My Dinosaur Era Chapter 46
By beanzie
- 12 reads
petula approaches the door
patrycja stands to one side
I can almost imagine her having a gun
petula reaches to ring the bell
wait, why aren’t you using the key, says patrycja
I didn’t bring them when I left, says petula
ok, ring, says patrycja
petula rings the doorbell
the street is silent
a shadow moves through the hall
expanding as it approaches the glazed front door
the door opens, there he is
a glass of wine in his hand
he looks at petula
oh, so you’re back then, he says
I just want to get my stuff, jonny, says petula
he notices me, leaning against the van behind her
you’ve brought a friend I see, he says
I look back at him, refusing to react
muscles in my chest twitch
I could kill him in this moment
he’s small
he’s a coward
the old rage, so long buried
tries to break out of the box
I smile at him
I suppose you are the mystery texter, says jonny
ginny steps out of the shadows
look sunshine, petula is here to get her stuff and then we are leaving, ok, says ginny
he looks down at her, confused, a smile comes over his lips
oh, another little friend, he says
jonny, just let me come in and I’ll be gone in five minutes, says petula
look, you disappeared in the night, you made your choice, he says
I did and now I want to close the chapter, ok, it doesn’t have to be a big drama, says petula
really, and what if I don’t want to let you in and make everything all easy for you, hmm, is matey boy over there going to assault me, is that it, he says
I straighten up, attempt to take a step forward
no, says patrycja
I stop, stay where I am
jonny looks at patrycja, noticing her for the first time
you two, go in and get what you need, says patrycja
ginny, stands right in front of jonny, hands on hips
daring him not to move
he smirks at her, daring her to move him
patrycja reaches out, gently, her hand moving slowly
she takes his forearm, moves him half a pace towards her
what the fuck are you doing, he says
she manoeuvres him some more
he’s out of the doorway
ginny grabs petula by the hand, guides her into the house
let go of me, he says
patrycja lets go of his arm
I am going to call the police, this is illegal, he says
jonny, says patrycja
she is stood a few inches away from him now
he scowls at her, his breathing deepening
if you move one step in any direction, I will end your existence, right now, do you understand, says patrycja
it’s probably the longest sentence I’ve ever heard her say
she’s terrified me and she’s on my side
jonny looks at me, like I’m going to help you pal
I wish that I smoked
lighting a cigarette right now would look so cool
patrycja stands motionless
jonny is suddenly catatonic
he’s crying inside
we stand like this for a few minutes
I imagine blowing smoke rings into the night
eventually petula and ginny emerge from the doorway
ginny with armfuls of clothes
petula with a laptop and two carrier bags
they open the van and put all her stuff inside
ginny slams the van door shut
patrycja moves her gaze from jonny for the first time in ages
don’t slam the door, says patrycja
sorry, says ginny
patrycja turns back to jonny
now, go inside, watch the tv, enjoy your evening, she says
you can’t just come into my house and, says jonny
be quiet, little man, says patrycja
he attempts to speak again
interrupted by ginny
mate, shut the fuck up or she’ll hurt you so bad, says ginny
I can’t contain a laugh, jonny glares at me
his anger is tepid now, defeated
he steps away from patrycja
goes inside, closes the door
we get in the van
we sit in silence
we sit in the dark
eventually someone speaks
jesus, that was actually crazy, says petula
he folded like a fucking deckchair, says ginny
do you think he’ll call the police, I say
no way, says patrycja
why not, I say
we didn’t do anything illegal, says patrycja
yeah we also have some lovely stories about how he steals stuff and locks people up, the cunt, says ginny
true, I say
anyway, he’s probably changing his pants at the moment, says ginny
how are you feeling, I say
I’m not sure, can we just get out of here please, says petula
patrycja starts the van
we pull off into the night
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Comments
Hooray! That was tense
Hooray! That was tense
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