A Tale Of Two Halves

Chapter 8

Hardin seems to avoid me for the rest of the day, and I am equal parts grateful and gutted. Mama seems to sense my frustration, and she strides over to me as I am picking carrots in the vegetable patch.
"What did those poor carrots ever do to you, hun?" she asks, kneeling down next to me and joining in.
"Sorry, Mama. I've just-I just-." I can't stop the tears that begin to fall down my cheeks.
"Oh sweetie, come here," Mama says, pulling me up and leading me over to one of the rickety wooden benches that line the gardens. "What's happened?" she says, wiping the tears from my cheeks with her warm hands. I recount the events of the previous few days and by the time I'm done, I am a red-eyed, snotty-nosed blubbering mess. Mama doesn't say a word the entire time, she just nods and strokes my arms.

She's silent for a moment, before taking a deep breath and pulling me close to her.
"Tessa hunny, you are one of the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful souls I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. From the first moment I laid eyes on you, as a tiny, innocent 7 year old, I knew you weren't meant for this place." She squeezes my arms and sighs.
"Everyone deserves love Tessa. Especially you. And no ridiculous system should put a stop to something like that from developing."
Love? I let the word settle in my head. I'm not in love with Hardin, and he certainly isn't in love with me. But, I realise, in the few days I've known him, I've come to care for him in a way I didn't for anyone else.

"Fuck the rules Tessa. Live tenaciously, passionately, unapologetically. Make the best of this shit situation and let yourself feel. You only get one life angel, and you deserve to live it." I realise I am crying again.
"I love you, Mama," I say, turning and hugging her.
"I love you too, sweetie. So, so much." We sit there for a while, her softly stroking my hair, and me running through her words in my head. Eventually, Mama slaps her knees gently and says, "Ready to get back to work hun? Those carrots aren't going to angrily pick themselves."
I laugh and head back over to the patch.

A few hours later and I am walking to Tom's house. I'm surprised I haven't run into Jared so far, and I almost hope he will be there tonight, just so I can get the grovelling out of the way. I let myself in through the side door and survey the room. Initially, I can't see anything that obviously needs cleaning. Just as I am about to search the other rooms, Tom bounces into the room, a huge smile on his face.
"304! What time do you call this?"
I glance at the clock on the wall. "I'm early, sir," I say, looking at the floor.
"Not early enough I'm afraid!" he scoffs. "Its a shame, but I'll have to dock some of your pay for that. Lateness will not be tolerated on my jobs."
"Yes, sir" I say, my heart dropping into my stomach. All of the money that we earned on booked jobs went into our houses' food pot, and it was hard enough as it was making the money stretch far enough for us all to eat.
"You're lucky I'm even allowing you to stay at all. Most Rich's would send you away with no money at all," he says, tutting.
I can only nod. I bite the inside of my cheeks, begging myself not to cry.

"Well, since you're here, you may as well do the job. My bathrooms haven't been cleaned in weeks I'm afraid 304. And I'm sorry to say that I don't really have the correct tools needed to clean them. You'll have to make do with this," he says, and pulls a toothbrush out of his jeans pocket. Fucking prick. I force myself to take a step forward, reaching out of the toothbrush. Just as my fingers brush the handle, he snatches it back away from me.
"Now Poor, I have a party to get ready for. I'll be leaving in an hour. I expect you to be finished by then. 4 bathrooms." He throws the toothbrush down to the floor and walks off.

An hour?! It would be an impossible task to clean all 4 of his bathrooms without using a fucking toothbrush. I have been set up to fail here, and there is nothing I can do about it. I contemplate leaving there and then, knowing that this is going to end badly whatever I do, but I can't make myself do it. Having one Rich mad with me is bad enough, two would be disastrous.

I pick the toothbrush up and head to the first of the bathrooms. It isn't too bad. Mostly there's just alcohol spilled on the floor and the counters, and it doesn't take me too long to scrub. I sneak a few pieces of toilet roll from the roll and use it sparingly, rationing it in the hope it will last for all 4 rooms. I dip my head back into the kitchen and look at the clock. 9:15. 'Slightly behind schedule, but if all of the rooms are like this one, I might actually stand a chance' I think to myself.

Surprisingly, the next 2 rooms are more of the same. Wiping my forehead with my hand, I make my way back to the kitchen, checking the clock once more. 9:45. I can do this. I race as quietly as I can to the top floor, to the bathroom situated next to Tom's bedroom. I push open the door, ready to get to work, and gasp.

Thick, red liquid coats the walls. Purposely splashed around the room, the liquid oozes down onto the floor. It coats the toilet, the sink and the shower. Even the towel hanging on the rail is covered. The strong smell of paint stings my nostrils, and, despite the horror of what I have just walked into, I'm glad it is only paint. I cover my nose with my hand and tip-toe to the window, pushing it open to let in some of the night air. I maneuver back to the door, careful not to slip on the paint.

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me. A hot breath hits my neck. "Oh dear 304. Not what I expected to see. I was very clear on my rules. 4 bathrooms. To be cleaned by 10 o'clock." He swings an arm in front of my face, and I can see that his watch face reads 10:10. My heart plummets. "Oh, didn't I mention? My clock in the kitchen is slow. And unfortunately, you're out of time." He laughs, and I spin round as another voice joins in.

Tom and Jared stand in front of me, both wearing smug grins on their faces.
"Well Tom," Jared says, puffing out his chest in a way that reflects that of an orangutan. "An unfinished job means no payment, am I right?"
"You most certainly are Jared," Tom replies.
"Please," I say, my voice almost a whisper.
"Sorry?" Tom says sarcastically, holding a hand to his ear. "We couldn't hear you, 304."
"Please sir. I'll clean it for you. I just need some more time and some better equipment. Please."
"Better equipment?" Jared says, mock shock coated on his face. "Did you hear that Tom? This Poor is slating your equipment."
"I did Jared. Don't know who she thinks she is. Well, in any case, we don't have time for you to finish I'm afraid. Parties to attend. Beer to drink. Girls to fuck. You know," he says and I cringe at his words.
"Please," I beg.
"Christ she's desperate isn't she!" Tom laughs. "Well 304, if you're really desperate to be paid, I suppose there is something you could do...for us," he says, turning to Jared and winking.
"To us," Jared adds.

My stomach twists as I understand what they mean. Like I'm a cornered deer and they're a pair of hungry lions, they begin to stalk their way towards me. I back away, until I feel my back press against the sink. The paint smears my clothes and arms but I don't move. I'm cornered.
"Right 304, where did we leave off at the other day before you so rudely interrupted my flow?" Jared says, and he runs his hand up my leg. On his other side, Tom runs his hand up my torso, stopping just below my boobs. I feel bile rise in the back of my throat and heat rushes to my head as I try to think of a way to escape.
Jared's hand snakes it's way up the inside of my thigh, and joins Tom's just under my boob.
"Well, she's not much, but she'll do," Jared sneers, and his hand grabs my boob. Hard. I yelp out in pain, and Tom takes the opportunity to join Jared. He grabs my other boob with one hand, and yanks me towards him harshly with the other. Jared's other hand reaches down to my bum, and he grasps it painfully, digging his fingers so hard into the skin that I know it'll leave a mark. I yell out again and close my eyes. If this is going to happen, and it seems like it is, I want to imagine I'm anywhere else. I picture Hardin smiling, and the pain seems to ease slightly.