Fighting Back

by Cathy MacPhail

  Mum was not amused. ‘That’s cruel, Kerry. He’s having a whole new set fitted shortly.’

  ‘Well, he’s certainly not a television mechanic,’ I told her. ‘He almost set the TV on fire.’

  ‘He’s not a television mechanic, no,’ Mum said. ‘But he’s very handy. He can fix just about everything.’

  ‘He told you this, did he?’

  ‘Yes. I met him in the lift.’

  ‘And you believed him?’

  ‘Why would he lie about a thing like that?’

  At thirteen, even I knew why. Tommy Telfer couldn’t take his eyes off my mum.

  ‘Oh, come on, Mum, you must know that!’

  I could tell by the way she looked blankly at me that she didn’t.

  ‘He fancies you. Goodness, he was almost drooling.’

  To my utter astonishment, she looked pleased. ‘Was he? Does he?’ she asked.

  ‘You can’t be flattered, Mum. He’s ugly.’

  She dismissed that with a shake of her head. ‘You’ll understand when you’re older, Kerry, but it’s nice when a man notices you.’

  Now I was shaking my head. ‘No. I’ll never understand that.’

  ‘Especially after what I’ve been through. I’ve aged these past months … ’ Oh no, she was off again. She turned to the mirror. ‘Look at me.’

  ‘Listen, Mum,’ I said seriously, determined to change the subject. ‘I’ve got something to tell you. I saw Ma Lafferty’s sons today.’

  She turned from the mirror as soon as I said it. Alarmed.

  ‘They told me to be careful, that there were a lot of bad people around here. They scared me, Mum.’

  She stamped her feet. ‘Right, that’s it. We’re going to the police tomorrow.’

  That was the last thing I wanted. ‘No, Mum. Let’s leave it. I don’t want any more trouble. Please.’

  But she wasn’t listening. ‘What kind of people are they? They’ve given us nothing but trouble since we came here. No, Kerry, tomorrow we’re going back to the police. They’ll soon sort them out!’

  She wouldn’t listen to my protests. She never did. And I knew if we went to the police again, she was only going to make the whole thing worse. Why hadn’t I kept my big mouth shut?

  Chapter Twelve

  The next day was Saturday, but Mum had me up early anyway.

  ‘We’re going to see that Sergeant Maitland,’ she said.

  I tried to put her off all through breakfast, but she was like a dog with a bone. Nothing was going to make her let it go.

  The Sergeant smiled as we came into his office. And Mum immediately launched into the story of Ma Lafferty’s visit, and how her sons had threatened me.

  ‘They didn’t exactly threaten,’ I corrected her. But they had. And I told him exactly what they’d said.

  ‘I’ll speak to them, to all of them. They think they’re being very smart, you see. Mrs Lafferty had no legitimate reason for calling on you. I warned her not to do that.’

  ‘Did they break into Ali’s shop?’ I asked him.

  His answer was immediate. ‘Of course they did. But we’ll never prove it. Plenty of people ready to swear they were somewhere else entirely at the time.’

  ‘Do they always get people to lie for them?’ Mum asked angrily.

  ‘People who owe them are scared not to.’

  ‘I’m getting out of here,’ Mum said firmly. ‘I don’t want Kerry brought up like this.’

  The Sergeant was shaking his head. ‘Most of them are decent, hardworking people. What they need is a common cause to help them band together against the Laffertys. If we could get them out of the estate, it wouldn’t be such a bad place, you know.’

  Mum would never agree with that. I could tell by the way she pursed her lips and pouted at the Sergeant. She changed it to a smile, however, as the young blond policeman entered the office.

  ‘Ah, PC Grant. I’m afraid we’ll have to pay another visit to the Laffertys.’

  PC Gorgeous Grant smiled at me and my mum. ‘Oh well, a day without a visit to the Laffertys wouldn’t seem normal, would it, Sarge?’

  We went back to the flats in good spirits. We even managed to unpack a few boxes.

  ‘You see, Kerry, they’re just not used to people standing up to them,’ said Mum. ‘But I think they’re beginning to realize what they’re up against with us. I have a feeling we won’t have any more trouble from Ma Lafferty and her boys.’

