The Estate_Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold

by Karen Woods

  “Yes, but don’t have their dirty hands all over it,” his mum replied, “it took ages to clean that bloody phone. Sandra was here before with her grubby mitts all over it. I don’t want to have to be cleaning it again. I’m due behind the bar in half an hour so hurry up.” Melanie quickly looked at her hands, they were clean. John tried to talk over his mother. She was always calling the people on the estate and sometimes she went over the top. Poor Sandra didn’t have a pot to piss in and she was always on the cadge from her neighbours. Life was hard for her. John jerked his head to the side for them to enter the front room. Melanie walked in first and she was amazed. Her mouth opened wide. This had to be the nicest place she’d ever seen in her whole life. Were John’s family millionaires or what? Melanie smiled at the woman sat in the room. She was dressed to the nines with not a hair out of place. She looked nothing like her own mother, she wore tight fitting clothes and had a great figure. Her hair was massive, blonde and permed hair. Melanie couldn’t stop looking at her, she was drop dead gorgeous. Maybe that was where John got his looks from?

  John was like a showroom assistant. He gathered them all around the red phone on the dark wooden table. He lifted the receiver and passed it around for his crew to examine it. His finger went inside the dial and he spun the plastic disc around showing them all how it worked. “Mam, can I phone my nana, so she can ring me back. I want to show them what happens when we get a call?”

  “Yes but be quick. I’m waiting on your dad calling me, so hurry up.” John quickly made the call to his nana. They all watched carefully as each number was dialled. John hung his ear to the receiver and his eyes were dancing with excitement. This was his moment, his time to shine. The phone vibrated slightly as it started to ring. He didn’t answer it straight away, no way, the ringing carried on for at least another twenty seconds. Each child looked at each other, they were impressed he could tell. Finally, he answered the call. “Hiya nana, can you just say hello to my mates?” he rammed the receiver against Melanie’s ear. “Go on say something then derr…”

  Melanie was blushing, why did she have to go first? “Hello,” she sniggered. There was a voice speaking now at the other end of the line. In turn each of them spoke to John’s nana. Melanie was still looking around the house and already she could see the colour TV from the corner of her eye. Slowly she edged closer to it. John’s mother could see her and invited her closer. “It’s so good to watch something that’s not in bleeding black and white, you can even see what colour make-up they are wearing on their eyes with this new television set.”

  Melanie bent down and examine it further. John’s mother was right, you could see their make-up. “I wish we had one of these. Are they expensive?”

  John and the rest of them were listening now, waiting on the price. Joanne flicked her hair over her shoulder and fanned out her long red talons out in front of her, admiring them. “Yes, it was expensive but it’s the future isn’t it. In time everybody will have one. We are getting the new VHS recorder too in a few days. It’s the latest one. Top of the range.”

  John was bored now. His mother could talk for England. He quickly shut her up. “Right, we’re going out now. I’ll be back later. What’s for tea?”

  Joanne sat thinking for a few seconds. “Lamb chops, chips, peas, and onion gravy.”

  Melanie shot a look at Diane and licked her lips. Maybe, he would invite them all for tea too and they could enjoy the lamb chops with him. John beckoned the others to follow him out of the room. “See you later,” he shouted over his shoulder. Melanie rolled her eyes and whispered over to Diane. “No lamb chops for us then is there?” Diane giggled and covered her mouth.

  The kids strolled along the streets towards the market. John was walking next to Melanie and for some strange reason he was being nice to her. “Do you want to come in my house later and watch a film. We’ve got loads of the new releases? Or we can go on the CB radio and talk to some other kids from different areas?”

  Melanie looked like she was going to pass out. Her mouth was moving but nothing was coming out. Diane was wide eyed and waiting on her answer. For crying out loud, say something, scream it from the rooftops that you would love to spend time with him. Melanie gulped. “Yes, if you want…”

  Oh my God was this really happening or what? Her heart was racing and her palms were hot and sweaty. John ran on in front of them and Diane was bursting with excitement. “He’s going to kiss you tonight for sure. Fucking hell, it will be just me then who’s not kissed a boy. I don’t care. I’m making a move on Gary tonight too. I don’t fancy him but I’m not having you kissing a boy before me.”

