by Karen Woods
Elsie jumped into the conversation and cracked a joke. “You have your finger stuck in anything son. You’re a dirty bleeder. Ay, don’t you be having no girls turning up here pregnant. I’m too young to be a granny,” she added laughing out loud. Jordan swallowed hard and he looked like he was going to say something but stopped dead in his tracks. Elsie stood up. “I’m just going down to the shop to get some food and some gas. Do you want anything, son?”
Tony held his hands up in the air. “What about me? You know, your husband, the one who puts money on the table each week. I am here you know. I’m not the invisible man?”
Elsie smirked as she grabbed her jacket from the sofa. “You can suck a fart right out of my arse! I’m doing nothing for you until you’ve sorted yourself out.” That was him told, he shook his head and kept a low profile.
“Can you get me a can of Dr Pepper mam? I’ve got a craving for it lately. I’m drinking gallons of it.”
“Do you want anything else? I’m getting some pickled onion Space Raiders if you want a bag.”
“No way. They make your breath stink. I’ve got a date later, and I’m not going on it with pickled onion breath.”
Elsie was addicted to the crisps; she ate bags of them each day. Dragging her coat over her body, she edged towards the door. “Please yourself. Right, I’ll be back soon. Tony, you can straighten up in here and hoover round. It’s a shit-tip in here.”
Tony mumbled under his breath and rammed two fingers up at her. Elsie didn’t see him otherwise she would have smacked him one. Once the front door slammed shut Tony started to speak. This was man time, his time to let off some steam. “That woman does my head in. I swear to you son, don’t ever get married. You just carry on banging all those birds while you can. Because, mark my words, once you’ve walked them down the aisle it all changes. No sex, no TLC, no fuck all. Just moan, moan and moan.”
Jordan chuckled. “Well, you must have done something to her. It’s your own fault. How many times have I told you that women are sensitive? I treat my ladies like princesses; I give them flowers, chocolates, perfumes, they love it.”
“Oi, you don’t have to tell me about how to treat a woman. I’ve had my fair share of them to last a lifetime, but don’t be telling your mother that. Some things are best left unsaid.”
Jordan nodded. “She’d cut your bollocks off if she heard you, so if I was you, I’d keep it schtum.” These were wise words, he had his head screwed on for sure. He reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a roll of twenty- pound notes. Tony’s eyes were wide open as he licked his lips slowly. “You’re doing alright son. Look at that lot, how much have you got there?”
“About four ton. I’ve got to pick some more money up later too.”
Tony was starting to sweat, he had to be quick before his wife come back home. He turned his head away and started to talk in a low voice. “I’m glad you’re doing well mate. I wish we could get a bit of something to help us on our feet. I try my best, but fuck me, something always comes up. Sometimes I just feel like running away from it all. What does a man have to do in this world to get a break?”
Jordan knew his old man of old. He was on the scrounge again. He cut the sob story short and handed him two twenty-pound notes. “Here, that should help you both out. Make sure you tell my mam about it too, don’t be keeping it to yourself.”
He peeled another note from the pile and placed it on the table. “Give that to Emily. She could always do with a few extra quid to help her out.” This was a turn up for the books, just what the family needed.
Tony patted the top of his son’s shoulder. “You’re a good lad, helping us like this. I’m so proud of the way you turned out.”
Jordan put his money back in his pocket and sat back on the sofa. “I’m taking Emily and your mam on holiday,” Tony blurted out. “They think I won’t do it but I’m going to give it my best shot.”
Jordan was gobsmacked. The family had never been away on holiday. He was twenty-two now, it was a bit late for his dad to start taking him on holiday. He should have done this years ago when he was growing up. “That’s great dad. I bet my mam is buzzing. She deserves a break, she’s had a lot to put up with lately.”
Tony stared at the floor. He knew what his son meant. He hung his head with shame. “I’m going to get clean son. I know I’ve said it before, but this it’s the truth this time. You just watch your old man in a few weeks. I’ll be as fit as a fiddle and all these women around here won’t be able to keep their hands from me.”