  She was almost right too. The next trouble didn’t come from them. It came from someone else entirely.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I came home on Tuesday to find Mum waiting for me with a bin full of dirty washing.

  ‘I believe there’s a rota for the laundrette,’ she said, ‘and today’s my turn.’

  The laundrette was in the basement. So off we went, taking the lift, working for once, deep down into the bowels of the tower block.

  ‘I don’t like this,’ Mum said, as the light passed ground floor and the next button was just an arrow marked DOWN. ‘I feel as if I’m going to hell.’

  I expected the lift doors to slide open on darkness and silence. What a pleasant surprise then to find the basement brightly lit and busy. A man was fixing a child’s bike as we came out of the lift, and he looked at us, took in the laundry basket clutched in my mother’s arms and pointed round the corner. ‘Looking for the laundrette?’ he asked with a smile. ‘Just follow the smell.’

  He was right. The smell was hot and soapy and clean and led us straight to the door marked LAUNDRY.

  ‘I kind of like this place,’ I said. Mum looked at me as if I was mad.

  ‘Well, I don’t,’ she said. ‘I wouldn’t like to be caught down here alone. It would be really scary.’

  And suddenly, I imagined the laundrette late at night. Machines still, quiet everywhere. Down here, no one would hear a scream for help, or a cry. I shivered. Mum was right. It would be really scary to be alone here.

  But not today. Not now.

  We were just putting our washing into the tumble drier when the door was flung open and another woman came in. Sandra. She didn’t see us at first. The other women in the laundrette greeted her with laughter and a warm welcome.

  ‘Och, here’s Sandra. You’re late today. Come and give us a laugh, dear.’

  Sandra was laughing too as she threw down her laundry basket. Laughing, that is, until she saw my mother and me. Then her face changed.

  ‘So she has the cheek to show her face down here!’

  Mum, busy at the tumble drier, ignored her.

  ‘I’m talking to you – Jezebel.’

  Jezebel? Who on earth was Jezebel?

  Mum seemed to know. She turned and looked at Sandra. ‘Who are you calling a Jezebel?’

  ‘You keep your eyes off my boyfriend.’

  Mum looked even more puzzled. ‘Your boyfriend?’

  ‘Tommy! I believe you were entertaining him the other day!’

  Tommy Telfer was Sandra’s boyfriend?

  ‘He was trying to fix my television.’

  ‘That’s your story. Anything to lure him into the house!’

  I couldn’t believe this. Sandra was ready to do battle over Tommy Telfer?

  ‘Well, he’s not coming back,’ Sandra yelled. ‘You’ve caused nothing but trouble since you came here, you know that!’

  Now I saw Mum lose her temper. ‘I don’t want your boyfriend. You can keep him.’

  ‘And what’s wrong with my Tommy?’ Sandra suddenly moved closer, dangerously closer. ‘Not good enough for you, I suppose!’

  Mum began to fold her washing into the basket. ‘Oh really, this is ridiculous.’

  ‘Ridiculous, is it? I’ll show you what’s ridiculous.’ And suddenly, Sandra lunged at Mum and she fell into the laundry basket. Sandra had her by the throat, shaking her like a dog. Mum couldn’t get a grip on her to shake her off.

  I pulled at Sandra and the other women rushed over to help me.

  ‘Sandra! Behave
yourself,’ they shouted.

  Finally, they dragged her away and I helped Mum to her feet. She was rubbing at her throat. ‘I’ve a good mind to go to the police and have you charged with assault!’ she said, a bit croakily.

  ‘Och, come on,’ one of the women said. ‘She over-reacted a wee bit. That’s all.’

  ‘That’s all? She almost strangled me.’ Mum lifted the basket and pushed me in front of her. ‘You’re all mad here, do you know that? Mad!’

  ‘I don’t know how much more of this I can take, Kerry,’ Mum said as we were going back up in the lift. ‘I just don’t know.’

  I didn’t know either. We seemed to be getting it from every side.

  ‘But I’ll tell you exactly what I’m going to do now,’ she said with determination. What was coming now? Not another visit to the police? She sniffed. ‘I’m going to go out and buy another television.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Over the next couple of days, I was glad to see that Sandra stayed well out of Mum’s way, and so did Tommy Telfer. I was even gladder about that.

