Teabags & Tears

by Woods, Karen

  Looking in the mirror Tina ran her fingers through her bleach blonde hair. All her make-up was still on her face from the night before. Licking her index finger she rubbed underneath her eyes and tried to remove all the mascara that was now sat there. Running the water into the sink she quickly swilled her face. Reaching for a towel she was struggling to see. With a quick rub of it she was dried and all she needed to do now was brush her teeth. Sticking her tongue out into the mirror she squirmed at the yellow coating on it. She tried to brush it off with her pink toothbrush. Grabbing her jeans she slid them on and searched for a top to wear. Tina was the same age as Sandra and her body was well in need of a session at the gym to tone her wobbly bits up. Tina had had her fair share of heartbreak in the past and the last time she’d been in a relationship it nearly killed her. Her ex-partner had cheated on her loads of times and was never scared of beating her to within an inch of her life. She’d promised herself from that day that she would never let a man treat her like that again. Tina was ready and headed to her best friend’s house.

  “Where have you been slug? My head’s been all over the place, you need to help me Tina.” Sandra closed the door behind her friend and led her to the kitchen. She placed her finger over her mouth as they sat down and gesticulated that Kevin was still in the house. Tina asked for a cup of a coffee. The sound of running water could be heard and you could see Sandra putting the contents into the cups. Leaning on the side Sandra turned to face her. She looked worried.

  “He’s definitely been shagging her Tina. I don’t care what anyone says.” Tina just watched her friend’s face and knew exactly what she was going through. The sound of someone coming down the stairs could be heard. Kevin appeared at the kitchen door.

  “Where are my car keys? Have you seen them Sandra?” Shaking her head she wanted to run at him and head butt his cocky face. Was he going to meet her sister she thought, as her face went red with temper? Her blood was boiling. Twisting her wedding ring round her finger she told him she hadn’t seen them. He was angry now and she could see he was in a rush for something as he kept checking his watch. Speaking in a low tone she looked at him.

  “Perhaps you should re-trace your steps back from last night. Think about what you done when you come in.”

  Kevin shot her a look. “I can’t remember last night you nob head. I was pissed.” Gritting her teeth she tried her best not to speak her mind. Tina was watching her and shook her head as a signal for her to be quiet. Kevin left the kitchen. The sound of shaking keys could be heard, he was back.

  “In my coat they were. Right I’m getting off see ya later.” He quickly leant to kiss Sandra on the cheek. He was gone within seconds. Tina listened to the front door slamming. When she was sure Kevin had left she started to speak.

  “I knew it ya know. You can tell a mile off something is going on between them both.” Her words were like hot stones being dropped into Sandra’s heart as she collapsed onto the kitchen table. The sound of sobbing could be heard and Tina realised she could have been a little more subtle with her words. “Orr Sandra. Come on love. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. He’s just probably made a mistake.” Sandra lifted her head up and yanked at her oversized t-shirt.

  “Mistake” she screamed. “I’m the worst mistake he’s ever made. Look at me compared to our Tracy. I don’t stand a chance.”

  Tina screamed as she held her closer. “She’s a dirty trollop. She’s your fucking sister. Where is her respect?” Tina stood up. She reached for the kettle. She quickly poured it into the cup and walked to the fridge for the milk. Sandra was now sat at the table lighting a cig with shaking hands.

  “We need a plan Tina.” Holding her cup of coffee Tina joined her. Once she’d lit her cig she agreed as she took a deep drag from it.

  “Don’t get angry love, get even. That’s what my dad always used to say to me.” Sandra nodded her head slowly.

  “I want to ruin him Tina. I want to hurt them both badly.”

  Silence filled the room for a moment and Tina tapped her fingers on the dining table. “I agree we need to think this out and make sure we pay them both back. If you approach her, she will just deny it point blank. You know her of old, the lying dirty slapper. Arghh! She makes my blood boil.” A look of malice was etched on their faces as they sat like witches round a cauldron plotting their next move.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tracy lay in her bed and smiled as she thought about the night before. She’d betrayed her sister in the worst way possible but held no remorse for her actions. She wanted Kevin and nobody would stand in her way of getting him, not even her own flesh and blood. The sound of her mother’s voice outside the room made her hide her head under the quilt cover. She was still pissed and couldn’t be arsed listening to her mother moan about her sister’s behaviour the night before. Searching for her phone, she checked it to see If Kevin had replied to her last text. Her face looked frustrated as her hands came from underneath the covers to place her phone back on the side.