Jordan pulled a sour expression. “Dad, if you really mean that, then great but don’t make promises you can’t keep. I want you to get clean, of course I do but, I don’t want you doing it for a day and then giving up like you always do. Sort your head out and go on that holiday. I’ll bung you a few quid for spending money. There’s nothing I would like more than to see you get your head sorted out. It’s been shit for us dad. Do you know how much beef I had growing up about you being on drugs? It’s not nice let me tell you.”
Tony had said it now, there was no going back. Maybe he’d just got caught up in the moment or maybe not. But he’d pledged to get off drugs and he’d have to do it.
*
Elsie screamed as she came back into the house. She was hopping about, jumping, dancing, covering her nose, gagging. “Fucking hell Tony. The dog has shit again near the front door. Did you not hear him scratching at the door to get out? Bleeding hell, what the hell has he been eating, it’s rancid. Am I the only one who takes that animal out for a walk or what?”
Tony appeared at the side of her and knew this was his chance to earn some brownie points. “Go and take your shoes off and I’ll clear this lot up. Fuck me, it stinks.” He shot his eyes to the dog muck on the floor and squirmed. “Frank, you dirty bastard. You’ll end up in the dog’s home if you carry on like this. Bleeding hell, how much food have you scranned? There’s mountains of dollop here?” Frank was nowhere to be seen. He was hidden away underneath the dining table in the living room, shaking.
Elsie walked into the front room and shot her eyes one way then the other. “Where’s Jordan gone?”
“He had to get off. He got a phone call and just upped and left. He said he will call back later in the week,” Tony replied from the hallway.
“Bleeding hell. I’ve got him his drink too. He could have waited for me. I’ve hardly spoken a few words to him in days.”
*
Emily stood looking in the full-length silver mirror in Jane’s bedroom. She twisted one way then the other. “Do I look alright, I mean older?”
Jane was behind her and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “Yes, honest, you don’t even look like you.”
Emily edged closer to the mirror and examined her eye make-up. “Do you think I should wipe some of this off. I’m caked in it.”
“No, that’s how you wear your make-up these days. I’ve had a look on YouTube and followed the instructions. It looks mint, relax.” Jane held a cunning smirk and carried on brushing her hair. “I hope his mate is good looking. Don’t expect me to stay with you for long if he’s hanging.”
“I don’t know what he looks like. Mark said he’s nice so you will have to play it by ear.”
Jane slipped a black mini-skirt on and a small white t-shirt. Her legs were long and tanned and she looked stunning. Emily was wearing a red dress. It was a bit clingy for her body shape, but Jane had worked on her telling her how sexy she looked in it. Jane was a liar and if the truth be told she just didn’t want to lend her any of her other clothes. This red dress was old, something she hadn’t worn in ages. Emily stood, tugging at the red lycra dress, it was stuck to every inch of her body and left no room for movement. Jane sat on the edge of the bed and slipped her silver shoes on. “So, are you going to sleep with Mark?”
Emily swallowed hard and her cheeks were on fire with embarrassment. She was a virgin and just the thought of a man touching her young supple flesh sent a wave of fear down her
spine. She thought of Mark as a nice man, a kind caring soul who would want to date her, take things easy and have sex when the time was right. Surely, he wasn’t going to want anything other than friendship to start with. “No, I’m not. God, this is the first date. He’ll be lucky to get a kiss. Stop giving me a heart attack Jane, I’m nervous enough without you adding to it.”
“Are you on this planet or what? He’ll be wanting a leg-over. I was seeing Andy who was seventeen and he was always after sex. On my life, every night he was trying to get into my knickers. Why do you think I finished with him? Anyway, why are you being so prudish? You’re supposed to be eighteen years old, remember?”
Emily was having a panic attack. This was going to be a date like she’d never had before. There would be no milkshakes and a snog in the cinema, this was the real thing. “Jane, I’m going on my first proper date, just help me calm down, stop making me nervous.”
Jane smirked and stood up to look at her full outfit in the mirror, she nudged Emily out of the way. This was a date night for her too and she wanted to look her best. “Right, I’ve told my mam we are going to Jennifer’s party. If she asks, we don’t know what time it will be finished, and we are making our own way home. We can say we have a lift from one of the girl’s parents. You know she will be stressed out otherwise.”
