Disappearing Home Read Online Free PDF

fucking rocking horse,’ he says. ‘She wasn’t concentrating.’
    â€˜I don’t like town,’ Mum says. ‘It was lucky they only got her coat.’
    â€˜Fucking rocking horse; at her age an’ all.’
    â€˜That coat still had loads of room in it. Some of them assistants think the shop belongs to them the way they follow you around.’
    I hear a creak from the living-room door; Nan’s stick bangs against it, her cup and saucer rattle.
    â€˜What does she want?’ Dad says.
    â€˜She’s only getting a drink.’
    Nan is angry. ‘I can hear you, you know.’
    â€˜This is every fucking night now. Tell her to close that door, there’s a draught on my back.’
    â€˜Close the door, Mam.’
    â€˜That’s my coal fire warming your feet.’
    Mum’s voice. ‘So you’ve said.’
    I hear Nan banging around the kitchen, rattling cutlery. The sound of the kettle being filled. After a few minutes I hear her stick bang against the kitchen door.
    â€˜Turn that telly up,’ Dad says.
    â€˜Robyn’s asleep.’
    â€˜I said turn it up.’
    â€˜Move that paper, Babs, while I sit down,’ Nan says.
    Dad says, ‘For fuck’s sake, there’s no privacy here. Why can’t she drink that in her room?’
    I can hear Nan slurp her tea extra loud. I know that she’s tipped it onto her saucer to take the heat away.
    â€˜Tell her, will you. Like being in the fucking zoo.’
    â€˜Mam?’
    More slurps.
    â€˜Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m not sitting here listening to that. I’m going to bed. Turn everything off before you come in.’
    â€˜I’ll be in now.’
    â€˜Hurry up.’
    The living-room door slams shut.
    â€˜He treats you like a child,’ Nan says.
    â€˜Can’t you be happy for me?’
    â€˜He’ll never work for you.’
    â€˜Leave it, Mam.’
    â€˜Lazy good-for-nothing.’
    â€˜Here we go.’
    â€˜You gonna take that, day in day out?’
    â€˜I said leave it.’
    â€˜You threw better away.’
    â€˜You mean better ran away.’
    â€˜He came back.’
    â€˜Yeah, when it was too late.’
    â€˜And what about Robyn?’
    â€˜What about Robyn?’
    â€˜She’s asked to live with me.’
    Silence.
    â€˜And what did you say?’
    â€˜What do you think I said?’
    â€˜If she asks me, I’ll say no. Anyway, of course she wants to live with you, you spoil her rotten.’
    â€˜That’s not the reason and you know it.’
    Dad’s voice shouts in from the lobby. ‘You comin’ in or what?’
    â€˜Better do as you’re told.’
    â€˜I’ll go when I’m ready, not when I’m told.’
    â€˜Not finishing your cider?’
    â€˜No. I’m not. I’m going to bed. You made sure at the housing we’re down as living here, didn’t you?’
    â€˜Course I did. Wouldn’t see my own family out on the street.’
    â€˜No. You’re all heart, aren’t you?’
    â€˜There’s still half a bottle left in this cider. That’s a waste.’
    â€˜You take it, you’re taking everything else. The sooner you move out the better.’
    Dad’s voice louder this time. ‘Babs?’
    â€˜Your father will be turning in his grave.’
    No answer from Mum.
    â€˜I said …’
    â€˜I know what you said. Let him turn fucking somersaults for all I care.’
    The living-room door slams shut; Nan’s cup and saucer rattle. She covers me with a coat, turns off the light; shuts the door.
    I open my eyes, look out of the window. Mum will have a cob on with me now for wanting to live with Nan. She’ll think I love Nan more than her. I love them both, but it’s wrong to want to leave Mum. I’m being selfish. Mum would miss me if I left. Outside, the light in the window opposite goes out.

5
    M um and Dad