Good Greek Girls Don't Read Online Free PDF Page B

what’s up?’
    â€˜Just making life easier.’
    I utter a series of uh-ha’s, okay’s and hmm’s. ‘Look, Shane, don’t worry, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.’ I make sure this is said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
    â€˜Sure sure, let me guess, you’ll be sucking back lattes down Chapel Street with your buddies while I’m still working.’
    â€˜Thanks for letting me know, Shane. I’ll be there soon.’ I lie with such ease that it’s scary.
    â€˜You owe me, Des.’
    Click, dead line. My mother and guests are still stunned into silence.
    â€˜Emergency at work, Ma. Gotta go.’ The look on her face says it all. Liar. Why can my mother always see right through me? It’s not fair. ‘I’m first recall, Ma. I have to go.’ Handbag and keys in hand. ‘Call you later. Bye Thia Maria. Bye Peter, Paul, Pest … sorry, Petro.’
    I can’t believe my mother let my aunty do that. She should have chased her out of the house. She should have stuck up for me. After all, I am her daughter. I can just imagine the apologies that my mum is giving to my aunty and Ape Man, telling them that I haven’t recovered from my break up with Denny, that I am stressed out from work, a million excuses explaining her demonic daughter’s behaviour. I can’t believe that my mother would be so desperate to get me out of the house that she would allow that ‘thing’ into the house. I mean, if all she wants to do is get rid of me, all she has to do is say the word and I’ll kick the tenants out of the little unit I bought when I was eighteen and started working part-time. But hell no, my mother would not allow that. As far as she is concerned good Greek children leave home one of two ways: married or dead. There is no other option. However returning home tonight is definitely not a good idea, at least not until I’m sure that my mother has taken a sedative and gone to bed. Must avoid mother at all costs until the volcano within her decides it will not erupt as soon as she sees me. Oh, the things I have to do to keep the peace in the family. I better find somewhere to hide till it’s time to meet my best friend, Ricki, for coffee. At least she will be sympathetic to my plight. But where to go until then?

    Thank God for Michael. My saviour and one of the few people who can help calm me down when all I want to do is scream. I’m sitting in his shop, ranting and raving about Thia Maria. How dare she? Just who the fuck does she think she is? And what the hell was that thing she bought to my house?
    â€˜Des, relax already, you’re wearing out the flooring pacing like that.’ How can he tell me to relax? Now that Thia Maria has started there’s no telling what stunt she is going to try next.
    â€˜Just tell them that you’re madly in love with me and having my illegitimate love child and I’m sure they’ll leave you alone.’ Leave me alone. I wish. If I told my family I was involved with Michael in any romantic way they would shoot me or lock me up in the first monastery that they find. Nothing against the guy personally, it’s just something my parents have against his whole race. It’s the whole Greek–Turkish history thing. It’s been so full of bloodshed that never shall the two meet in any peaceful way. It’s also a religious thing. The two religions are simply not compatible. In my parent’s eyes, marrying a Turk would be worse than not marrying at all. Not that it would be an issue with Michael. He’s one of my dearest friends. Anything romantic with him would be like incest, although we have decided that when we are in our nineties and all of our relatives are dead and we’re probably both still single that we will have a mad passionate affair.
    I came straight to Michael’s kebab shop. Apart from needing to chew his