by Woods, Karen
Maxine looked at Sandra. “Right you better get your arse in gear and go and get that video camera. They’ll be back soon and we need to get it all set up before Kevin gets there tonight,” Sandra huffed. She knew once she was back in the house Kevin would make her pay for the way she had disobeyed him earlier. He’d never hit her in front of anyone before and she had a cunning plan to take Maxine back home with her. Once she told Maxine her plan for her to come with her, she planned a story to tell Kevin because after all he was a nosey fucker and would want to know why Maxine was at his house and why she wanted the video recorder.
“Right we can say to Kevin that you’re going to a christening and you want to video it. He won’t say owt about that will he?” Maxine smiled. “Listen chick, I’m not arsed what you tell him. Are you scared of him or summit?” Sandra looked shocked. Was it that obvious to people that he ruled her life? She dipped her head and felt embarrassed.
“He’s a control freak Maxine. I just do anything for an easy life.” Maxine knew there was more to it than met the eye but kept her mouth shut. She had suffered domestic violence in the past and Sandra was showing all the signs of a victim. They both set off to Sandra’s. She looked nervous and was forever checking her watch. She hoped Kevin was still out. As they pulled into her drive she knew when she spotted Kevin’s car that her ordeal with him was about to start.
Rooting in her hand bag for the door keys, Maxine could see Sandra was agitated. She gritted her teeth and hoped the bullying bastard started while she was there. She wasn’t afraid of no man and she would put him right in his place if he started with her friend.
They walked into the hallway. Music could be heard playing from upstairs and she knew by the song it was one of her sons. Walking cautiously into the kitchen they passed the living room. She could see Kevin sprawled out on the sofa playing with his phone. She showed Maxine into the kitchen and went into the front room. Kevin sat up as if he’d shit his pants. He was on his feet. He looked angry and walked straight up to Sandra. His large hands gripped her face. She wriggled to try and get away but his hands were firm. “Oh not so smart now are you slut.” Her lips were squeezed together as she tried to speak. His head connected with hers and she fell straight to the ground. His voice was loud now and Maxine was now stood at the doorway. Her eyes quickly looked at Sandra and she looked as if she was ready to pounce on Kevin. His eyes now turned to Maxine and he looked like a kid who had been caught in the act. Sandra stood to her feet and didn’t want any more violence. Her face raised a smile and she led Maxine back to the kitchen as if nothing had happened.
Sandra’s hands were shaking and she was holding her head as she switched the kettle on. She felt faint and placed her hand on the side to steady herself. Maxine could hear Kevin rummaging around, she was fuming. A single tear fell from Sandra’s face and Maxine was at her side within seconds.
“Love, don’t get upset. He’s a wanker and he’ll get what’s coming to him. Trust me, I’ve been like you and I know it’s hard to walk away but if you stay here, what kind of a life will you have?” Sandra nodded, she was just about to pour her heart out when her son came into the kitchen. He could see a strange woman holding his mother and it didn’t take long for him to work out what had happened. He’d witnessed the violence between his parents many times before and clenched his fist as he knew his father had been at it again, the anger was written across his face.
“What’s up mam?” he was at her side and Maxine moved away sitting back down. Sandra controlled her tears and tried to cover up her husband’s abuse.
“It’s nothing son. It’s just ya dad being a prick again. Don’t get involved it’s sorted now.” His fist clenched as he banged it on the kitchen side. He was stood there in his shorts and his bare chest was visible. His body looked toned and you could tell he was no longer a child who’d let his father abuse his mother. He wanted revenge.
“Mam I’ll twist him up I swear. I’m fucking sick of it ya know. Who does he think he is?”
Sandra placed her hand round his shoulder. She didn’t want any more violence and told him so. “I’ve told you it’s sorted now. Don’t you go making things worse than they are. He’s going out now anyway.”