  Tracy was a man-eater, without a doubt. She’d been shagging Kevin on and off since she was sixteen. At one point she was pregnant to him and was really up for keeping the baby until he made her see sense. He must have loved her, because after all he went with her to get an abortion, he stayed with her until it was over.

  Tracy had told her mother she we was going to stay at her friends on the day she had the abortion planned and her mother didn’t bat an eyelid as it was quite normal for Tracy to stay over at a friend’s house. Kevin didn’t stay with her all night. When she came out of hospital he just put her up in his mate’s house and fucked off until the following day. After all this was his wife’s sister and he knew if Sandra got wind of it, all hell would have broken loose. Tracy didn’t see Kevin a lot these days as she was sleeping with any guy with a pulse to fulfil her sexual needs.

  Kevin had taught Tracy a lot in the bedroom and she was quite hot between the sheets. She had no inhibitions and would try anything to make her man happy, unlike Sandra. Kevin sometimes felt guilty at what he was doing with her sister but he could never say no to Tracy. She was like a drug and he was addicted.

  Tracy grabbed her phone from the bedside cabinet and sighed. “Where the fuck is he? He’s taking the piss.” Checking the bedroom door she pressed the tiny green buttons on her phone. She could hear it ringing and waited for him to answer.

  “Hello it’s me” she whispered.

  “Tracy what have I told you about phoning me. I could have been at home.”

  “Oh shut up Kevin. You weren’t saying that last night was you?”

  Kevin backed down. “Well, I’m just saying that’s all.” His voice sounded stressed and you could tell by his voice he wasn’t in the mood to talk to her. “Are you at the grow house today?” she sniggered. Kevin hesitated but finally told her he would be there later on in the day.

  The grow house was where Kevin grew his crop of marijuana plants. Every day he would go there to make sure everything was okay. The house belonged to his friend but he was away on holiday so she knew it would be a good place for them to meet up and have sex. Tracy sounded excited. “Right what time are you there? I’ll get ready and meet you.” He wanted to say no but the ache in his groin was ruling his mind and he finally agreed to meet her a few hours later. Tracy ended the call with a smile on her face. Stretching her body fully she began to sing. Her mother now entered the bedroom.

  “It’s nice to hear you singing love. What’s made you sing and be so happy?”

  “Kevin’s going to shag me all over the place and our Sandra hasn’t got a fucking clue about it,” she wanted to shout out but she just smiled back at her mother with her secret stuck firmly to her tongue. “I’m just happy that’s all mam. I’ve opened all my birthday cards and I‘ve got nearly one hundred and fifty quid in them. I’m buzzing. I might even book myself a holiday.”

  Anita looked excited. “Oh that would be nice. At least you’ll see something for it. Who’s going to go w
ith you?” Tracy’s face looked like she was thinking. She didn’t have many friends due to the fact she’d shagged all their boyfriends and the ones she did have were always skint all the time. Tapping her teeth with her fingernail she looked like she had someone in mind. Bolting up from the bed she rubbed her hands together.

  “I might ask Beverley from down the road. She’s a good laugh and I’ve been away with her before.” She stared at the wall as if she was thinking again. “Yeah I’ll ask Bev.” Anita left the bedroom after she’d scraped Tracy’s washing up from the floor. You could now hear someone coming into the house. Her face looked stressed. “For fucks sake that’s all I need” Tracy huffed. Sticking her head from the bed she could hear her sister’s voice in the house. She could also hear the loud laughter of Tina, Sandra’s best mate. She held her head to the door listening to the conversation downstairs. Sandra could be heard speaking in a loud tone.

  “Mam you have to understand why I get pissed off. Imagine if your sister was all over my dad. You just wouldn’t have it. Would you?”

  Anita was defensive and walked away from her. “They were only having a laugh Sandra. It was her birthday for Christ’s sake.”

