Chapter 4 – The Worst News

  I woke with a cold sweat which matted my hair to my forehead… oh wait… that was just rain. I was still sitting on the cold bench and my dress was now soaked and cold. My hair was clumped together and hung in dreads around my cold pale face. I pulled my dry but cold hoodie from my bag and wrapped it around my body before looking at my timetable.

I was meant to be in Math Studies five minutes ago. I yanked my bag over my shoulder and hurried towards the Math building.

“Miss Krintah, good to see you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence.”

“Sorry Mr. Hallaway. I was caught in the rain, as you can see.” I said shortly, ignoring the fact that he had called me, Miss Krintah.

“Yes, I can. Now take a seat and stop disrupting the class.”

I walked down the aisle and took a seat on the left side of the room, next to a guy with spiky black hair. He glared at me but I glared back and then turned around, so I wouldn’t have to look at him at all. The middle row was occupied by Jamie, Mikki, Kya and another girl I did not know that well.  Anne-Marie, her name was and she was good friends with Mikki. I watched as she smiled at Mikki and whispered something, making my friend giggle and tell Kya, who told Jamie. At least they were enjoying themselves.

“Now, everyone, open your textbooks to page seventy-six and then open your exercise books to a new page and get ready to copy. For those of you who don’t have a textbook,” Mr. Hallaway looked at me and I knew I had missed the text-book borrowing times; “you can share with the person next to you. I’ll put some notes on the board and I want you to copy them before going on with question one, parts a, e, q and s.” The bald thin teacher ran his hands over his tie, smoothing it out, and then turned to the boards and began writing notes on multiplying and dividing surds in red marker.

I sighed quietly, and sat back in my seat. After a few deep breaths, I pushed my hair back, crossed my legs and turned to look at the boy next to me.

“Sorry ‘bout this,” I said, but he just nodded, his black long hair shaking slightly with the movement. “I’m Lissa, I mean, Lisa.”

“Jake.” He said simply, but I could hear an accent. I studied him for another minute. His skin was pale, his face clear and he had hazel eyes, the kind with green flecks in the brown.

“Where are you from?”

“England.” He said and from his tone of voice, I guessed that was the end of the conversation. He opened the book and put it in between us, took out his new exercise book and ruled up his page in blue pen. I ruled up my own first page and began taking notes from the board in black pen. When I had finished taking notes I turned to see Jake looking at me.

“Um,” I started to blush. “What are you looking at?”

“Your hair is dripping water onto the table.”

I looked at the small space between our books and sure enough, there was a small pool of water forming.

“Oh, s**t, sorry.” I pulled my hair to the right side of my head and put it in a loose plait before putting the sleeve of my hoodie on the water patch, letting it absorb the water. “Sorry,” I repeated and he just nodded before turning back to his perfect cursive handwriting. I had to admit, I was jealous of his writing, and by the looks of it, he understood surds a hell of a lot more than I did.

I reached out to tilt the text book, ever so slightly in my direction and he froze but didn’t say anything. I did the first four parts easy enough so I moved to the next question and got it wrong but I tried again. My math grades had never been great, but I was really going to try hard this year. I wanted to get a scholarship to go to Watershore College on the coast, away from James Krintah and Maria Richards-Krintah.

After three more tries on the same question and getting the same wrong answer, I was about to put up my hand for help when Jake spoke.

“Nine to the power of one half isn’t four and a half.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, your working out is right up to the second line. Nine to the power of one half is the square root of nine.”

“Making it three?” I asked. Sure I sounded like an idiot, but I was actually starting to get it. Jake nodded and I continued. “So, then eight to the power if one third is the cube root of eight?” Jake nodded again. “I get it now. Thanks.”

I continued my working out and got all the work done with a bit of time to spare. Mr. Hallaway walked past and looked at my work and seemed to be surprised that I had got them all right, with all the working out to prove I had done it.

“Okay everyone, that’s it for today. Homework is to do question nine, parts e, g, I, k, m and o. Off you go.”