John flung her arms from his body. “Why do you always protect him ay? Let me sort it out. Trust me, he won’t ever raise his hands to you again” Sandra raised her voice again as Maxine sat in disbelief.
“John just fuck off will you? You need to sort your own life out never mind mine.” He was stood with his hands yanking at his hair. He looked frustrated.
“You deserve everything you get you know. Why do I even fucking bother!” He left the kitchen in a strop.
Maxine looked cold as she rubbed her arms. She had goose bumps visible all over her arms. Sandra was now in her “Everything in my life is fine” mode. She had become a great actress over the years and this performance deserved an Oscar. Sandra sat at the kitchen table once she’d brewed two drinks. Sipping her tea she spoke in an animated voice. “Oh fucking hell. What a day ay.” Maxine shook her head and reached over to her arm. She squeezed it gently and that seemed to be enough to let Sandra know that she cared.
Kevin could be heard coughing as he came down the stairs. Sandra sat up straight and watched the kitchen door open as he stood there. She rubbed her fingers on the table and looked nervous. Kevin was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a grey t-shirt. His trainers looked new and she could smell his Diesel aftershave from where she sat. He froze at first then slowly walked towards the kitchen side to grab a glass of water. He looked like he wanted to say something but Maxine jumped in first. She knew Kevin of old and knew he was a womaniser. A few of her mates had slept with him in the past but she kept that to herself, for now. Kevin looked at Maxine and nodded. He knew she had a reputation and was wary that she could shove a knife in his back at any moment. He gulped his glass of water and reached over to kiss Sandra’s cheek. The kiss made her cringe. She didn’t pull away because she knew it would only add fuel to the fire. He was acting like a different person.
“Right I’m off out. I’ll be back about six for my tea. Make something nice ay,” he said cheerfully, smirking at Maxine as he left.
Sandra was quickly out of her seat and up the stairs. Maxine lit a cig and huffed, “What a fucking day.”
The mirror called to Sandra as she passed it. As she walked towards it she could already see a red lump beginning to appear. She touched it softly and you could see the pain in her face. Her eyes rose to the ceiling and she walked away thinking how much of a fool she really was.
Dipping her head into Kevin’s wardrobe she searched for the video camera. It wasn’t normal for her to go into his personal things and he had beaten her up in the past for doing it but today she didn’t care anymore. Standing quickly she ran back to her bedroom door and banged it shut. No one must see her or know of her mission. Her arse was sticking from the wardrobe and she was virtually sat inside it. She was like a kid in a sweet shop searching through his stuff. Sandra sat holding clothes out fully and looked surprised. She hadn’t seen any of these new clothes and realised how much of a separate life they led. A little black bag now looked at her and it looked like his shaving bag. Unzipping it slowly she revealed its contents. “Fucking vain prick” she mumbled. Lots of skin care products could now be seen. As she dug her hand deeper inside the bag she could feel small packets. As her hand brought the package from the bag her heart sunk. She’d found condoms. Not just plain condoms, fucking ribbed ones.
“Dirty cunt!”
She sighed. Sandra held the condom out in front of her and pulled a face. She walked up to her own set of drawers at the side of her bed. She was frantically looking for something. As her hand came from the drawer you could see a small shiny object in her hands. Sandra sat back down near the wardrobe holding a safety pin. She held an evil look in her eyes. Her hand held the condom up in front of her. Slowly she pierced it. She repeated this on all the condoms she found. Sandra
now laughed like a witch casting a spell. Once she’d finished she threw them back inside the bag.
Eventually she found the video camera. It was in a small case at the very back of the wardrobe. She quickly grabbed it and threw all Kevin’s clothes back inside without a care in the world. She’d ironed a lot of them previously and didn’t give a shit that she might have to iron them all again. She was livid as she headed back down the stairs to Maxine. Hands held up in the air she screamed.
