by Woods, Karen
Sandra smiled and knew she’d broken his concentration. Her phone had stopped ringing now. It was a missed call from Maxine. She hurried out of the room leaving Kevin frustrated that he had to start all over again.
Checking her sons were still in bed, she hurried downstairs. “Hello Maxine, it’s Sandra. Yeah, yeah I’ve got them. I’ll meet you this afternoon about two o’clock at your house. Yeah, me too. Okay, see you later.” The phone call left her struggling for her breath. Heading to the front room she turned on the telly. Her mind wasn’t on it but the people speaking on it made her feel as if she was sat in company. Her eyes looked around the room. Shoes were all over the floor and plates with leftover food stared back at her. The signs of someone smoking weed was all over her glass table. She kicked the Rizla papers from the table with the side of her foot in disgust. The ash tray at the side of her was full with cig dimps. Searching her bag she grabbed her fags and lit one. She would have usually emptied the ashtray because she couldn’t stand it when it was full, but today she couldn’t be arsed.
She could hear his footsteps through the ceiling. Raising her eyes she knew exactly which room Kevin was in. He was now on his way downstairs. She could hear his thuds as he stamped down the stairs. Drawing her legs up to her chest she puffed hard on her cig. She could now feel him at the side of her. His hand reached to the arm of the chair and she could see him taking one of her cigs. She hated this man with a passion.
Sandra needed to make a move. Not a word was spoken between them as they both sat watching the TV. The thought of moving out of the room scared her. She wanted to be invisible and just disappear without him saying a word to her. “Invisible, yeah that would be good” she thought. She smiled as the thought of sticking her finger up her arse and wiping it under his nose. To be Invisible, now that would be an adventure. Coughing slightly she stood from the sofa. He looked over to her.
”Make a brew ay and some bacon butties.”
Sandra froze. Usually she would have obeyed his every need but today she felt different. She felt stronger.
“Nope I’m going out. Do it yourself.” He looked shocked and turned his head from the chair to see her face.
“Orr come on Sandra. I’m knackered.” The words were there again. Her mind was bubbling. Shagging my sister, shagging my sister. You dirty twat. With one hand on the doorframe she scowled.
“You had enough strength for a wank didn’t you? So get off ya lazy arse and make your own fucking food. I’m nobody’s slave anymore. I’m gonna look after me from now on, because no one else will.” Her eyes rolled as she turned to leave. Kevin launched the remote control at her head and it just skimmed past her, smashing to bits on the wall. He was fuming. He was shouting at the top of his voice.
“Don’t get fucking smart Sandra because I’ll do you in. You fucking slut. Do you hear me?” She left the room. He was still screaming at her. “I don’t know who you think you are lately. That Tina is rubbing off on you. Keep her away from this fucking house.” Sandra smiled. For the first time in years she had refused to make him something to eat. She was getting stronger each day and she liked the way she was feeling. Raising her two fingers towards Kevin in the living room she rammed them up in the air.
“Fuck you arse-hole” she muttered.
After a quick wash Sandra stood in front of the mirror. She looked thinner. Bringing her face up closer she stretched her skin around her eyes. “I need some Botox” she whispered. Gripping the skin tighter she pulled it towards her ears. One last quick look and she was gone.
Walking out of the house she could hear Kevin shouting behind her. As she turned her head before getting into the car she could see him waving his hands up in the air shouting ”Where the fuck are you going? I need my clothes ironing. Get back here.” Opening the car door she gave him a smile and sat inside. She could see him approaching with speed. Locking her door frantically he was at the window banging on it with full force. Hands trembling she inserted the key in the ignition. “Keep calm, keep calm” she mouthed. Kevin’s angry face squashed up at the window. Spit hung from the corner of his mouth as he stood there wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. His chest was bare and you could see his toned body turning red.