All at once, people rose from their chairs, I stood and turned to Jake, just as he was about to make for the door.

“Hey, Jake?” I called; he turned and pulled out an ear phone out his ear. “Thanks again.” He nodded again and left the class room. I followed shortly after.

 

My last lesson was English and I sat next to Kya and I quietly told her about my dream. I knew she wouldn’t judge me and neither would the others, but I knew that Kya would listen quietly and never bring it up again.

“Sounds freaky. I mean, do you honestly think you dreamt what really happened?” Kya whispered as the teacher lectured us on the novel To Kill A Mockingbird.

“I don’t know. Who’s to say that it wasn’t just bizarrely coincidental? But then again, parts of that fit nearly every variation of the story we’ve heard.”

“Yeah. I don’t think you should tell anyone though. I mean, I’m glad you trust me and all, but keep it quiet otherwise people will start to think you had something to do with it and you know that Kevin will use anything to get himself off the suspect list.”

“I’m so glad you agree. They were my thoughts too. I�"”

“Miss Vivian, would you please share with us what you are sharing with Miss Wilson?” Mrs. Rhina asked. Her white hair was pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck and her grey-green eyes were narrowed.

“Oh, we were just talking about what sort of assignments you’ll be setting for us.”

“Yeah,” I said quickly, playing along. “Are we going to have to write an essay, or a script, or do an oral presentation?” Most students groaned at the mention or oral presentations and I had to agree with them, I hated talking to the class about something they could probably find on Google if they actually wanted to know about it.

“Well, you will have a series of four tasks. One will be an essay and another will be an oral presentation, but we’ll get to that after we’ve read the book, shall we?” A few kids nodded, including Kya and I and she continued talking. After that, we had to borrow our novels and when we returned to the class room, she told us our homework.

“Okay, now you have to have read the first four chapters by next Monday, but I expect you to have read at least chapter one by our next lesson which is….Wednesday. Okay? Alright, you guys can go.” She dismissed us early and I walked with Kya to the quadrangle where we said our goodbyes.

“Will you be on msn tonight?” she asked as I hugged her goodbye.

“No. I’ve got plans. I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.”

I walked straight to the classroom I knew that Amy would be in and knocked on the door. A tall muscly male teacher opened it and I quietly asked if Amy could leave early with me because we had to catch a lift home.

With a small nod the teacher disappeared back inside the room and I heard the teacher set the classes’ homework before calling Amy to the front. A few seconds later and she and I were walking to the car park by the gym.

“How was your day?” I asked.

“Good. Kevin showed me around and I hung out with this girl called Eisha. She’s a year nine.”

“Eisha Hopkins? Yeah I know her. She’s pretty cool actually.”

“Yeah. She has the most amazing singing voice! It’s to die for!” Amy told me and I laughed.

We immediately found the white commodore as we walked into the car park and climbed in. Maria’s mum, Lilly, talked to me, and asked me how I was going. I told I was good and asked about her. I liked Maria’s mum. She was a nice old lady who loved gardening and line-dancing. Polite and kind, I loved talking to Lilly.

The drive home seemed to go a bit quicker than I was used to, probably because we hadn’t had to stop at a second school. When we pulled up the driveway, I grabbed my bag and said goodbye to Lilly as I climbed out her car. Amy kissed her grandmother on the cheek before she too, climbed out and walked to the front door as I grabbed the mail and unlocked the house. Amy went straight into her room and I could hear her laptop start up as her bag thudded to the ground. With a small sigh, thinking this was my life, I put the mail on the counter and walked into my own room. I threw my bag on the cluttered floor and I kicked off my shoes. I fell on my bed, fully clothed and soon fell asleep.

 

*****

I woke at eleven o’clock that night and had a shower straight away. I didn’t stay in long, but I did wash my hair. When I got out, I crept back into my room and pulled out my best clothes. With a small sigh, I pulled the spaghetti-strap black satin dress over my head and then slid my feet into my silver gladiator sandals. They contrasted perfectly with the black knee length dress that shimmered slightly as it bathed in the silvery light of the rising moon.

