Oscar Cleared away Lily’s breakfast things and put them into the sink. He would wash them up later, depending on the situation, when Lily had gone. He had already cleaned up the broken shards from her smashed phone screen. Oscar was still bewildered that she had actually thrown her phone on the floor. Oscar shook his head and sighed in disbelief. He looked in the direction of Lily who was in his bathroom. The door was slightly open and Oscar could see her standing by the sink splashing water over her face. He was going to tell her to close the door but he was worried that she hadn’t finished acting out so he kept quiet. He didn’t want to discover that she was trying to do something stupid again and have to kick down the bathroom door.
What if she tried to drown herself in the bathtub or wrap the shower curtain around her neck and try to hang herself from the railing. Oscar laughed to himself. In reality these things weren’t really possible. Oscar had never heard of someone drowning themselves in a bathtub. Now that he thought about it, it seemed to be something extremely difficult to do in a bathtub. To hold oneself under water, fighting the body’s natural instinct and reflex to breathe, in a space where just sitting up would eliminate all aspects of danger. It seemed to be a feat of will power that was far beyond this 14yr old and the shower curtain railing was not strong enough to support her body weight. No, there was no chance of these things, but still Oscar didn’t want to run the risk.
Lily came out of the bathroom and sat on the sofa. She habitually went to her pocket for her phone but when her hand found an empty space in her tracksuit bottoms she placed her hands gently in her lap and looked regretfully at Oscar. He smiled back, clicked his fingers and went into his spare room. Lily heard the sounds of a cupboard being opened, rummaging and then it being closed. Oscar came back with a box. He handed Lily the remnants of her phone and a rectangular shaped boxed. Lily Looked down at the box.
“What’s This.” Lily asked but not requiring an answer as she read out the contents of the box. “This is the latest android phone.”
“I know. Since your phone met with an hmmm…” Oscar rubbed his mouth with his hands, feigning to search for the right words but actually stifling a smile. “An unfortunate accident, you can use that one”
“I …… I….” Lily blushed and looked down at the box. “This is very expensive. I can’t use this.”
“Well I have the exact same phone.” Oscar held up his own in his hand. “ I always buy 2. One to use and one as a backup just in case anything happens to my main phone. It’s rare that anything does and I normally end up selling it online after 12months anyway. So it’s fine. It’s my gift to you.”
Lily smiled a huge smile and dove into the box. Oscar smiled back at her even though she didn’t see it. Now that his phone was in his hands Oscar looked at the time. It was coming close to midday. Oscar wanted to get Lily to go see her mum before she left with Marissa but after the morning fiasco Oscar thought it best for her not to go. After last night, Oscar wanted to check up on Lily’s mum. He didn’t know what the state of play was going to be. His head was telling him to leave it alone. Wait until Marissa arrived and let her deal with it. It was none of his business, but something inside of him was nagging him. Pulling him to go back.
What if she’s done something to herself during the night. What if Marissa comes and opens the flat door and finds a body lying there. How would Lily recover from such a scene? What if she was contemplating something right now? Just knocking on the door could alter her course of action. Oscar made up his mind but he didn’t want to hide anything from Lily. He wanted to be as transparent as possible.
“Lily. I’m just going to go next door to your flat for a minute.”
Lily looked back at him without saying a word. She had extracted the new mobile phone from its box and had just inserted her old sim card. She had already connected the charger and plugged it into a set of mains by the sofa. Her happy expression had faded slightly. She didn’t respond. Oscar didn’t want to ask this next question but he felt it only right.
“Do you want to come with me?”
She shook her head.
“Ok.”
Oscar put on his slippers and moved towards the door. As he opened the latch Lily spoke up.
“Oscar.”
He turnt to look at her.
“In my bedroom there’s a big pink unicorn backpack in the corner. I often stay over at Josie’s and that’s like my weekend bag. Can you grab it for me Please?”
Oscar nodded.
“The doors off he latch ok. Its open”
He left his flat and pulled the door shut behind him. As the safety catch was on the door it softly bounced back open and stopped. When Oscar got to Lily’s flat the door was slightly open again. Oscar paused. His eyes narrowed in recollection.
Did I not close this door properly last night? I thought I did.
Oscar knocked while pushing the door open however a hand grabbed the side of the door, opening it wide. It was a policeman standing in full uniform looking inquisitively at Oscar. His custodian helmet tucked under his arm as was tradition. A police woman stood still in the living room doing likewise accompanied by 2 paramedics who were hovering around the kitchen where Oscar could see Lily’s mum. They were talking to her. Another figure walked into one of the bedrooms.
“Can I help you sir” asked the male officer.
“Yeah….. ummmm . …. I’m Oscar. I live next door. Is everything Ok?”
Lily’s mum peered out from over the kitchen counter hearing Oscar’s voice.
She waved at Oscar who nodded back.
“Oh You’re Mr. Oscar!”
The policeman pulled out a small notebook from the inside of his kevlar vest. He flipped it open reading the contents out loud. “Mr Oscar Warren from flat number 9?”
“ Yes.” Oscar was surprised the officer had his details.
The officer motioned Oscar into the flat from outside the hallway. He pushed the door back to how Oscar had found it, slightly ajar. He leaned forward towards Oscar speaking in lowered tones. Not quite whispering but low enough to make it difficult for other people inside the room to hear.
