Safe and Sound (Watty Awards 2012).

Chapter Seven.

"It's no bother, dear. William's no trouble at all. I was just going to ask if you want me to give him dinner when he gets here?"

I hesitated for the second time since I had arrived at Mrs Norris' house, before nodding my head. It would be best for William to have a full belly before I was to come and get him from here in the evenings.

"Yes please...But only if you're sure that it's alright."

"Of course."

Mrs Norris stood up and took the empty bowl from my lap before she moved to check if William had finished eating. He had, so she took his bowl too and waddled off into the kitchen. I stood up to crouch beside William, and placed one of my hands lightly on the soft curls on his head. He looked at me, his small face lighting up as he lifted a chubby finger to point at the television that he was watching.

"Television."

He whispered, his voice filled with awe. I laughed and nodded my head.

"That's right, William. It's a television. Now, are you ready to go?"

He nodded his head, his dark curls bouncing. Mrs Norris came back into the warm room, and I turned my head to smile at her as I stood up from my crouch.

"We have to get going but, thank you for watching him. And thanks for the food."

"No worries, dear. I'll see you both tomorrow."

Mrs Norris led William and I to the door. William waved happily at Mrs Norris as we walked down her path and up ours. Reaching the front door, I pulled my keys from the pocket of my black trousers and stuck it into the lock. I opened the door and ushered William inside before closing the door behind us.

"Take your shoes off."

I whispered to William as I kicked off my penny loafers and put them neatly into the rotting shoe rack. I took William's small shoes and placed them beside mine.

I shivered- the house was cold. We hadn't had any heat in our old house either. I picked William up for speed as I walked up the stairs and took him into our bedroom. I could see that he was cold too, so I picked his warmest jumper and helped him to put it on. I then put an extra pair of socks onto his feet before I pulled a hoodie over my own head to keep myself warm. I was dreading the coming winter. If it was cold in our house now, then it would be ten times worse when winter actually came.

*~*

I looked at William's peaceful and relaxed face as he slept. He had dozed off  about an hour ago and had most of the covers tucked around his small body. My books were spread around me on the other half of the bed, and my poetry anthology was balanced on my knee as I annotated poems.

Hearing the door slam shut downstairs, I panicked, gathering all of my things together and shoving them to the floor by my bag. I flicked off the light switch and jumped under the covers, closing my eyes tightly as I tried to make my breathing more even so that mum would think that I was sleeping. My heart was beating rapidly against my breastbone, and my hands had turned clammy. Please don't come in here. Please don't come in here. I chanted under my breath as my stomach churned with nerves. Just because I was used to my mum being drunk, doesn't mean that it didn't make me nervous. I quietened my breathing as the bedroom door creaked open, closing my eyes even tighter.

"Madeline."

That eerie voice came floating in through the doorway, washing into the room and sending my heart beat into an erratic rhythm. I swallowed hard, breathing shallowly.

"I know you're awake, Madeline."

Shit. Maybe if I keep on pretending to be asleep she'll just go away.

"Get out here before I come in there and get you."

I should have known better. I blinked my eyes open, slowly pushing the covers back and getting off the bed before replacing the covers over William as he continued to sleep. I stepped out into the hallway and pulled the door shut behind me. I yelped as mum grabbed me by the scruff of the neck- reminding me of how dogs carried their puppies- and pulled me down the stairs.

"You should know by now that you shouldn't lie to me."

Mum growled, letting go of me when we got to the bottom of the stairs. She gestured for me to follow her. I rubbed at my neck and obediently trailed after her. She picked up a still closed bottle of vodka and unscrewed the cap. She poured a fair amount into a glass before adding some cola; effectively diluting it. She took a swig, narrowing her eyes at me as she watched me lazily from the other end of the kitchen. I stood awkwardly, hands clasped together behind my back. Had she brought me downstairs just so that she could stare at me?

Mum pointed one of her long, thin fingers at me, her greasy hair falling forward and hanging in her piercing brown eyes as they bore into mine.

"We need to have a little talk, you and I."

She said, taking another gulp from her glass.

"You need to be careful what you say to people, Madeline. This is a new town and I don't want people to get suspicious again. We were lucky last time. We left before anyone knew for sure. You need to be extra careful this time."

Mum narrowed her eyes into slits as she drained her glass. Rather than filling it again, she took a swig from the vodka bottle, placing it down on the table before wiping the back of her hand over her lips. She stood up, walking over to me with her thin legs wobbling beneath her.

"You know that wasn't my fault, mum."

I whispered. It hadn't been my fault that mum had come waltzing into my old school when she had been high and drunk. It hadn't been my fault that her little stunt had made people suspicious.
Enraged by my back talk, mum picked up her empty glass and threw it. I ducked at the last second and the glass smashed into the wall behind me, shattering into small shards.

"Don't contradict me Madeline!"

She bellowed, spittle flying from her mouth.

"You better watch your mouth young lady. Now clean that glass up and get the fuck out of my sight."

I hurried to the cupboard, glass shards cutting into my bare feet. Finding the dustpan and brush, I swept up every last bit of glass before tipping it into the bin. I put the dustpan and brush back, and risked a glance at mum.

"Don't stand there staring at me! Go!"

I didn't need telling twice. I ran from the room and up the stairs, my cut feet leaving sprinkles of blood as I went.
I opened the door to mine and William's bedroom and closed it behind me before getting into bed and pulling the covers around me. It was late- I would tend to my feet in the morning.

"Maddy?"

I flicked on the bedside lamp and looked at WIlliam who was had his eyes fized on me.

"Maddy why doesn't mummy love us?"

My heart broke just a little as fat tears leaked from my brothers eyes and ran down his face. I pulled him toward me, and his little hands held tightly onto my shirt, the material balled up in his small fists. I could feel him shaking as I held him. He was so young, yet he knew that we weren't loved. No three year old should be asking that question. I didn't want to answer truthfully, but I couldn't lie to him. I kissed the top of William's head, my lips brushing over his curls as tears began to fall from my own eyes. They rolled down my cheeks and onto William's hair, matting it slightly.

"I don't know."

I whispered.

"I don't know."