The Chain (A Catherine Diary) - Stamfield. Complete

Chapter 89

89

'Make sure you stir the bottom', I heard mum shout from the living room, I glanced in, she was seated on the sofa, watching television, with the phone in easy reach. 'Oh, hi love, want a cup of tea, your brothers just making one, I'm sure he wouldn't mind making you one'

I was sure he would. 'No thanks mum, I've got to get changed and shoot back to college'

'Sports again, don't go wearing yourself out. How was college today?'

'It was good mum, thanks', it was a well rehearsed answer to a repetitive question

'Has dad not rung yet?', I asked nodding to the phone.

Mum looked slightly embarrassed and despondent at the same time, 'no love. If he does, is there a message you would like me to give him'

I thought for a moment. Maybe "sorry" would be the ideal message, but I didn't want mum to know what had happened and I'd be lying to say I was sorry.

'No, just say hi for me, will you', she nodded, 'I better go get changed'

'Alright dear'

I made my exit promptly and ran upstairs, feeling a pang of sadness for mum. I changed into a black tracksuit bottoms and a black sports shirt, packed my hockey boots in a bag, put back on my trainers and redid my hair into a pony tail. I glanced out of the window just to make sure Dwayne and Roger were still waiting outside. They were, both of them were in laughter and Roger was imitating a boxer.

I ran downstairs and into the kitchen, Andrew was standing there, eating some cookies and drinking his tea.

'Where are you going?', he asked, although he clearly wasn't interested, but was wondering how come I was never around and he had to stay in. Not that he had to, but he was too lazy to sort out doing any extra curricular activities.

'Out', I responded abruptly, walking over to the fridge.

'Playing hockey, are we', he said putting on what he considered a girly voice.

'Something like that', I said, pulling out a bottle of sports drink and throwing it in my bag, with my boots.

'Mum's acting weird', he said, his voice a little too serious for him, I looked up at him in shock. Very rarely was Andrew serious and I could see he was concerned. I guess that was why he was making her some tea. 'I don't think you should go'

I understood his concern, but he was in the dark, I knew why mum was acting this way and there wasn't anything I could do to make it better. In fact, me being around, especially as she was under the impression I had spent the previous evening with dad, would probably have made her feel worse.

'I have to go out and it's not hockey. Mum will be fine'

'Is it those boys outside?'

Andrew never missed a thing. So, even though I was a little surprised, it wasn't enough for me to show it.

'Partly, but I can't talk about it'

'Well, just be safe'

What the hell, I thought. Since when has my little brother taken on the father role. It wouldn't last, I thought.....I hoped.

I didn't need to respond to him, I was saved by a text message to my phone. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked down. It was Jack.

"Sorry forgot 2 tell u need 2 b at college in 30 mins. C u l8r"

Thanks for the late notice Jack, he was probably busy using his charm on some other unsuspecting girl.

'I better go', I said to Andrew, turning and leaving him with his tea and cookies.