Flamingoes in Orbit by Philip Ridley

Author:Philip Ridley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Valancourt Books
Published: 2018-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

The next day my ‘cold’ was worse. At least, that’s what I told Mum.

She said, ‘The swimming competition’s tomorrow, you know.’

She was already bored with the idea of me being unwell. She could play dutiful nurse for a day, but after that – if you weren’t improving – it was due to sheer obstreperousness on your part.

I said, ‘I don’t think I’ll be able to do the competition.’

‘Well, that will be a big disappointment,’ Mum said. ‘Everyone expected you to win a medal. I’ve invited everyone from the supermarket, you know. And everyone from the church will be there!’

I didn’t say anything.

Mum huffed and went to work.

I stayed in bed for most of the morning, then thirst – and other bodily functions – got the better of me. I crept downstairs to the kitchen and got something to drink, shielding my eyes from the fridge-light glare, then crept down the hallway and into the living room.

I sat on the sofa and gazed at the empty television screen. Only it wasn’t empty. The room was reflected in it. And I was in that room. I could hear Mum commenting, ‘Look at that one! He used to be so smart. Now he’s a total mess.’

I went back upstairs and, as I was about to enter my room, I noticed a canvas bag just inside Mum’s bedroom doorway. It was one of the bags she used to collect things for the charity shop. I looked into the bag. It was full of Dad’s clothes.

It didn’t surprise me that Mum was getting rid of his stuff so soon. She’d been talking about giving it away since the day he died. Since before he died. But it was still a shock to see Dad’s cardigan, and his charcoal grey suit, and the flip flops he wore in the garden, all neatly packaged, ready for someone else – someone I didn’t know – to wear.

I sat on my parents’ double bed. Dad’s wardrobe door was open. The rail of clothes was half empty (or should that be half full?) I could see the charcoal suit he used to wear when he came to watch me swim (or watch me and Mum in the choir), an overcoat I hadn’t seen him wear in years, some shirts (all white) and the denim jacket he’d only bought last year.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I heard was Mum saying, ‘What’re you doing in here?’

I blinked myself awake. ‘Oh . . . I . . . I saw Dad’s clothes in the bag and – ’

‘There’s other people who need them. It’s unchristian to hang onto them. We’ve been over this.’

‘Yes, yes, I know.’

‘Get up, get up! You’re crumpling my quilt! You’ve got your own bed to flop on if you want to doze all day.’

‘Sorry, sorry.’

‘I’ll call when dinner’s ready. And if you do want to be in my room— Make yourself useful!’ She threw an empty canvas bag at me. ‘You can put the rest of your dad’s clothes in this.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.