Blood Sisters(76)

The Monster gave another massive kick. Her breasts were feeling really heavy today. And when Fussy Carer had bathed her, little tiny drops of milk had come out of the nipples. ‘Your body is preparing,’ she said. ‘We need to look after you.’ She shook her head. ‘Poor darling, how are you going to manage?’

Was her body preparing for the machine test? And what did the carer mean about managing? Why did everyone speak in riddles? It was all so frustrating.

Still, at least she was back in time for the next trip. That was something to look forward to. They were going to the zoo! Wouldn’t that be fun?

It wasn’t a long drive, said someone. Just over an hour. But Margaret managed to make herself sick before they got there. Kitty knew why. She was still jealous about it being Duncan’s trip.

‘Where would you like to go when it’s your turn to choose, Kitty?’ asked the enthusiastic new girl (Kitty had already nicknamed her Bouncy Carer), getting out the picture board. Fat lot of good that thing was. Even when Kitty managed to make her finger touch the picture she wanted, someone always interpreted it the wrong way. Or just didn’t get it.

‘A castle?’ There was a smile. ‘Why do you always go for that one, ducks?’

‘It’s because I’m really a princess,’ she said. ‘My dad used to call me that.’

Goodness! Where had that memory come from? The Monster stirred, as if to say, ‘From me!’

Really? Her father had called her a princess? So why was she so upset every time she saw the flabby-faced man? If, indeed, he really was her father.

‘I wish I knew what you were saying, Kitty.’ That smile was fading. ‘It really is unfair. I’ve got a feeling you would say so much more if you could.’

‘Of course I bloody well would.’

After that, she spent most of the time looking out of the window, watching people on the pavement. That girl is pregnant too, Kitty said to herself. I wonder what it would be like to walk with a bump instead of having to sit in a wheelchair with sores on your bottom.

‘I’m … hungry,’ declared Margaret.

‘We’ll have lunch when we get there, ducks,’ soothed Bouncy Carer.

But as soon as they parked, Duncan had an ‘accident’. Not the kind with blood. The other sort.

It took ages to clean him up because someone else was in the disabled toilet. ‘This is only meant … to be … for people with … special needs,’ admonished Margaret when a man came out, walking perfectly normally.

He glared at her. ‘How do you know I don’t?’

During lunch, a small boy at the table next to them kept staring. ‘Why has that lady’s chair got wheels?’ he said loudly.

‘Shhh,’ said his mother.

Good question, thought Kitty. Why did she need a chair with wheels? She’d tried asking so many times. But right then, The Monster kicked. And with it came another memory. Something to do with cheese sandwiches and a packed lunch for school.

Afterwards, they went to look at the elephants. What would happen, wondered Kitty, if an elephant couldn’t walk? It would be too big for a wheelchair, wouldn’t it?

Then they had to leave early because Duncan had another accident. A stinky kind this time. Right by the chicken house. The little boy from lunch was there. ‘Ugh,’ he said, wrinkling his nose.

‘He’s shit … himself,’ crowed Margaret. ‘Disgusting, isn’t … it?’

The mother put her arm around her little boy. ‘Come on, darling. Let’s get an ice cream.’

‘I want one too,’ whined Duncan.

‘Not until you’re cleaned up.’

‘I … want … an … ice cream as well,’ added Margaret quickly.

‘Me too,’ Kitty said.

‘Now, now, Kitty. Stop making that noise. Time to go home.’

There was a lot of traffic on the main road. So, at Bouncy Carer’s suggestion, they went back a different way.

There were more trees here than the roads near the home.

‘Blimey. Look at … that house. Like a … bleeding palace,’ said Margaret.

The Monster inside began to wriggle, as though it was excited.

The traffic was slowing down. They were coming to a pedestrian crossing. The hairs on Kitty’s arm began to stand on end. She felt very cold. But hot at the same time. ‘Everything all right, ducks?’ Bouncy Carer was looking at her closely.

No. It wasn’t all right. But she didn’t know why. Kitty just knew that she had to get out of this place. Fast.

‘Don’t hit your head on the side of the van like that, Kitty. You’ll hurt yourself.’

Here comes the bloody picture board!

‘What do you want to tell us, Kitty? Point to the pictures.’

But she couldn’t. It hurt her head too much. Go away. GO AWAY!

Kitty swiped the picture board out of her hand and sent it skittling across the floor of the bus. ‘Oi,’ yelled the driver. ‘No disturbances in the back or I’ll stop.’

They passed a sign. School. Stop. Her eye began to twitch.

There were schoolkids going past. Kitty watched them. The Monster took a huge leap inside her. Suddenly she knew without doubt that she’d once had a navy blue blazer too. Just like them.