The Good Daughter (6 page)

Kathleen placed her bag on the table and rummaged inside. ‘Where's my lip gloss?' she muttered.

‘Have you made any friends at your new school?' Shelley asked.

‘I've got all the friends I need right here,' I replied.

‘My cousins Sharon and Karen live in St Albans. I can hook you up?'

‘Thanks, but no thanks,' I said. As if.

Kathleen found her lip gloss and ran it over her lips. As she dropped her bag on the ground the table shook and her coffee spilt. ‘Shit!' she exclaimed.

‘I'll get you some serviettes,' Shelley said.

‘What the hell is she doing here?' I hissed at Kathleen after Shelley left.

‘She wanted to see you.'

‘What for?' I demanded.

‘You are her friend too.' Shelley returned and mopped up Kathleen's coffee. ‘Thanks Shell,' Kathleen said. Shelley always made me look bad in front of Kathleen by being Miss Perfect. ‘I have to go and wash this off.' Kathleen pointed to the stain on her skirt.

After she left Shelley searched through her handbag. ‘I've got something for you.' She pulled out an envelope and put it on the table. ‘It's a birthday invitation—'

‘I've got plans.' I cut her off. Where did she get off playing like we were best buds, when we both knew we hated each other's guts.

Shelley opened her mouth, about to argue, but then thought better of it. ‘Don't say I didn't invite you,' she said with a tight smile. She returned the envelope to her handbag and pulled out an iPod. She put the earphones in her ear. ‘Mum bought it for me. It was $250.'

I didn't look at it. Shelley was a show-off. When Shelley's parents divorced, they split custody of their daughters. So her sister went to live with her mum and Shelley lived with her dad. Shelley's mum bought her whatever she wanted because she felt guilty that Shelley didn't live with her. Shelley wanted me to admire her iPod but, if I asked to listen to it, she'd make up an excuse not to let me touch it.

‘I'm listening to Pink,' Shelley said.

‘How original,' I replied. Pink was Kathleen's favourite singer. Shelley was always doing that. Whatever Kathleen liked, so did Shelley.

She pressed stop on the iPod and peered at my bare thighs. ‘Is that another op-shop bargain?'

‘No.' I tugged my denim mini down and yanked my tank top up. Both were op-shop bargains I'd changed into at Flinders Street train station.

It was March and it was chilly. Mum was hassling me about wearing ‘appropriate' clothes, which meant looking like a dork, so I left the house in one outfit and changed into another. Although it was technically too cold for this outfit, I had to make a stand against Mum, even if she didn't know it.

‘At least I dressed up.' I gave Shelley the once-over.

Her barrel torso and skinny legs were covered in a Nike top and pants. ‘I got this for half price at DFO.' Shelley smoothed down her top. ‘It was down from $120 to sixty.'

Every time we went out she wore her Nike crap and went on about how much it cost. She claimed her look was sporty, except instead of muscles she had a spare tyre around her waist. My theory was that she was trying, unsuccessfully, to hide her lard. I didn't know what Kathleen saw in her.

Kathleen returned. ‘All clear.' She took a sip of the remains of her coffee.

‘Oh no!' Shelley lifted a bag from the ground. ‘Some coffee got on your birthday present.'

‘I better open it now.' Kathleen took the bag and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box with a card attached. She read it. ‘Oh,' she gushed. ‘That's beautiful.' She reached over and kissed Shelley on the cheek.

What was the big deal? As Kathleen unwrapped the box, I read the card.
Dear Kathleen, You've been a tower of strength
during all my dramas. I don't know what I would have done without your supportive shoulder and words of comfort. I hope you
have a great 16th birthday. Love forever, your best friend
Shelley.

I wanted to crumple the card. How dare she?

Kathleen pulled out a Nike top and a Pink DVD of her Aussie concert tour a few months back.

‘Thanks. You're the best.' She hugged Shelley.

‘Now we match,' Shelley said.

‘I'm putting it on right now.' Kathleen stood beside Shelley. ‘How do we look?' she asked me.

‘Great,' I lied. They were like a Weight Watchers before-and-after photo.

‘I thought you'd like it.' Shelley touched the DVD. ‘Since you didn't get a chance to see her in concert.'

