CHAPTER TWO: THE UPSTAIRS BATHROOM

Harvey James Hunter surveyed the plans critically, head bopping to the music blasting out of the radio. The plans had been drawn up by his father, with the help of Dinah, and at the assistance of his mother. Lloyd had only input any advice when it came to his room. Or more like, his half of the room. Though both boys had been unhappy about the arrangements, Mr Hunter had promised them that if he received a substantial pay rise, then they would be able to extend, thus securing space for another bedroom.

As Harvey was the 'decorator', he had been allowed no say in the plans, only being made to promise to follow the instructions and to only go mad on his own half of the bedroom, which he shared with Lloyd. Still perplexed over why his mother had backed down so quickly to his demands and the fact that his parents had not contacted a proper decorator, Harvey set his sights on the upstairs bathroom.

It was no easy feat, but he figured that it would be the best place to start. Shoving the plans into his overall pockets, Harvey trudged upstairs. Wiping his brow at the top, he entered the upstairs bathroom and promptly stifled his scream.

Rose was sitting on the toilet, in the middle of…. Relieving herself.

As Rose stared at him, too shocked to respond, Harvey backed out and slammed the door shut.

"S-Sorry Rose! D-Didn't know you were in there!"

There was a snort from the other side of the door. "Obviously. You could have knocked."

"I-I didn't even know you were in t-the house! I thought I was a-alone!"

A flush was heard, followed by the turning of the tap, water flowing free, then the door opened, revealing Rose Carter. She stared down at Harvey, seemingly unaffected by what had just happened. She spoke haughtily:

"Well maybe next time, you should knock on the door and enquire who is within. I have to go home now, Mother is expecting me."

Brushing past Harvey, Rose descended the stairs, tugged on her coat and left the house. Harvey cringed before re-entering the bathroom, wary that someone else would be there. Luckily, the bathroom was now empty and he could get to work.

Harvey glanced at himself in the mirror, winking at his reflection. His mother had forced him to wear an old t-shirt under his overalls as she was aware of how messy Harvey would undoubtedly get, due to him dealing with paint and a lot of it.

His headband was placed by his hairline, effectively pushing his fair hair back and into tufts. Harvey examined his face more thoroughly, gasping out:

"Wow, I actually have a forehead!"

Chuckling, he turned away from the mirror and scanned the room. Before he could paint, he would have to protect every item in the room and he proceeded to do so, smiling at the end of it. Picking up the tin of paint, Harvey's smile widened.

Now was time for the fun part.

A short while later, Harvey had finished painting the bathroom. The pale pink had been replaced with a solid white, which had already started to crack and peel before Harvey's very own eyes. Not wanting to waste any further time on that particular room, Harvey withdrew the plans, ticking off the request for the upstairs bathroom and left the room, heading towards the next section of the house.

Unaware that all of the paint coating the walls in the upstairs bathroom had peeled back entirely, to reveal the pale pink that had been there when the Hunters had moved in.