Silver

Chapter 18 - then

Home alone. Friday night and both my parents were out. My house felt uptight. There was no warmth to it. The square angles and sharp edges, the whiteness, the desert of space on the kitchen bench, the leather couches on stainless steel legs, all seemed unfriendly. Every book in the bookshelf was a beautifully-bound hard cover, every vase and fruit bowl was designer made and imported from overseas. Not one photo of any family member was displayed on any wall or space in the house. It was as though nobody lived there and no family existed.

An email message appeared on the fridge screen, '1950s house open for inspection at 10.30am. Come along if you want. Afterwards go to McClelland Gallery.' It was from my father, as if nothing had happened.

I made a toasted cheese sandwich and ate it miserably. I had a headache. I couldn't even imagine what Millie had been through. I ate burnt fig ice-cream straight from the tub and pledged:

If Millie still wants me to be head bridesmaid, I will be the best head bridesmaid ever. I will plan the hen's party. It'll be the most thoughtful and fun hen's party anyone in our class has ever attended. I'll write the most personal, witty and amusing head bridesmaid speech. I'll learn my dance steps. I'll prepare a box of emergency items for the bride for the 'big day' with lip gloss and a fresh pair of stockings. I'll be charming to all her guests and even her mother will be impressed with me.

Maybe I'll even get married myself and then the four of us can live in couple heaven together and have weekly dinner parties, with four courses, and go away for weekends to Warburton. The men can collect firewood for the cabin, while Millie and I prepare dinner. And we can talk about what wonderful gentlemen the two of us ended up with. And how lucky we are.

Yeah right.