  Ming, however, couldn’t resist talking about it. He thought it was a great laugh.

  ‘You can’t really blame her. Your maw was trying to steal my maw’s boyfriend.’

  ‘Is your maw Sandra the Strangler?’ I asked.

  That really amused him. ‘That’s the very lady!’

  ‘I can’t believe you think my mum would be interested in Tommy Telfer.’

  ‘Ach, Tommy’s OK. He’s been going out with her for a while but my maw’s not talking to him now.’

  ‘I would say we did your mother a favour then.’

  ‘She was upset. She was paid off at the factory, and then when she heard about Tommy and your mother … boy, was she mad.’

  ‘So that makes it all right then – to try to strangle my mum?’

  The idea of this seemed to amuse him even more. ‘You definitely bring out the best in people. See, you and your mother, Kerry … you certainly know how to make friends.’

  Mum and I had a lovely day shopping for a new television. Everything seemed so much better once we were off the estate. Mum was better too, brighter, happier.

  ‘You know, Kerry, I’ve never bought a television by myself before. Your dad always did it.’

  Dad. He was always there, in the back of her mind. Everything she did reminded her of him. However, I think she enjoyed choosing the exact model she wanted.

  ‘It will come with instructions?’ she asked the amused assistant. ‘Because I’m not very technical.’

  ‘We’ll plug it in. And switch it on, Mum,’ I assured her. ‘You’ll soon learn.’

  The television was to be delivered on Monday. And Mum decided to have a celebration tea in honour of the occasion. It was to be a late tea, however, because I was always late home on a Monday taking an extra class Mum had insisted on.

  * * *

  I was dragging my schoolbag behind me as I wandered across the estate after school. All at once, I remembered the new television which was to be delivered today, and life seemed worthwhile again. I began to hurry.

  The estate seemed deserted, quieter than I’d ever seen it at night. I took the short cut over the children’s playground and as I did, I heard one of the swings begin to creak as if someone had just sat in it. I looked back. The swing was going to and fro, but no one was on it. I glanced around. There was no one to be seen. The sun was going down, the gloom was descending. I suddenly wanted home, and away from here. I turned away, ready to run, and this time it was the roundabout which began to turn, squeaking with rust.

  No one was there either.

  My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to burst. The Lafferty boys. It had to be them! I could imagine them leaping out at me, swinging their baseball bats.

  I began to run. As I headed straight past the slide they leapt out at me. Not the Lafferty boys, but Tess, and a few of her friends.

  I stopped dead. Nowhere to go. Tess was barring my way.

  ‘Well, hello,’ she said. ‘Fancy meeting you here.’

  I said nothing, looking around for an escape, but her friends were blocking me on every side.

  Tess was wearing a black leather jacket and big heavy boots. Not very attractive, but perfect if you had a little kicking in mind.

  I had a feeling that was exactly what she was thinking.

  ‘You’re late home from school. Your wee mother will be worried about you.’

  ‘My mother knows where I’ve been. I’ve got a late class today.’

  Tess began to prance about, much to the amusement of her friends.

  ‘Oh, a late class! Would this be embroidery … or maybe sewing … or maybe a wee ballet class?’

  Hilarious, I thought. Then she suddenly stopped laughing, and looked fierce again. ‘We had a visit from the cops. My ma’s not very happy about that.’

  I found my voice at last. ‘That’s not our fault.’

  ‘My ma was only trying to be friendly.’ She said it as if she honestly believed it. ‘So were my big brothers.’

  I should have agreed with her and apologized. So what did I do? I antagonized her even further!

  ‘Who are you trying to kid?’ I could hardly believe I was saying it. Neither could Tess Lafferty. ‘Your mother meant to frighten us. Well, you didn’t frighten my mum!’

  Tess smirked. ‘Yes, I believe she’s too stupid to be frightened!’

  ‘My mum isn’t stupid.’

  Tess began circling me, so I had to keep turning to keep my eyes on her.

  ‘I’ll tell you exactly what my ma says about your mother.’ The smile grew wider, became a horrible grin. ‘She’s a marshmallow, my ma says. A wee wimp of a woman, who can’t cope with anything. My ma says she could squash her like a fly.’ With that she snapped her fingers dramatically.

