I had to republish the paperback edition as the first one looked awful. My own fault but I have learned now how to do it properly with the help of some knowledgeable friends. It will be available from Tuesday 13th October in its new improved form. Here is an excerpt from Scene 9: “Siblings”
“We’ll have to tidy up, girl. I mean – look at the place. Could you not have washed up the dishes or – “
He stared around, helplessly.
“And did you get the ham? I thought you’d have done something by now. Dicky bird said evening. What’s evening? What time is evening? Six? Seven? Eight? And do you know what I thought of as well, they might want to use the new bathroom.”
“But – ” Sarah turned to the stairs. “But β oh . . . “
Barney moved quickly, went up and pushed at the stiff door of the bathroom. He heard Sarah coming up behind him and he pushed harder.
“There’s something in here,” he said.
“Push it, push it,” Sarah said, pushing at his back.
And then the door gave way and they tumbled inside. Barney sniffed, raising his eyebrows at Sarah. The sink and toilet and bath were black with dust. Sarah touched a tap and quickly withdrew her hand.
“Here, look at this,” Barney said.
In the corner behind the door was a roll of wallpaper, brown along the edges, black across the top, and sticky when Barney tried to open it.
“Do you mind, Sarah? Do you mind I bought that when we got this put in?”
“Well, they can’t use it, so they can`t, and that’s all about it.”
Barney dusted his hands on his trousers.
“They’ll have to use the downstairs like everybody else. It`s good enough for us, isn`t it?”
The door of Martin’s room was shut and they could hear him sniffing and moaning.
“What’ll we do about him?” Sarah nodded towards the door. “Heβs been crying since you left. I couldn’t get a thing done with him like that.”
“I’ll give him a drop of whiskey maybe. Look.”
Barney took a half-bottle from his pocket.
“I got it today – it’ll come out of my wages – for Dicky bird, you know. Nobody can say we don’t know how to treat our visitation. I’ll give Marty a drop in hot water and he’ll go asleep.”
Sarah sighed and followed him downstairs.
“We’ll have a drop ourselves, Sarah – what do you say? Sure isn’t there plenty? Dicky bird won’t want all of it.”
Sarah filled the kettle, her eyes beginning to gleam.
Thank you for reading this. If you enjoyed it you might check out the 5 star reviews on Goodreads.
Congratulations. Good luck this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks again, Jay.
LikeLike
Good Luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The very best of luck with the re-launch Elizabeth πππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Emer.
LikeLike
A great story, Elizabeth. And the ending made perfect sense – made me smile. Congrats on the relaunch. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks am million, Diana.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Diana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A drop of whiskey can cure many ailments π Congrats on your re-launch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jacquie. All you need for a desert island – whiskey and TCP – you can cure anything!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jacquie. Whiskey and TCP will cure anything!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful snippet, Elizabeth. Good luck with the re-launch. Hugs on the wing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Teagan!
LikeLike