  Melanie was in a daze. Was he just being nice or was he really into her? She started to analyse the conversation. “Maybe he just wants to hang out for a bit. I’ll just play it by ear. He never said he fancies me or anything, it’s just me reading too much into it.”

  Diane was alert, bubbling with excitement. “You are going to kiss him. Why do you think he’s just asked you and not me too? Oh my God, I bet he tries to finger you too?”

  Melanie slapped her across the arm. “Stop it now. I’m nervous already and I’m not even there yet. He probably just wants to chill that’s all.” This was a landmark, a day she would never forget for the rest of her life. Finally, she was going to get her man.

  Oh, what fun these kids had on the market roofs. Each of them was caked in dirt. Melanie was nursing a bruised elbow and Diane was limping. Today had been a hard battle to stay in the game. The smaller children had gone home earlier. They couldn’t keep up with the older kids. Gary was holding Diane up and helping her to walk. Oh, she was milking this alright. She was as close to him as she could be. Melanie looked over at her and she winked back at her. Her plan was falling into place. Tonight, she was in with a good chance of snogging Gary.

  John walked into his house and spoke to Melanie who was a nervous wreck stood behind him. “Come in then, what are you stood there for? I’ll tell my mam to knock us some tea up.”

  Melanie walked into the hallway and slid her shoes off. She was starving, and her stomach was rumbling. “Do you like chops, I think that’s what she said we was having for tea?” Melanie nodded, although in truth she’d never tasted a chop before. She’d seen her dad eat one and they looked delicious. “Yeah, I like chops, there is not a lot of food that I don’t like. Except tripe. Eww… that’s hanging, my nana used to eat it with salt and vinegar on it. Honest, it looks and taste minging.”

  John invited her into the front room. The sofa was big and comfortable and as she sat down she had to wriggle about to get to the back of it. John stood near the doorway with his arm resting on the door. “I’ll go and tell her we’re ready for tea. Do you want a bottle of coke too and some crisps?”

  “Yes, please.” What a result, chops and a bottle of coke. This was a real treat. John left the room and Melanie kicked her legs back and started to get comfy. She could get used to this. Maybe if she married him her home would be like this. She’d have the best of everything; money, a nice house and a bright future. Her house was scruffy with ripped wallpaper, thin, dirty, carpets, and old furniture that was bought from the flea market. Melanie held her ear to the door, she could hear music from downstairs and the punters laughing and joking. What a life John had and she would have swapped her life at a drop of a hat to live in a boozer. She could hear someone coming, she sat up straight. There was no way she was sprawling about in a house like this. “Tea is on it’s way. My mam is working behind the bar so one of the staff is cooking it downstairs in the pub kitchen. Shall we put a film on while we are waiting?”

  Melanie was starting to relax, she pulled her coat off and handed it over to John. He took it from her and slung it on the back of the sofa. She was watching his every move. Was this a mate’s date, or was he planning something else? She wasn’t sure. John looked at the videos and started holding them up towards her. “What about The Exorcist, or Rocky? I’ve watched Rocky loads of times but I’ll watch i
t with you again if you want. I love it but be prepared for a bit of a boxing match at the end of it. I watched it with Gary last week and we had a wrestling match after it for hours. I won though, might I add.”

  Melanie chuckled. “I’m the same. Even the song ‘Kung-Fu Fighting’ makes me want to roundhouse everyone. My mam banned it being played in our house after our William smashed into the glass cabinet after a move that went wrong. She went ballistic, honest, she clouted all of us.” John was laughing. He was an only child and if he was being honest to himself he was lonely. There were no siblings to fight with, no brothers or sisters to make memories with. He would have traded his life for a bigger family without a shadow of doubt. There was a voice shouting in the hallway. John jumped up and left the room. Melanie could smell the aroma from the food from her seat. She rubbed her hands together and prepared herself. Wait until she told Diane about this. John came in the room with two plates in his hands. The steam was coming from the top of them. Melanie stood and took one from his hands. She scanned the food quickly, fluffy mash potatoes, succulent lamb chops, and an array of coloured vegetables.

