The Body in the Stairwell by Nick Louth

Author:Nick Louth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
Published: 2022-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

‘Don’t you take that attitude with me, Zoe,’ Oliver said, after his daughter had launched her own furious first salvo. He was preparing cereal for the two girls and himself. Jenny was already on her way to work.

‘You cannot elbow your way into my circle of friends, it’s gross,’ Zoe said. ‘Tiffany will think I’m just a child.’

‘You are just a child,’ her father said with a smile.

‘I’m fifteen. If I was born in Afghanistan, I’d have children by now.’

‘Well, thank goodness you weren’t born in Afghanistan.’

‘I wish you were born there,’ Lucy said. ‘Then I’d get your big bedroom.’

Oliver pointed a spoon. ‘You are fortunate enough, Zoe, to be born in one of the most privileged generations in human history, in one of the most stable and safest countries, to parents who love and cherish you. You have no idea how lucky you are.’

‘I’m being suffocated. I can’t be myself. I’m creatively repressed.’

Oliver set down the two bowls in front of his daughters, then brought his own bowl over and sat opposite them. ‘Well, you will no doubt be pleased to know that she hasn’t accepted my offer of friendship.’

‘Obviously she wouldn’t, duh! The Internet is full of creeps and perverts and for all she knows you could be one of them.’

‘What’s a creep?’ Lucy asked her sister.

‘I notice you didn’t ask what a pervert is,’ Zoe said, then grinned at her father.

Oliver sighed and said: ‘All I want you to do is to be careful, Zoe. Your mother and I get no credit for giving you all the freedoms that Azalea doesn’t have.’

‘All the freedoms?’ Lucy asked.

‘Yes. Absolutely.’

‘Can Zoe have sex then?’ Lucy asked. ‘Azalea can’t. That’s why Josh dumped her.’

Oliver rolled his eyes. ‘Lucy, I wasn’t talking about that particular freedom.’

‘You said all,’ Lucy said.

Oliver turned to his youngest. ‘I tell you what, young lady, I think I’m going to put you down to study law. Because you would make one hell of a lawyer.’

Zoe waved her cereal spoon at her father. ‘Anyway, Tiffany’s coming to England. I said she could stay here before she heads off to see family in Scotland.’

‘For God’s sake, Zoe!’ Oliver said with a note of alarm. ‘You could have asked us first.’

‘She only told me this morning. I suppose I was just being spontaneous,’ Zoe responded, waving her arms theatrically.

‘When exactly is this royal visit to take place?’

‘Dunno. She said she’d let me know.’

‘Maybe it’s easier if she stays with Azalea,’ Oliver said. ‘They’d hardly notice her in that huge place.’

‘No! She’s my friend,’ Zoe shouted, suddenly feeling anxious.

‘Possessive, eh?’ Oliver chewed a spoonful of cereal.

‘My sister’s got a new American doll and wants her all to herself,’ Lucy said.

Zoe scowled at her sister and father and took a huge spoonful of cereal.

‘All right, Zoe, just keep me in the loop, okay?’

‘Dad, you worry too much. It’s going to be fine.’

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