Tak to ja, przeprosiłam się z tym blogiem.
Znalazłam w odmętach komputera gotowe opowiadanie, które gdzieś już publikowałam, ale na pewnym etapie przestałam.
Ale właściwie co mi szkodzi je wrzucić?...
Tak oto są tu pierwsze 3 odcinki (z 5 niegdyś już opublikowanych), ku przypomnieniu.
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Elizabeth
Morgan parked in the driveway. She got out of the car and looked at her family
house. “Home sweet home” – she thought sarcastically. She was visiting her
parents (and later her mother after father’s death) every Christmas. But now it
was something different. Now, when her mum wasn’t feeling very well, she
decided to move back here, after something like 12 years. “Backing to basics,
phfff” – she gasped. The idea of living here again made her feel so weird but
also, surprisingly for Elizabeth, gave her some kind of calm.
She opened
trunk and took out her luggage. She texted her best friend, Jena, that she’s
home and then she started to walk toward the door. She was staring at
peeling paint, while using doorbell.
After 125 seconds her mother, Diana, opened the door:
- Effy, my
love, come in!
With big
smile on her face she moved and let Elizabeth walk into home, closed door
behind her daughter’s back and then hugged her tightly.
- Sweetie,
you know you don’t need knock or using doorbell. – Diana looked at Effy – It’s
your home.
- Yeah,
well, it would feel weird, if I didn’t. I just moved in. – Elizabeth put the
suitcase on the first step of the stairs.
- But baby!
– Diana rolled her eyes – It always was your home! Anyway, take off your jacket
and come to the kitchen, I will make us some hot tea.
When Effy
came into kitchen, cup of warm drink was already waiting for her. She sat on
the chair in front of her mother, who asked:
- How was
your flight, my dear?
- It was
fine. Only on airport I had some problems, I mean nothing big, I just had to
find leather jacket in my luggage and it got little messy.
- You
didn’t prepare for our weather earlier?
- Mum, I
spend last 12 years in California. I forgot that here in UK are only two
seasons: autumn and winter.
- So
sarcastic. – Diana giggled – Just like your father. He was the same. He hated
everything and everyone. I think me and you were only people who he really
liked in his whole life.
Elizabeth
knew that’s true. Her personality was very similar to hers father. But speaking
about look – she was like mirror image of her mother. The same messy brown
hair, the same blue-green eyes and almost the same construction of face. There
was only two differences between them – Elizabeth was little taller and 30 years
younger. But her mother wasn’t looking
like sixty-something lady.
- You
baking something? – Elizabeth smelled burnt cake.
- Oh,
Lord!
Diana run
to oven and pulled out cookies. She looked happily at her daughter and said:
- I baked
them because of your arrival, darling.
- Mum, I’m
31. You don’t need to bake cookies for me.
- But it’s
your favourites!
Diana put
some of cookies on plate and placed it on the table.
- Eat, my
love. – she said, while she was sitting down.
- What
about glass of milk?
- You want
milk? – Diana stood up from her chair.
- No mum!
It was a joke. – Effy rolled her eyes. – It was a joke. Cookies and glass of
milk, like a snack for 5 years old kid.
- Oh, baby,
I missed you so much. – Diana looked at daughter with this “I’m-gonna-cry-in-a-sec”
look.
- Mum,
please. Stop acting like that. I can promise you, after a month you’ll wanna
kick my ass out of this house.
- I doubt
that.
Diana
didn’t kicked out Elizabeth after month living together. Actually they got
along pretty well with each other.
It was
another boring afternoon in local market. Elizabeth Morgan was walking between
full shelves, looking for some favourite products. Suddenly she hear her name
behind her back.
- Effy
Morgan?
She turned
around and saw lady with short black hair and big brown eyes. Her clothes were
looking old and Elizabeth was almost
sure this woman bought them in secondhand, cause this kind of fashion was
trendy something like 5 years ago. Woman noticed that Effy wasn’t sure if they
know each other so she said:
- It’s me,
Alison Banner, earlier Simmon.
- Oh my
God, Ally! Hey!
Effy smiled
and hugged this woman. She and Alison
was friends in their teenage years. When Elizabeth was 15, Ally (who was
17 then) got pregnant. They kept in touch for almost whole pregnancy but when
Effy’s mum figured out about it, she forbid her daughter meeting with Alison.
