Who Are You?

It had been a bad day. She didn’t feel herself at all. Perhaps it was that new medication. Who knows? In the end she hadn’t gone in to work. She thought that she would. But when it came to it she couldn’t do it.

She had got up really early. Well it was hard to sleep these days. Showered. She had laid her work clothes out on the chair all ready. New black suit. Had agonized over which top to wear. Plain white tee-shirt or the low-cut black silk? Was it silk? Probably not. But it always had an impact. Power. It was a killer top. Maybe not for work then. She’d save it. After all that she didn’t go in. Just stayed in the car park. Watching. She didn’t quite know where the time went. The day seemed to pass her by.

She wondered who was in that day. Thought about what they might say. The strange thing was, she hadn’t seen any of her gang arrive. Couldn’t spot any of their cars. Maybe they were all on a course. At some other location. They could have rung. Let her know. After her illness too. But, she supposed, they weren’t to know she was thinking of coming in today. Anyway, she wasn’t up to it as it turned out. She flexed her fingers. She must have been gripping the steering wheel too much. She sat watching.

Later, when she drove around the corner, she was annoyed to see a car parked outside the house. She had to find another place. Further on. Who lived there? She didn’t know. She’d had to go all the way to the end and turn. They might not be too happy about finding their place taken. She knew all about that. But what could she do? She’d had no choice, what with that brand new Saab blocking her out.

She turned off the engine and glared at the Saab. That’s funny. She did a double take. Look at that reg. Weird. Not only parked outside my house but a personal plate with my initials. What are the chances of that? It was a shock. Of course she didn’t really use the M any more. People wouldn’t know that she was M. But still. That reg was a slap in the face. As if you’d turned up on some register that you didn’t know about. Still. Nice car. Better go in. Kids to feed. They’d be home by now. Wondering how she got on. Worrying. Kids are such a comfort.

She had that sick feeling as soon as she pushed the door open. Something not quite right. Did it smell funny? Couldn’t be a cat smell. They didn’t have a cat. She hated cats. They hissed at her. Arched their backs. Wouldn’t have one under any circumstances. Even when the children begged. No. Cats were out. But that smell … it made her want to vomit. Her head reeled and she leaned against the wall. A child appeared.

She stared. She wondered if she had ever seen her in the house before. The child looked up at her from the corner at the bottom of the stairs and then disappeared. Well. She could hear the muffled sound of the television. They’d better have done their homework or there’d be trouble. Oh yes. Big trouble. She must have blinked because now there was a young woman in jeans and a red shirt in the hall.

Who are you?

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

What do you mean what am I doing here? I live here.

There must be a mistake.

The child that had appeared briefly a few moments earlier trotted out and put her tiny arms round the young woman’s left leg, burying her face in the denim.

Where are my children? What have you done with them?

I would like you to leave.

What are you talking about?

Please leave.

But there must be some mistake. This is my … all this is mine.

I’ve been very patient. Just go. Now.

Where’s Tom?

There’s no Tom here. Please leave or I’ll call the police.

Look. You’ve got to help me. There’s something weird going on. I’m going to ring Tom. Tell him to come home and we can sort this out.

Who’s there mom? a young boy’s voice shouted.

Nobody sweetheart. Just a mistake.

She turned to face her again.

I have to get on. Goodbye.

Somehow, she found herself outside again. She looked at the door. Closed. Bolted on the inside probably. And since when had it been painted black? She peered at it closely. There was a small dent on the frame at about bike-pedal height. She could see that the original green paint had been covered up. She flicked at it with her nail. Definitely green. Weird.

She rummaged in her bag for her phone. As she scrolled through the names she spotted HOME. In a moment of inspiration she hit dial and leaned back towards the door. Yes, it was ringing, it was definitely ringing. But when she heard that voice again she rang off.

Her lips pursed in disbelief. Tears welled and spilled.

This cannot be happening to me.

She looked around.

Maybe some of the neighbours will be home soon.

A car slowed near the gate and pulled up a little further along, double-parking. A stocky woman jumped out of the car. She looked as if she was headed this way.

Being dropped off, I expect.

But the car’s engine just ticked over and the car idled there.

It’s getting worse round here. People have no consideration these days.

The heavy-jowled woman came towards the gate quite slowly but did not enter. She gazed at her for a moment.

Why don’t you come with me Shelley and we’ll sort this out?

Who are you?

Put the knife down and let’s go and get a cup of tea eh?

Do I know you?