“Don’t be smart Sandra. Get back in here and do my clothes.” The banging was getting louder and she knew if she didn’t drive away soon her car window would have gone through. He was banging harder. The car started to move and she kept her eyes on the road. She couldn’t look at him. He was livid and at one point he was lying on the bonnet of the car smashing his fist against the windscreen. Heart pumping she turned the steering wheel and headed out of the cul-de-sac. One of the neighbours was out watching everything and she grinned as Sandra passed her. Kevin was left behind. As she looked through her rear view mirror she could see him still stood there with his hands on his hips shaking his head. She knew she would have to face him later on but for now she was free and that’s all that mattered.
Her mood was low and as she turned the radio up, she smiled as her favourite song came on. Candy Statton “Young Hearts Run Free” now played at full blast. As she sang along she meant every single word. People next to her in the traffic smiled at her as they watched her singing her head off. To them she looked like the happiest person alive. How wrong they were! Maxine didn’t live far away in Harpurhey. Ten minutes drive and she was there.
Harpurhey was a rough place to live. Monsall wasn’t that much better. Sandra felt as if she was walking into the Bronx as she pulled into the small car park facing Maxine’s house. Gangs of lads were sat about and they were kicking a football about. Turning the engine off, she debated waiting for a while until they’d moved on. Fuck it she thought, what’s the worst that can happen? She stepped from the car. She could feel their eyes burning into her back as she stood slightly bent over, locking the door. Walking towards them she gripped her handbag tightly in her arms. She was already planning in her mind her fight back if they tried to rob her. She was next to them now and raised a smile at one of the lads. Spitting on the floor he carried on playing football. She was okay, they were leaving her alone.
Maxine lived on the edge of the Two Hundred estate. Each house looked the same. The net curtains hung from the windows with misery written all across them. None of the gardens were cut neatly and weeds grew through the gaps in most of the fences. A few dogs were running about on the field facing her and even they looked like they had mental issues.
“What’s up with us all” she mumbled. Maxine’s house looked straight at her. The windows looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in years. The small garden at the front was full of empty beer cans and bottles. Tapping the silver letter box she stood back from the door. Maxine answered, she looked busy.
“Oh come in love. I won’t be a minute, I’m just sorting these women out.” Maxine went back into the front room and Sandra followed her. The front room was packed with knocked off clothing. Dresses were hung from doorframes and jeans and shoes were scattered all over the sofa. The two women were Maxine’s buyers. They bought in bulk and got some really good bargains from her. Looking at Sandra they became apprehensive until Maxine gave them the okay.
Maxine had been busted lots of times in the past and the buyers always shit themselves when they were inside her house. One large lady with blonde bleached hair piled her clothes up and came to Maxine for a price. Maxine picked each garment up and you could see her adding them up in her head. Throwing the last dress on the sofa she looked at the woman. “Give us eighty quid. It’s comes to roughly about two hundred but I know you and you’re a good buyer so call it eighty.” The woman dug into her black handbag and pulled out the cash. Counting it out in front of her she checked the amount was right.
“Have you got any black bags love?” the woman asked. Maxine now reached to the dining table situated at the back of the room and pulled two from the roll she had there. She always had bin- liners in the house and was never short of them. There were no Selfridge’s or Harve
y Nicols bags on this estate. It was a black bag or fuck all. The first lady left and as Maxine walked her to the door the other woman was holding dresses up to the light and examining every detail on them. Maxine returned and raised her eyes at Sandra. Maxine knew this woman of old and knew she wanted rock bottom prices. She was waiting for her to start her usual moaning. She didn’t have to wait long. The other woman called Pat looked quite stunning. She was stood with her arms folded. You could smell her perfume all over the room. She was a dolly bird. False eyelashes, false nails and Sandra was sure her tits were false as well, as she examined them sticking from her tight black vest top. Sandra felt her own breasts and pushed them up with the side of her arm. Her own tits looked like spaniel’s ears and she knew if she ever won the lottery new ones would be the first thing on her list.
Pat now started to pull dresses up from the chair at the side of her. “I like these but they are a bit dated.” Her face screwed up as she stroked the material. Maxine looked stressed and Sandra could tell by her expression that she was losing patience with her.
“Listen Pat, don’t fuck me about. You either want them or you don’t. Every fucking time you come here you’re always the same. I’m busy so hurry up ay.”
