Carousel by Brendan Ritchie

Author:Brendan Ritchie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Published: 2015-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

Eventually we led the increasingly agitated Rachel back to JB’s for some TV and a reality that we worried might break her tiny suburban brain. Along the way we waited as she tried her card on dozens of doors. Even trudging up to the east end to the door she apparently used to use. None of them opened.

I think she began to fully process what had happened to us when she saw what we’d done to the store. We didn’t even notice anymore, but I guess to a fresh pair of eyes it must have looked pretty crazy. Our living area took up a huge section in the middle of the shop. All the stereos and DVDs that had once been there were piled up against a wall in a shiny electronic mass. A series of huge flatscreens bordered our enclosure and cut off the draughts that drifted around the centre like wraiths.

‘Shit. You guys have made yourself at home,’ said Rachel.

Lizzy, Rocky and I sat on the couches and waited for her to register. Taylor distracted herself in the kitchen area.

‘You’ve been here for a while, haven’t you?’ said Rachel, like it was a big fucking secret.

I nodded.

‘And none of youse can get out?’ she asked.

We shook our heads. Lizzy glanced at Taylor across the room.

‘How long have you been cleaning here, Rachel?’ I asked.

‘Fifteen months. Nine to go,’ she replied.

‘Until what?’ I asked.

‘Bullshit parole deal is over,’ she replied.

I nodded and stole a look at Lizzy.

‘How come we haven’t seen you before?’ asked Lizzy.

Rachel shrugged. ‘I work the east end. Switched down here a few weeks back. Sick of freezing my arse off in that mouldy shithole.’

My stomach tightened. I’d smelt her bleach down in the food court not three or four months ago.

Rachel took a seat on our couch.

‘Mind you, you guys could be cleaner,’ she added.

‘You knew we were here?’ asked Lizzy.

Rachel looked at her dully.

‘Hello. It’s fucking gnomesville in here,’ she replied.

‘Why didn’t you come and talk to us?’ I asked.

‘None of my business,’ she replied.

She flicked through a gossip mag, tossed it aside and flicked through another. We watched her in a kind of stunned silence until she finished that one too and sat back and looked around.

‘Well, it’s nicer than my place. And there’s no kids around.’

‘You have kids at home?’ I asked.

Rachel shook her head. ‘They’re with my ex,’ she replied. ‘If he hasn’t left them somewhere.’

I held my head and tried to work out what her being stuck in Carousel meant for the kids. Lizzy seemed to be doing the same. Rocky seemed anxious and had barely moved a muscle, instead just swallowing down his cough with a noise that sounded like a small dog.

We weren’t adjusting to our new roommate very well.

‘Rachel. We were going to crack open some liquor this afternoon. Are you interested?’ asked Taylor, stepping over from the kitchen looking suddenly casual and composed.

It was a good call from Taylor. Getting on the booze couldn’t hurt. Judging by Rachel’s positive reaction, it may even help.

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