gone, could you two see if the oars are in the boathouse? That’s where they’re normally kept.”
“Sure,” said Kathy, amused at Charlotte and Ruth trying to out-do one another, both vying for position of alpha female.
Charlotte was putting Ruth through her paces. Ruth had a good heart but she could be insufferably bossy. Kathy found it fun to watch Charlotte standing her ground. Because when Charlotte made up her mind, that was it. She was even more stubborn than Ruth.
“For God’s sake, hurry up you guys,” Kathy added. “We’re gagging for something decent to eat. And don’t forget the crisps and chocolate.”
“Anything else, Lady Muck? You just make sure you sit back, relax, and enjoy the sun there,” said Charlotte.
Kathy stuck out her tongue. She was comfortable in her chair.
* * *
The sun had climbed high into the sky by the time Ruth and Charlotte headed off in the car.
“I guess we’d better find those oars then,” Sarah said to Kathy.
“We don’t have to jump to attention just because Wing Commander Charlotte Moran says so!” Kathy retorted.
“Charlie’s giving Ruth a run for her money today, alright,” said Sarah with a chuckle.
So, Sarah had noticed too. It wasn’t just her.
“Give me a few minutes while I enjoy my smoke in peace,” she said as she blew a smoke curl into the air.
“I’ll join you,” said Sarah, lighting up.
“You shouldn’t really, Sarah,” Kathy said. “With your chest.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. Kathy could see her point. Who was she to preach to anyone?
With both cigarettes smoked down to the filter, Kathy and Sarah went in search of the oars. As they walked down to the
boathouse, a breeze had picked up and swished at the long grass releasing clouds of dandelion spores.
“That’s strange,” said Sarah.
“What?”
“Look,” Sarah said, pointing. “The door to the boathouse – it’s wide open.”
“Well then,” said Kathy. “There’s your explanation.”
“Explanation?”
“All the banging you heard last night.”
“You think it was that door banging in the wind?”
“What else?”
“Yeah, I guess you could be right.”
It was a chance explanation for last night’s noises but knowing that Sarah was nervous, Kathy didn’t feel the urge to share that she too thought the swaying door was very odd. Down at the jetty the previous evening she’d failed to notice if the door was open. That wasn’t to say that it had been closed, Kathy just hadn’t noticed it, but it was obviously open now.
She peered cautiously into the gloom. There was no sound coming from the dank building. After a few coughs failed to oust anything untoward, Kathy braved another step inside.
“Boo!” shouted Sarah in her ear.
“For fuck’s sake!” Kathy jumped. “Don’t do that, Sarah.”
Kathy’s heart was thumping. Then her foot hit something solid. They were in luck. “Here they are,” she said her eyes adjusting. “I’ve found them. Here – you take one.”
Kathy bent down to grab an oar.
They both mucked about and poked one another with the oars as they walked down the jetty making their way to the boat. Laughing, they tried not to fall into the water as they laid the oars inside the boat.
“Mission accomplished.” Kathy rubbed her hands together. “Swimsuits and towels – then we’re ready. Let’s head back up to get them.”
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” said Sarah.
The Blue Pool Page 12