Chapter 9: Receiver End

I drank a glass of absinthe. It was either going to settle my stomach, or make it a lot worse. Thankfully, it did the first. I'm sitting on my couch with the handset and I'm trying to decide whether I should phone this Philip guy Gina recommended. I'm tossing all my pride aside and I dial when the doorbell rings. I swear. It took me half an hour to come to a positive decision, now all is wasted. I'm gonna kill that wanker. I pull myself up, just as the knocking begins, "I'm coming!" I holler and cringe at the way my voice echoes in the apartment, that I can have, all for myself. I yank the door open and come face to face with the last person I expect to see on my doorstep at quarter past ten at night, "Annie? Where's your dad?"

"At home."

"Your mom then?"

She shakes her head.

"How did you get here?"

"I took the bus."

"At this time? It's dangerous."

"I ran away from home. Can I live here with you?"

"What?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she pouts, saunters in and plunks herself down on my couch.

I snatch the absinthe bottle and put it in the bar, "pumpkin, you know I'll have to tell your parents you're here. They must be worried sick."

"Please don't," she looks up straight into my eyes. She's biting her lip and tears stroll down her face that make my heart cringe and I slowly nod, "alright. Not just now. But you need to tell me what's wrong."

She rubs her eyes, with dirty fingers in need of some serious cleaning, then opens her arms wide and runs to me, "oh, uncle Chris."

I pull her close, my hands sliding over her shoulder while her loud tears drip into her long hair, "it's okay," I whisper, "tell me what's wrong."

"Mum ripped my study book to pieces and I have to rewrite it till tomorrow cause if Mrs. Gilmour finds out I haven't done my home work I can't go to the trip to Albany at the weekend," she rants.

"Don't you have to go home and finish it then?"

"You don't understand! The places where I should've written the synonyms in, they were in my work book, but mommy tore it all to pieces! I can't do it! I can't make it."

"Why did your mom do that?"

"Dunno. She said because I didn't write things nice and tidy."

"Well, can't you just say you lost the book?"

"No! I can't go to Albany then! Why don't you understand? I thought you'd understand. Matt always comes to you!"

"I'm sure we can sort it sweetheart. I'll phone this miss…? You teacher?"

"Mrs. Gilmour."

"I'll talk to her tomorrow and I'll tell her you did your homework at the surgery and I happened to spill on it some samples. Won't be too far from the truth…I'll do that. But honey, we really need to call your parents now."

"They will be mad. They will shout at me. Mom will…I'm afraid to go back."

I sit back down next to her, "what is it you're afraid of? What will mom do? Does she hurt you in any way?"

"She hits me," she lifts her skirt to reveal a blue, two inch long bruise on her thigh.

"I'm sorry darling. What did she hit you with?"

"Wooden spoon. Cause I didn't wanna eat my lunch. Please don't tell mom I showed you. I'm not allowed to show anyone."

"Does your daddy know about this? The bruise."

She shakes her head.

"Okay, can I call your daddy then?"

"He will be angry too."

"He'll be more angry if he doesn't find you soon. Don't worry, I'll talk to your dad. And your teacher."

"No, no, not my dad."

"I don't think he'll be angry with you, Annie. Maybe with your mom, but not you. You thirsty from all that crying? You want peach juice or orange juice?"

"Peach, please."

I go into the kitchen and I take my phone with me. I slam the door of the refrigerator as I take the drinks out, I'm angry with Julia myself. I understand she is not having the time of her life, but taking it out on Annie? Maybe she did this before too, I'll have to ask my god daughter. I detest every person that would hurt a child, in any way, so maybe I overreact, this isn't all that serious. It's nothing compared to what I got as a child, it's nothing compared to the domestic killers. Still, I don't like it. I can't believe how blindly I loved Julia all these years. If this is true…I wonder what Sean will say to all this, I consider as I speed dial…

Annie is asleep in my bed by the time Sean gets here. I gave her the remains of my Chinese dinner from last night and the television controls. She flicked channels twice before her head fell on her arm and I covered her. I'm silently showing my partner her whereabouts.

Sean shakes his head with a slight movement of his jaw, as he always does, "thank God, she's here."

"What happened Sean? For her to come all across town and crying all the way in the bus?"

Sean snorts, "they all come to you, don't they? First Matt, now she started as well," from his tone, I'm pretty sure he doesn't like it.

"It's not my fault they are not feeling comfortable enough with their own parents when there's a problem...come on Sean, don't take it like that. It's simply the uncle effect. What is important is Annie. So as I figure there's a workbook problem, that's why she came here."

"I'll sort the damn workbook problem. But we can't go telling people Julia rips them up."

"What about the hitting thing?"

"What hitting thing Christian? The occasional slap is part of education. How would you know? Stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong."

"Is this a slight slap too?" I lift up the cover and Annie's skirt, "this is practically child abuse. And if you don't do anything about it, I swear, I will."

He comes closer, examining the wound, "I didn't know about that," he sits down, rubbing his face into his palms. There's a storm in his paradise, "oh, God, what should I do with Julia?"

"Send her to therapy," I smirk, joking.

"Ohm, yeah, how did the meeting go?"

"Got a new sponsor."

"Great. Tell me about it tomorrow. But now I have to take princess here home. Maybe it'll be better if she just wakes up in her own bed," he lifts her up.

I follow them to the door and I feel thankful when I shot the door that I don't have to go quarrel with my wife now. Nevertheless, I'm tired and ready for my bed. I did some good today, even if it will cause I big argument between my friends. My friends? Julia was never my friend. Not really. I just pretended her to be. Hope they will be okay though, we are a big family. A life size, dysfunctional, blessed family. I'm part of it, whether I want it or not. One of them always makes sure of that. Why can't I take the help offered by my family, I ponder as I brush my teeth and get ready for bed.

Tbc