Jane reached over and grabbed the bottle of perfume from her dressing table. She sprayed the Marc Jacob Daisy fragrance all over her body, with a cheeky grin she parted her legs and squirted the scent up her skirt. Emily playfully punched Jane in the arm. “You dirty cow,” she giggled. The clock was ticking, and it was nearly time to go.
CHAPTER SIX
Tony was nibbling at his fingernails, itching at his skin and scratching his scalp as if something was crawling about in it. What the hell was up with him? His nostrils flared as he fell back onto the sofa. He was thinking. He stood up, sat back down, stood up again and plonked back down into his seat as if his head was going to explode. He was going cold turkey and rattling already. Elsie opened the living room door holding a cup of coffee in her hand. “There you go my darling. I’ve made nice brew for you.” He never replied. Elsie sat down facing him and she could see he was agitated; small balls of sweat rolled down the side of his cheeks and his eyes were rolling. She knew what the problem was now, of course she did, she’d been through this herself. Taking a deep breath, she spoke. “It’s day one Tony. It does get better, trust me, I know. You need to keep busy, keep your mind off the drugs.”
Tony sat cracking his knuckles, he was weak, his bottom lip was trembling. He had to say something, he was struggling to get his words out. You could see it in his eyes. He finally blurted it out in a panic. “I’m not ready. I thought I was but I’m going crazy here. Look at my nerves,” he held his flat palm out and he was right, he was shaking like a leaf.
Elsie jumped from the chair and came to his side, cradling him in her arms. “No one said this was going to be easy. I went to hell and back for the first few days when I started coming off drugs. I never slept a wink, soaking wet I was, shaking, spewing. But it passes.”
Tony snapped and gritted his teeth tightly together. “I said I’m not fucking ready, are you deaf or what?” he pushed her arm away as if it was diseased. “You think I can just do everything overnight. I need medication, sleeping tablets, nerve tablets. I need the fucking lot. You’re stronger than me. I’m not good with stuff like this.”
“You’re talking out of your arse Tony. You’re the strongest man I know. You just don’t know it. Please, look at me,” she gripped his arm again, desperate for him to listen. “I’ll go to Tina’s and see if she’s got a few sleepers for you. Tony, I said look at me,” she needed him to look in her eyes. Maybe then he would see her pain, her heartache and the need for change. “You’re my world. We need you, please don’t bail on us all again. This is your last chance to fix it, to fix us. To change our family.” His eyes clouded over, and he swallowed hard. The tears were there, and the floodgates were ready to open. No words needed to be spoken. His head fell onto her shoulder and she firmly pressed her dry crusty lips against his head. “It will be alright love. Me and you will have a fresh start, a new life. You know, the one we have spoken about for years?” Elsie choked up and sobbed her heart out. “Do you want me to carry on the way I have been doing? Do you want me to go out robbing?” Tony’s eyes squeezed tightly together. He couldn’t talk about this. He knew what his wife did when she was skint but he’d never admit that it was happening. It was easier that way. “Emily wants her dad back, Tony. And, I want my husband back too. Remember, the happy go lucky person you used to be?”
His heart was low, he was fed up, ready to throw the towel in. “You don’t know what shit I’ve got going on in my head. I’ve been on the smack too long now to change. Just go and find someone who can give you the life you want. I’m washed up. You deserve better.”
She pushed him away with force. “I won’t listen to your bleeding sob story. We’ve all had problems in the past, but we’ve had to deal with them. Look at me, who’d have thought I would ever sort my head out?”
“You’ve had help from the doctor. You can’t expect me to do a roast without fuck all to help me.”
“So, I’ll book you in the doctors and get you some meds. I can ring them now and see if there are any appointments left for today.”
Tony was ragging his fingers through his hair, stressed, green looking. “Hurry up then, because I need something now. Move out of my way. I need the toilet I feel like my insides are falling out.” He sprung to his feet and rushed out of the living room holding the back of his pants. It was touch and go whether or not he would make it. Elsie dropped her head into her hands. This was going to be a long day for sure, very long indeed.