  “What’s that green stuff,” she asked.

  John looked at her like she was simple. “It’s broccoli, don’t tell me you’ve never tried it before?”

  Melanie blushed. “Yeah of course I have, it just looks different than the way my mam cooks it that’s all.”

  John screwed his face up. “How does your mam cook it? I thought you just boiled it?”

  Melanie was digging herself deeper into this. Why didn’t she just keep her big trap shut? “My mam mashes it up. I think she does that so we all eat it. She does it with the sprouts too.”

  John squirmed, what a weird lot Melanie’s family were. Melanie tucked into the grub. The piece of meat slid into her mouth and she was enjoying every second of the flavour. John was watching her from the corner of his eyes and he could tell she was enjoying every morsel of the food. Melanie sat back after the food was consumed, she rubbed the bottom of her stomach. “That was amazing. Thank you.”

  “No worries, shall we watch a film then?”

  John placed his plate on the floor and pulled his socks off. “Come on then, get in position to watch the film. I’m getting at the top of the sofa, you can get at the bottom.” Melanie put her plate on the table and jumped back on the sofa. This was the dog’s bollocks. It was like being on holiday. John pressed the play button and they started to watch the film. His feet were touching her body, sliding against her legs.

  At the climax of the film John finally said “This is a top film isn’t it?” – he was in the moment and pretending he was in the boxing ring swinging punches left, right and centre. Melanie was watching him, laughing her head off. The next thing he gripped Melanie in a headlock and started to swing her about. This was game-on. She wriggled out of the move and gripped him. This was so funny to watch and this girl was giving as good as she got. They were screaming laughing. John pinned her down now and sat on her. There was nothing she could do. John got a mouthful of spit and started to let it go near her face before he sucked it back up at the last second. She was desperate to free herself. He paused, and his expression changed. He was looking at her differently. Slowly his head started to move down towards her. Melanie went white, there was no movement anymore. His warm wet cherry lips connected with hers and he started to kiss her. Bleeding hell. what was all the worry about, this was easy and she looked like she’d done this before. The kiss lasted a few seconds more and John pulled away from her. It was quickly back to the fight.

  That night John and Melanie kissed a few times more and she was on cloud nine by the time she left. Melanie zipped her coat up and motored through the estate. She just had enough time to call to Diane’s house and fill her in on the gossip. She rapped at the front door and stood back looking up at her friend’s bedroom window. “Hurry up, come down, I’ve got news to tell you.” Melanie shouted. Diane disappeared from the window and within seconds she was stood at the front door. Melanie couldn’t wait to blurt it out. “We kissed. On my life we were wrestling, and he just went in for a kiss. I’ll tell you what, it was amazing he was a really good kisser. His lips tasted so sweet. We kissed loads of times.”

  Diane folded her arms. She didn’t look happy. “I knew you would kiss him. That still leaves me now to kiss somebody. Gary was being all weird with me. I tried everything for him to make a move but nothing happened”

  Melanie was rubbing her palms together with excitement. “Diane. I think I’m in love. Honest, every time I think about him I go all lightheaded and get butterflies.”

  “Eww, shut up will you. How can you love him after one bleeding kiss?”

  Melanie studied her further, was she jealous or what? “Diane, you know I’ve fancied John like, forever. Come on, be happy for me. I’ll help you get a snog now, honest, I will help.”

  “I don’t need any help. I can get a boy to kiss me on my own.”

  Why was she acting like this? She should have been overjoyed that her best friend had finally got her man. Melanie started to walk off. “I better get a move on. If I’m not in before ten o’clock my dad will go ape. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Diane watched Melanie run off and snarled as she watched her disappear.