“The cheeky bastard has got condoms in his wardrobe, I’ve just found them!” Her face was white now and she couldn’t get a cigarette into her mouth fast enough. “I don’t believe it ya know. Have I been walking round with my eyes fucking shut?” Her hands were held out in front of her and Maxine didn’t know what to say. She could have told her the truth and said that her husband had been shagging about for years but looking at her face she knew she didn’t need anyone else kicking her while she was down.
Maxine interrupted her. “Did you get the video recorder, because we need to be back at my house soon before the lads arrive? I don’t want to keep them waiting.” Sandra produced the camera and grabbed her car keys from the fridge. Her mind was working overtime and she looked stressed.
“Can we go into the house with them? I want to make sure they put it in the right room and all that. I know there is a double bed in one of the rooms because Kevin has told me in the past and that will be the room he uses.”
Maxine told her she would go with her. After all she wanted to see the grow and work out how much money they would all get from it when the stuff was sold. Driving like a mad woman she was back at Maxine’s within minutes. They could see the lads waiting on a nearby wall. Sandra knew Kevin would be in the local pub for a few more hours yet and relaxed. That was his daily routine. Kevin also sold weed and most of his punters were in the pub. The punters knew weed was always on tap as long as he was still in the pub. Sandra could feel the hate running through her veins. She picked up her phone and relayed her findings to Tina. Tina wasn’t shocked but tried to act the same as Sandra. She arranged to meet her later. Tina was with Steven and by the sounds of it he was shagging her brains out yet again. They were getting quite close these days and Sandra wondered if her best friend was falling in love.
Pulling up across the road, Sandra felt sick. She rubbed her neck vigorously. The house looked seedy with drooping, poorly fitted curtains hanging from the window. Sandra put her hand on her chest and commented to Maxine how fast her heart was beating. Maxine was calm and casually got out of the car. The area looked quiet except for a dog running about in the nearby park. Maxine gave the lads, who were sat in a white transit van, the nod. Only Barry came to join them. He didn’t want to bring it on top and told the others to remain in the van. Pulling his hood up over his head he jogged towards them as all three of them quickly marched towards the house.
The key was new and it took a few times of twisting and turning it before they finally opened the door. They all quickly scurried through the front door. The house was warm and the smell of the marijuana plants hit the back of their throats. Sandra pulled her coat up over her nose.
Maxine went in every room and knew there was some decent cash to be earned. Barry was behind Sandra as she ran up the stairs. She struggled for breath as she mounted the stairs. Three bedroom doors stood facing her. As she opened each door weed plants were scattered everywhere. Bright lights were hanging over them and Barry examined the plants in more detail.
“They’re ready these fuckers are. It’s a good job they’re going tonight. If you would have waited any longer we would have missed them.” Sandra left him without speaking a word and opened the last remaining door. There it was, the double bed where her husband shagged her sister. The quilt cover looked dirty and everything about the room looked seedy. Empty condom packets were scattered all over the carpet. She felt physically sick and heaved a few times. Barry was at her side and placed a comforting hand around her shoulder.
“Don’t worry love, this won’t take a minute and we’ll be gone. She passed him the video camera. His hands fidgeted with the small silver buttons and he could be seen checking his watch. “What time do you want the timer set for?” Her head tilted to the side and she asked him the time now.
“Half four”
“Set it for half eight then. Surely he’ll be here by then.” Barry messed about with the timer and once it was set he looked around the room for somewhere to place it where it would be out of sight. Sandra looked in a world of her own and didn’t take much notice of him. The scent from the bed made her stomach churn. She sat considering whether to hide under the bed and surprise the cheating bastards but Maxine now came into the room and helped Barry set the trap.
The camera was hidden behind the long brown curtains. It had a full view of the bed and any action that would happen on it would surely be captured. Barry squeezed at his cock. He couldn’t wait to see the footage. He was a man after all and any picture of a woman’s fanny was enough to make his cock stand on end.
The smell of the drugs was now too much for Sandra. Even when Kevin smoked weed at home she made him stand outside in the garden with it as it made her feel sick. They all left the bedroom and headed for the front door. Sandra wanted to set the house on fire. She wanted them both to burn in hell.