Pat looked embarrassed. “Right, work out how much it is for this lot.”
Maxine was at her side as she took the dresses from her hands. “Sixty quid.”
Pat was going to argue the toss but as she looked at Maxine she could see she would be fighting a losing battle, giving in she paid her the money with a grin on her face. She knew she could double it when she sold them on and started to brown nose her. “Thanks love you’re a star. If you get anything else ring me first. You know I always buy from you.”
Maxine nodded. Pat was pissing her off and to tell you the truth she didn’t like her anyway. She was too much up her own arse. Pat owned the local pub called the Top Derby and she was never short of a few quid. Everyone who knew her, knew she was a tart and she wouldn’t think twice about shagging your fella. Maxine wanted her gone from the house and once her black bag was loaded up with her knock-off she carted her from the house.
“Thank fuck she’s gone. She does my head in. Did you hear her trying to get the stuff for next to nothing? The cheeky fucking bint.”
Maxine shoved some clothes from a chair and reached for her cigs from the table. Once she lit it she took a deep breath. Sandra was sat at the side of her staring round the front room. Trainers were situated at her feet and she knew they were the culprit for the cheesy smell she could feel strangling her nostrils.
Maxine was still dressed in her pyjamas. This was normal for her and she wouldn’t think twice about walking to the shops in them or walking the streets. Pyjamas’ was the code of dress these days for people who lived on a council estate. It wasn’t that they had no clothes, it was the point of why waste your good clothes when you’re just dossing all day. Bringing her knees up to her chest Maxine rubbed her hands together.
“So did you get them?”
Sandra shoved her hand into her pocket and jingled the two keys in front of her. “Result love. Oh he’s so gonna regret ever messing with you. Right, let me make a quick phone call, we need this done as soon as possible.” Maxine searched under all the clothes for her mobile phone. She dragged newspapers from the table and sighed as her eyes looked round the room. “For fuck’s sake. Where the fuck did I put it?” She looked at Sandra. “Do me a favour love, phone my mobile.” Sandra located her own phone and found the contact number she required. Holding the phone out in front of her she waited for Maxine’s phone to ring. You could now hear the muffled sound of her ring tone. At first Sandra couldn’t make out which tune it was but as it got louder she smiled as the Usher ring tone could be heard. Maxine was now on all fours searching for her phone. The sound was coming from underneath the chair. Sliding her hand under it, her face was side down on the floor. Her arm was now out of sight.
“Here it is. What the fuck is it doing underneath there? I don’t know, I’m losing the plot me love.” Sandra giggled. She was also always losing her phone and was glad to see someone else have the same problem.
“Mine is my keys,” Sandra chirped in, “I must lose them about five times a day. I’m hopeless.” Maxine was now wiping the dirt from her screen. Folding her leg underneath her she sat back down. Her eyes were struggling to focus as she tried to find the correct contact. Sandra was hanging on her every word. Maxine found the phone number she wanted and sat back on the chair. The phone was answered.
“Alright Barry. It’s Maxine. Can you get round to my house as soon as possible. I’ve got some graft for you. Right okay. See you soon.” Sitting looking at her phone Maxine grinned. “Right that’s sorted. These lads are shit hot and don’t fuck about. Kevin’s going to crumble.” Twiddling her hair Sandra sat on the edge of her seat. “I want them to put a video camera in there first. I want to get some footage of them twats together.”
Maxine scowled. “What the fuck do ya mean? I thought you wanted them to get the grow tonight. They won’t fuck about with all that shit.”
Sandra looked angry. Twisting her fingers she looked at Maxine and spoke in a firm voice. “Listen love. They can get that later on. Kevin goes to the house tonight, so they can film him first then wait for him to fuck off before they get the weed.”
“You’re fucking hard work you are” Maxine sighed, “Have you even got a video camera?” Sandra sat in deep thought. “Yeah yeah, I have. Kevin’s got one in the house. It’s a bit old but it will do the trick.”
There was a knock at the front door. Maxine shit herself at first and started throwing all the knocked-off clothing into the corner. She now shouted at Sandra. “Peep through the kitchen window and see who it is.”
