My Dinosaur Era Chapter 46

 

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