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7/30/2019 May Free Chapter - Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale
1/15
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspx7/30/2019 May Free Chapter - Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale
2/15
1
one
The morning it started Mum freaked out about
the Christmas tree.
It had been thirty degrees most of the night and
I wasnt sure if Id been asleep for any of it. I could
tell from the safety of my bedroom that Mum had
woken up foul: heavy footsteps in the kitchen,
cupboard doors slammed, the dishwasher drawers
yanked out and rammed in again. When I walked
into the living room the floors were already baking
underneath the sloping glass roof. The air-con
remote was in the fruit bowl on the kitchen table.
I pressed the button, hoping it would cool Mum
down, and kept my distance.
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspx7/30/2019 May Free Chapter - Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale
3/15
2
There was toast in the rack and everything
else set out. Dad was up and dressed, watchingthe scene in his usual way without saying a word.
He winked at me, but there was no smile. When
Sam walked in I tried to give him a warning sign
but, after he stuck his finger deep into the peanut
butter I was about to use, I decided not to bother.It didnt matter anyway it was me Mum was
going for, I just didnt know it yet.
Id tiptoed around her for half an hour when it
finally came out.
Its almost February, thats what it is. Sheslammed another cupboard door.
So what? I said.
So we were supposed to take down the
Christmas decorations a month ago. Its bad luck
and god knows we could do without that.
Dad walked out of the kitchen and Sam turned
up the volume on the TV.
Take them down then.
I cant, Im late for work.
I shrugged. Leave it till later. Does it really
matter?
Not to you, Im sure. Do you ever do anything
to clean up around here? Mum smacked a box of
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspx7/30/2019 May Free Chapter - Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale
4/15
3
porridge oats so hard on the kitchen bench that
they flew out the top. Did I have to smirk at that?Of course it was what she wanted. Now she
could really let go.
Mum stormed around the kitchen bench and
swept the breakfast jars up from the table with one
arm the giant Vegemite that Sam got throughevery week, Dads blueberry jam and probably
our last ever jar of peanut butter, because last
week shed read an article about peanuts being
poison. She paused for a moment and then with
the other arm she swept away my plate and knifeand the trail of toast crumbs, and they shattered
all over the floor. I stood there in shock. This was
a new level for her.
Youve totally lost it, Mum, you know that?
Can you blame me?
Whats your problem? The trees been there
for two months and you havent said a word. Why
are you going all schitz on us now?
She dumped the jars on the bench and pulled
her hair back so her face went tight, her eyes
crazy-wide.
Youre breaking stuff, for gods sake, I went
on, wishing Id never started. Going back to school
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspx7/30/2019 May Free Chapter - Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale
5/15
4
tomorrow was no longer the worst option. At least
the routine kept us out of each others way.I looked over at Sam but he had his eyes on the
TV and his little finger in his ear, picking out wax
or shutting us out, or both. Mum was back with
the dustpan and brush, noisily sweeping up shards
of plate. I sat back down but kept my chair a littleway from the table.
And go check on Essie, she snapped. Essie
was my grandmother.
I was meant to see Chloe. Mum, come on.
I looked down the hallway for Dad. What was hethinking, deserting us when she was acting like
this?
You saw Chloe last night. Youll see her
tomorrow and every day. Its always Chloe,
Chloe, bloody Chloe! Mum neverswore. Shes
bad news.
Not this again. Ill take down your stupid
decorations, okay?
She slammed the fridge door, grabbed her huge
bunch of keys and unhooked her handbag from the
chair I was sitting on. Then she put her mouth
by my ear but she didnt whisper, not even close.
The decorations andEssie. I flinched and held
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspxhttp://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/emily-gale/steal-my-sunshine-9781742758497.aspx7/30/2019 May Free Chapter - Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale
6/15
5
my ear. I cant do everything. As she walked
around me and down the hallway she called out,You too, Sam.
My brother pressed the off button on the
remote and rolled his head back on the sofa.
Great. Nice one, Hannah.
I looked at the dead-straight boughs of the faketree Id put together with Dad seven weeks ago.
Fine, I thought, Ill do one thing you ask, but not
the other.
We rang the bell but Essie wasnt answering.
I opened the screen door, knocked on the glass
panel and called her name. My voice started out
high and sweet the way youd sing to a baby but,
as the minutes passed and there was still no sign
of life, it turned to a yell. The look Sam gave me,
as we stood in the shade of Essies porch while the
sun fried the grass out front, said it all.
