Wilderness Read Free Page B

have been
funny on someone else’s daughter – stepdaughter.
    Then the news came. Gráinne’s mother, Rosemary,
was coming home.
    â€œOh, God,” said Sandra. “How do you know?”
    â€œHer mother phoned me,” said Frank.
    â€œI don’t want to meet her,” said Sandra.
    â€œFine,” said Frank. “We can work that out. No
problem.”
    â€œFor good?” said Sandra.
    â€œWhat?” said Frank.
    â€œStop being thick, Frank,” said Sandra. “Is she
coming home for good?”
    â€œOh,” said Frank. “I don’t know. Her mother didn’t
seem to know.”
    Sandra stood up, and sat down, and stood up.
Frank tried to hug her, but she sat down again as his
arms went out to her.
    â€œI’ve changed my mind,” she said. “I’m going away.
Me and the boys. I can’t stay here.”
    And the day after that, she came home in the rain
and told the boys the good news.

 
The Bedroom
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    She sat on her bed. Her eyes were closed. Her arms
were wrapped around her knees. Her knees were right
    up to her chin.
    She could hear them. Talking about her.
    She couldn’t. Her music was all she could hear. But
    she knew what they were saying about her. Down in
    the kitchen. She could hear them. They hated her.
    They hated her. And she hated them.

 
CHAPTER TWO
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    There were things they had to get. Thermal
underwear – long-sleeved vests and long underpants
    down to their ankles – gloves, special socks, hats, scarves.
    â€œWhat about skis?” said Tom.
    â€œNo,” said Sandra.
    â€œWhat about a canoe?”
    â€œNope.”
    The shop was full of outdoor adventure stuff.
    Canoes hanging from the roof, and tents all over the
    place. But all they were buying was socks and gloves.
    Johnny picked up a mountaineering hammer.
    â€œWhat about one of these?”
    â€œEach,” said Tom.
    â€œNo,” said Sandra. “Put it back.”
    â€œWe might need them.”
    â€œPut – it – back.”
    â€œWe might.”
    â€œPut. It. Back.”
    Johnny and Tom had been outside the back door
    when they heard the cup hitting the wall. Johnny had
    his hand on the door handle. They stayed there. They
    were both a bit scared. Johnny waited to hear more
    from inside, but there was nothing. He looked at Tom.
    â€œOK?”
    â€œOK.”
    They went in, Johnny went first. Their mother was
    at the sink, in her black bra, the one that used to be
    new. They noticed that the wall beside her was wet
    and very clean.
    â€œI spilt bloody coffee on myself,” she said.
    â€œOh,” said Johnny. “Can we watch telly?”
    They weren’t allowed to watch telly on school days.
    â€œOK,” said their mother.
    And they knew for definite that something was
    wrong, and they went in and watched Complete
    Savages.
    â€œMy mother’s going to take me away from this
    dump,” Gráinne told them.
    â€œCool,” said Tom. “I’ll get your room.”
    â€œNo, you won’t!” Gráinne roared, and she slammed
    the door.
    â€œWhat’s her mother called?” Tom asked Johnny.
    â€œRosemary,” said Johnny.
    â€œDo you think she’ll really take her away?”
    â€œHope so,” said Johnny.
    They knew that things weren’t completely OK. But,
    as far as they knew, they were going on their holidays
    to Lapland, in northern Finland, and that was all.
    They were going to a place with snow and reindeer
    and huskies and snowmobiles.
    Their dad drove them to the airport, and it was
    typical early-morning adult talk, all the way.
    â€œWill you have to wait long in Manchester?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œGrand.”
    â€œAn hour, I think.”
    â€œThat’s not too bad.”
    â€œNo, it’s fine.”
    He didn’t come into the airport with them; he had
    to get to work. But he got out of the car and