Kathleen avoided my gaze as she thanked Shelley.

‘Why don't you give Kathleen her present now?' Shelley gave me a fake smile.

‘I've already given her my present.'

‘What did you get her?' Shelley asked.

‘Tickets.'

‘Movie tickets,' Kathleen interrupted. ‘We went to see
Twilight
over summer.'

Shelley smiled. She thought she'd won the competition and got Kathleen the better present. Kathleen had made me promise I wouldn't tell Shelley about her
real
birthday present. It was an easy promise to keep when I didn't see Shelley, but now that her sneering face was taunting me I fought the urge to tell.

‘I heard it was a great movie. I hope you threw in lunch, Sammie,' Shelley said.

I fisted my hands. She pissed me off. I couldn't let her get away with this. But if I argued back Kathleen would be angry with me. She was always telling me to be the better person and not let Shelley's insecurity rile me.

‘You just told me that you bought your Nike top at DFO for sixty bucks.'

‘Sammie,' Kathleen gasped, while Shelley blushed.

‘At least my present was more than fifteen bucks,' Shelley said.

‘So was mine. I bought her Pink—'

‘Sammie, don't—' Kathleen cut me off.

‘—concert tickets,' I finished.

‘But your parents wouldn't let you go?' Shelley quizzed Kathleen.

Kathleen's parents were devout Christians and they saw Pink as the devil's tool. They didn't let her listen to her music and, if they found out that Kathleen had been to a Pink concert, they'd ground her for all eternity.

‘She slept at my place.' I beamed at Shelley. Despite my other issues with Mum, she was the coolest parent of the group. Whenever we did something that Kathleen's parents didn't approve of, she slept over at my place.

‘I didn't know.' Kathleen put her hand on Shelley's. ‘It was a surprise present.'

‘That's okay…' Shelley took a deep breath, pretending she was holding back tears. ‘The only thing that matters is that you had a great birthday. Excuse me.' As she stood to leave there were tears glistening on her cheeks. Shit, maybe she really
was
crying?

‘Why did you have to be such a bitch?' Kathleen hissed at me after Shelley had gone to the bathroom.

‘She started it,' I muttered. ‘She was making fun of my birthday present.'

‘You know she didn't mean anything by it,' Kathleen said. ‘She does that to make herself feel better about not living with her mum.'

‘I'm sick of it,' I said. It was always about poor Shelley. There was always a drama going on that demanded Kathleen's attention. I had problems too, but you didn't hear me going on about them twenty-four seven.

‘I'm sick of
this
.' Kathleen got up and followed Shelley.

My stomach dropped. I knew that I gave Kathleen the shits by arguing with Shelley all the time, but I'd never seen her so pissed off. ‘I'll come with you.' I stood.

‘Really?' Kathleen said, that one word imbued with suspicion as we faced off.

‘I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let her get to me.'

‘It's Shelley you need to apologise to,' Kathleen said, as she marched past the staring waiters. I was nodding and looking at the ground as I trailed behind her.

We found Shelley in the toilets dabbing her face with a wet paper towel. ‘Are you okay?' Kathleen asked, putting her arm around her.

‘I'm fine,' Shelley gasped. ‘Things at home are getting to me.' She jammed her asthma puffer into her open mouth.

I restrained myself from dry retching. Kathleen hugged her. I wanted to scream in frustration. She always bought Shelley's stories hook, line and sinker. I mean, grow up. Shit happens. Deal with it and shut up.

‘Listen Shelley—' I had to swallow as the apology choked in my throat. ‘I'm sorry about before,' I finally managed.

‘Thanks.' Shelley turned back to Kathleen. ‘It's getting worse at home.'

I wanted to strangle the cow. I apologised and all she had to say was thanks. What about her freaking apology to me? She was mean to me first. Kathleen glanced at me. I arranged my face to show appropriate concern.

‘What's going on at home?' I asked. Now Kathleen couldn't say I wasn't being friendly to the skank.

‘Dad says he wants me to go and live with my Mum,' Shelley said.

‘Let's talk about it.' Kathleen ushered Shelley to the door. I needed to go to the toilet but if I didn't go with them Kathleen would have another reason to be pissed off. ‘Are you sure he really means that?' Kathleen asked when we were back at the table.