Get the spare key, I said. Essie kept it taped
inside her letterbox even though Mum had told
her a thousand times it was just asking for trouble.
Lets just go. Well tell Mum Essie didnt
answer. She can deal with it. My brother, the
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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6
hero. He didnt love Essie like I did. Even so,
I wished I could go along with his idea, but a badfeeling was burning holes in my gut.
Dont be a wuss. I meant that for both of
us, and went to the letterbox. The key fell into
my hands as if it had been just about to drop off
anyway; the sticky tape brown and dry. WhenI saw three newspapers in the overgrown grass
I was sure it was another sign that something
was wrong. Essie was a creature of habit and her
newspapers were the only reason shed stepped
outside her front door in years. She never went aday without them.
I gathered them up and cradled them, warm
against my skin. Then I knocked loudly on the
front window even though I knew there was no
point Essie never used that room.
Back on the porch I pushed the papers against
Sam and started to speak but he cut me off.
Bloody hell. Whats the old bat done now?
Sam! She could be I didnt need to finish.
Not all of Essies habits were as innocent as
reading the paper. She was reedy and only up to
my shoulder, but the way she got through a bottle
of gin had worried us for years. Wed known this
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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8/15
7
day was coming. The thing was, we didnt all feel
the same way about it.She could be asleep, he said. Essie didnt sleep
and Sam knew it. Mum said you couldnt knock
her out with horse pills. Tiny as she was, Essie was
on some kind of constant alert, even after six or
seven gins.I stood there holding the screen door open.
It had to be nearly forty degrees out here already
and Essies house didnt have aircon. I stroked
the grooves of the key with my thumb, biding my
time, and thought about all the times Essie hadstarted a conversation with the words When Im
dead . . .. Shed say things like that just to get a
reaction. In that way, and in others, Essie was like
a child. Thats why Mum hated her. It was also
one of the reasons I loved her.
Sam took a deep breath and puffed it out.
Youre scared, I said.
As if. Its just stinking hot.
Well, I am.
Just get it over with. He waved his arm
towards the door but looked away across the
street. Ive got stuff to do. Mum shouldnt even
make us come here any more.
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
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9/15
8
My hands were shaking but the key and the lock
melted into each other.The smell of Essies house was something youd
forget until the moment you stepped into it again.
Then it felt like the most familiar smell in the world.
It was old wood and dusty fabric, cigarettes and
the musky perfume she always wore. I dropped thekey into a tin dish on the sideboard and it echoed
in the silence. Slowly my eyes adjusted from the
glare of outside, the shapes of the dark hallway
beginning to make sense.
Essie? I called.I went first, taking small steps along the hallway
runner, olive green and worn down to nothing in
the middle. All the times Essie said she wasnt
well rushed into my head, along with all the
times Mum had shouted at her for lying. Sam and
I didnt know about any of Essies lies, we were
just supposed to believe Mum.
I passed the good room on the left where
everything was in its place. Essies square table:
you only had to look at it to give Essie an excuse
to tell you for the hundredth time that it was made
by Parker. Everyone had them in those days but
Essie was the first on the street. Shed say, Worth
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10/15
9
a fortune now. Dont murder me in my bed for
it, will you, darlings? I never knew what to say toEssies jokes.
The table was from the 1960s the decade
Mum said Essie had dug her heels into. The four
chairs had yellow padding that used to wheeze
when we sat on them, the plastic sealed onto ourbare legs on scorching afternoons. Not that wed
sat on them for ages. Family meals had been crossed
off the list years ago and I was the only one who
wanted them back, which didnt count for much.
Sam poked me in the back and we went on,past Essies bedroom where the bed was unmade.
That was nothing unusual. Mum always used to
pull the door shut as she passed by, back when
shed visit Essie with us instead of sending us on
our own like missionaries.
I cant breathe in here, said Sam. Why didnt
she ever get aircon? As if it were too late now.
Sshh, I heard something. But it was only
the click and hum of the fridge as we came to
the kitchen. The bathroom door was open too.
Empty. There was only one other room in the
house straight ahead, and that was where I knew
shed be.
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11/15
10
Jesus, look at this place. Sam had stepped into
the kitchen and was looking at the table piled highwith used cups and plates. That mess was normal
too. He circled it, his lip turned up. I suppose
he was doing Mums job of picking at Essie over
stupid little things. As if his own bedroom didnt
need to be condemned.Sam turned on the old overhead fan and took
his time adjusting the speed, looking up at it as if his
testosterone levels made him perfect for that
particular job. I knew he was just stalling. I knew
he couldnt handle any of this and that hed feelashamed because he was two years older and a boy.
