Popcorn

by Clare Nonhebel

CHAPTER 7

  ‘Popcorn’s gone to sleep,’ said Soony. ‘She sleeps an awful lot.’

  ‘Oh well, sleep’s very good for you,’ June said. ’Would you like a little rest yourself, before you go?’

  ‘Go where?’ said Soony.

  ‘Oh God,’ said June. She took a deep breath. ‘We told you last night, darling, remember? Jim and Miss Janes are taking you to the hospital today, for a little operation.’

  ‘No,’ Soony said.

  ‘But Soony, we .... Jim’s stayed home from work specially, hasn’t he? That’s why he’s downstairs. Then when Miss Janes arrives you’ll go for a ride in the car to the hospital.’

  Soony opened the wardrobe and hid her face inside. ‘I’m not going,’ she said.

  ‘Now Soony,’ said June. ‘You know we talked about it all last night and you agreed. The doctor says it must be done, and it will all be over so quickly and then you’ll be home again.’

  ‘Then why are you so worried?’ Soony yelled.

  Jim came upstairs. ‘What’s all the aggro, Soonest?’ he said, putting his arm around her. ‘Where’s this new nightie then? I haven’t seen it yet.’

  Soony didn’t answer.

  ‘Is this it?’ said Jim, taking it from June. ‘With the big red hearts all over it? Oh, that’s a bit naughty, Soony. What’s the doctor going to think about that?’

  The wardrobe let out the faintest snort.

  ‘A festooned Soony!’ said Jim. ‘A Soony festooned with hearts! Let’s see what it looks like on you then.’ He whirled her round and held the nightie against her and whistled loudly. Soony giggled. ‘What a wondrous sight!’ he exclaimed, staggering back. He clutched his heart. ‘Brandy, quickly! It’s all too much for me!’

  ‘Oh, fuck off,’ said Soony, smiling broadly.

  ‘Now is that nice?’ Jim appealed. ‘Is that fitting language for a well-brought-up-young lady? No it’s not, which is why I’m sending the well-brought-up lady out of the room – off you go, June – away from this hooligan woman in the red-heart nightie. Now, scarlet woman, what else are we going to put in this suitcase?’

  ‘Are you sure I shouldn’t come?’ said June.

  ‘Quite sure,’ said Miss Janes. ‘It wouldn’t do either of you any good. You know how she always picks up your feelings when you’re upset.’

  ‘She already has,’ June admitted. ‘I’m not very good for her, am I?’

  ‘You’re the best thing that ever happened to her,’ said Miss Janes, squeezing her arm. ‘Keep that smile up for ten more minutes and then we’ll be gone. Is she ready?’

  Soony and Jim came downstairs.

  ‘This lady has the most shocking new nightie, Miss Janes,’ said Jim. ‘Hearts all over it. The nurses will think it’s Valentine’s Day. Are we off then?’

  ‘No,’ Soony said.

  ‘Soony,’ said June. ‘Here’s a little present to open when you get to the hospital. And there’s another one in your bag for after the operation. I expect it will make Popcorn laugh.’

  ‘Why?’ Soony asked.

  ‘You’ll have to wait and see,’ said June. ‘Till you get to the hospital.’ She hugged her. ‘Bye darling.’

  ‘Bye,’ Soony said. She linked her arm in Jim’s, but stopped at the door. ‘Why isn’t June coming?’

  ‘She’s going to wait here,’ said Jim, ‘and get the red carpet out for when you come home.’

  ‘Don’t go out,’ Soony said. ‘You’ve got to wait for me.’

  ‘No, I won’t go out,’ said June.

  ‘Don’t go out shopping.’

  ‘No,’ said June, blinking fast. ‘I won’t.’

  ‘Come on now, Soony,’ said Jim, ‘and give the nurses an eyeful of that nightie.’

  ‘What are they going to do?’ shouted Soony.

  June put her arms round her. ‘Don’t worry, Soony,’ she whispered.

  ‘It’ll hurt,’ Soony said.

  ‘A little bit, afterwards,’ said June. ‘But it won’t last long and you’re such a brave girl. And Popcorn will be there. She’s never been to hospital before, has she?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Soony said.

  ‘I don’t think she has. So you’ll have to stay very calm, so that she doesn’t get nervous. All right?’

  ‘Oh, all right then,’ said Soony.

  ‘Miss Janes,’ said June, holding her back as Jim and Soony went down the path, ‘you will make sure they phone me if she panics?’

  They had stopped at the traffic lights. Soony was sitting in the back seat, singing. She liked the car.

  ‘It’s good of you,’ said Miss Janes, ‘to pay for her to go to a private clinic.’

  ‘It’s the least we could do,’ said Jim brusquely. ‘All right, Soons?’

