A Change for the Better?

by Stephanie Drury

  “Luce, its 7.30 – GET UP” he shouted into the wooden panels.

  He could hear movement, but not nearly enough to make him think Lucy was actually up, so he kept on banging. This had become something of a ritual in the flat. Like most teenagers, Lucy was notoriously bad at getting up, mainly due to the fact that she was equally bad at going to bed at a reasonable hour! Ben had taken to knocking and shouting constantly until Lucy put in an appearance. Just as he was about to resort to singing, (his renditions of various rock classics had never failed yet) Lucy’s blonde head, hair ruffled and face scrunched from her night’s sleep appeared around the door.

  “Jesus Ben, I’m up okay – do you have to make such a noise – don’t you think the neighbours will complain? It’s a wonder they don’t get you thrown out” she grumbled as she pushed past him and headed through to the kitchen.

  “Well, actually sis, all my neighbours, like me, are working people and are actually up themselves so a bit of knocking won’t worry them. However if you wandered out into the corridor by mistake, that might do the trick” he teased, messing up her, already very tousled, hair.

  “Ha ha ha bruv – and you’re a picture first thing aren’t you?”

  “I have my moments” Ben conceded, “now come on, get a shift on; I need to get you off to school. I’ve got a busy day ahead of tomorrow so I want to get on” Ben started shooing her towards the bathroom as he spooned coffee into the filter machine.

  “Oh yes” Lucy turned as she reached the door, suddenly looking much brighter, “I thought you’d want me out of your hair this evening and Saffy’s having all the girls around tonight. I can go over and keep out of your way.” Lucy tried to look innocent as she asked but Ben knew Saffy of old. Anything she was organising was likely to be out of control within the space of an hour. He didn’t have time for worrying about Lucy tonight.

  “Sorry Luce, but I know Saffron Wilding and there’s no way you’re going there tonight. One, it’s a school night, and two, I’ve no intention of having to spend the latter part of the evening bailing you out of whatever scrape you’ve got into!”

  “But Ben, it won’t be like that” Lucy whined “it’ll be …”

  “No Luce” Ben answered sharply “You’re not going – okay? Deal with it!”

  Lucy’s bottom lip stuck out as she turned and stalked to the bathroom muttering under her breath what Ben could only assume were many and varied curses on him. It was the last thing he heard her say that morning as she stopped speaking to him and sat, shoulders hunched, looking resolutely out of the passenger window as he took her to school. Ben didn’t worry about this, he had been the target of Lucy’s silent treatment on many occasions over the years and they never lasted long. Lucy, despite her teenage tantrums, had a sunny nature and couldn’t stay mad at anyone for long. She was also very pragmatic and knew that if it wasn’t working she may as well try a different tack.

  At 4.30 that afternoon when Ben got home, after a frustrating couple of hours with the accountant who had pointed out a number of errors in the figures and left Ben with more work to do that evening than he had anticipated, it was clear that Lucy had decided to change tack as she presented him with a coffee and digestive as he passed the kitchen. He responded with a raised eyebrow. Lucy chose to ignore this.

  “So did you have a good day?” she asked.

  “Not really no, and I’ve got twice as much work to do this evening as I thought I would, so you’ll have to keep the noise down,” he answered with seriousness, and a tone that brooked no argument. Unfortunately Lucy chose to ignore this too.

  “So really,” she started brightly, with a sharp look from under her eyelashes, “it really would be better if I was out of the way. I could go to …..”

  “No Lucy” Ben snapped “you are not going to Saffy’s and spending the evening doing God knows what – I’ve told you you’re staying here where I know exactly what you’re up to.”

  “But I wasn’t …” Lucy started.

  “I don’t care, Luce” Ben shouted now “you’re not going, okay! Get over it!” He glared at her as she stomped off to her bedroom and slammed the door. Ben stalked off to the living room and flicked the computer on and pushed a disc into the hi-fi, in no time he was engrossed in his spread-sheets and projections.

  It was nearly three hours later when Ben ran a weary hand through his hair and realised how much time had passed. The noisy rumblings in his stomach reminded him that he had not eaten since breakfast and was in dire need of re-fuelling. Realising Lucy wouldn’t have had anything either he pushed himself up from the chair and wandered into the hall grabbing a couple of takeaway menus from the shelf as he passed. He was too exhausted to think about cooking and he didn’t really have the time either, knocking on Lucy’s door, he shouted

  “Hey Luce, Chinese or pizza? – you choose, I’ll pay” he said jokingly. There was no response from Lucy’s room. Obviously still sulking, Ben thought.

  “C’mon Luce, I’m sorry for shouting earlier but it’s a really important day tomorrow and I guess I’m stressing about it a bit. Let’s get some food in and declare a truce eh!” he tapped gently on the door but there was still no reply. Leaning closer to the door he realised something wasn’t right, there was no dull thud in the background that accompanied the music Lucy always had on. With some trepidation Ben pushed open the door, still really expecting Lucy to be asleep on the bed, but the room was empty. Quickly he ran into the bathroom and then the kitchen but Lucy was in neither, with a sinking feeling and growing anxiety he realised Lucy was not in the flat at all. She must have sneaked out when he was engrossed in his work.

