If you do happen to read this, I hope you enjoy and once again, sorry for any spelling and punctuation errors.
Note: I do not own The Illustrated Mum, Star, Marigold, Dolphin, Mickey, Steve, The Rainbow Tattoo Studio or anything else from the book. All credit goes to Jacqueline Wilson.
I woke very early. I'd had a nightmare that Star had left us again. Only this time it was with strange, horrible people. They had alcohol and cigarettes and were very loud and unpleasant. Star seemed to like them though. When I woke, I was cold and breathing rapidly. I had pushed the duvet off of me. Pulling it back on, I turned to my side. Marigold was nowhere to be found.
Then I heard it. Horrible, retching noises that made me heave just hearing them. I crept towards the door. I could hear Marigold. It wasn't her being sick though; she was making gentle, soothing sounds.
"Alright Star, it's okay sweetie." She said. I walked toward the bathroom, the door was open. Marigold was holding Stars hair back with one hand and gently rubbing her back with the other. I stayed quiet. Star sounded horrible. I knew why she was being sick, it was all the alcohol. I knew it all too well from when Marigold drank too much vodka. They were both shivering in the cold bathroom. I hoped this meant Star was made up with Marigold again.
I went back to sleep for a while, it was quite late at night. When I woke, Marigold was in the kitchen, making toast. "Hi sweetie," She greeted me cheerily. "Would you like some toast?" I nodded, smiling at her and went to the bathroom. I found my dress, hanging in the bathroom from when it was washed. I felt it, it was dry and so I slipped it on, finding some fresh underwear too.
When I went back into the kitchen I could smell the toast, and I then realised how hungry I was. I sat at the kitchen counter. Marigold had put red leather stools on one side of the one that wasn't attached to the wall, making it look rather stylish. We did have a table, but something about sitting at your own makeshift bar made me feel cool. Marigold brought me some toast and the butter dish, then reached into the cupboard.
"Would you like, jam, Marmite, marmalade, peanut butter or some sort of meaty toast topper?" she asked me, seeing if we had anything else. "Oh, there's chocolate spread here too."
I thought about it for a moment. "I think I'd like jam on my toast." It's a classic combination for toast.
Marigold obliged, bringing me the jar of scarlet red raspberry jam. After I'd spread my butter on, I dug into the jam, being generous with it. Once I took a bite, I tasted the sweetness of the jam and the butter combined and it felt wonderful. I made appreciative noises throughout my breakfast, and then had to get a drink to wash it down.
Marigold nibbled her own toast, lightly covered in Marmite. I was wondering where Star was when she came into the room in her pyjamas, her hair messy, her face pale and her eyes underlined with dark circles. She looked rough.
"I'm not going to school today, I don't feel well." She told us, as if it was matter-of-fact.
"Yes you are, Star. I told you last night after you stormed off that you'd have to deal with this in school." Marigold told her firmly, but tried to sound gentle.
Star swore, making Marigold gasp. "Fine, but I'll tell them that you let me drink."
"I don't care Star. Your school knows our history and that I'm a recovered alcoholic, so good luck with that." Marigold sounded airy and careless. Then that was the end of it. Star groaned, too weak to shout and storm off.
By the time I was about to leave, Star emerged from her room, still looking awful. She'd put on a fresh uniform. My year (year 8) had a teacher training day so we had the day off. Star had made the effort to put on some eye make-up, but it just made her look paler than she already was.
I worried about Star then remembered she'd brought it upon herself; she would simply just have to cope with her hangover. Her friends probably had hangovers too. Star didn't eat; she said she couldn't face food. She had a cup of tea and eventually dragged herself off to school.
Marigold had to go to work for the morning until 1 o'clock so I had a few hours to myself. I wasn't scared of being alone anymore, I had a lot of things to get over and I have grown from getting over my fears. We now had a television again too. Since Star and Marigold both got jobs, we've had more money than I can ever remember. Well, they're both part time but nobody has ever had a job until now, so it was a big difference.
Once they'd both left the house, Star leaving before Marigold so she didn't have to say goodbye, I made myself a cup of tea and settled in front of the telly. It was so good having modern appliances once more. I remember all the time having nothing to do and nobody to play with, and so at least now there was this.
About half an hour later Star came barging into the flat, muttering something about how she's not going to school and how Marigold can do something else. She was quite rude. Running to the bathroom, I could hear her throwing up noisily. About five minutes later, she emerged and slowly walked to our bedroom, where she collapsed on her bed. I didn't say anything, there was no point. All I knew is that Marigold would be mad.