Sandra looked scared. Standing slowly she chewed on her fingernails. Approaching the window she held her body. Her head was now at the side of discoloured net curtain. She jerked her head backward as she saw one of the lads clock her. She stood back in the corner of the kitchen like a scared animal. A face could be seen at the window and she froze. The banging on the pane of glass made Maxine come into the kitchen. She now saw a familiar face and laughed.
“Fucking hell it’s Barry.”
Sandra looked as if she was having heart attack. Her face was red and she looked hot. Maxine left her to go and open the door. Standing in the kitchen Sandra looked around. It was a disgrace. Plates were all over the sides and the sink was full of dirty dishes. Dirty washing was piled next to the washer and the smell in the air was putrid. She walked back to the front room with a look of disgust fixed firmly on her face. Maxine was a scruffy cunt. Three lads were now stood pacing the front room. They only looked young and they were all dressed the same in tracksuits and trainers. The ring leader smiled at Sandra and introduced himself as Barry. What the fuck was she doing she thought. These lads weren’t much older than her own sons and yet she was conspiring with them to commit a crime.
Barry rubbed his hands together as the other two lads made a joint. Sandra sat down and waited for Maxine to begin. Once she heard her telling them she wanted them to rob a grow of weed she knew she had to step in. Her mouth felt dry and she sucked on her lips to give them some moisture. With a slight cough she spoke.
“It’s not just the weed. I want you to film him first.”
Barry sat down next to her and laughed. “What the fuck are you going on about? We’re here to have the weed away, we’re not fucking film producers.”
The others laughed. Her face turned sour. She knew what she wanted and continued.
“No filming, no weed. Simple.”
Sitting back on the chair Barry looked at the others. There was silence for a moment and Barry could see by her face she wasn’t going to change her mind. Gripping the joint from his mate he inhaled deeply and released smoke rings from his mouth. Sandra was tapping her foot nervously hoping they would agree. Barry spoke.
“Right so let me get this right. You want us to film
someone, doing what exactly?”
Sandra sat up as if someone had shoved a pin into her arse cheeks. Her words were fast and furious and Barry had to tell her to slow down at one point.
“Basically, my husband is shagging my sister and I want them filmed so I have proof when the time comes to use it.” Barry laughed out loud but when he saw her serious face he realised it wasn’t funny. Sandra continued. “The video recorder has a timer on it. Just place it out of sight in the bedroom and fuck off until later. Once they leave the gaff just get the camera back, and then take the full grow. I mean the lights and everything, because they are worth something as well aren’t they?”
Barry was excited and wanted to know more about the weed. Sandra now told them that each room in the house had marijuana plants growing in it. Now the simple task of doing a bit of filming didn’t seem too bad and Barry grinned at Sandra. “Right yeah we can do that, but we need to talk cash now don’t we and we need to know who wants what.”
Maxine stepped in, after all she wanted an earner too. She stood to her feet and rubbed her hands together. “We’ll have to see what’s there first innit. We can split it five ways. We have to be careful about all of this because its Zac Hanson’s grow.” Barry looked worried until Maxine told him she had a buyer. Sandra wasn’t really arsed about the money and just wanted to ruin her husband but the thought of some extra cash made her face light up. She spoke to the group.
“There’ll be enough for us all don’t worry. Just get that filming done first and when the fucker leaves later on tonight you can go in and fleece the fucking lot.”
Barry shook Sandra’s hand. He told her he needed to know where the house was and needed to get the video camera set up before Kevin got there later on that night. Sandra looked apprehensive. She didn’t know these lads and they could have had her over. She glanced at Maxine for her to take over.
“Right, me and Sandra will meet you here in an hour. We can let you in the house and make sure you set the camera up. Once that’s done you can come back here for a bit and chill. Sandra will ring you when her husband gets home and then you can do your stuff. Have you got a van an all that?” Barry nodded and told them they had to find some storage for the plants. They sprang to their feet and told Sandra they would be back within the hour. They left with a spring in their steps.