  Sandra was fuming. “Well what about the other week when we were all sat in here?” She was pointing her finger about the front-room. “Tracy was sat on his knee. Remember? She’s a fucking flirt?”

  Her mother sighed and raised her eyebrows. “There was nowhere else for her to sit that’s why.” Sandra twisted her fingers together as Tina was getting ready to put her two pennies worth in. Sandra was still fuming as she continued.

  “So why didn’t she sit on my knee?” Her head swung back as she ranted with temper. “I’ll tell you why mother because she knows what she’s doing and that it winds me up big-time.” Sandra blew a laboured breath and tried to calm down. “Mam seriously I’m gonna do her in if she carries on.”

  Anita huffed. “Oh Sandra, she’s you’re sister. Why would you think that about her? You should have some trust in her.” Tina cleared her throat and placed her full palm on the table as she spoke.

  “Anita, Tracy does it on purpose. I’ve seen it too. She fancies the arse off Kevin. You can’t deny it?” Sandra’s mother sat down at the table and all of them lit a cigarette. The kitchen was filled with smoke within seconds and Tracy waved her hands across her face as she walked in to join them.

  “Fucking hell. Open a door or summit. I can’t breathe in here.” Tracy started choking. She was going right over the top. Sandra could now see her face and she stared at her ready for action. Tina was now kicking her under the table to behave herself. Tracy was full of herself as usual and continued in her quest to break her sister’s temper. “You calmed down now psycho?” Tracy chuckled. Her eyes focused on Sandra. Tracy was now stood with one hand on her hip. She was wearing a short t-shirt that barely covered her stomach and nearly all her legs were visible. Tina gawped at Tracy’s long slender legs and slowly stroked her own thighs wishing they were a bit thinner.

  “Who are you calling a fucking psycho?” Sandra spat, making sure she could get to her sister if she carried on with her cheek. Tracy checked she had her mother’s full attention and continued with her cocky attitude.

  “You Sandra that’s who. What was last night all about? Kevin is my brother-in-law. I would never do that that to you.” Anita looked at Tracy and gave her a small smile. She was putting on a good show the little slag and Anita was buying every word. Tina licked her lips to speak but Sandra was in there first.

  “I can’t wait until you get a fella. Just let’s see what you’re like ay, when I’m all over him like a rash?”

  Tracy laughed out loud. “Don’t make me laugh. I would never get stressed over a man, especially over them talking to you!”

  Sandra gritted her teeth. She was fuming. What did she mean? Was she saying that I’m a fat cow and that no one would ever look at me? Clenching her fists under the table, Sandra’s knuckles turned white. Everyone had heard the insult, so she was well within her rights to kick her fucking head in surely. Sandra leant forward to stand but Tina pushed her back and took over.

  “Tracy you are bang out of order. You’re always flirting with Kevin. I’ve seen it loads of times.” Tracy now opened the back door to let some air inside. She knew Tina was a fighter and that she wouldn’t have thought twice about opening a can of whoop ass on her. Tracy tried to back pedal.

  “If it’s a problem, I won’t speak to him again. But imagine when everyone knows why we don’t speak. You’ll look a right paranoid twat then won’t you Sandra?”

  That was it, Sandra had heard enough. She jumped up from her chair and leapt onto her sister. Anita was screaming for her to stop but it was too late, Sandra was ragging her about the kitchen, screaming as she pummelled her fists into her face.

  “Paranoid twat, I’ll show you who’s paranoid!” she shouted, as she twisted Tracy’s long blonde hair into her grip and dragged her about the kitchen. Anita was trying to pull her off but Sandra was like a fighting machine and was letting her have it big time. Tina was stood with them both and was in no hurry to end the fight. After all, the tart deserved it.

  Sandra was soon wasting Tracy. She finally threw her to the floor and sat on top of her as Anita tried pulling her body off from behind..

  “Sandra get off her you’re gonna kill her,” Anita screamed and spun her head back to Tina for some support. “Tina please help me.” Sandra was now in Tracy’s face, her teeth were gritted together and bits of spit sprung from her mouth as she shouted.

