- 'Mum and Phil?' Robbie said again 'as in Mum ánd Phil, together?'.
The silence and the looks of both Ronnie and Roxy gave the answer away to Robbie. Robbie looked confused. What was going on? Was this plan to nick Roxy's money all Phil, or Phil and Shirley, or Phil and Glenda maybe?
- 'Mum ehm..well she said Phil dumped her, just before you told her about what you heard Phil tell Shirley about the money' Ronnie said wanting to give Robbie some answers.
- 'Mum and Phil' was all Robbie could bring out.
- 'Yeah, it's disgusting!' Roxy said standing up from Robbie's bed.
- 'Where are you going?' Ronnie asked her sister.
- 'Downstairs, I wanna talk to mum, I don't know' Roxy said 'I want her there when we talk to Phil'.
- 'He's gonna deny it ofcourse, specially with Shirley there, she's gonna rip them both to pieces' Robbie said.
- 'Wait a minute Rox, let's just think this thing through first yeah' Ronnie said trying to take charge of the whole situation.
- 'We'll see' Roxy said leaving the room.
- 'You're alright baby?' Ronnie said looking at Robbie's confused face.
- 'I just can't believe it, mum and Phil' Robbie said 'we're really a dysfunctional family, and I hate it, why can't we just be normal, mum and Phil, what could she possibly see in Phil mum, do you think she really loves him?' Robbie said putting her head in her hands.
- 'Pff I don't know, sometimes these things are not really about love' Ronnie said rubbing Robbie's back.
- 'Then what is it about ey?' Robbie said standing up 'this really is a f*cked up family we're part off'.
- 'Oi, enough go wash your mouth' Ronnie said firmly giving Robbie a little slap on her leg as a warning' I don't want to hear any of that coming out of that mouth of yours, you hear me Robin?'
- 'Yeah yeah, so are we going to move today?' Robbie said quickly changing the subject.
- 'Robbie I asked you something, did you hear me?' Ronnie said giving Robbie a strict look.
- 'Sorry mum, I actually love being part of God's creation called the Mitchell family' Robbie said being cheeky.
- 'Are you taking the mick, really, just stop being such a wise-ass, I don't like it!' Ronnie said, definitely not amused.
- 'I'm sorry mummy' Robbie said putting up a pouting face.
- 'Just don't let me catch you talking like that again babygirl or I'm gonna have that tiny little bum of yours meet the back of my hand again, am I clear?' Ronnie said warning Robbie.
- 'Alright "mother", so are we moving today?' Robbie asked, putting her arms around Ronnie trying to win her over again.
- 'Ehm…yeah, so you could bring these boxes downstairs, and babe...don't worry about mum alright, she's an adult making adult choices, maybe not the smartest ones but she's old enough alright' Ronnie said, not knowing what else to say to her, she didn't have the answers either as much as she wanted to.
Robbie raised her eyebrows and picked up one of the boxes and took them out of her room and walked downstairs. She put the box down on the floor in the hallway and her eye caught Glenda sitting in the kitchen alone. She walked over and saw her mother was having her cup of coffee.
- 'Morning mum, so ehm where's dad and Ames?' Robbie asked as she sat down next to Glenda.
- 'Morning little one, Jack's taking her over to nursery today, your sister is in the livingroom, so ehm you alright?' Glenda said.
- 'What's with you and Phil' Robbie said then straight out.
- 'Ok ehm well it's complicated darling' Glenda said not seeing this ones coming. Apparently her older daughters must have told Robbie about her and Phil.
- 'Complicated, mum don't treat me like a 5 year old, I'm almost 16, I watch soaps, I know about affairs, why?' Robbie said 'and why Phil of all people?'
- 'It just happened, there was something, I don't know, it just happened, but it's over now, as soon as it got hot under Phil's feet he ehm…well he dumped me' Glenda said a little uncomfortable telling Robbie about being dumped, she still couldn't understand Phil's choice for Shirley.
- 'Did you plan this with him?' Robbie asked.
- 'Plan what darling…the affair, no ofcourse not, it just happened' Glenda said giving Robbie a little smile.
- 'Stealing Roxy's money I mean, you and Phil, planning to nick it together?' Robbie said straight forward.
- 'What?' Glenda asked shocked, not expecting to be blamed by the one daughter that believed in her before 'you know it wasn't me Robin'.
- 'Was it?' Robbie asked 'I mean I did believe you, but now I heard about this whole affair with Phil, I don't understand it mum, I mean Phil for god sakes, get real, you can do much better than your crackhead- "nephew", you know aunty Peggy once found him smelling like pee, he wet himself cause he was so messed up, common mum Phil?".
- 'Thank you darling…I think.. but the affaire is none of your business, and it's over, the only thing I want is for Phil to give Roxy her money back, that's all' Glenda said 'you got to believe me darling, I mean you heard Phil yourself, if someone knows it it's you, you know it wasn't me'.
Robbie got of her chair and walked around the kitchen. She was confused who to believe, but she knew how Glenda must have been feeling now, just like Robbie did last night, telling the truth but not wanted to be heard by anyone. In her head she kept thinking of what Phil and Shirley had been talking about, and if Shirley was in on it, Glenda could never be, Shirley would never share anything with Glenda, she didn't like Glenda for one moment and that was the other way around too.