  “Bloody Saffron bloody Wilding” he raged, under his breath. Lucy had obviously decided to ignore Ben’s instructions and take herself off to the party anyway. He grabbed the phone and dialled Lucy’s mobile number, it went straight to voicemail.

  “Lucy, where the hell are you?” he bellowed into the mouthpiece, “ring me as soon as you get this message. I’m on my way to pick you up. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” With that he grabbed his jacket and keys and launched himself out of the flat and down the two flights of stairs into the van parked outside.

  Fortunately Ben knew where Saffy Wilding lived having collected Lucy from there on a number of occasions. Her parents were successful consultants; one medical, one public relations and they lived in a huge house on the far side of Rawlinston, one big enough to a have a driveway in and another one out. The house was painted perfectly and the gardens immaculately maintained, not that Ben was in any mood to appreciate that as the van sped over the gravel drive, spraying out stones behind it as he skidded to a halt outside the front door.

  Jumping out of the van Ben ran up to the door and held his finger on the bell. He could hear its incessant ring resounding down the hallway and echoing in the atrium. Not long after, the door was pulled open by a sulky looking girl with jet black, poker straight hair and a scowl stretching from one side of her face to the other. She also managed to look down her nose at this impatient person on her doorstep at the same time. Saffron Wilding herself Ben noted.

  “Yes?” she said, in an exaggerated plumy tone, gained in her days at some minor ladies college in the south.

  “Lucy Chapman – Where is she? Tell her, her brother Ben’s here and it’s time to go.” Ben replied in his broadest northern tones before he could help himself.

  “Lucy’s not here.” Saffron replied shortly and started to close the door. Ben put his hand out and stopped her.

  “Look, I know she’s here. She wanted to come and I said no, so she’s snuck off anyway, but the games up and it’s time to go.” Ben added what he hoped was a winning brotherly smile to this, to encourage Saffron over to his side. He thought it might be working as she smiled back but it soon became apparent it was a smile of derision not camaraderie.

  “Look, I told you she’s not here and guess what? She’s – not – here. She never came, she told me at school she couldn’t come as
her saddo brother was being a pain and wouldn’t let her.”

  For the first time it crossed Ben’s mind briefly that Lucy might not be here, but where else could she be? No, she was definitely here and this little trust fund princess was just trying to throw him off.

  “Nice try” Ben said “I nearly believed you then, tell Lucy you did your best and get her out here.”

  Saffron sighed, it seemed she was bored of this conversation now; she took a deep breath and then bellowed,

  “MUM!” very shortly after an immaculately made up Mrs Wilding dressed head to toe in Chanel tottered into the hallway.

  “Saffron darling, there’s really no need to shout in such an unladylike manner. Now what’s the problem?” she raised a perfectly tweezed eyebrow as she asked.

  “Mrs Wilding, I’m Ben Wilson, Lucy’s brother. She’s staying with me at the moment. I’ve come to collect her. Unfortunately she came out tonight although I’d told her she couldn’t and I need to take her home now.” Ben answered.

  “Oh I see” Mrs Wilding replied, slightly puzzled “but Lucy’s not here tonight. Saffron’s got a few friends over but Lucy couldn’t make it tonight could she sweetheart?” Mrs Wilding turned to Saffron for confirmation.

  “I’ve already told him that” Saffron replied dismissively, “but he’s having trouble understanding.”

  Ben went cold from head to foot. It was one thing for Saffron to deny Lucy being there to cover for her, but there was no way Mrs Wilding would. Lucy wasn’t here and if she wasn’t here – where the hell was she? Quickly, making his apologies, Ben made his exit and jumped back into the van, trying Lucy’s mobile again. It was still on voicemail, leaving another garbled message; he set off out of the drive. Next he rang his flat to see if anyone answered. The answerphone clicked in after seven rings.

  “Luce, if you’re there – pick up. I just want to know you’re okay.” Ben hung on for a couple of minutes but no one answered. Setting the phone on hands free Ben rang some of Lucy’s friends as he headed towards his Mum’s house. He thought maybe Lucy had bolted back home in her effort to teach him a lesson.

  Twenty minutes later Ben pulled up outside the terrace house that had been his home for the first eighteen years of his life. None of Lucy’s friends’ parents had seen her that evening so Ben was now praying that Lucy would be here. The house was in darkness but he hadn’t expected anything else. Lucy wouldn’t give the game away that easily. Ben let himself through the front door pushing the post back that accumulated on the doormat to one side so he could open the door properly. Not a good sign. The house was silent, enveloped in that thick darkness of emptiness, nothing seemed to stir. Ben’s optimism was fading fast, leaving the pit of his stomach as fast as the leaden fear was entering it.

