A Fishy Business

Chapter 9: Home

I walked down the stairs hesitantly, tripping at the bottom.  I had forgotten that my legs weren’t as long as my tail and I overestimated the gap between my feet and the stairs.  Rob was waiting for me. 

            “Your hair!” he said.  “What did those girls do to you?!”  I laughed nervously.

            “Don’t you like it?” I said.

            “It looks bloody awful!  You look like…what’s that…Avril Lavigne.  You look like her, Marina!  Here’s your cup of tea,” he said passing me the drink I had missed most in the ocean.  I sipped it and relished every moment.

            “Tea is so amazing!” I shouted in delight.  “I love it!” 

            “What’s gotten into you?” Rob said.  “You’re different.  Oh Marina, I was so worried.  What was this Amber doing having that long party?  Your mother insisted I leave you girls to it, but I did worry.  And you look so thin, and like a weird punk.  Oh, I’m not sure you should go there again.”

            “I had fun, Dad,” I said.  Rob looked startled. 

            “Dad?” he said.  I clapped my hand to my mouth.  I hadn’t realised I had called him it.  He beamed with joy.

            “Do you mind?” I said.  He rushed over and gave me a big hug. 

            “What do you want for dinner?” he said.  I was delighted to be asked. 

            “I would love…I would love macaroni cheese.  Ah, I have missed that so much!”

            “What did they feed you at this house?”

            “Oh, you don’t know…honestly, really unyummy stuff.  Can we watch Eastenders, later?  How I have missed these things!” 

            “You don’t even like Eastenders!” exclaimed Rob.

            “I know,” I laughed. 

            “Now you’re really worrying me,” said Rob.

Rob and I sat on the sofa and feasted upon gorgeous macaroni cheese.  I was in heaven.  We watched Eastenders, Coronation Street, even a film.  And then, the door opened and there was Mum.  She walked into the living room, clutching Sainsbury’s bags in her arms.  All the time I was in the sea, I thought about how much I wanted to rush into her arms and hug her tightly, how I wanted to say I love you over and over again, and appreciate her like I had never done before.  But now I felt as if an unexplainable barrier held me back.

            “Hi,” I said unexcitedly.

            “Marina,” she said.  And like me, she sounded a bit resistant to launch into an embrace.  But then she walked towards me and took me gently in her arms, stroking my head.  “Are you ok, my petal?” she said.  I resented her calling me sweet little girly names.  She had abandoned me.  She wouldn’t let me back home, and I didn’t think I would forget about that. 

            “I’m fine, Mum,” I said.  She walked off into the kitchen carrying the bags.  I sat for a few minutes, bracing myself for the conversation we needed to have.  I left the room, closing the door of the living room behind me, so that Rob couldn’t hear.  She was unpacking vegetables into the fridge.  I saw her with a packet of peas.

            “I know why you hate peas now!” I said.  “Because you’re a fish, essentially.”  She looked offended.