by S M Mala
‘And what makes you think anyone’s going to tell you anything?’ she said, taking off her dungarees and quickly shaking them out. ‘You’re Murray’s son. They’re bound to think you’re spying.’
‘I’m good at getting things out of people.’
‘So I heard,’ she mumbled.
‘But I want a few things back from you.’
‘If you ask me to be nice to Gina Glory Glory pain in the arse, you’re sorely mistaken,’ she huffed. ‘I need to wash this stuff out.’
‘What’ve you been doing?’
‘This and that,’ she shrugged.
‘The first thing is I need you to do is start telling me everything you think you know about your parents.’
‘I’ve done that already.’
‘And the other thing is no secrets.’
‘I have no secrets,’ she frowned. ‘I need to wash. Can you turn around, please?’ She noticed he wasn’t moving so she walked past him and stood at the edge of the pool. ‘It’s much cooler this time of the day, like iced water.’
‘And if you want swimming lessons you need to do it naked.’
‘What did you say?’ Hatty couldn’t believe her ears as she angrily marched up to him. ‘You’re a pervert!’
‘Do you want to find out about what really lurks beneath your history?’
‘I know what lurks in your trousers and that’s the problem,’ she scowled. ‘I’m not going to swim naked to keep you amused! You get plenty of nakedness from others.’
‘Then you’re going to be stuck here for life, listening to gossip and never knowing the truth,’ he said, folding his arms across his chest. ‘Do you think you’ll be wearing a pink dress to next year’s party? I thought the blue one looked nice.’
‘You know what?’ she said, pulling off her vest and glaring at him in her knickers and bra. ‘I was going to ask you for your help but the fact you beat me to it and have, how shall I call it, unreasonable demands is not fair.’
‘I don’t find you attractive Hatty,’ he said bluntly.
The comment unexpectedly hurt her so much, she looked away.
‘Fine,’ she said, turning her back to him and taking off her remaining clothes.
Slowly she walked naked into the pool, shaking as the cold water drifted up her legs to her crotch, feeling tears well up in her eyes but putting it down to the iced water. Then she took a deep breath and ducked under to get used to the temperature. Hatty came bouncing up and turned around to glare at him. The only thing exposed were her head and shoulders.
‘You’re a bigger pervert if you don’t fancy me and you just want to gawp at me naked.’
‘I just want to see how far you’d go to get the truth, that’s all,’ he smiled sweetly, propped up against the tree with his arms folded.
‘Not as far as you think I might.’
‘I don’t want you Hatty, that’s all you’ve got to remember.’
Jake could all but control his need to throw her on the grass and kiss every inch of her body when he watched her wash in the pool. He could see she had goose pimples and desperately wanted to screw her. Quickly, he stripped off and walked into the water as she watched.
‘Christ it’s cold!’ he yelled.
‘And now you’re the size of peanut so I’m safe,’ she said sarcastically.
He went under water and examined her body. The black pubic hair was nicely trimmed and her round breasts were just asking to be caressed and kissed.
‘Have you seen enough, Jacob?’
He pushed his head through the surface to get some air.
‘I’ve seen better,’ he said, knowing if he pretended not to find her attractive she might be more willing to play. ‘Now hold onto my shoulders and kick before I hold your middle and you can splash with your arms and legs.’
For the next half an hour, she did as she was told. Jake felt her body, the softness of her skin while wet and examined every inch he was able to, without getting a menacing glare from Hatty.
‘You’re being a good sport,’ he said.
Jake glided her around the pool knowing if he let her go, she’d sink.
‘Sport? Don’t go there,’ she grumbled. ‘I want something from you and you want something from me.’
‘And we’re going to start sightseeing earlier in the morning so it can cover me speaking to more people and time for longer swimming lessons.’
‘So you can look at my naked body?’
‘Have you see Gina’s figure? Now that’s something to look at.’ She suddenly pushed him off and marched out of the water, shaking herself dry, quickly putting on her clothes. He knew he’d upset her. ‘What did I say?’
‘Your American girlfriend also has a beautiful body so what’s the interest in mine?’