Slamming the front door behind them they headed back to the car. Sandra now passed the key to the door over to Maxine. “Make sure they pick that video camera up later will you? And make sure they don’t rip us off.”
Maxine grabbed her closer. “Don’t worry sweetheart. You’re working with me now and these lads know I’m no dickhead.” Barry told them not to worry and as soon as the job was done he would let Maxine know. He jumped into the van and waved as he drove off.
Sandra dropped Maxine off and headed back home. She remembered Kevin had told her he would be home for six o’clock and she wanted to make sure his tea was on the table to avoid any upset. Sitting down at the kitchen table she ran her fingers across the patterns of the grain. The table had seen so much sadness over the years and each grain had heard her pour her heart out on many occasions. She sat wriggling her legs about under the table. She was dying for a piss.
Heading upstairs she let out a sigh of relief as her arse hit the toilet seat. She seemed to be pissing forever. Glancing around the bathroom she saw Kevin’s mouthwash. She stopped for a second and stood up with her knickers still dangling round her ankles. A smile filled her face as she reached over for his spearmint mouthwash. It looked like a green liquid. She screwed the lid off to smell it. It smelt fresh. Placing the plastic bottle in the toilet bowl she started to piss again. She was laughing her head off now and if anyone would have heard her they would have thought she was mental. She wiped the sides of it with toilet roll and placed the lid back on top of it. Shaking it gently she placed it back where she’d found it. Revenge was sweet and suddenly she started to feel a lot better. She was going to break her husband in two and although this was a very small thing, it all went towards making her smile more every day that passed.
Sandra went to lie on the bed. It was time again to confess all her secrets to her diary. She’d kept one for years now and she often found comfort in getting all her thoughts down on paper. She couldn’t wait to tell her paper friend her latest traumas. Rolling the pen in her fingers she began to confess her sins.
CHAPTER SIX
Kevin came home at the time he said he would. He looked grumpy and she knew she would have to tread on eggshells around him. His tea was nearly finished and everything but his egg was cooked. She could hear him coughing in the front room and knew she would have to shout him into the kitchen. Flicking the hot oil over the egg she watched it changed colour. It was ready.
Sandra now walked to the kitchen door and shouted him in a loud voice. “Kevin your tea is ready.” Waiting a few seconds she scurried back to the kitchen sink. The noise of pots and pans clanging together could be heard. She could feel his presence in
the room before she actually saw him. A hand now smacked her arse and she cringed as she turned to place his food on the table. He looked bladdered.
“Pass me the salt will ya. I wish you would just leave it on the fucking table.” Sandra opened the cupboard and searched for the salt. She could hear him moaning in the background. “Where’s my chocolate milkshake. You know I always have one with my tea. What’s fucking up with you woman, are you losing the plot or summat”? She felt useless.
“No I’m fucking not. I’ll get it now. For fuck’s sake give me chance, I’ve only just put your tea on the table.” His eyes followed her with a hateful look. Sandra knew she was getting cocky with him and tried to back-pedal. Her hand shook as the chocolate milkshake hit the glass. It was cold, just the way he liked it. If Kevin hadn’t have been in the same room she would have spit into it for sure.
“Here you go. Freezing cold just the way you like it.” She watched him take a small sip and he smiled at her, letting her know she was now off the hook.
“Where’s your tea?” His eyes were on her again as he sat up looking on the kitchen side for her plate.
“I’m not hungry yet. I’ll grab something later.”
He dug his fork into his chips. He ate like a tramp that hadn’t been fed for weeks and she could see food all around his mouth. Sandra was now deep in thought as she inhaled deeply on her cigarette. Bet our Tracy doesn’t see this side of you does she? Shit-stained boxers and farts coming from your arse every other minute. No. She just sees all the good things. Well, let’s see how much she loves you when you have fuck all.
