The Chain (A Catherine Diary) - Stamfield. Complete

Chapter 31

31

We decided not to go back to my place, but to head straight over to Gemma's for the barbecue. We stopped by a shop and bought a large bottle of Cola. Carla had wanted to get some alcohol, but I convinced her it wouldn't be a good look, in front of the whole Frederick's family.

Gemma Frederick lived on the outskirts of town, the west side of Stamfield, in an area full of semi-detached and detached houses and although these houses had either three or four bedrooms, it was the size of the rooms, which was astonishing. For example comparing it to my house, Gemma had the smallest bedroom in her house, which was one and a half times the size of my mum's master bedroom. Gemma had a king size bed in her room and still had space, for the whole hockey team to sleep on the floor comfortably. She had her own ensuite bathroom, a built in wardrobe that spanned the whole of one wall, she had her own study desk in her room. In fact, I would be lying to say I wasn't jealous.

Gemma wasn't the only one who lived a life of luxury, in fact compared to Pat, who lived outside of Stamfield, in Hatfield, Gemma would classify herself as being poor. I wondered what that made me and Carla.

We approached the house, the small drive to the garage was already full, as was all the parking space on the road outside the house. The barbecue party was already in full swing, even though Carla and I were early. There were some young boys and girls running around in the front garden and I wondered which one of them felt out of place, as I recalled my experiences in junior school.

The front door was open and as we stepped onto the wood paneled floor, I was knocked back by a five year old girl running into me.

'Sorry Miss', the girl said and scooted past me. Now, if it was a girl in my neighborhood doing the same, they would be yelling, "get out my way" and there lay the difference between me and Gemma.