  “Not so gobby now are you? Tell ya what. If you ever, ever go near my husband again I’ll do jail for you. You fucking scrubber.” Sandra was harsh but she meant every word of it. Tracy was screaming underneath her and she was wriggling about furiously trying to escape. Tina now stepped in and pulled Sandra from her sister. Anita was yelling at the top of her lungs. As soon as Tracy was free she gripped her and pulled her closer protecting her like a lioness would protect her cub. Anita now shook her head as she snarled at Sandra.

  “No fucking need for that Sandra. Since when have you become this violent woman? You have serious issues you do. You need to seek medical help.” Tracy, now feeling brave knowing that Sandra couldn’t get at her, hid behind her mother as she shouted abuse.

  “Fucking fat porky arsed bitch. No wonder Kevin doesn’t come home to you, you’re a fat fucking mess.” Tracy was now jumping about behind Anita, her hands waving in the air. Sandra looked at her mother’s face and knew it was time to go. Grabbing her coat from the chair she gave Tina the eyes to follow her. Tina looked at Tracy and shook her head. They left the kitchen as Tina spoke the final words to Tracy.

  “Little girls shouldn’t mess about with big women, otherwise they’ll get hurt. Do you get me?” Tina nodded her head slowly at Tracy as she left with a look of hate held in her eyes. Tracy looked scared now because Tina had just threatened her. She’d heard stories about what she was capable of and fell onto the floor crying as her mother nursed her wounds.

  Anita grabbed a cloth from the side and slowly placed it on her lip. Her hands were trembling and she was shaking from head to toe.

  “I can’t believe that your own sister would do this to you. Is she on drugs or something, because it’s not like her one little bit.” Quickly wiping the blood from her mouth Tracy jumped up from the floor. She couldn’t wait to tell Kevin what had happened and hoped he would back her up once he’d seen the state of her face. Anita was chasing her round the kitchen still trying to wipe the red blood from her t-shirt.

  “Mam, will you fuck off now. I’m alright.” Anita started to sob. “You’re not alright, look at the state of your face. You need some ice on it to take away the swelling. Wait there while I get some from the freezer.” Anita ran back to the fridge as Tracy bounced up the stairs locking herself inside the bathroom. Standing behind the door she struggled to breathe. Her heart was racing. She could now hear her mother shouting from outside.

&
nbsp; “Tracy open the door. Let me get this ice on your mouth.”

  “Mam I’m fine. Just leave me alone will you?” Tracy moved towards the mirror. She looked a mess. Sucking her bottom lip to stop the bleeding, she started to get washed. Once she’d removed all the signs of blood from her face she quickly applied some black mascara to her long lashes. Her hand was shaking as she held the long brush to her eyes. Quickly throwing her hair up into a ponytail she left the bathroom. Her mother must have been waiting in her bedroom because she was by her side straight away. Anita spoke in a frantic voice.

  “I’ve told Kevin. I just spoke to him on the phone. He’s going home now to sort her out.” Tracy’s face sunk. Her mother had just fucked up any chances of her getting a leg-over this afternoon. She was supposed to have been meeting him anytime now. What a fool her mother was. Tracy stamped into her bedroom and searched for her phone. She typed a message to Kevin asking him if he would still be at the house. Once she pressed the send button she sat on the bed with her mobile phone in her hands waiting eagerly for his reply.

  *

  Tina and Sandra headed back home. Tina was laughing her head off as they both walked with speed. Sandra had never been a fighter and Tina couldn’t believe what she’d just witnessed.

  “Fucking hell, since when did you become a warrior?”

  Sandra raised a smile but as they walked up the road she began to cry. It was all too much for her. “I’m sick to death of it all Tina. Why do they think I’d just sit there and take the shit they throw at me? Do they not think I have feelings?” Tina could see the pain in her eyes and linked her arm. She offered her some words of wisdom.

  “I’ve told you love. Don’t get angry, get even. We can sort them both out so they never fuck with you again. You have to be two steps in front and one behind them love.” Sandra looked deep into her eyes as if they were magic and hoped she would find the answer to end her nightmare. Approaching the house Tina could see Kevin stood at his car with the door open wide. He was resting one arm on the door and one arm on the roof as he watched them drawing nearer.