The Silence by Katharine Johnson

Author:Katharine Johnson [Johnson, Katharine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction & Literature
Publisher: Crooked Cat Books
Published: 2017-06-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

The storm only cooled the temperature by a couple of degrees and she often woke early as the sun beat through the roof. The whine of the mosquitoes drove her under the sheets, and the smell of the paint was giving her a headache and a dry throat.

Eventually she slipped out, leaving Philippa asleep. Creeping down the external steps, she went into the house for a glass of water. But before she opened the door, which was always left on the latch, she heard raised, muffled voices in the kitchen. She hovered outside, wondering whether to wait for the argument to blow over, or slip away. It seemed to be Alan doing most of the shouting. He was clearly very angry about something. The other voice was Sue’s. She was trying to calm him. Every now and then she would shout, too, letting forth a volley of equally vicious expletives.

A scream followed by a crash as something, probably a plate, hit a wall. Another scream and then the splintering of china or glass. Abby froze. She turned to go, but before she could do so, the door flew open and Alan stood there glaring at her. She shrank back against the wall as he pushed past her.

‘So, that’s how I know, you stupid bitch,’ he called back at Sue.

Sue sat at the table, very straight, with her back to Abby. She bent slowly to pick up the pieces of smashed crockery. Abby was about to go and help her but, realising her aunt was trying to conceal her tears, she felt embarrassed and just stood awkwardly in the doorway, watching her. Eventually Sue pushed past her out of the room, leaving her feeling useless.

A piece of paper fell from her pocket as she went out of the door. Abby watched as it was buoyed up for a moment by the draught as the door closed and then floated slowly to the floor. She picked it up and was about to go after her aunt with it, but thinking it might just be rubbish, she opened it out. A blush crept over her as she read it.

It was part of a letter, written in English. Her heart beat fast as she realised that this must have been the cause of the argument and was something she definitely shouldn’t be reading. At first, she thought Alan must have written it, but as she read on it was clear that it had been written by a much younger person.

…I will never agree with you that you are doing the right thing so don’t ask me to forgive you. Those bastards have twisted everything and made it sound like you corrupted me, but we both know that’s not true. You know that age and maturity are two different things – you’ve told me often enough.

She stopped. So, Sue had been having an affair with someone younger than herself. Much younger, by the look of things.

You’ve always said you can’t compare me with other people my age.

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