Ally gave a birth to the baby and after
6 months (which means after her 18 birthday), she took quick wedding and
runaway to London with her husband, Tommy. Elizabeth didn’t saw her since 15
years.
- It’s
ridiculous! – said Alison – You still look the same! Your hair, your figure,
your face, just like a teen! You didn’t change at all!
- Oh, thank
you. – Effy smiled – You’re looking good too.
It was a
lie. Alison was looking more like 45 years old, not like 33 years old. She was
looking very tired. Tired of life. But it’s not kind to tell people stuff like
that. Well, not to people which you liked.
- Oh come on! – Ally smiled crookedly. - How
are you?
- I’m fine,
I… Oh maybe we will pay for grocery and go for coffee? – proposed Effy – What
do you think?
- Maybe you
can go to my place, on your way back?
Elizabeth
felt that maybe Ally didn’t have enough money for coffee in café, they never
was very rich, so she nodded.
- Yeah
great!
***
20 minutes
later, old friends were climbing stairs. Alison’s parents had big house so
after her homecoming they split it into two flats. Ally had her own place up
stairs. She invited Elizabeth to living room and made coffee. They could
finally talk.
– So tell me what are you doing here? – asked
Ally.
- I moved
back, my mum is getting older, you know. She’s not feeling the best, but she
pretends everything is ok, so I wanna be closer to her.
- Oh I see…
- What
about you? – Effy took a sip of coffee –When did you back?
- I backed
here 11 years ago, after this bastard left me when my baby was almost 5.
Fortunately my parents took me back. But you weren’t here anymore. I remember
that I visited your mum but she told me you went to college in States.
- Yes –
Effy nodded – I graduated there and I was living in Los Angeles for last couple
of years.
- Damn, Los
Angeles, sounds so dreamy…
- Haha –
Elizabeth laughed – when I say “Los Angeles” everyone is thinking about
Hollywood. But besides Hollywood it’s normal city, you know.
- And you
moved here just like that? – Ally seemed really shocked – To this middle of
nowhere?
- Oh, it’s
not that bad place.
- But what
about work?
- Oh, I’m
writing for website, I don’t need to sit in office, you know this days
technology…
- Oh yeah,
internet and that stuff. – Alison smiled – You lucky girl, you must earn really
good money…
- It’s not
that bad. – Effy smiled shyly –What about you?
- Oh, I
worked in shop but they closed it, so right now I’m unemployed.
- Oh, I’m
so sorry. I know you will find something soon.
-
Fortunately Andy is giving some guitar playing lessons, so I don’t need to give
him any money.
- Andy? –
asked Elizabeth – So you have a son?
- Oh yeah.
– Ally’s face lit up when Effy mentioned his name – This little prick is 15 and
he has charm and sassiness of his damn father.
- That
tells me everything, I feel like I know him!
They both
laughed.
- It was so
good to see you after all this time. – Effy smiled. – But I must go now.
- I hope
you will visit me again soon!
***
- You’re
not gonna believe who I met!
- Who? –
Diana Morgan looked at her daughter over book which she was holding in her
hands.
- Ally
Banner!
- Oh. It
probably was really… interesting for you. After all this years. How is she?
Effy took
off her jacket and sat on sofa next to her mother.
- Yeah it was very interesting. She says she’s
fine, but she looks very tired. She’s unemployed right now but she’s looking
for a job. I hope she will find one.
- Well,
she’s not that successful as you.
- Mum! –
Elizabeth looked at her mother reprovingly – She’s still really nice and I
think I will be visiting her!
- Did you
meet her son?
- Andy? No.
– Effy shook her head – I just know that he is self confident and can play a
guitar.
- He’s
really nice boy. – smiled Diana – Like he would be from different family.
- Mum,
you’re so mean! Stop it!
- I always
thought that she’s not good company for you.
- UGH! –
Effy gasped and rolled her eyes.
- Jena is
definitely better, so sad she’s not here, right?
- Ugh,
you’re so… Actually I’m just going to call her. I will greet her from you.
________________________________________________________________
- So I know
that some Jena took my place on your best friends list.
- Oh don’t
say that, Ally.