*
Emily opened her eyes and looked about the bedroom. Jane was next to her and still sound asleep. Rubbing her knuckles into the corner of her eyes Emily stretched her arms above her head and yawned. She reached for her mobile and lay reading the messages with a smile across her face. She nudged Jane and poked her slender finger into her waist. “Come on sleepy head. Rise and shine. You need to fill me in on everything that happened last night.”
Jane moaned and dragged the duvet over her head. Her voice was croaky. “Go back to sleep, I’m still tired. Wow, just leave me alone.”
Emily was giddy and started to tickle Jane. She wasn’t giving up. “Wakey, wakey. Come on. I want to tell you about Mark. After I left you, things got very heated. If you don’t wake up now, then I’m not telling you.”
Jane slowly peeped her head over the duvet. Suddenly she was awake and wanted to know every detail. She sat up and folded the pillow behind her head to make herself comfortable. “What do you mean, did you have sex?”
Emily snuggled her head into the pillow, rolling from side to side. “No, did I eck. But we kissed for ages, tongues too. He’s a really sexy kisser. He made me go weak at the knees. I’m in love, I can feel it in my heart. Honest, I’ve heard people talk about being in love before and this is the real deal. He said he really likes me too.”
Jane pulled a sour expression. Her date wasn’t anywhere as exciting as her friend’s, but there was no way she was telling her that. Anyway, she saw the way Mark had been looking at her and she knew it was only a matter of time before Emily’s new boyfriend made a play for her. Would she really cheat on her best friend though? “So, when are you seeing Mark again? Tell him not to bother bringing his mate again. He was knocking me sick; his hands were all over me from the start. I told him straight that if he touched me again, I was going home. He was a minger.”
Emily chuckled; her cheeks blushed with a lovely pink glow. “I thought he was alright. He wasn’t as sexy as my boy though.”
Jane squirmed, my boy, what the hell was she going on about? She’d had one date with this bloke. Nothing was set in stone, he wasn’t her boy, he was just a man who she’d kissed. “So, are you taking him home to meet your mam and dad
then?” Jane asked knowing that this would strike fear into her friend.
“No way, don’t even suggest that. Mark is my secret, and no one must know about him. Jane, you better swear down to me now that you won’t say a word about this to anyone. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I don’t want you spoiling it.”
Jane sighed and raised her eyes towards the ceiling. “Relax, I won’t say a word, but I’ll have to come with you when you meet him again otherwise your mam and dad will be suspicious. I mean, you don’t go anywhere without me, do you?”
Emily nodded and her heart was pounding inside her ribcage just at the thought of this love affair being uncovered. Her dad would go ape, he’d smash Mark’s head all over the estate. She was his baby, his princess. A text message alert sounded, and Emily gripped her phone frantically. Jane was on the edge of the bed trying to get a butcher’s at the message. Emily took a deep breath and looked at Jane. “He wants to meet me again tonight, he said he can’t stop thinking about me.”
Jane shoved her fingers down her throat and mimicked vomiting. “He needs to play it cool. It’s a right turn off when a guy is all over me like that.”
“Oh, shut up. It’s usually you who’s getting all the attention. It’s about time someone took an interest in me.”
Jane snarled. Who did she think she was now that she had a boyfriend? “Oi, don’t speak to me like that. I’m entitled to an opinion. I’m just saying it’s a bit too much too soon that’s all.”
Emily was staring into space as she spoke. “He might have fallen head over heels in love with me, have you ever thought about that? They say you can fall in love within minutes of meeting someone. I’ve read it in the magazines. So, why can’t he be in love with me already?”
Jane knew she was wasting her breath; Emily was so far up her own arse it was untrue. Jane’s mother walked into the bedroom and quickly clocked Emily’s feet sprawled all over her crisp white bed sheets. They were crusty and her toe nails needed a cut. “Jane, can you take that duvet off when you get up? I’ll bring a fresh one to put on later.” She pulled a sour expression that let them know that she wasn’t happy. Emily curled her feet under the cover and her face went red. This woman always made her feel so scruffy and she didn’t even try to hide it.