Masters And Lovers 1-4 novel Chapter 72

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Thirty-Four Years Ago

She lies on her bed, reading a book. Growing tall, she’s long in the leg and arm, heading for gangly.

Chintzy pink curtains drape around a window frame stacked with soft toys. Little plastic ponies in rainbow colours sit next to stacks of books and magazines with bright cartoon animals. Rabbits and teddy bears watch, beady-eyed, the girl where she lies, her copper hair clashing violently with the pink of the comforter.

There’s a tap at the door and almost immediately, it opens and Stephen steps in. “Hi there, Princess. I brought you some cocoa.”

She smiles, sitting up. “Thanks, Stevie.”

“How’s it going?” He sits beside her on the bed, then glances down at her book. “What are you reading?” Then he frowns, looking at the cover. ‘I Robot’…. Asimov…. Not really little-girl reading is it?”

“Stevie, I’m twelve. They’re good stories. They make you think, and my science teacher says….”

“I’ll find you something better.” He kisses her forehead “I’m going to the library tomorrow. I’ll see what I can find for you.” He tucks the paperback in his pocket. “Drink your cocoa. Time to turn your lights out. Remember to brush your teeth.”

She sits up, sipping at her cocoa. After a while, setting the empty mug to one side, she gets up and goes to the bathroom.

She returns a few minutes later with a rim of wet hair at the top of her forehead and wearing pink pyjamas with Bambi and Thumper designs on the fabric. Climbing into bed, she watches the light under the bedroom door.

When the light goes out, she reaches under her pillow and pulls out a flashlight and a book: ‘Fifty Great Science Fiction Stories.’

Reading under her covers, she dreams of spaceships and explorers, galactic empires and adventure.

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Thirty-Two Years Ago

“I don't like her hanging out with girls like that.” Stephen has a set to his chin and stands, arms folded, glaring at his brother.

David protests, “What's wrong with Rachel? She's a perfectly nice girl.”

“Are you kidding? Look at the way she's dressed. I'm surprised her parents let her out like that.”

“But all the girls wear the jeans cut like that these days. It’s just a fashion.”

“I'm not having my sister dressing like a slut.”

David looks pained. He rubs the back of his head. “Give her a break, Stephen. She’s got to spread her wings a bit….”

“Did I ask you? I’m eldest. Dad’s no good for anything these days, so that makes me the head of the family. And Shelley’s going to do as she's told.”

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Stephen stands over her. “You’re not going and that’s the end of it.”

Teenage rebellion is written into everything about her. She squares up to him, chin lifted to look her brother in the eye. “Everyone else is going. Why can’t I go?”

“You’re not going out dressed like that.”

Flushing, Shelley looks down at herself, “What’s wrong with it? It’s my school uniform.”

“They didn’t have skirts like that in the uniform when I was at school. Go put on something longer. At least down to your knees.”

“But it’s no different to any of the others. Everyone wears these.”

“I said, go change.”

“But it’s mine. I paid for it, with my Saturday money.”

“I don’t care. No sister of mine is going to be seen wearing that. You can take it back to the shop and change it for something more respectable. And what’s that on your face?”

She blinks, touching her cheek. “I just wanted to try….”

“Wash it off. You look like a cheap tart.”

“But all the other girls wear makeup.”

“You're not other girls. You’re my sister. Now go clean that muck off.”

In her bedroom, she sits at her rose- pink dressing table, cleaning away the touch of eye-shadow, the hint of lip-gloss she was wearing. From its place under the flounced drapes, the teddy bear Stephen bought her when she was six watches her beady-eyed. Tigger and Rabbit watch too as she wipes away blusher and tears with a tissue.

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