‘It’s different.’
Hatty suddenly stood up straight and he noticed she took a deep breath.
‘I see,’ she replied, turning around to look at him. ‘You mean it’s unattractive, don’t you?’
‘Okay,’ he said, seeing he had to tread carefully with his new line of attack.
‘Right,’ she said, nodding. ‘Let’s get home.’
‘I didn’t mean okay, yes, I meant-.’
‘Doesn’t matter Jake, the less you say the better,’ she said, grabbing her satchel and storming off.
‘Women!’ he growled, running out and putting on his clothes. It was proving to be difficult as everything was sticking to him. ‘Will you wait up?’
When he managed to get back to the house, he’d noticed she’d pedalled off but not before he saw a trail of sawdust coming down the stairs. He walked up the three steps and noticed it led to a door. Jake looked around and saw all the windows were boarded up from the outside. Then he realised she’d been hiding in there when she wasn’t by the pool.
‘Why you little sneak,’ he grumbled. ‘More secrets.’
He didn’t know how she did it, but she was back at the estate and changed as he arrived.
‘How the hell did you get back so quickly?’ he said, sweat pouring from his brow.
‘I think you need a shower and I’m going to get some food. There’s nothing in there I want to eat as I don’t fancy left over fish curry. Do you want me to get you anything?’
Jake noticed she was avoiding eye contact and seemed really pissed off.
‘I’ll come with you,’ he replied and threw the bike on the ground. ‘Where are we going?’
‘There’s a place down the road does salt fish fritters called ‘Mercy’s Shack’. Ethel’s daughter owns it. You do eat local food don’t you?’ Hatty gave him a filthy look as he smiled at her baby face.
‘I like eating locals,’ he whispered as she pushed him hard in the chest.
‘But not me.’
She marched off.
He knew he’d annoyed about the comment regarding her body. Jake ran behind as she continued to march.
‘Why the rush? It’s only early,’ he said.
‘I’m hungry and I need an early night.’
‘With anyone in particular?’
‘Just me and my thoughts,’ she replied, looking at her hands then glancing at him.
‘You smell different,’ he said, inhaling another flavour of her mosquito repellent. ‘What’s this one?’
‘Lime based,’ she said and continued to walk, once again automatically scratching something that wasn’t there.
‘Are you mad with me?’
‘Yes!’ she said, stopping and glaring up at him. ‘If you were a real friend you wouldn’t be asking me to do things as a reward, would you?’
‘I just wanted to see if you’d do it and you did, which means you want me to snoop for you.’
‘I didn’t ask you,’ she hissed. ‘You offered the solution to me.’
‘But you were going to ask.’
‘Yes but then yesterday when I touched your face, you looked so shocked I thought you were annoyed, now I know why. You think I’m repulsive!’
‘I
never-.’
‘Ha Ha Hatty, how ya doin’ gal? Aunt Delores let ya out to mix wid de common people?’ the old man said, sitting outside the rum shop.
Jake noticed Hatty didn’t look upset as she smiled.
‘She release me to put obia on ya rass!’ replied Hatty as the old man laughed.
‘Hatty, ‘ow many time me tell ya not to speak like dat!’ Thomas the gardener.
‘Me deaf,’ shrugged Hatty. ‘Me take Master Jake to mix wid de local. ‘e had Gina Glory Glory so ‘e been mixin’ it up already wid da local venereal disease!’ She smiled sweetly as Jake shook his head and knew he was going red. ‘Sweet child. ‘e blush!’
‘Hatty!’ warned Thomas, who was sitting on a stool against the counter. ‘Master Jake me see ya fader got wise to ‘er gardenin’. She create more problem dan moder nature ‘erself. Dey should ‘ave called ya ‘urricane Hatty’ like de blasted tornado.’
‘‘ey Marjorie, give me some rum nah?’ said Hatty, walking up to Thomas as the lady scowled at her. ‘For Master Logan to taste.’
‘For ‘im but not for you!’ the large black woman said, pointing a fat finger at her before pouring a large glass and holding it out for Jake to take, which he did.
