Sadie, Call The Polis by Kirkland Ciccone

Author:Kirkland Ciccone [Ciccone, Kirkland]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

27

A new sheriff in town

Though the new me was old news before the day was done, my nice new clothes still did their job. It was when Arlene asked me to her party that I knew my fancy threads were having a positive effect on my reputation. Arlene’s father, still a lawyer, was going away for a weekend with his latest wife. This meant the house *and his bar* were open. Arlene caught me in the library, trying to cram a little bit of study time in before an exam. I heard her steps before I realised she was at my table. Arlene couldn’t just walk quietly into a room, she was far too ostentatious for that, especially after her stint as the lead actress in the school show, a role that earned her great acclaim with her father, stepmother and friends.

−Hi Sadie, she said, pulling a chair out.

I looked up from my books, the pages I needed vandalised with underlining and highlighter pen. Arlene might have seemed untouchable to most, but I’d known (and feared) her since our time together at Nethermains Primary. Now, I just thought she tried too hard, constantly working so she could remain perfect. For me, perfection was so unattainable that I told myself flawlessness was deeply boring, something for two-dimensional paper-thin people like daft Mr Jackson, still my least favourite teacher at school.

−Hello Arlene, I answered, wondering what she was planning.

−So… I love your new top.

−Thank you, I said, slightly surprised.

−It’s very Kate Moss. She’s on the front page of The Face.

−Fantastic, I said, wondering what was happening here.

−Yes, you’ve got that Kate vibe going on. I love it.

−I’m not doing your homework, I told her firmly. −No way.

−I can do my own homework, she laughed, much to the librarian’s irritation. −Or, well… I can get other people to do my own homework.

Arlene stopped and reassessed the situation.

−Does that make sense?

−No, but I get what you’re trying to say.

−Actually, I was going to invite you to my party.

I nearly fell out of my seat. I’d never been invited to one of Arlene’s iconic parties. Being Arlene, who was part of the closest thing Denny had to a Royal Family, she had a certain cachet, and we all knew it. Though I defined myself as an outsider, sometimes I liked to peek through the window and see how the other half lived. I couldn’t help my natural curiosity.

−You’re inviting me? Why?

−Honestly? I heard you weren’t hanging out with Gregor anymore.

−No, I said quietly. −I’m not.

There was nothing more to say, at least nothing more I wanted to say.

−He was a freak, she explained, leaning over like a conspirator.

−What?

−Haven’t you heard the rumours? Gregor’s a ladyboy.

I bit my nails, getting too much into the quick, drawing a dot of blood.

−I didn’t know that, I said feebly.

−Everybody knows.

She paused, then added:

−He better not try and piss in our toilets.

−Your party, I said quickly.

−Oh yes. Are you coming then?

−No, I told her.

−What?

−I can’t, I explained. −I’m too busy.

−Too

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.