A Nightmare on Elm Street: Suffer the Children by David Bishop

Author:David Bishop [Bishop, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781844161720
Google: RXsMAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1844161722
Publisher: Black Flame
Published: 2005-04-25T12:00:00+00:00

***

Peter had never been inside a house that was so... pink. He and Chris were standing in the living room of Heather's home, still wet from their soaking at the multiplex, while she searched for towels and a change of clothes for herself. Every room in the house had pink walls, pink carpets or pink furniture. The air was thick with the cloying smell of rose petals and cinnamon

It was like no man had ever set foot inside the place; at least, no man from Peter's family. Where were the stinking socks, the pizza delivery boxes, the discarded cans from old six-packs of beer? Since his mother died, Peter had been doing all the housework as part of his chores. His father said cleaning and tidying wasn't man's work. When Peter questioned why he had to do it, his father had laughed bitterly. "You're not a man. Not a real one, anyway. Housework's all you're good for."

Fuck you too, Dad.

Peter tried to put the old man out of his thoughts without success. I doubt he's even noticed I'm not home yet. When there are no clean plates or the milk cartons are all empty, then he might figure it out, maybe. I could be dead and he wouldn't give a shit.

Heather reappeared from upstairs, throwing towels to Peter and Chris. "Dry your hair with these. I'd offer you some clothes to change into but my mom burnt all dad's clothes after he took off."

Chris smiled. "Happy families, huh?"

"Not exactly."

"Is it okay if I call my folks? I left my cellular at home this morning and they'll be wondering where I am."

"Sure. It's down the hall," Heather said, pointing the way.

"Thanks." Chris left her and Peter alone in the living room.

"Nice place," Peter offered.

"You think?" Heather looked around the pink room. "It's always been a bit over the top for my taste, but Mom loves this space. Calls it her womb with a view. She spends most of the day in here, watching our neighbors and drinking her own weight in gin."

"My dad prefers beer, and plenty of it."

"Six-packs and Monday Night Football?"

Peter nodded. "Used to make me watch every game. He was going to get a scholarship to college to play football, but blew out his knee."

"And he was hoping you'd follow in his footsteps?"

"Yeah. Giving birth to a geek wasn't in the game plan."

Heather sighed. "I've been on the beauty pageant circuit since I was four. Singing lessons, dancing lessons, elocution, deportment, costume fittings, beauty treatments, don't eat too much, don't bite your fingernails, don't cut your hair, on and on, forever and ever. Amen."

"I always thought you liked all that... attention."

"I hate it. I want to scream, tell her to leave me alone. I don't want to be her, don't want to relive her life. I want one of my own." Heather laughed. "I've always envied people like you at school."

"Why?" Peter asked.

"You can do what you want. You don't have to be on show 24/7, don't have to always look your best.

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