Review of Australian Fiction, Volume 12, Issue 1 by Rosalie Ham

Author:Rosalie Ham
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922171696
Publisher: Review of Australian Fiction

At home, in bed, Puss Cat curled into the small of her back, Mavis thought about Mrs Pendergast’s knowing eyes. ‘It must be terrible for her. I remember my parents, locked away behind their pain and illness. No wonder she bungs on a fit. But when all is said and done, they’re a burden.’

On Monday, as Mavis stood at the table kneading pastry, Mr Pendergast came at her from behind. He put his arms around her, ‘You see my life… what I have to bear?’

She should have pushed him away, but his body was warm, firm but soft, pressing into her. A man’s body, against hers. She swooned back into his arms and his hands cupped her breasts. She turned to him and he held her, pressing his crotch against her, though she could feel no discernible hardness in his genitals, just the usual bulky sponginess she’d so often felt through her husband’s pyjama pants all those years ago, not unlike the presence of Puss Cat against her flannelette nightie, really.

He fell away from her, like a broken bottle from a ship’s bow, put his face in his hands, ‘I’m so ashamed­—’

‘Mr Pendergast, I know your needs, I know…’

But he left her there, her fingers clogged with pastry, a tug of longing in her guts, her heart swelled with hurt.

‘He cares for me,’ she said, tenderly, to Puss Cat.

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