The First Week by Margaret Merrilees

Author:Margaret Merrilees
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: book, FA, FIC044000
ISBN: 9781743052495
Publisher: Wakefield Press
Published: 2013-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

thursday

A dull throbbing boom woke her. The wool stuffing in her head muffled the sound, and it took her a moment to realise that it was not outside but inside her. Staggering to the basin she rinsed out her mouth, then stuck her head cautiously out the door and ran for the toilet.

Back in her room she lay down on the bed. There was something she was supposed to think about, or do. She pulled the duna right over her head, making a safe cave.

But sleep had deserted her. Her head was pounding now and her teeth were fuzzy. The man in the hotel. Ron. That wasn’t her who’d done that, surely? What had come over her? Just now, when everything was in turmoil and Charlie needed her. To go off with some strange man.

She groaned and rolled over. The bedclothes were no longer a safe cave. The duna tangled and imprisoned her legs. Kicking it away in a panic she sat up.

Have a shower, said a small sane voice.

Draping a towel over her arm and picking up her toothbrush she went back to the bathroom. The shower water ran on and on. Bugger water restrictions, she needed it. The heat was calming and washed away any thoughts.

Dry and warm she pulled the bed straight, climbed into it, and slept again.

Marian and Evie were going out. But first Evie wanted Marian to put on different clothes. Not the fawn skirt, she kept saying, eyebrows raised, inviting the other girls to join her in laughing at Marian’s taste. Marian struggled to speak, but her mouth wouldn’t work properly. Mum bought it for me, she managed to squeeze out. She wanted to wear the right things, live up to these new friends. But pity and loyalty for her shabby mother tore at her. Her mother, who had packed Marian’s case with such anxious and hopeful loving. Tears spouted from Marian’s eyes.

Mum, she cried, waking herself up.

But Mum was gone.

Marian lay still and filled her mind with Evie instead.

That wasn’t hard since she’d always seen Evie as larger than life, ever since the first day at Teachers College. Marian, stiff and alone, hesitated at the edges with the other misfits. Evie, also new, was already at the heart of what was going to be the in-crowd. Miraculously Evie had scooped Marian up, included her. Evie knew how to make friends, was lively and generous. She might borrow your hand-knitted jumper and then leave it on the bus in a careless moment. But she’d be genuinely sorry and find you something special to take its place.

Marian rolled over onto her side.

Shit. Eleven o’clock.

Evie was standing next to the reception counter wearing hoop earrings, jangling gold bracelets and brilliant orange hair. Her cardigan was lime green, her skirt a floral polyester out of their childhood. Her boots were bright red vinyl. She clashed violently with the pinks and greys of the reception area, and won.

Marian recognised it as battle gear. Good old Evie. Here for Marian, as she always had been, no matter what the fight.

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