Foul Play

The child watched.
Her eyes travelling,following the movements of the woman
Her eyes trained on the woman’s mouth, as she spewed forth obscenities.
The child licked her dry lips, her bony little fists clenched tightly.
Her knee’s pressed together as she sat, trying to stop her pale, bare legs shaking in fear.
Strange at times, how beautiful the woman was, her blonde, lush hair, her china blue eyes, that sparkled for others.
Now she was simply ugly.

Lying on the patterned carpet....... toys of all textures and colours, all put to good use in her imagination, all loved and part of the child’s world, now being piled into a mountain. Dollies arms protruding under teddies fat belly, legs twisting out of shape, plastic, glassy eyes pleading to the child .Teddy with his battered face, which had been lovingly kissed many times, looking sorrowfully up at the ceiling.

The child sat, seemingly patiently, for surely this tantrum would pass?
The woman shook little white bunny, squeezing her painted red nails into his tummy,his head frantically rocking back and forth.
The child imagined a roller coaster ride.
It looked painful.
The child winced.
“Do you NEED this?!! You’re six for god sake!”
Precious bunny joined the teddies and dollies.
Tears welled up in the child’s eyes.
Her little mind debated rescuing bunny, it was just going to be a question of how.
Bunny was as old as she. Part of her. Grew up with her. Of course she needed him.
It was her special Bunny.

The woman scooped up part of the mountain and left the room.
The child sat.
The silent tears had reached the corners of her mouth.
She remained silent. Her breathing shallow.
The woman returned and scooped up the remainder.
“Not Bunny!!” she pleaded, reaching out her arms.
The woman spun round at such speed, that child dropped her arms quickly, and sat rigidly. The woman glared, pivoted, and left.
The child squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish the nightmare.
Lingering scent of the woman’s perfume permeated the air.
The child began to feel sick.
Returning footsteps.
The child’s eyes flung open. Wide.
The woman gripped the child’s wrist and violently pulled her up.
Down the stairs she flew, the child dragged behind her, unable to keep her footing, stumbled into the woman.The woman yanked her firmly, cursing words from her sensual lipsticked mouth, as she continued on her mission.

Out in the garden where the lush grass had grown all summer, laid the mountain of toys. The child could see Bunny balanced precariously on top. He was looking right at the child. His floppy white ears hung over Barbie, like a blanket of protection.
The child secretly conveyed to Bunny in the imaginary world of conversation, she would save him.No way was he staying on THE mountain. She would sacrifice all else if she had to, but not Bunny. Her beloved Bunny would be tucked up tonight with her, she’d have to hide him, of course. But he would be with her.
The child looked lovingly at Bunny. "God will save him if I can’t", she thought. "That’s what God does".

The strike of the match was the only sound the child heard. No birds sang, no rustling of leaves in the trees, no cows mooing, no passing car’s, no crickets singing.
Just the horrific striking of the match.
The mountain of toys suddenly became a bonfire of colours and raging heat. Oranges, reds and yellows. A towering inferno. Fire sent from the depths of hell. It cackled and screamed, as it consumed the teddies and dollies. Perfect Barbie, in her plastic glory began to melt, her eyes sliding down to her breasts, her sleek limbs running, her head becoming bald and bare.
Bunny was last to go. His much loved grubby white fluff simply soaked up the fire, his black eyes still pleading with her. The heat intensified. The eyes vanished. The floppy ears burned with such indecent speed, the child couldn’t breathe. Floppy ears disintegrated.
And finally, was forever gone.
The child screamed. The sound pierced the air.
Rushing towards the bonfire, the heat knocked her back, her face flushed, she trembled and began to shake.
The woman laughed, hands on hips, at her handy work. She turned to the child.
“Plenty of books to read in your room………toys at your age? Honestly! Too bloody spoilt, that’s your problem!”
Smirking, she returned to the house where her gin and tonic awaited on ice.
The child covered her face with her hands. Sobbing, she begged Bunny for forgiveness.
Bunny was dead. Teddies were dead. Dollies were dead. God didn’t save Bunny.
“I’m next”, the child thought with clarity.
She prayed Daddy would come home soon.