  ‘Drive on,’ Soony said. ‘Popcorn doesn’t like standing still.’

  ‘Tell Popcorn the lights are red. Tell her to sing. “The Lights Are Red”.’

  ‘She doesn’t know it!’

  ‘The lights are red, I cannot see, I have not brought my specs with me,’ sang Jim. ‘I have not brought ...’

  ‘Oh, shut up,’ said Soony. ‘Popcorn sings better than that. We’re going again!’

  ‘Bet she doesn’t know this one,’ said Jim. ‘There was Soony Soony swallowing a spoony, in the stores ...’

  ‘That’s not right!’ shrieked Soony. ‘It’s Soo, Soo, sitting on the loo. Keith sings it.’

  ‘Is Keith the dirty bugger?’ Jim asked.

  ‘Yeah.’ Soony laughed.

  ‘Why is he a dirty bugger, Soony?’ he said. ‘What does he do?’

  ‘Lights,’ said Miss Janes. Jim slammed the brakes on.

  ‘We’ve stopped again,’ said Soony crossly.

  ‘There was Soo, Soo, sitting on the loo,’ Jim sang. ‘In the stores, in the stores. Oh Soo, Soo, what did Keith do in the Spr-ing-fields stores?’ Miss Janes stiffened.

  Silence.

  ‘What did he do, Soony?’

  Soony giggled. ‘You know what he says?’

  ‘No, what does he say?’

  ‘He says, “Put it away, Jason. Soony’s seen it all before.” Dirty bugger!’ She laughed happily.

  ‘Jason,’ said Jim.

  ‘One of the residents,’ said Miss Janes.

  ‘Why, what does Jason do, Soony?’ asked Jim.

  ‘He hums,’ Soony said.

  ‘Hums?’

  ‘You know!’ said Soony. ‘Hums. Like this.’

  Miss Janes turned round and Jim looked in the mirror, to see Soony lift her skirt and stick one hand inside her knickers.

  ‘Humming,’ she said. ‘Jason likes humming.’

  ‘Does Jason like humming with you, Soony?’ asked Miss Janes.

  ‘No,’ Soony said. ‘But sometimes he sticks his dick in me. Why have we stopped again?’

  ‘Bye,’ said Soony absently. She was sitting up in bed in her red-heart nightie, playing with the jack-in-the-box that June had given her. The other bed in her room was occupied by a young girl with freckles and short blonde hair who watched her with mingled fascination and fear.

  ‘See you soony, Soony,’ said Jim.

  They met the Sister again in the corridor. He caught her by the elbow. ‘You take care of her, do you hear?’ he said fiercely.

  As they went down in the lift, Miss Janes noticed that he was crying.

  The girl in the opposite bed sat hunched up on top of the bedclothes, pretending to read a magazine.

  ‘My name’s Soony,’ said Soony. ‘What’s yours?’

  The girl jumped. ‘Karen,’ she said.

  ‘Karen,’ said Soony reflectively. ‘That’s a nice name. I’ve got a friend called Popcorn.’

  Karen looked anxious. She sidled off the bed and went out, with her sponge-bag under her arm.

  ‘Morning!’ said the nurse brightly. ‘You’re Soony, aren’t you? Time to get you into your gown.’

  ‘I’ve got a nightie,’ said Soony. ‘With hearts on.’

  Another nurse came i
n. ‘Need any help?’

  ‘Stick around,’ said the first. ‘This is Soony.’

  ‘Hello,’ Soony said. ‘I’ve got a nightie with hearts on.’

  ‘Isn’t it lovely?’ said the nurse. ‘We’re going to take it off now and put this gown on you.’

  Soony looked at it. ‘I don’t like that one. Mine’s got hearts on.’

  ‘We’ll put it in your locker for later on.’ said the second nurse. ‘Don’t want to get it dirty, do we?’

  ‘Oh, all right then,’ Soony said. She let them help her out of the nightie and into the gown. She was still a bit puzzled. ‘Why would it get dirty?’ she said.

  ‘Poor creature,’ said the nurse under her breath, as they went out. ‘She hasn’t got a clue, has she?’

  ‘Perhaps she’s better off that way,’ said the other.

  They met Karen returning from the bathroom. ‘Gown’s on the bed,’ said the nurse. ‘OK?’

  Karen put her sponge-bag down slowly and stared at the gown.

  ‘I got mine on,’ said Soony conversationally.

  The door opened. ‘Anybody got a light?’ said a girl in an orange caftan.

  ‘I’ve got some matches in my bag,’ said Karen. ‘Are we allowed to smoke?’

  ‘No,’ said the girl, ‘but I always do.’

  Karen stared at her. ‘Have you been in here before?’