The doorbell rang and Robbie looked up and walked into the hallway, too curious to see who it was, just like Roxy who also came out to see who was at the door.
- 'I'll get it midget you go get ready for school yeah' Roxy said pushing Robbie aside, as she opened the door. Outside was Peter standing looking at both sisters arguing.
- 'Sorry loverboy but she's running a bit late' Roxy said.
- 'Excuse me but mum's having me stay home today, now go mind your own business will ya' Robbie said as it was her turn to push her sister aside.
- 'Get inside now!' Roxy said trying to grab Robbie, but Robbie would not let her and pushed Roxy again, but now on to the stairs and ran out 'come on!' she yelled to Peter. Peter followed Robbie as they run off hearing Roxy yelling at Robbie.
Robbie stopped when they were close to the park.
- 'What was that all about?' Peter asked confused gasping for a little air.
- 'I was right, I was right Pete, remember I thought I was seeing things, you know with Glenda acting weird and Phil and all, well guess what, I wasn't seeing things, something really has been going on, come on' Robbie said taking Peter's hand and walking him to one of the picnic tables.
- 'Robbie, I got to get to school, I was at your house to pick you up, I thought you were going back to school?' Peter said.
- 'Oh, yeah well, ehm mum let me stay home for another day, eh… we had some drama at home last night' Robbie said.
- 'Last night, I thought Roxy was just still on about your break-in-to-the-club-adventure, or did you get into more trouble now that your parents are home, you know, Jack hitting the roof, or Ronnie going mental, is there ever a moment when there's not any drama with your family?' Peter grinned a bit on his own remark.
- 'Not funny mister, I mean, you are right though, but the break-in is already forgotten, thank god, all eyes are on Glenda now, and well Phil' Robbie said putting her arms around Peter who put his arms around Robbie and gave her a tight squeeze.
- 'Glenda, Phil, really, what happened?' Peter asked curious.
- 'We probably should walk back while I tell you, you know, so you won't miss Lauren and Whit' Robbie said taking Peter's hand as she told him, on the way back to the square, what had happened with Phil and Roxy's money and how Ronnie and Roxy turned their back on Glenda cause of Phil setting her up. Then she also told him about the affair between Glenda and Phil ,something she hardly still could not believe herself.
- 'I can't believe what I'm hearing, Phil stealing from his own family, thought you Mitchells were all so "cause we're family"-people, well Glenda seems to be, …sorry bout that, dad is going to have a laugh when he hears this, Phil and your mum' Peter said as they got back to the square.
- 'Could you please keep that quiet, please, i.. I mean about my mum?' Robbie said 'I still don't understand that myself, and I don't want Ben to hear about it either, I mean not yet, it'll soon be out I guess, nothing stays a secret for long here on the square, what if it get's out in school, pfff, dysfunctional that's what we are' Robbie said almost with a bit of shame.
- 'Well, you're family is definitely not boring' Peter said giving Robbie a kiss on her head as they approached Lauren, Whitney, Fatboy and Lucy 'and don't worry I won't tell anyone'.
- 'Hey babygirl, where's the lovely outfit to impress the teachers' Fatboy said 'You're not gonna have them turn heads walking round in your trainingbottoms, go change into your sexy schooloutfit girl'.
Robbie smiled and wanted to say something back when Ronnie came walking out of nr 27.
- 'Well Well if it isn't mrs "all B's", Blond Brains Beautiful Branning, you know, the Fats has been crying now there's that bling on your finger hot mama' Fatboy said jumping around Ronnie waving his hands. The kids laughed while Ronnie raised her eyebrows,with her arms across the chest.
- 'Yeah right , she's my mum you idiot, think you thought you had any chance with her Fats?' Robbie said.
- 'She's right little "teenageboy", and I thought I told you once to not call me like I'm one of your hotties "Arthur"!' Ronnie said a little strict but winking at the other kids.
- 'Sorry mrs B, ehm well but you know, ehm well…' Fatboy stutterd a bit. The other teens started laughing at Fatboy for being told by Ronnie.
- 'Have a good day at school kids, Robbie will be joining you guys again tomorrow' Ronnie said 'come on sweetie 'she put her arms around Robbie and lead her inside the house.
- 'So when are we going over to see Phil?' Robbie asked Ronnie as they walked in.
- 'We?' Ronnie asked as they walked into the livingroom 'you are gonna get your stuff together upstairs and better let us deal with Phil'.
- 'But I wanna come, wanna see his face when you let him have it' Robbie said already getting hyper from thinking about confronting Phil about the money.
- 'First of all, I don't know yet how we're gonna handle Phil alright, and second of all is that I don't want you involved' Ronnie said clearing up the diningroomtable.
- 'But I already am involved, I'm the only evidence you have mum' Robbie said 'how can I not be there?'
- 'Well you're right about that, just let me think about it alright, ehm do you want to come with me to the launderette, bring over Jack and my wash and then have some breakfast at the café, cause I think you hardly ate something this morning' Ronnie said.
- 'And we don't want that now do we' Robbie said taking the mick 'don't you want me to get my stuff?'
- 'We'll do that together later yeah, common let's go' Ronnie said grabbing her purse from the table as they both walked out of the livingroom and out of the door.