My hair fell out of the towel and I blow dried it before pinning my fringe back. The rest of my black/brown hair fell in natural ringlets around my pale face and neck stopping just past my shoulder blades. I applied a thin layer of eyeliner and instead of my usual black or purple lipstick; I applied a thin layer of shiny lip gloss. The last thing I grabbed was my black clutch purse with the silver button and my black velvet coat before leaving the house as quiet as a mouse.

 

*****

 

The graveyard was silent and eerie with a fait fog that lightly kissed the pebbles on the cold hard ground. The moon hung directly above Lisa as she opened the creaky old metal gate and walked proudly but sadly three rows to the left, seventeen graves up (nineteen from the old entrance).

style="text-indent: 7.1pt; line-style="text-indent: 7.1pt; line-height: normal; font-family: verdana;">She knelt in front of a stone and began cleaning it with some bottled spring water and a cloth, wiping away any moss, dirt, leaves or bugs that had chosen to settle themselves upon the pink and white marble. When that was done she reached out for the crystal vase and pulled the old wilting flowers from the year before. Vaguely, she noticed how they had only just recently begun to wilt but with a small shrug of dismissal, Lisa tipped the contents of the vase into the isle way. She then poured the rest of the bottled water into the vase followed by the forty dollar bouquet of flowers she had bought on her way to the cemetery. After arranging the flowers, Lisa put the crystal vase back in front of the gravestone and sat back on her ankles.

As tears began to fall from her eyes, she whispered the same words that she had chanted on this night for the past eight years, into the cold harsh empty night.

“Happy Birthday mum…..”

 

*****

 

I was wrapped in my mother’s warm embrace as we sat by the big window in the lounge room, watching the snow fall outside. I loved the snow. It was always so beautiful and gentle, just like my mother. I turned and gazed at her face as she intently stared at the falling snowflakes, remembering something from before I was born. She looked hollow and tired. Lines creased her forehead and circles of deep purple and faded grey surrounded her emerald eyes which looked like they were slowly dying, like dwindling embers of a fire.

“Mama? What are you thinking about?” I asked her. My small fist grasped her fingers a bit too tightly and she wriggled them slightly.

“I was thinking about this magical place I once dreamed about…” her voice was far away and exhausted, but she tried to smile lightly.

“Magical? Like with fairies and unicorns and pixie dust?”

She laughed soft and musically, “yes my little Lissa. Exactly like that.”

“What’s it called?”

“Ald-”

“She’s just like you, Phoebe,” my father said as he passed Phoebe a mug of hot chocolate; interrupting her. James shot her a small look of warning and she closed her mouth and took a sip of her drink.

After letting me have a small burning sip, my mother placed the mug on the white window sill and I watched with glee as the steam made the window fog up and the view impossible. I reached my small hand out, making a hand print against the window, and giggling as I pulled my cold hand away before turning and hugging my mother tightly.

Her face rested against my small shoulder and whispered something I couldn’t hear. All I remember is the sweet smell of her hair and skin, the warmth that still radiated from her, even though it was weeks before she was due to….pass.

 

*****

 

A hooded figure walked into the graveyard from the old entrance and walked nineteen rows to the left and nineteen graves up to find the pink and white marble headstone clean with a fresh bunch of flowers in the jar in front. It was clear that the figure was a woman by the way she walked, the way the coat clung to her plump waist and how soft her breathing was. What she did not expect to find was the sleeping girl who looked like a black bundle from a distance. She was curled up in a ball, the skirt of her dress only covering half of her legs, her coat covering the other half that was folded under her. The girl’s black curly hair gently tickled her nose and neck in the slight breeze and her eyes fluttered as she slept on.

“Caristha hympetsh,” the woman muttered as she raised her hand. Shining bright pink dust fell from her hand over the grave and the flowers.