‘Auntie, ya not nice!’ said Hatty, letting out a sigh as Jake felt a pang in his insides while looking at her standing hunched. ‘Just cos he Murray boy ‘e get special treatment!’
‘It because ya Delores niece me can’t serve ya,’ piped up Marjorie, handing her a glass of ice water. ‘It not worth de damn trouble!’
‘Why not?’ asked Jake, sniffing then taking a sip of rum that hit the back of his throat with fire, before he coughed.
‘Last time dis ting nearly made me lose ma pitch an’ job,’ said Marjorie, scowling at Hatty as she looked sheepishly away.
‘Auntie, me say me sorry,’ said Hatty, flashing Jake a secret grin. ‘Me say it again an’ again.’
‘She gat so drunk, she collapse in da bush, see dere,’ the woman’s finger pointing to the massive bushes within the gated area. ‘Dey found ‘er dere next day, still drunk.’
‘I thought you said you didn’t drink?’ said Jake, realising yet another lie.
‘Like I said I didn’t drink gin,’ she replied, taking a swig from Thomas’s rum quickly as Marjorie’s back was turned.
Jake noticed the man smiled.
‘She drink like a fish,’ said the woman, grinning at her. ‘An’ she nuttin but a problem. Me ‘ear sister Gina covered ya in drink at da big party an’ ya pepper mout’ spouted sumtin back.’
‘Me nah care,’ said Hatty, shrugging her shoulders. ‘Now me friend ‘ere.’ She tapped Jake’s back. ‘She like ‘im but ‘e playin’ ‘er for a fool.’
‘Hatty,’ said Jake, getting pissed off.
‘Sorry,’ she said unconvincingly. ‘Drink up!’
‘It’s half full.’
‘When you finish catch me up. I’m not getting good service here,’ she said, strolling off as he watched.
‘She’s such a little liar and spoilt brat,’ he hissed, trying to knock back the rough drink.
‘Give me dat back an’ drink dis,’ the lady said, handing him another glass while knocking back the remnants of his last glass. ‘Me give ya dat cos me tought she’d take a sip an’ it stop her from drinkin’ it up.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, keeping an eye on his troublesome friend before sipping the smooth liquid. ‘This is good.’
‘Ya lettin’ Hatty show ya around?’ Thomas asked, eyeing Jake suspiciously. ‘Ow long ya get left ‘ere?’
‘Twenty five days,’ he replied and suddenly felt a pang of despair.
‘An’ she gonna show ya around?’
‘She’s supposed to be,’ Jake smirked, knocking back his drink and taking some notes out of his pocket.
‘Keep ya money but a word of warnin’ for ya son,’ he gently said, as Marjorie moved closer waving her finger to point out she wasn’t going to accept payment. ‘Not let ‘er get drunk or ‘er Aunt Delores will go mad. Don’t tink ya can get a straight answer, cos ya won’t, an’ never tink ya know what she tinkin’, cos no one does.’
‘And that’s it?’
‘She make out she ‘appy but she not. She tink she tough but she soft, soft, soft. Me ‘ope ‘istory not repeatin’ itself.’
‘What do you mean?’ he asked, suddenly noticing the woman nod discreetly.
‘Keep Hatty safe, dat all me say. Now run along before she cause trouble in da shop.’
‘Is that it?’
‘And not let her loose in ya garden, ever, or near ya vehicle.’
Jake knew immediately there was a story to tell about this strange young woman.
He walked slowly down the road and noticed Hatty was talking to people who were stopped by the side. Jake broke out into a small jog to keep up with her.
‘And before you say it, I never lied to you about the drink. You presumed that’s what I meant,’ she smiled with her hands in her dungaree pockets. ‘I like a drink.’
‘But you’re not good at holding it.’
‘Who said?’
‘The bush incident.’
‘And did they tell you I was in a drinking competition and I won?’ she asked, her eyes now wide open and looking up at him. ‘Auntie wasn’t happy about that bit but I came first and she should be proud.’
‘In a drinking competition considering your father died of alcohol.’