  ‘My name’s Soony,’ said Soony, to be friendly. The girl stared at her and returned to Karen. ‘My third time,’ she said.

  ‘Your third?’ said Karen. ‘What’s it ... what’s it like?’

  ‘Oh,’ said the girl, ‘it’s not too bad. As long as you don’t get Ferguson doing it you’ll be all right. I had him for my first and Jesus did I have a rough time afterwards!’

  ‘What’s your name?’ Soony enquired.

  The girl glanced over her shoulder and back to Karen. ‘Is she a bit – you know?’ she asked.

  Karen looked at Soony uneasily. ‘I don’t know,’ she said.

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ said the girl, ‘how did she get in this state?’ she let out a snort of laughter and Karen joined in, a high-pitched giggle that shut off abruptly.

  ‘Hey,’ said the girl to Soony, ‘are you in here for the same reason as the rest of us?’

  Soony laughed, as everyone seemed to be laughing. ‘Yes,’ she said blankly.

  The girl dragged on her cigarette. ‘You do know what you’re in here for, don’t you?’

  ‘Operation,’ said Soony.

  The girl looked at Karen and raised her eyebrows comically. ‘What sort of operation?’ she said.

  ‘Don’t,’ muttered Karen uncomfortably.

  ‘To stop me humming,’ said Soony. ‘I might be a bit sore afterwards. Down there.’

  ‘To stop her what?’ shrieked the girl. ‘Humming!’ She lay back on Karen’s bed and laughed hysterically, choking on her cigarette. Karen giggled.

  The girl sat up. ‘Shall I tell her?’ she said.

  ‘No,’ said Karen. ‘No.’

  The nurse came in. ‘Not in your gown yet?’ she said. ‘Hey, Shelley, no smoking – you know that. And you’d better go and get ready now too.’

  ‘Oh, shit,’ said Shelley. She stubbed out the cigarette on Karen’s locker. ‘I’m off to put my shroud on,’ she said. ‘Good luck, kid. Don’t worry; there’s nothing to it.’

  ‘I’m not worried,’ Karen said.

  Soony sat in bed and played with her jack-in-the-box. Karen stood by the window and sang a few bars from a pop song, tapping her fingers in time to it on the radiator.

  Soony watched her. ‘Why are you unhappy?’ she said.

  Karen stopped singing and burst into tears. Her shoulders shook convulsively. She leaned her head against the window pane.

  Soony got out of bed. Her white gown was open at the back. She stood by the girl and put her arm around her. ‘Don’t cry,’ she said.

  ‘I don’t want to do it!’ Karen sobbed. ‘They made me. They even took my clothes away.’

  ‘Yes,’ Soony said. She patted Karen’s shoulder.

  ‘I wanted to keep it,’ Karen wept. ‘It’s mine. Mine and Brian’s. It’s nothing to do with them. It’s my baby.’

  ‘You got a baby?’ said Soony. Her eyes brightened. ‘In your room?’

  ‘They’ve got no right to take it away!’ Karen sobbed. Soony stroked her hair.

  ‘You can share my Popcorn,’ she said. ‘I don’t mind.’

  ‘They’ve no right,’ Karen repeated. ‘Just because they don’t want the bloody neighbours to know. It’s my baby. They even took my bloody clothes away.’

  ‘You can have my clothes,’ said Soony, kindly.

  ‘What?’ Karen said. She stopped crying. ‘Have you got your clothes here?’

  Soony pointed to her locker. ‘There. For when I go home.’

  ‘Can I have them, really?’ said Karen breathlessly. ‘I mean, they can bring you some more, can’t they?’

  ‘Yes,’ Soony said.

  ‘I’ll pay you back,’ she said, ‘I’ll ... oh, I don’t know. I’ll take them now, right, and change in the bathroom on the way out, OK?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Soony. She watched Karen take the clothes out of her locker. ‘And you going home?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m going to Brian’s,’ said Karen. ‘His mum’ll let me stay.’

  ‘Yes,’ Soony said. She sat on the edge of the bed while Karen threw her sponge-bag and towel into a carrier bag. ‘Bye,’ said Soony.

  Karen paused at the door. ‘Thanks,’ she said, ‘and good luck with yours. Look, if anyone asks, you don’t know where I’ve gone, OK? And tell them – I know they’ve paid and everything, but it’s my baby isn’t it? It’s my womb.’

  ‘Your baby,’ Soony agreed. ‘In your room.’

  ‘Are you ready then?’ asked the nurse.

  ‘Yes,’ Soony said.

  ‘No, you’re not. You haven’t got your cap on.’ She pulled a white paper mob-cap over Soony’s head.

  Soony pulled it off and giggled. ‘Oh, fuck that,’ she said.

  The young nurse laughed. ‘I think I’ll leave you to theatre staff,’ she said.