  ‘She’s giving you a bit of trouble now though, isn’t she?’

  ‘Not for long,’ Tess said with assurance, as if she knew something I didn’t.

  ‘Is this another threat?’

  Tess and her companions giggled. ‘Oh, are you going to run to the cops again now? We’re just two girls, same age, having an argument. Cops wouldn’t be interested.’

  At the mention of the police one of the girls called to Tess. ‘Let’s just get on with it, eh? Cops might turn up any second.’

  That sent a chill through me. Get on with what?

  Tess came closer. ‘You and me … a fair go … settle everything.’

  ‘You mean – fight?’ I asked. She was nodding already. ‘A fair fight? Does that mean your pals hold me down and you hit me?’

  She sneered her answer. ‘I don’t need anybody to hold you down. You’re a marshmallow, like your mother.’

  I dropped my bag. Looked round them. No one was going to call me a marshmallow.

  Tess shrugged her shoulders. ‘Give me room, girls,’ she said, and I could almost have laughed. She looked so stupid. ‘You see, Kerry Graham, I’m going to tell you something, and you better remember it.’ She paused, as if she wanted the words to sink deep into my memory. ‘You just don’t know what you’re up against when you tangle with me and my ma.’

  Tess and her mother. Yes, I could see Tess in twenty years’ time taking over from her mother, running the estate, loving the fact that everybody was frightened of her.

  Where would I be then? I had an awful feeling that after tonight I would be six feet under and pushing up dandelions.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tess’s friends stepped back, but I had a feeling they would jump in at the slightest nod from their boss. I stepped back too, and right away fell over my own bag!

  This sent them all into gales of laughter and that only made me feel worse. I tried to stand, but Tess was already over me, her foot lifted, ready to give me one almighty kick. I rolled back quickly out of her path. It was my bag that took the blow.

  As I tried to stand up, one of the others grabbed my jacket and held me down.


  ‘Fair fight!’ I shouted.

  Tess screamed at the girl. ‘I can handle her!’ and my jacket was released immediately. I still didn’t get a chance to stand. Tess grabbed me by the hair and pulled me along the ground. I felt the gravel bite at my knees. I gripped her hand and let my nails sink into her wrists. With a yelp she let me go. This time I was up like a shot. Moving back, away from her. Suddenly she leapt at me. Lifted her leg to kick me once again. Now, I grabbed her ankle and pulled. She fell back, her arms flailing, total surprise on her face. Then, with a crack, she hit the ground. Tess was down, and I intended her to stay down. I turned her over, jumped on top of her and grabbed her wrists, pulling them behind her. She fought like a tiger but I had my tie off and round her wrists so fast she didn’t know what was happening.

  She knew I’d won. She couldn’t take it. ‘Get her!’ she yelled.

  I knew it would never be a fair fight. Not with someone like Tess Lafferty. Her friends were almost on me. Ready to drag me off Tess, and get right into me. I wouldn’t stand a chance, not against another three. Now I was done for!

  And suddenly, I was almost lifted from Tess and pulled, dragged, almost carried away.

  ‘Come on! Run!’

  It was Ming! To the rescue. And I was never so glad to see anyone in my life.

  Tess’s mates began to chase us, until Tess herself shouted, screamed at them. ‘Get me out of this!’

  And obediently they fell back.

  That didn’t stop Ming and me. We ran so fast, we were out of breath by the time we got to our flats. We were three flights up the stairs before we stopped for breath.

  ‘Thanks,’ I managed to say. ‘Won’t they get you for helping me?’

  He shrugged as if he didn’t care. ‘No worries,’ he said. ‘Anyway, you were doing pretty well on your own. Where did you learn to do that?’

  So I told him. My classes weren’t embroidery, or sewing, or ballet. They were self-defence, and my instructor would have been proud of me tonight.

  I felt good by the time I got home. ‘Settle everything,’ Tess had said. I didn’t think we had. Tess had meant that if she battered me black and blue, that might settle things. But not me getting the better of her. She hadn’t expected that. Wouldn’t like it at all.