Shelley wiped her face. ‘Since Alana's been there, he's been saying it more and more.'

Her father's girlfriend had moved in a few months before and things had been bumpy ever since. Shelley's dad was spending a lot of time with his girlfriend's daughter and Shelley felt left out.

‘Maybe he's under stress from the changes,' Kathleen said.

‘I don't know,' Shelley said. ‘But I can't go back to Mum's.'

Every second weekend Shelley and her sister stayed over at one of their parents together. ‘Why not?' I asked.

‘When I stayed at Mum's last weekend, her boyfriend walked in on me having a shower and tried to touch my boobs,' Shelley said.

‘Tell your dad,' I said.

‘I can't.' Shelley twisted a tissue between her hands. ‘Then he wouldn't let me visit Mum again.'

‘Everything will be okay.' Kathleen hugged Shelley as she sobbed. ‘You
have
to tell your dad about what happened.' Shelley shook her head. ‘What about your sister?' Kathleen asked. ‘He could try it on her too.'

‘He won't,' Shelley insisted. ‘She's only ten.'

‘She'll be a teenager soon and then what will happen?' Kathleen said.

Shelley's mouth fell open like she was catching flies. ‘I know, I know. You're right,' she said. ‘I
have
to talk to Dad. I'll do it tonight.'

‘Good.' Kathleen hugged her again.

‘Thanks Kathleen,' Shelley said. ‘You're my best friend.'

There it was again. She was having a dig at me. I glanced at Kathleen, but as usual she was oblivious. Why did she always notice when I had a go at Shelley, but never when it was the other way around?

‘Anyway, I'd better get going.' Shelley stood. ‘I only dropped by to say hello to Sammie.'

‘Thanks.' I felt off-centre. If I'd known she was only staying for coffee I wouldn't have let her get to me.

‘I'm glad to hear things are going well at your new school,' Shelley said.

Kathleen looked at Shelley all dewy-eyed. I couldn't believe she was buying into this. Shelley hated me as much as I hated her.

‘I hope things get better at home,' I finally got out, almost choking on my own hypocrisy.

‘Thanks,' Shelley said. ‘I'm sure it will be fine.'

After Shelley left, Kathleen lifted her cup and sipped, keeping her eyes straight ahead.

‘What's going on?' I asked.

Kathleen shrugged.

‘Did you get my SMS last Saturday?' I asked.

She shook her head. ‘My brother tossed my phone into the toilet.' Kathleen's younger brother and sister were always destroying her stuff. I should have known there was a reason like that for her not to reply.

‘I'm sorry I told Shelley,' I said. ‘But she started it.'

‘You promised,' Kathleen said flatly.

I bit my lip. She was really pissed off. When Kathleen was hysterical and loud, she blew off steam and was over it. It was when she was calm and cold that you had to worry. This was her grudge-keeping mode.

‘I'm sorry, Kathleen,' I said. Sucking up might soothe her.

‘You're always sorry, Sammie.'

‘Shelley didn't apologise to me,' I said.

‘What for? You were the bitch.'

‘So was she. While you were away wiping your skirt she put me down big time.'

Kathleen shook her head. I could tell she didn't believe me. As usual she cast Shelley in the role of the victim and I was the villain.

‘Anyway, it's better that she knows sooner rather than later. Aren't you getting her hopes up?'

Kathleen gazed at me questioningly.

‘
Love forever, your best friend Shelley
,' I read out from her birthday card. ‘Kathleen, you're
my
best friend, not hers.'

‘No, I'm not.'

My eyes smarted. It was true. Kathleen wanted to dump me.

wog makeover

‘I mean I'm not just
your
best friend,' Kathleen jumped in when she saw my face. ‘I'm Shelley's best friend, too.'

‘But you can't be,' I blurted.

‘Why not?'

‘You can only have one best friend. That's why they're the best.'

‘Grow up, Sammie,' Kathleen said.

‘But we promised each other.'

We made the vow at the end of Year 6. Kathleen was supposed to go to a private Catholic school, while I was enrolled in a public school. We feared we would be split up forever and promised each other we'd be best friends for life, no matter what. Then her dad's concreting business ran into trouble and her parents couldn't afford the private school fees, so we ended up at the same high school.