The Tragic Life

Chapter 11

WARNING: CHAPTERS 32 - 36 OF THIS BOOK CAN ONLY BE READ ON INKITT! LINK IN MY BIO ♥️
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Please read the authors note 💕

Maggie has the room in stitches as she tries to act out a scene from her favourite film, pouting her lips and strutting around like a chicken that's trying to lay an egg. Jamie and Isla are beside themselves with laughter on the sofa next to me, their snorts making me laugh harder as Jamie's dad films the whole thing.

Isla starts to cough. "Mum, please stop. I'm going to wee myself."

Maggie stops her movements to look at her daughter. "You can't tell what it is?"

"No," Abbey says, shoving a handful of nuts in her mouth.

I raise my hand in the air, smiling when several eyes fall my way. "It's not Bohemian Rhapsody, is it?"

"YES," Maggie says, jumping in the air, wiggling her bum in the process.

I laugh. "I thought so."

Isla leans past Jamie to look at me. "How did you get Freddie Mercury from that?"

"I remember him doing that move in the film," I reply, letting my eyes fall on Jamie when he rubs at my knee.

Maggie comes to perch on the arm of the sofa, handing me another Bellini. "Your turn, Molly. Act or question."

It's a family tradition that they play when they're all together, apparently. It took me a while to get my head around it, but if you don't want to act something out, you have to answer an impossible question.

I'm feeling nerdy today. "Question."

Dave, who's lounging on the beanbag near his sleeping kids rubs his hands together. "One-thousand, three-hundred, and thirty-seven divided by six, times nine"

The room echo a sound of distaste while my brain fires off, frown deepening when I concentrate on my lap as I envision the numbers in front of me.

It takes me ten seconds. "Two-thousand, and five point five."

The room goes silent.

Abbey pulls out her phone, taps for a moment before letting it drop to her lap. "It's right. How the hell...?"

Jamie nudges my side. "Yeah, you definitely get the genius title."

I push him back with my shoulder. "It's just numbers, I struggle with everything else."

Isla jumps to her feet. "You're so cool, Molly. Can I ask you something else?"

I nod. "Go for it."

She pulls her lips to the side and stares at the floor before clicking her fingers together. "Sixty-five times six."

I don't miss a beat. "Three-hundred and ninety."

Isla bounces on her feet. "Calculator people!"

Abbey does the honours, throwing her phone for a second time. "Right again."

Dave stamps his feet, lucky enough not to disturb the children who're completely zonked out on the other beanbags. "We have a math wizard on our hands."

Isla is looking at me in an entirely different way. "We do. Molly will you tutor me?"

"Sure," I say, trying not to laugh at everyone's enthusiasm.

Maggie strokes my head before leaning over to squeeze Jamie's shoulder. "You two are a power couple."

I try not to let on to my body stiffening, but it's clear Jamie notices when he gives my knee a little squeeze. "I think it's time for you to act for us again, Mum."