  Melanie lay in her bed and snuggled deep into the bed sheets. The moonlight shone on her bed and she just lay gazing through the window. The silver moon was calming and brought her peace. Folding her pillow under her head she squeezed it tightly. She was no longer barren of any male attention. She’d kissed a boy. Not just any boy either, it was John, the top-dog. In her mind she was planning their next date, they could hold hands, she could sit on his knee, stroke his face. She was in love. This was the stuff she’d dreamed about since the very first day she’d set eyes on him. He was her dream boy, her man now.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The gang sat on a park bench, chilling. John was being a bit off with Melanie and he hardly spoke two words to her. What was his problem? Diane nudged her in the waist and smirked. “I thought you two were an item now, why is he blanking you?”

  Diane seemed to be happy about it too, the bitch. “He’s not ignoring me. He’s just doing whatever he’s doing. God, it’s not like he has to be by my side twenty-four seven is it?”

  “Wow, relax. I’m just saying that’s all. Sorry I even spoke. Touchy, aren’t you.”

  Melanie folded her arms tightly in front of her breast. Gary came and sat next to her now and started to tickle her. He was always there to make her smile, he loved being in her company. “Cheer up, what’s up with your mush?”

  “Nothing, I’m just tired that’s all.”

  Diane jumped in the conversation eager to get his attention. “We’re babysitting tonight, why don’t you and John come along with us. You have to wait until they’ve gone out though because I’m not allowed to have anyone in.”

  Gary nodded. “I’ll come but I don’t know about John he said he was meeting some bird from the other estate. He’s been talking to her on the CB radio and he said she sounds alright. I think she might even have a mate for me, but I’m not arsed about going. I bet she’s a minger anyway.”

  Melanie’s jaw dropped. Did she hear him properly? “Who’s John meeting, did you say he’s meeting a girl?”

  “Yeah, I’ve just told you. Are you going deaf or something?”

  Melanie stood and clenched her teeth together tightly. “I’m getting off. Diane, call for me later for babysitting.”

  Diane shot a look over at Gary and snarled. “Fucking hell, big mouth. What did you have to go and say that for? She’s seen her arse now and gone home!”

  “What are you going on about, keep my mouth shut about what?”

  Diane kept her voice low. “John and Melanie kissed last night, and I think she thought they were an item or something.”

  Gary burst out laughing. “What, John kissed Melanie. Stop it, he doesn’t even like her.”

  “Well, obviously he did last nigh
t because he was snogging her. She had tea at his house and everything.”

  “Well, he’s not told me, and he tells me everything. As far as I know this new girl he’s meeting is a dirty and he’s more or less going to get a leg-over. So, who’d turn that down,” he smirked and raised his eyes. “Nobody. If Melanie wants a shot at John, then she better up her game.”

  Diane whacked him in the chest. “You’re filthy! It’s not all about sex you know. Sexual intercourse is special, and some girls need to remember that before they drop their knickers for any Tom, Dick, or Harry.”

  “Boys are different than girls Diane. At this age all they want is to stick a finger in someone’s fanny. That’s all that’s on their mind all day long.”

  “That’s hanging.”

  Gary moved in closer and whispered into her ear. “What about me and you getting it on. I could be your first lover and you could be mine. At least we know each other?”

  Diane shot her eyes over at John who was headed towards them and shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. My boyfriend is going to love me before he gets inside my knickers. Anyway, I’ve got my eye on someone, so you’ve got no chance.”

  Gary shrugged his shoulders. “Well, if that doesn’t happen. Give me a shout.”

  John was with them now and he was kicking a ball up in the air. Diane licked her lips slowly and sighed. “Melanie has seen her arse with you lover-boy. I thought you liked her?”

  “Why, what’s she been saying?”

  “That you two kissed last night and she’s your girlfriend.”

  John was spitting feathers. “No way, we just kissed, there was nothing in it. Melanie is my mate, nothing more.”

  Diane had to fight her friend’s corner, this guy was a cheeky fucker. “So, why did you kiss her then?”

  John kicked his foot into the brick wall. “I don’t know, we were just wrestling and we kissed.”

  “Well, you better tell her that then because I think she thinks it’s something more.”