Who Are You?

It had been a bad day. She didn’t feel herself at all. Perhaps it was that new medication. Who knows? In the end she hadn’t gone in to work. She thought that she would. But when it came to it she couldn’t do it.

She had got up really early. Well it was hard to sleep these days. Showered. She had laid her work clothes out on the chair all ready. New black suit. Had agonized over which top to wear. Plain white tee-shirt or the low-cut black silk? Was it silk? Probably not. But it always had an impact. Power. It was a killer top. Maybe not for work then. She’d save it. After all that she didn’t go in. Just stayed in the car park. Watching. She didn’t quite know where the time went. The day seemed to pass her by.

She wondered who was in that day. Thought about what they might say. The strange thing was, she hadn’t seen any of her gang arrive. Couldn’t spot any of their cars. Maybe they were all on a course. At some other location. They could have rung. Let her know. After her illness too. But, she supposed, they weren’t to know she was thinking of coming in today. Anyway, she wasn’t up to it as it turned out. She flexed her fingers. She must have been gripping the steering wheel too much. She sat watching.

Later, when she drove around the corner, she was annoyed to see a car parked outside the house. She had to find another place. Further on. Who lived there? She didn’t know. She’d had to go all the way to the end and turn. They might not be too happy about finding their place taken. She knew all about that. But what could she do? She’d had no choice, what with that brand new Saab blocking her out.

She turned off the engine and glared at the Saab. That’s funny. She did a double take. Look at that reg. Weird. Not only parked outside my house but a personal plate with my initials. What are the chances of that? It was a shock. Of course she didn’t really use the M any more. People wouldn’t know that she was M. But still. That reg was a slap in the face. As if you’d turned up on some register that you didn’t know about. Still. Nice car. Better go in. Kids to feed. They’d be home by now. Wondering how she got on. Worrying. Kids are such a comfort.

She had that sick feeling as soon as she pushed the door open. Something not quite right. Did it smell funny? Couldn’t be a cat smell. They didn’t have a cat. She hated cats. They hissed at her. Arched their backs. Wouldn’t have one under any circumstances. Even when the children begged. No. Cats were out. But that smell … it made her want to vomit. Her head reeled and she leaned against the wall. A child appeared.

She stared. She wondered if she had ever seen her in the house before. The child looked up at her from the corner at the bottom of the stairs and then disappeared. Well. She could hear the muffled sound of the television. They’d better have done their homework or there’d be trouble. Oh yes. Big trouble. She must have blinked because now there was a young woman in jeans and a red shirt in the hall.

Who are you?

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

What do you mean what am I doing here? I live here.

There must be a mistake.

The child that had appeared briefly a few moments earlier trotted out and put her tiny arms round the young woman’s left leg, burying her face in the denim.

Where are my children? What have you done with them?

I would like you to leave.

What are you talking about?

Please leave.

But there must be some mistake. This is my … all this is mine.

I’ve been very patient. Just go. Now.

Where’s Tom?

There’s no Tom here. Please leave or I’ll call the police.

Look. You’ve got to help me. There’s something weird going on. I’m going to ring Tom. Tell him to come home and we can sort this out.

Who’s there mom? a young boy’s voice shouted.

Nobody sweetheart. Just a mistake.

She turned to face her again.

I have to get on. Goodbye.

Somehow, she found herself outside again. She looked at the door. Closed. Bolted on the inside probably. And since when had it been painted black? She peered at it closely. There was a small dent on the frame at about bike-pedal height. She could see that the original green paint had been covered up. She flicked at it with her nail. Definitely green. Weird.

She rummaged in her bag for her phone. As she scrolled through the names she spotted HOME. In a moment of inspiration she hit dial and leaned back towards the door. Yes, it was ringing, it was definitely ringing. But when she heard that voice again she rang off.

Her lips pursed in disbelief. Tears welled and spilled.

This cannot be happening to me.

She looked around.

Maybe some of the neighbours will be home soon.

A car slowed near the gate and pulled up a little further along, double-parking. A stocky woman jumped out of the car. She looked as if she was headed this way.

Being dropped off, I expect.

But the car’s engine just ticked over and the car idled there.

It’s getting worse round here. People have no consideration these days.

The heavy-jowled woman came towards the gate quite slowly but did not enter. She gazed at her for a moment.

Why don’t you come with me Shelley and we’ll sort this out?

Who are you?

Put the knife down and let’s go and get a cup of tea eh?

Do I know you?