Chains 2
Without Prejudice
Rollies wife repeated the question, louder now, as if Amy was a deaf mute, shaking her braceleted, ringed hand in agitation in front of Amy.
" How is your Mother ? "
" None of your business" thought the nine year old and continued to stare at the floor as if fascinated by the pattern in the tile. Amy's floor was worn Lino with rips where many a foot tripped.
Luckily solid Sarah was there to escort her home, standing at the doorway, listening.
Rollies wife was startled for a moment at the older girls entry into the room. Sarah taking Amy by the hand in an unusually kindly gesture, usually the four year older Sister was impatient with her younger sibling. Calling her " annoying", a " drip", a "pest ", refusing to wait up for her as she walked ahead in life with her friends who would giggle and snigger together.
Amy had always felt alone, a state she preferred in her extreme shyness.
The two girls left hurriedly without saying a word, running down the driveway as if their heels were on fire. And of course as they did, they knew it just had to happen, luck only lasted them so long, Mr Solicitor, " Rollie " pulled up before them in his shiny M.G. It's British Racing green colour glinting in the morning sun.
He greeted the girls as if they were old friends, ignoring him, the girls ran down Mccartney Boulevard stopping only when their breath gave out. They wheezed a laugh out as they kissed their knees to get rid of the stitch. Careful to not step on the cracks in the sidewalk, they hurried home for lunch. Dad would be there, he liked all his children to be home when he was.
Maybe there would be a meat pie for lunch. Dad buying them at the bakery before his stately drive home in the Orange Vauxhall Viva with its racy " fastback". They hurried now with anticipation not expected disappointment of a jam sandwich with no butter. The bread, a doorstop, badly unevenly cut. Cut by the shaky hands of Mum.
She tried, she did, but her lunch was no comparison to Dad's. Amy's jelly sandals broke at the buckle but she ignored the break, and ran on home, peg legged.
Rollies wife repeated the question, louder now, as if Amy was a deaf mute, shaking her braceleted, ringed hand in agitation in front of Amy.
" How is your Mother ? "
" None of your business" thought the nine year old and continued to stare at the floor as if fascinated by the pattern in the tile. Amy's floor was worn Lino with rips where many a foot tripped.
Luckily solid Sarah was there to escort her home, standing at the doorway, listening.
Rollies wife was startled for a moment at the older girls entry into the room. Sarah taking Amy by the hand in an unusually kindly gesture, usually the four year older Sister was impatient with her younger sibling. Calling her " annoying", a " drip", a "pest ", refusing to wait up for her as she walked ahead in life with her friends who would giggle and snigger together.
Amy had always felt alone, a state she preferred in her extreme shyness.
The two girls left hurriedly without saying a word, running down the driveway as if their heels were on fire. And of course as they did, they knew it just had to happen, luck only lasted them so long, Mr Solicitor, " Rollie " pulled up before them in his shiny M.G. It's British Racing green colour glinting in the morning sun.
He greeted the girls as if they were old friends, ignoring him, the girls ran down Mccartney Boulevard stopping only when their breath gave out. They wheezed a laugh out as they kissed their knees to get rid of the stitch. Careful to not step on the cracks in the sidewalk, they hurried home for lunch. Dad would be there, he liked all his children to be home when he was.
Maybe there would be a meat pie for lunch. Dad buying them at the bakery before his stately drive home in the Orange Vauxhall Viva with its racy " fastback". They hurried now with anticipation not expected disappointment of a jam sandwich with no butter. The bread, a doorstop, badly unevenly cut. Cut by the shaky hands of Mum.
She tried, she did, but her lunch was no comparison to Dad's. Amy's jelly sandals broke at the buckle but she ignored the break, and ran on home, peg legged.