There was another gust of wind and this time, the black curls that tickled the girl’s nose, made her sneeze and wake up to find herself completely alone.

 

*****

 

I arrived back at home and walked inside to find my father standing by the door.

“Where have you been?” he asked and his eyes grew wide as she took in my outfit.

“Out.”

“Where? With who?”

“It’s none of your business where I was or who I was with, father,” and it’s not like you’d care that I went to wish mum a happy birthday either. “Is there anything in particular you wanted?” I asked not caring.

“Yes. I have been trying to call your mobile for the past three hours.”

“The guilt trip won’t work. I haven’t been out three hours. I’ve been out for one and a half, besides,” I held out my phone so he could see, “no missed calls, see?”

He growled and was about to hit me, I could see his muscles tensing but as he rose his hand Maria walked into the room and he let it drop quickly before going and wrapping his arms around Maria’s waist.

“Lisa! There you are! I have some news that I think might interest both you and Amy.” She said to me, like we were best friends. Amy walked in with her mobile in hand and I saw the Facebook logo on the top left hand corner.

“What’s up mum?”

“You might like to sit down,”

“I’ll stand, thanks.” I said harshly.

“Okay, well. We have an announcement.”

“Duh,” I muttered and James shot me daggers.

“What Maria’s trying to say, is that there is a big change coming for us as a family.” James said looking directly at me and emphasising the word family.

“Oh, yes. A huge change and I think it will bring us together as a proper family.” Maria clasped her hands in delight. I started to relax, ignoring the alarm bells that were ringing in my head. If she was this happy, the news couldn’t be bad….could it?

“Okay, so tell us!” Amy cried.

“I’m pregnant!”

 

I stood frozen in place. Why tonight? Of all the nights she could have chosen, why did Maria chose the one night I did not want to know her to tell me she was pregnant!?

Amy jumped up and squealed, hugging her mother tightly before running back upstairs saying something about friends, news and Facebook. James smiled at his wife and walked out of the room and into the kitchen to make coffees.

After a few minutes of standing in silence, I walked over to the couch and sat the end furthest form Maria. I sat silently for another ten minutes, I think.

“Lisa?” Maria’s voice was hesitant. It was clear that she was worried about my reaction. I didn’t know what to say but it was obvious that my silence was making her edgy.

Good, let my silence make her paranoid. I don’t care. I thought but instead, I turned to face her slowly and mechanically. I must have looked like I was possessed. I tilted my head to show my ‘interest’.

“Are you okay?” the step-mother asked me. I nodded mechanically and turned my head back slowly.

“Are you sure?” she asked again. I moved my head down slightly and then up slightly. I didn’t want to say anything. I didn’t want to make her upset, but I didn’t want that thing growing inside of her either. It would ruin our lives…my life.

Suddenly I felt winded as I realised who I sounded like. I would not… there was no way I would turn out like Kevin. I turned back to face Maria in a less forced mechanical way and forced my lips to curve, hoping I looked pleasant.

“That’s……great…news…” I said, “I only wished you told me earlier.”

“Why’s that honey?” she asked. I grabbed the skirt if my dress in a fist. I would not retaliate to what she just called me. I would not. At least, that’s what I was trying to tell myself.

James walked in carrying two mugs of coffee. He handed one to Maria and kept one for himself as he sat down next to Maria and put his arm around her.

“What are you guys talking about?” he asked us. I resisted the urge to glare at him and his ignorance. How could he have forgotten?

“Well, Lisa was just telling me what she thought about the news.”

“Really? Well, it’d be interesting to hear what she thinks for once.” He turned to me expectedly.

“I think that it’s great that you guys are having a baby,” I began but I felt my smile falter and I tightened my fists. “But I just wished you hadn’t told me the news today.”

“Why?” James asked. Was he really that ignorant? Obviously, otherwise he would’ve come with me to the cemetery.

“Because today’s my mum’s birthday. She is fifty-one today.” I said as I got up and walked upstairs to my room, closing the door quietly behind me.

Author's Note

Next chapter. :)
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