- But it’s
true. So… Anyway… Is it right time to talk about love life?
Next Sunday
Elizabeth was sitting in Alison’s living room again. They were already talking
for something like 2 hours and during this conversation they drank almost two
bottles of wine.
- So,
successful lady –Alison smiled – is there any prince in your life? What’s your
story?
-Right now
there is no prince. – Effy giggled. – And what about my story… Well there is
not much to say. As you remember I was dating Teddy McNish and I was with him
for whole high school.
- You must
be fucking joking?! – Ally almost poured wine – You really were with him that
long?!
- He was
really lovely boy! – Elizabeth laughed – He changed a lot after you left, so
you have no idea what are you talking about. Our relationship fell apart
naturally, you know, I moved to States.
- I know, I
know that he changed. Right now he’s really hot stuff, here, in our town. And
single… - she winked at Effy.
- Come on!
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. – Elizabeth poked her tongue
at Ally.
- Ok,
backing to your story…
- Oh, yeah.
So… During college I was messing around for…
like 2 years.
- Slutty
time?
- Haha –
Effy giggled – Yeah, kind of. Then I met Timothy. Lawyer. We were working in
the same newspaper editor. We were
couple for 9 years, engaged for 5. What more to say? We were living together, generally we were
like marriage, but, well… without marriage. 7 months ago we break up.
- Why? –
Ally furrowed her brows.
- I think
we just used to be couple and we forgot what really “being together” means. So
we ended it. Actually he was really boring, haha… So… Yeah... – Elizabeth
coughed – That’s my story. What about you?
- You
already know story about Tommy, he left when Andy was 5. Then I backed here, I
was trying to find a man, but you know, I’m not that good as you.
- Don’t say
something like that! – Effy made angry face.
- We both
know that’s true! You’re educated, intelligent, beautiful woman. And who am I?
Uneducated, single mother with middle-age look, mostly unemployed. There was some men in my life, but always my
son was a problem. And, you know, Andy is the most important person in my life.
I can’t be with someone who’s not accepting him. Actually when he was 10 was
with a guy named Ewan but it worked only for a two years. And, well, here we
are, today, on this sofa.
- I think
we should make a toast. – Effy suddenly stood up. – For all this stupid men who weren’t able to
appreciate us!
They laughed loudly and drank rest of wine.
Then they backed to sofa.
- Isn’t
that funny? – Effy looked at her friend –
I’m journalist, but from two of us, you were the one who wanted to have
a writing-job.
- Yeah, I
wanted to do that. – Ally nodded – But you were always better in writing. – she
laughed. – I wanted to write but the highest note I ever get was B. And I got
it only once. You were getting A’s all the time. I think as saying I wanna
write I just wanted to be more like you. Oh, by the way, can I ask you
something?
- Yeah,
sure.
- You see –
Ally scratched her head – Andy has some
problems with his social studies in school. I have no idea about that, but you
as journalist knows it very well so maybe you can help him? If it wouldn’t be a
problem of course…
- Oh, no
problem! I can even give him some private lessons, if it’s very problematic for
him.
- Really?
It would be great! – Ally seemed cheered, but then she became sad – But I can’t
pay you much, I mean…
- Pay? Are
you kidding me? I’m not gonna let you pay me for it. – Effy rolled her eyes – I
will do it for free.
- Are you
sure?
- Yeah!
Well, if it turns that he’s really annoying I will just kick him out of my
house. Deal?
Elizabeth smiled at Alison, who hugged her
tightly.
- Thank you
so much! Just tell me when he can visit you.
- Even
tomorrow. Maybe around 5 p.m. I will talk to him how many lessons does he need.
- You’re an
angel. – Alison grinned.
- Don’t
call me like that. I did nothing.
***
- Mum what
I supposed to wear?
Elizabeth
was staring at her mother with 5 hangers in each hand.
- Effy, my
love, you’re not going on a date. You will give a 15 years old boy private
lessons of social studies. Just wear anything and it will be ok.
- But
that’s the point! I can’t wear anything! – she rolled her eyes. – I don’t wanna
look like teacher, because I want him to feel comfortable, but at the other
hand I don’t wanna look too casual, because it’s not a friendly meeting. You
feel me, mum?