Ill go in by myself then, I said. He didnt
reply.
That was when my own fear stepped up a beat
my heart was a wind-up metronome set to a
frantic rhythm. I took the smallest steps into the
room, feeling and smelling things more sharply
than ever but not letting my eyes stay on a single
object for too long. Heat danced on my skin and
the deep carpet seemed to reach into my thongs
and brush against my toes.
The back of Essies chair faced me. The TV
was off and the light was dim. The red curtains
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12/15
11
were drawn at the far end of the room, a shaft of
light shining a pathway to a red pool on the rugby the coffee table, fed by a delicate drip . . . drip
. . . drip.
It was an upturned bottle. I crouched to pick
it up, keeping my back to where Essie would be.
Red Baroness nail polish, the one Id bought herfor Christmas. I held still to stop the film of tears
over my eyes from spilling over, and set the bottle
down. I wanted time to stretch out, to spare me
the difference between having a hunch that Essie
was dead and knowing it for sure.But I could sense her. I knew she was there.
Maybe I could just pretend Id looked. Sam was
still in the kitchen. Hannah? he called hesitantly.
We dont have to do this. Its not our job.
I let my eyes creep across the carpet to her
stockinged feet. Then a little further up until I
saw her bony hands resting on her lap. Her black
onyx teardrop ring, a black silk shirt buttoned to
the loose skin of her neck a large bow tied there
and, finally, up to her face. Essies eyes were
half-open, staring into a space that was somewhere
between this room and wherever she was now.
Wherever people go.
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13/15
12
Shes here, Sam. Was that my voice?
It sounded separate to the rest of me. Sam sworeand his shoes squeaked on the lino. I heard him
walk down the hallway, dialling a number on his
phone. Not triple-0. Mum.
I stayed there beside her, looking at her hands.
Essie, I whispered. Thats what she liked usto call her, not Granny or Nana, which made her
feel old.
My body was suddenly shivering even though
it was stifling in there. I kept looking at her nails,
and thought how like her it was to be paintingthem when she died. Shed always been immacu-
late red lips and nails, a shock of white hair. She
had hundreds of bottles of nail polish. What would
happen to them now? Mum wouldnt want them,
or want me to have them, and maybe I didnt want
them anyway. Why was I even thinking about
that? Essie was here and probably warm and
Jesus I felt sick and dry-retched. I couldnt even
stand up. The adrenalin made my body judder and
spasm. I was on the other side of blind panic now,
the fallout had begun. A faraway spot in my brain
told me coldly that this was shock.
Essie. Essie.
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14/15
13
We werent going to grieve for her like a normal
family would, I knew that. Mum would be angry ifI cried too much for her. Sam would join in because
he collected excuses not to show emotion, and
Dad never thought she was anything to do with
him. But I was going to miss her. She was the sort
of person whod leave a massive hole in your lifeno matter how you felt about her.
Mums not answering, Sam called from the
front of the house.
Having Mum here would change everything.
Youll have to get her, I said.Shes at work.
I waited for him to get it in his own time.
Yeah, okay, he said. Come on then.
Im staying. I couldnt believe Id just
said that.
Why? He was angry, probably pissed off
because he still hadnt stepped foot in this room.
That just made me more determined. I didnt
want to be outside with him where he could say
anything he liked about her.
When the front door slammed, I flinched.
I had to do something. There was a teacup not
quite on its saucer, a plate of toast crusts and an
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15/15
14
overflowing ashtray I took them to the kitchen,
stepped on the lever of the pedal bin and chuckedin the crusts and the ash. When the lid slammed
shut I closed my eyes.
Here, Hannah darling, give me your crusts.
Mum says I have to eat them.Sshh. What she doesnt know wont hurt her.
Essie had always been on my side.
Every breath was short and quick as I started
to clean up the mess in the kitchen. I couldnthave Mum or the ambos or whoever showed up
thinking badly of her. My hands were shaking
as I held the washing-up liquid upside down
and watched as if nothing else mattered but the
last of it sliding down the sides of the bottle. With
my other hand I yanked the old tap and the water
drummed hard against the steel as I picked up the
first teacup.
Thats when she called my name.
Copyright Emily Gale 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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