Do You Know Indigo?

Chapter Twenty Four

Bleary eyed and yawning, I rang the buzzer to Beth’s flat. I then proceeded to fall head first into the stairwell as I was permitted in. Perhaps staying at Tom's until 2am had not been the wisest of life choices.

“Good morning, love,” Sharon, Beth's mother said. She was patting Cheryl, Beth's sister on the back while she grizzled on her mother's shoulder.

“Morning, Sharon,” I replied, wiping my feet on the doormat.

“Madam isn’t up yet but don’t worry that won’t last long.” Grinning, she passed me  Cheryl and marched off to Beth’s room.

The Philips' flat was set out like ours with a similar decor. The paint was peeling on the doors and the wallpaper was curling. Sharon Philips worked part time at a  supermarket doing late night shifts. As such, Beth was a conditioned, if not reluctant babysitter.  

“Bethany Diana Philips if you don’t get up this instant you won’t be going out at all,” Sharon shouted, her voice ringing down the hall. Cheryl started wailing. I lifted her onto my shoulder and rubbed her back. Babies were wonderful,especially when you could just hand them back.

“Oh I don’t know what to do with that girl! You know she was out until all hours with this Nate boy last night and after I’d given up a shift at work too. I’m not sure I can trust a boy who keeps a girl out that late,” Sharon huffed as she re-emerged from Beth’s room. She didn’t make any move to take Cheryl from me, I couldn’t blame her. Beth complained often enough about Cheryl keeping them awake all through the night.

“Don’t worry, Nate's a friend of mine. He was the guy we went to see play on Thursday night. Thanks for letting Beth go by the way,” I said.

“Well if he’s a friend of yours then he can’t be bad, and anyway Beth’s been so wonderful lately I was more than happy to let her go.” She smiled at me. Beth came running out of her room, bed head hair, pyjamas and all.

“I’ll be like ten minutes.” She sped towards the bathroom clutching a bundle of clothes. I shook my head, laughing.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Sharon asked, heading towards the kitchen, me following close behind.

“Only if you’re making one.” I sat down on one of the chairs by the kitchen table. The kitchen was like ours too but the cupboards were fuller and the table was newer. Sharon was fumbling about for tea cups. I sat silently.

“You’re so good with Cheryl you know. She normally takes ages to settle down,” Sharon said whilst empting the tea bags into the bin.

“It helps that she'd already worn herself out. Maybe you'll be able to get some rest now yourself." Sharon placed my mug on the table, clasping her own tightly. 

“I’d love to but the truth is Cheryl cries senselessly what with her teething and I work long shifts so no housework  ever gets done. I’ve tried almost every medicine on the market but nothing seems to be working for her so while I calm her nothing gets done.” Sharon sighed sipping her tea. I held onto Cheryl with my broken arm, her weight rested on my shoulder, and picked up my tea with the other.

“I vaguely remember Jackson being like that. If you give my mum a call she might be able to tell you what we used with him.”

“That would be super. I'm just not coping well at work what with being up all night with Cheryl. The last thing I need is to lose my job.” Sharon rubbed her temple. I didn't know what to say to make it better.

Beth appeared showered, dressed and preened. She was wearing her bag over her shoulder, ready to race out of the door.

“You aren’t going out without something to eat Bethany,” Sharon said, getting up to make her something. Beth rolled her eyes.