The words echoed around Trevor’s head as he replaced the receiver. He poured himself a large whiskey and turned on the television. One of his favourite movies, The Odd Couple, was just starting.
An hour and a half later, he’d laughed till he ached. He’d also drunk several large whiskeys. The previous night and Sophie’s tale seemed to have been magnified out of all proportion. He decided to take Sophie’s advice and go to bed, but he was determined to stay awake until she got home.
He went to the unpacked tea chests and rummaged around for a few minutes before pulling out a large hardback book, English Country Gardens. He poured himself another large whiskey, went to bed and planned his cottage garden for next summer.
As he sat in bed reading, every once in a while he cast a wary glance at the dresser. By the time he’d finished his whiskey, he was having great trouble focussing his eyes to read any more. His determination to stay awake crumbled. “She’ll wake me when she gets home,” he thought, as he turned off the light and slid beneath the covers.
He’d been asleep for an hour when he vaguely felt the covers being pulled back and Sophie climb quietly into bed beside him. He tried to force himself from his slumber to greet her but he was too far gone. He felt an arm across his chest and Sophie’s head snuggling into his neck. He mumbled something about a good journey but it was totally incoherent and he slipped back into deep sleep.
An hour later he was woken sharply by the shrill ring of the bedside phone. Trevor’s arm reached out for the receiver. “Who the devil can this be?” he groaned. He put the receiver to his ear.
At the sound of Sophie’s voice, his eyes shot open. The first thing he saw was a red nightdress hanging over the dresser mirror. “Darling, the fog’s too bad,” said Sophie. “We’re going to stop over at a hotel. See you in the morning.”
Trevor didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He turned to look over his shoulder. Sophie heard a blood curdling scream from her husband as the receiver fell to the floor, followed by a single black feather.
Dear Son
By Hillier Townsend
Dear son, my son, my beautiful boy.
Tonight, I will kneel to bring your face to mine once again. . . gaze into your pale green eyes, wide with surprise; feel your silky black hair curling between my fingers; stroke the fine, soft beginnings of the beard you hope to have.
I will kiss your cheek so tenderly, as I've done hundreds, thousands of times; feel the snake of your blood coil across my lips, so hot. It will burn a gash into my cheek; pool on the moon-white gravel. A whiff of afterbirth from your open mouth will condemn me.
That first midnight. . . whiskeys under a veil of neon, the road smooth as smoke doing eighty, ninety-five on empty Montana miles. My one-ton swallowed whole the hood of your car; shock-struck eyes, locked in the revelation of each other’s headlights, answered the only question there was.
(The coyotes skimmed to us in a silver cloud. . . waited silently, so respectfully, in the rabbitbrush.)
Sunset is clawing at my window shade. A sour craving drags me from damp sheets; the craving that surpasses my thirst for water, my taste for food, my love for you. I have no horizon; I have only one destination.
Tonight for the hundredth, thousandth time, I will drink unto blindness. . . drive into blackness. . . cut off your life.
Forever, I cradle your beautiful head in my hands; burn my lips with your blood, as the coyotes – your pallbearers and grave – share the rest, my beloved… my beautiful boy, my dear son.
Shopping
By Maggie Innes
JULY
Swimsuit – not tight. (Shorts safer!)
Suncream Factor 30
Sunglasses. Mirrored
CHARITY SHOP - Harmless book. Harry Potter?
AUGUST
Pet pictures CAT Hamster DOG
SWEETS
Cheap phone Pay As You Go (Could use Mum’s old one?)
SWEETS. Not jelly ones!
Polaroid camera. Try eBay.
OCTOBER
ONLINE Black out stuff, soundproofing. **USE DIFFERENT
WEBSITES**
Sleeping bag. Pink if poss. Cushions. Fairy lights?
DIY STORE Duct tape. Black bags. Bucket. Padlocks. Keys not combination.
Test them this time!
Handcuffs
Rope
NOVEMBER
ROPE!!
Hire car – use discount code
CHARITY SHOP – pyjamas. Silky. Disney or something cute ☺ Age 11.
POUND SHOP – paper suits. Mask. Not too scary
NEWSPAPERS One of each.
Scrapbook
DECEMBER
Ice cream. No nuts
Orange juice. No bits
DOCTOR – sob story? Missing Mum Not sleeping! Ask for wimpy woman Dr
Christmas jumpers x2
FEBRUARY
Reward chart + stars. Pens pencils paper
BOOKS Hunger Games
MUSIC One Direction. Ree Hannah RIHANNA Slag! TAYLOR SWIFT
DVDs. Nothing with animals. Try J at the pub?
Doughnuts
Milkshake – strawberry
Vaseline
VODKA
JUNE
Handcuffs.
ONLINE - CCTV system. CASH pick up only
AUGUST
DOCTOR – Repeat Prescription? Just not coping, sleeping pills not strong enough boo hoo ☺
Stain remover.
Latex gloves. MULTIPACK
SEPTEMBER
Night vision goggles
Dog collar. Choke chain
NOVEMBER
First aid kit + extra bandages. Disinfectant.
DIY STORE – chain. OK if by the metre? Otherwise washing line.
Nails. Boards
DECEMBER
DOCTOR – leaflets? Monday when nosy reception cow off Vitamin tablets
FEBRUARY
Valentine card. Chocs! <3 <3
APRIL
CHARITY SHOP – T-shirts Large XL
MAY
CHARITY SHOP – Towels. Sheets. Belts (leather)
New blades for Stanley knife
Video camera. Could borrow from library
DOWNLOAD – Signs that labour is starting
JUNE
POUND SHOP – Economy kitchen roll. Extra strong.
DOWNLOAD Map of woods – with all footpaths
DIY STORE – Black bags heavy duty
Chainsaw. BLEACH XL
Shovel
JULY
Babygro
Nappies
MILK
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