Suck It And See | A. Turner

[Chapter 14]

Jade and Jack woke up around eight-thirty to catch the morning bus. They bypassed their sleep-ridden father who sat in silence at the table; reading the newspaper and drinking his morning cup of tea. The kids barely uttered a word to him as they dashed out the door.

The bus ride wasn't that long, only about twenty-five minutes. The cancer center was located just behind the hospital; it was a lovely, clean facility that stood apart from the hospital, which was cold, grey, and dull. The dirt beds which usually had flowers were covered in a thick frost, the windows with the colorful, delightful posters and glass decoratives were taken down, leaving the imprint of glue residue which had been missed by the cleaners.

Jade didn't purchase any flowers for her mum, instead they had grabbed a sandwich from the deli by their house; aged cheddar, salami, and artichoke. She kept it hidden in her bag as they checked in with the nurse at reception. Jack stayed a good five feet behind his sister as they walked down the warm, wood paneled hallways that smelled eerily of sage and vanilla. Perhaps it was only to mask the smell of harsh chemicals and decay?

The young girl took a deep breath as she came to the door, it was left open a crack so she could hear the soft sounds of the television echoing out. Her mum was watching Midsomer Murders, she always had a fond affinity for crime shows.

"Behave, now," she said to Jack, "And whatever ya do, don't mention nothing to her about school discipline. I don't want her worrying about us,"

"I got it," Jack whined back, "You brought the video, right?"

"Yes," she referred to the shaky camera video that her dad had taken of his play last night, to which Jade had stuffed into her bag before he could notice it was gone. 

➿➿➿

It had been a beautiful, but heavy, white Christmas in Newcastle. 

Christmas Day had come and gone. It had been filled with manufactured happiness and joy supplied from bottles, bags, and boxes. A majority of it Jade spent sitting on the sofa with Jack, watching the old Christmas movies they always enjoyed as children; Rudolph, Frosty, Home Alone. Later on, they had spent a mostly quiet and bland dinner at the table; Jason was three sheets to the wind on beer and bourbon by the time seven o'clock had rolled around. As for her father, he spent most of the night making heart eyes with Sandrine, ignoring, or not even aware of Jade's lack of Christmas spirit. 

The morning after, Boxing Day, Jade spent it cleaning up the house, anticipating the arrival of her friends. Despite it being a small house, the sofa in the sitting room was long enough while the floor could easily fit an average blow-up mattress. They'd just have to fight over who'd get to sleep where. 

Jade was busy dusting the TV set when her dad had come back in from shoveling the footpath and steps. He shivered as he pulled off his heavy coat and kicked off his snow-ridden boots. He stared at the back of Jade's head, watching the bun she had it tied in bob back and forth with every movement she made. The house was well cleaned and smelled well, like orange floor cleaner. He was concerned, though; he understood his daughter was smart and cautious, qualities he liked to think she inherited from him. However, the thought of having three boys in the house -- four if he counted Jack -- made his skin crawl. He had never met these boys, not knowing of what they're intentions were. 

Perhaps she was doing it as her own form of rebellion against him? He knew she was cross with him about sending her to Sheffield, and he couldn't blame her. But she had to understand that all he had was the best interests in his heart.

"The house looks nice," he said.

"Thanks," Jade replied quietly, "How's the snow?"

"Thick," he sighed, "Weatherman says we're supposed to get more over the weekend,"