  “Lucy, Lucy – it’s Ben” he shouted up the stairs, “Look I’m sorry if I upset you, I’m not mad I just want to know you’re okay.” There was no response – no breath stirring the heavy atmosphere except his own. Taking the steps two at a time Ben then checked all the rooms upstairs and then downstairs once more. No one was here and it didn’t seem that anyone had been here for quite a number of days. Ben finally had to accept that Lucy wasn’t here and now he had absolutely no idea where she might be. He had exhausted all the contacts and he couldn’t think of any other friends Lucy might have sloped off to. Ben turned cold, what if she had set off to one of those friends and not got there. On these winter evenings darkness fell early and Lucy could have been attacked and was now laying injured waiting for him to find her. Trying to dispel his own rising hysteria Ben tried to think straight. What was most likely? Most likely was that Lucy was back at the apartment having a good laugh at the wild goose chase she had managed to send him on. Keeping this positive image in his head he rang home again, still no answer. Ben tried to think of who else he could try when Poppy popped into his head. She might know some of Lucy’s friends that he didn’t. Lucy would have talked to her about an unsuitable boy or a dodgy friend that she might have kept concealed from her big brother. Finding his hopes rising Ben jumped into the van, he was only twenty minutes from Laxley Heath, he could drive round there now and pick Poppy’s brains.

  In much less time than the twenty minutes it should have taken, Ben pulled up outside Tolpuddle House. It was quite possible Ben had gained enough points to lose his licence on the drive there if he had been unlucky enough to encounter a policeman at every set of traffic lights he’d jumped or speed limits he broke. Running up the path Ben knocked impatiently on the door, completely forgetting the doorbell at the side. Just as he was about to hammer again the door opened and Katie, with her hair pinned high in a ponytail looked out enquiringly. On spying Ben she broke into a smile.

  “Oh Ben, at last, we were starting to get a bit worried about you. You’re usually here by eight for Lucy, it’s already eight thirty. Well come in” Katie held back the door as Ben entered.

  “What do you mean you were getting worried about me?” he asked.

  “Just that, Lucy’s been here hours now. I thought maybe you’d forgotten about her – what with your big project.” Katie smiled to indicate she was teasing as she realised Ben’s face was growing darker, like a thundercloud was immediately overhead.

  “Are you telling me Lucy’s here?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “Erm, yes – and you’re here to pick her up” Katie said slowly, a little uncertain as to why Ben was acting so strangely. She didn’t have long to find out.

  “LUCY” Ben bellowed “get yourself down here – NOW!”

  In a few seconds a very pale faced Lucy appeared in the doorway of Katie’s flat.

  “Ben, I was just ……..” she started.

  “I know what you just - I have been half way round the country looking for you, at Saffron’s, and Mum’s. Do you have any idea how worried I was?” Ben was shaking, both with rage and relief in equal measure.

  “I just wanted to get out of your way and Katie said I could come round whenever I wanted I just thought..”

  “Stop Lucy, I don’t want to hear it – Okay. Just get in the van we’re going.”

  Katie, who had just realised why Ben had been acting so strangely, and that she had been somewhat duped by Lucy herself, felt she should still try to defend Lucy a little.

  “Look, I’m sure she didn’t mean to scare you, she just thought she was getting out of your way. Don’t be too hard on her.” Katie looked pleadingly at Ben. By now the relief that Ben felt was turning into a white hot anger that he had been put through the ordeal of the last few hours. The red mist setting around his flashing blue eyes was clouding his view and he wasn’t fully in control of what he was saying.

  “I’ll deal with my sister how I see fit, thank you” Ben said, in clipped tones, “You want to concentrate on behaving as a responsible adult, not some over aged student trying to hang out with kids. When a child turns up on your doorstep in the future I suggest the first thing you do is to contact their guardian – not set them up with milk and cookies.” With that Ben turned on his heel and exited Tolpuddle House slamming the door so hard it echoed through the stonework. Katie’s stood open mouthed in disbelief. Her response dying on her lips as she drew breath to make it.

  CHAPTER 12

  The following morning started as dull and grey as the previous. As Katie struggled to awake, she wandered through the kitchen fixing herself a strong black coffee, she thought the damp, overcast weather was creating that damp overcast feeling in her, but as she gradually unfogged the sleep from her head she started to recall why she had such a knot in her stomach and a quiet rage in her head. Ben ‘bloody’ Wilson! How dare he go off at her about his sister? He wanted to look at himself before he started throwing accusations about. What was he doing that a fourteen year old girl could leave the flat and travel easily ten miles and then not even to miss her for the best part of three hours! Then he had the cheek to suggest that she was irresponsible. Katie was back to full level fuming by now. Her brown eyes flas
hing with flecks of amber as she wrestled with the injustice of it, and what was worse, she never got the chance to answer him back! He had slammed the door and left by the time she had drawn breath. Katie wasn’t sure that this hadn’t got her madder than the unfair insults thrown at her. Katie liked the opportunity to have her say (something she’d inherited from Mo) and she felt the weight of unfinished business in her mind as she ran through the many and varied – and creative ripostes she could have fired back at Ben.

  After a hearty breakfast of porridge with a huge dollop of honey, followed by a bracing shower Katie was still twitching with unspent energy created by her unfinished argument.

  “Well, Katie Collins” Katie said bracingly to her reflection in the bathroom mirror, “there is no point fuming impotently here – you may as well put all this excess energy to good use.” With that she put on her oldest clothes and grabbed an old pair of gloves and headed out to the front garden.