- You’re
overacting. – Diana smiled at her – It’s just a kid. I think this T-shirt which
you’re wearing right now it’s completely ok.
- Yeah,
ketchup stains are trending right now.
They looked
at each other and then laughed at loud.
Effy
thought that maybe her mother is right, maybe she pay too much attention to her
look. She back upstairs to her bedroom and put down all hangers. She stayed in
jeans and put on a simple tank top. She arranged her hair in a ponytail. Then
she went to room next door – now it was the place where she was working, but
earlier it was her daddy’s room. Actually she and her mother still called it
“D-room”.
She was on
hall when she heard doorbell. She went downstairs and grabbed the door handle.
While opening door, she realized she never thought about how Andy looks. Ally
was talking about him as a little child, so Effy was thinking about him as a
little child. Well she knew that he’s nearly 16, but she didn’t realize that
until now.
So when she
finally saw him, she was little surprised.
Behind the
door was standing 6 feet tall skinny boy. He was nearly head taller than Effy.
He had brown hair which was all over his face, hiding his forehead and
eyebrows. He was really pale so all attention was attracted by his big, big
dark brown eyes. “In some way he was reminding
squirrel. But cute one.” – thought Elizabeth. He was wearing black coat,
ripped jeans and sneakers. In right hand he was holding gray backpack.
- Hey. – he
said with deep voice. – I’m that dumbass who needs private lessons about the
world which he’s living in.
- Hello. –
she let him into the house and closed door right behind his back – And don’t
call yourself “dumbass”. If you won’t appreciate yourself, no one will.
- I thought
it will be social studies, not lessons about self esteem. Maybe I went into
wrong house. – he turned to the door.
- Oh very
funny. – Elizabeth tried to be serious, but she couldn’t help that and she
giggled.
- You
smiled, Effy. I saw that. – she pointed at her – Oh, I can call you Effy,
right?
- Yeah,
sure. – the truth was, she didn’t think about how he should call her, so she
agreed. Because he was still in coat, she said – Take it off and let’s go
upstairs.
- Wow, Effs
– he raised his hands in a defensive gesture – slow down, we know each other
for only 2 minutes!
- I was
talking about coat, kid. – Elizabeth rolled her eyes but deep inside she
thought “what a sassy bastard!”
She reminded herself what Ally said about him
“he has charm and sassiness of his damn father”. That was true “charming and
sassy” was ideal definition of Andy.
While later
they went into “D-room”.
- So here
we will work. – she said to break the silence. – I think here will be properly
and comfortable.
She glanced
at Andy. He was looking around the room. Then he laid his eyes on her and
asked:
- Where is
your bedroom, Effy?
- What? –
she thought she heard wrong what he said.
- I asked
where is your bedroom. – he repeated.
- Next
door. – Elizabeth had no idea what the hell was going on.
- Why we
are not there?
- Excuse
me? – she raised her eyebrows.
- It will
be more comfortable. – he said calmly – more… domestic, don’t you think? Here
is like in office. It’s something unnatural here. Like… - he took a deep breath
and started to looking around again – Like here was a room which was completely
different than what’s here now. Like someone change everything and took away
spirit of this place… - he shook his head and looked at Effy – Sorry for this
bullshit. Don’t listen to me. I’m such a freak sometimes. If you wanna work
here, we will stay here.
- Actually
you’re right. – she nodded – It was my dad’s room which I changed into
something like work-room.
- Where’s
your dad now?
- He’s
gone... – she sighed.
- Like
mine.
- I mean he
passed away. It’s not the same, Andy. You’re father is alive.
- So what,
if he’s not visiting me? – he shrugged his shoulders and then he asked – You
know him, right?
- Yhymm. –
she mumbled and then suddenly she asked – You writing?
- Writing
what? – he answered with question.
- Lyric.
Poems.
- Why? Do I
look like sensible one? – he raised his brows.
- You looks
like sensible one. And you sounds like sensible one. Plus: you’re very perceptive.
- So you
have the answer. I write some lyrics. And sing them, while playing a guitar. –
on his face appeared cocky smile – Girls love that.
- No
doubts. – Effy giggled. – So come on. – she pointed on door by her head.
- Where?
- To my
bedroom. – she smiled in the same way he did few seconds ago.
***
ENJOY.
