Chapter Five
Ascend
‘He’s late down, that’s unusual.’ Aaron said, taking the screeching copper kettle off the stove. ‘Do you want to take a mug of tea to his room?’
My nausea made it hard to answer. My forehead was prickled with sweat.
‘It’s your choice, Dint,’ he said, setting the mug near me. ‘He’s in room three.’
I waited until Aaron turned to wash up before grabbing the mug. Its contents splashed against its sides, spilling onto my trembling hands.
The stairs leading to the rooms w ere to the left of the eating room. These were for the guests, so I took the staff stairs at the far end of the kitchen. The walls were narrow and their path steep. More tea escaped, turning my skin an angry red. The door at the top was heavy, leading out near Aaron’s and his father’s room. The first numbered door was twenty.
I moved down the corridor, an annoyed huff escaping. My feet brought me to number three too quickly. I stood frozen outside.
What am I doing here?
I swapped the mug to my left hand, drying my right on my vest top.
Do I even want him to come home?
I ignored the thought and knocked. My breath hitched in dread, the mug trembling again. I stamped my foot and bit the inside of my mouth.
No. Not now, you’re doing this.
After the fourth knock a slurred voice answered.
‘I’ll be there in a minute, Aaron.’
‘F-father?’ I gritted my teeth, my right arm grabbing the left to step the shaking. ‘I need to talk to you.’
I heard him stumble inside, then curse.
‘It’s open.’
Damn him. I cursed, forced to let my left arm go to open the door. It was still shaking.
The room was spacious, with a double bed at its centre. The walls were pale, so the sun’s strong rays wouldn’t reflect off and dazzle people. The window was at the far side, the wooden blinds down. It even had its own privy hole, built as an extra little room, and a bathing tub.
The floor was a mess; covered in empty bottles, bags with ash spilling out, and half written letters scrunched up.
Father was sprawled out face down on the floor close to the bed, making no attempt to move.
‘Dimitri? What are you doing here?’ he squinted up at me, resting his chin on his hands.
‘What are you doing on the floor?’ The shaking had stopped, my voice had the same dead-pan tone Mum had last night. ‘Get up and drink your tea.’
He blinked at me, studying my expression. At last he reached a decision, hauling himself off the floor and sliding into a sitting position on the bed. I handed him the mug and began picking up the bottles and paper.
‘It’s half-empty, and it’s not very strong,’ he complained. My answering glare surprised both of us; he drank without another word.
‘This has to stop Father,’ I said, not looking up from my task. ‘It’s pathetic.’
‘Pathetic!’ He roared, jumping to his feet and smashing the mug against the wall. ‘How dare you, boy!’
‘It’s that temper that got you here in the first place!’ I screamed back, facing him. ‘If you don’t start controlling yourself, you’re going to lose her!’
His red face flinched as though I’d slapped him, his mouth hanging open. He gritted his teeth, a sob escaping.
Pathetic.
I ignored him as I finished picking up the rubbish, refusing to touch the bags of ash.
‘I’m going to get hot water for a bath. You need to clean yourself up before seeing Mum.’
I picked up as much rubbish as I could and left the room without looking at him.
The shaking returned the moment I closed the door.
‘What about clothes?’ Aaron pointed out, ‘He can’t stay in that tub forever.’
I winced.
‘I’ll have to go to Marge’s stall and buy some fabric. I can sew some clothes, but he doesn’t know Mum taught me. He’ll kill me if he sees me doing women’s work.’
Aaron shook his head.
‘It would take too long. Him and my dad are similar sizes, I’ll see if he has any spare clothes. They won’t be fancy, but at least they’ll be clean.’
‘Dimi?’ Annie’s small voice spoke at the kitchen’s entrance. ‘What’s going on?’
I waited for Aaron to disappear up the staff stairs before going to her.
‘Annie, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you in school?’
Her worried look turned to annoyance.
‘We only have morning classes for the rest of the week so we can prepare for exams. I told you this!’
‘Okay.’ I said, not bothering to say sorry, ‘So why are you here?’
‘Mary said you were either here or back home.’ She frowned, ‘Why are you here?’
‘I’m fixing things.’ I sighed, taking a deep breath. ‘Annie, can you tell Mary I can’t come back today? And you should spend the day at Iris’ house, do your work there.’
‘But why?’
‘Just listen to your big brother, okay?’
She stared at me, unblinking. I stared over at the stairs, praying Aaron wouldn’t come back.
‘Okay, but I’m coming back for evening meal.’
I grinned and hugged her.
‘And it’ll be the best one we’ve had in ages!’
‘That’s your plan?’ Father moaned, running a hand over his clean scalp. ‘Show up for dinner and say sorry?’
‘It’s up to you now.’ I shrugged, folding his dirty clothes. ‘You have to gain her trust back.’
‘That won’t be easy.’
‘Well, either try or don’t.’
Either you want us or you don’t.
‘Remember, if you’re the last one there, you have to wash the dishes.’ I said, closing the door behind me.
‘Honestly Dimitri, what’s wrong with you?’
‘Nothing.’ I muttered, glaring at the door.
Mum sighed and piled up the empty plates.
‘I’m sorry if he got your hopes up sweetie, but-’
The front door knob rattled, followed by a curse, then a dignified loud knock.
‘Annie, didn’t you leave your school books at Iris’? Let’s go get them.’
‘Huh?’ Annie started as I dragged her to the front door.
‘Dimi?’ Mum asked in a warning tone. I ignored it and opened the front door.
‘Daddy!’ Annie yelled, trying to escape my grasp.
‘Later,’ I promised, walking past him and heading down the street. ‘Let him and Mum talk first.’
‘He’s back!’ Marge squawked, dumping the biscuit tray down on the table.
‘Dimi made him come back.’ Annie gushed, still snuggling up to Iris. ‘Now he’ll come home and everything will be good again.’
Marge shot me a withering glare that made my throat dry up.
‘I better go over there and check Lily’s alright.’ She snarled, quickly leaving the room. A moment later the front door slammed.
‘Daddy wouldn’t hurt Mummy, would he? Last time was an accident…’
‘That’s right, Mum is just a good friend and worrying for nothing,’ Iris smiled. ‘You’ll see.’
Within ten minutes Annie was asleep, still snuggled up to Iris. I smiled at her, trying to block out my growing doubt.
‘You’re so brave, doing what you did.’ Iris whispered, smiling at me. ‘I wish I was that brave.’
Her gaze made my face heat up. She was so close her nose bumped mine. I drew back.
‘Hey, I can’t lean any closer without waking Annie.’
I let out a shuddering breath and leaned closer, letting our noses touch. I felt Iris’ smile as she kissed me.
The front door slammed shut. We sprung apart. I saw Annie stir but didn’t wake, a smile on her face.
Marge came in, red faced and angry.
‘Is everything alright?’ Iris asked.
‘Oh they’re fine. In their own world.’ Marge muttered, looking at Annie. ‘She should sleep here tonight. She can go to school with you in the morning.’
‘What about Dimitri?’
Marge looked at me and sniffed.
‘He works early; I don’t want him waking us all up.’
‘It’s alright; I need some fresh clothes for tomorrow.’
The front door was unlocked; I crept in, holding my breath. Some chairs were knocked over in the kitchen, but nothing broken. I strained my ears, hearing Mum’s voice from their bedroom, soft and unworried.
The dirty plates were still on the table. I sighed and dumped them in the washing bowl, rinsing them with cold water.
Scribbled Thoughts 