‘No, my father died because he was drunk. When they threw his sorry arse into the police cell, he tripped and cracked his head against the wall,’ she said, matter of fact. ‘I think I take after him when it comes to being clumsy.’
‘Am I safe being out with you in the evening?’ His question was met with a bright smile. ‘Should I regret coming out with you tonight?’
‘It depends how you define ‘regret’.’
They sat at a table on the part of the coast Jake hadn’t been to. There were a few cabins serving food and full of locals. The waitress arrived with a beer. Jake stuck to rum A plastic plate of salt fish fritters arrived for Hatty and barbeque pork and rice for Jake. The breeze was hitting his face. He noticed Hatty dip her food in pepper sauce before eating. Then she stared out at the other locals, smiling at him.
‘It’s good food here. The lady behind the counter,’ Hatty nodded in her direction. Jake noticed a very slim, small woman. ‘That’s Mercy and she’s an excellent cook.’
‘I don’t get it Ha Ha, can I call you Ha Ha?’’
‘As it’s you,’ she scowled.
‘You got yourself into a state at the party and now you’re mixing with the locals.’
‘These aren’t the same ones,’ she replied. ‘And, if you’d have noticed properly, the people at that party are the well to do ones from this island. It’s not for the likes of Ethel’s children or the nicer people. It’s for the bitches and shits from the community. Local police, politicians, people like that. Judgemental arseholes who smile at your father and aunt then whisper behind their backs.’
‘I see,’ he said, feeling confused.
‘These people continually come to the house. Aunt is friends with them because she probably wants the social status and so is Mister Murray. His is mainly business. They look at me like I shouldn’t be there. It bugs me because they shouldn’t be there either.’
‘So these ones are the nice ones?’
‘They’re the ones that take you on face value and don’t care where you come from. I mean, look around.’ Jake glimpsed at assorted shades of people. All happily eating and drinking. ‘These are the people who earn crap money and keep the island going.’
‘Democrat,’ he said, nodding with a smile. ‘You surprise me once again.’
‘Socialist actually and you’re a capitalist republican,’ she said, imitating his accent. ‘You don’t surprise me.’
‘I might and I’m not anything. I like to keep an open mind.’
‘Have you done much digging around in my past then?’
she asked, shoving a fritter into her mouth and chewing slowly. ‘Does it warrant another naked swimming lesson?’
‘I’ll tell you tomorrow.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Every time we have a lesson and you do well, I’ll tell you what I’ve found out.’
‘Seriously Jake, you don’t really want to see me naked if you’re screwing Gina Glory Glory,’ grimaced Hatty. He saw the look of hopelessness on her face and it made him like her more. ‘I hate that girl but she has a fine body and face.’
‘Philip is fit,’ added Jake, seeing someone look similar to his shape walk past.
‘He has got guns on him,’ she said, full of admiration. ‘But he does physical work so I wouldn’t expect him to be scrawny. Journalists get fat, don’t they?’
‘Are you implying I’m fat?’ he asked, continuing to eat knowing the contrary.
‘I know you work out and are fit.’
Hatty’s eyes quickly darted from side to side. Jake tried not to smile at her hiding her appreciation.
‘You like my body?’
‘I’ve not really noticed it,’ she said and he saw her break out into a little sweat. ‘God this pepper sauce is hot!’
‘Yep it’s certainly hot,’ he laughed to himself. ‘Who knows things about you and doesn’t say?’
‘Delores,’ she quickly replied. ‘And your father. Auntie Ethel is nearly two hundred years old so she’s bound to know something. She’s fierce when I try to ask her anything. I simply give up.’
‘What do you expect to find?’
‘The truth.’
‘What happens if you don’t like the truth?’
‘Then I won’t flash you my bits, will I?’ she said seriously. ‘Though it’s probably not good enough for you but I’ll get over it.’
‘Did I upset you this afternoon?’
‘Not a lot of people have seen me naked so it dents the pride when someone doesn’t find you attractive.’ Jake was about to say something as she put her hand up. ‘I don’t like people who say something afterwards to make it better. Honesty is very important and I appreciate yours. I’ll make sure I take care of my body better in future.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with your body.’
