Page 22 of The Good Sister

Iamthirsty, I realise. I glance over at the bar area, past a horde of squealing children, to see what they might have available. Behind the bar, which is staffed by a woman in a pink and white-striped boiler suit, I see a sign that saysSPRITE.

‘A Sprite would be very nice, thank you, Wally.’

Wally nods and wanders off toward the bar, leaving me to ponder how nice it is, having someone enquire after my thirst like thisand thenprocure me a drink! Wally is, I realise, an above-average date. Linda and Gayle appear to think the same, judging by the way they appear in front of me the moment Wally is out of sight.

‘I can’t hear you,’ I remind them.

They gesture for me to remove my earplugs. I sigh loudly but acquiesce.

‘You’ve been keeping this quiet, haven’t you!’ Linda exclaims.

‘They met in the library,’ Gayle quips.

‘I like his hat,’ Linda says. ‘It reminds me of something.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Gayle says.

I don’t know why they required me to remove my earplugs since they are only speaking among themselves. I glance around for Wally to see how he is doing with our drinks, but he seems to have disappeared.

‘Where’s Wally?’ I ask.

‘Of course!’ Gayle and Linda cry in unison. ‘Where’s Wally?That’s who he looks like.’

Noises ricochet around the room. Someone cheers, and a child cries and a bowling ball hits the polished lane. I wrap my arms around my middle.

‘Finished here, ladies?’ Carmel says.

‘Just taking a break while Rocco gets us some drinks,’ Gayle says.

I see him now, leaning over the bar, making his order. He glances back at me and for an instant, our eyes meet.

‘Remind me again how you met him, Fern,’ Carmel says.

I open my mouth just as a game machine starts playing a tune, and the sound of collective victory and defeat from a couple of small boys rings in my ears.

‘She met him at the library,’ Gayle says. ‘Right, Fern?’

Nearby, the token machine releases a stack of tokens.Clink clink clink clink clink clink clink.I feel people moving closer to me, making space for a person in a wheelchair who is being wheeled past. ‘Um . . . what?’

‘You met Rocco in the library,’ Gayle repeats, louder.

Carmel and Linda keep asking me questions, even as the noise continues around me. It’s like a ride I can’t get off. I put my earplugs back in, close my eyes and start to rock gently, then more vigorously.

‘Fern,’ someone says. They must be speaking loudly to get through my earplugs.

I open my eyes again. They’re all looking at me, glancing at each other worriedly, and then looking back at me. Wally is nowhere to be found.

‘What?’ I say, but I must say it too loud or too quiet or in a strange voice, because they all appear rattled.

I rock harder. Disco music plays loudly enough for me to clearly make out the tune even with my earplugs in. Several people dance while they wait for their turn to bowl. My breath is high in my chest and my head is aching.

‘Drinks!’ Wally appears, smiling, carrying a tray of drinks.

I feel like I might scream. Perhaps I do scream, because all of a sudden everyone is gathered around me. It’s unbearable.

‘Move!’ I shout, and they all take a few steps back.

Wally places a hand on my wrist but I rip it away. He nods, then says, ‘Fern. Follow me.’