“ Morning Mr Warren so I understand that the daughter Lily is with you at present?”
“Yes. That’s right. She’s next door at mine right now.”
“Ok Mr Warren. So there’s nothing to worry about right now. We’ve been given your details by Ms Marissa Dupuis as a close friend/relative when we were contacted this morning.”
The police officer closed his notepad and placed it back into his pocket.
“So basically Mr Warren you’re aware of the current situation. Nobody has been hurt and nobody is under arrest. We are here strictly for escort purposes. We’ve been made aware as well as the local mental health team that the current resident has become unwell. The ambulance crew will invite her to accompany them to the hospital, which she can refuse if she wishes to do so, where they can properly assess her current situation.”
The police officer paused, giving Oscar time to process the detailed information.
“The gentleman here.” He nodded in the direction of Lily’s room. “Is a Psychiatrist with the local authority. If the resident in mention refuses to come willing and he says that it is not within her best interest to be left alone. Then we will detain her and bring her to hospital.”
Oscar nodded. “ I see, so basically if she’s too far gone the ambulance or the shrink don’t have the power to arrest her but you guys do. Then you can get her the help that she needs?”
“ Spot on Sir.”
“ Ok. well. Are you going to come and take Lily?” Worry entered Oscar’s voice.
“If it’s ok with you Sir we are happy with the current arrangement for the daughter to remain with you until Ms Dupuis arrives to collect her. If we get involved now then we’ll have to alert child services and…….” The Officer trailed off not wanting to highlight a darker picture.
“And it’s better for everyone involved for it not to go down that route.” Oscar understood.
The police officer noded.
“Cool hmmmmm….” Oscar looked over at Lily’s mum. She still had on the same clothes that wore last night. The Ambulance crew were trying to get her into more appropriate clothes in which to leave the house. Oscar couldn’t hear what they were saying but it looked like Lily’s mum was cooperating with them.
“Ok officer. I’m going to get out of your hair. There’s a bag in Lily’s room, a unicorn backpack, with her stuff in it. Can I go get it or should I come back later when Marissa gets here ?”
“Yeah sure.”
The officer led Oscar to Lily’s room.
“Doc, this gentleman here is Mr Warren. He is currently looking after the resident’s daughter. Is there a Unicorn backpack in here?” The officer and Oscar entered the room.
“A pink one? yeah here it is.” The psychiatrist, who was inspecting the room lent over the side of the bed to grab the bag. He stood up and turned to face the officer and Oscar. A shrill cry came out his mouth as he let out a sudden scream and stumbled back onto the bed. Oscar clenched his teeth.His heart started to pound in his chest. that same sticky feeling in his throat came back. The officer quickly stepped forward and reached out his hand.”
“Doc are you ok? What happened?”
The psychiatrist laying on the bed panting quickly tried to regain his composure and gave out a pathetic wry laugh to mask his surprise. He took the hand of the officer and pulled himself up off Lily’s bed, holding onto her backpack in the other hand. The Officer pulled him up unto his feet but gave a questioning look between the two.
“Is everything Ok? do you two know each other?”
Oscar didn’t answer. He didn’t want to answer. His hands were starting to sweat. Maybe the fact that he clenched them tightly didn’t help to cool them. The psychiatrist let out another nervous laugh and scratched his head.
“No.. hmmmmm we’ve never met. Hmmmm Mr Warren?”
The psychiatrist extended his hand towards Oscar and nodded. Oscar reached past the extended gesture and took the unicorn backpack from his other hand.
“It’s an absolute mess in here and when you guys entered I just lost my footing and fell back.”
The psychiatrist continued to scratch his head and laugh nervously. The officer regarded the two with increasing suspicion. Oscar glowered at the man. He couldn’t suppress his intense hatred. Heat radiated from his stomach which was now drying up his mouth. Oscar found it hard to swallow. He didn’t say a word, he didn’t want to say a word, or even use them, he wanted to use his fists.
How can this wasteman be a doctor?
The psychiatrist shifted uneasily under Oscar’s searing gaze, looking at everything inside the room except for Oscar. The officer cleared his throat. It was obvious the two knew each other and shared an intense history. He presented his hand towards the open door to lead this uncomfortable situation away from the small confines of a 14yrs old bedroom. Whatever they had going on between them that was on the verge of blowing up would have to wait as the officer did not fancy being caught between the two.
“Shall we step outside gentlemen. It’s a bit cramped in here.”
They all walked out of the room one after the other. The psychiatrist took his time to leave the room, he wanted both for the police officer to be in between himself and Oscar and also to catch his breath as he had started panting again. He was not doing well in concealing his panic. Sweat beads started to accumulate on his forehead. Controlling one’s emotions was hot work. He wiped the sweat with the back of his hand.
“Mr Warren if there’s nothing else that you need, we’ll wrap things up here and update the person of contact with the relevant details for you and Miss Lily.”
Just as the officer finished speaking the front door crept open and Lily walked inside. She paused in the middle of the crowded living room, startled to see so many people in her house. She looked at Oscar then looked at her mum. Oscar bit his bottom lip. This situation was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. As if some force of nature or some kind of divine hand was willfully orchestrating problems.
Dis is what happens when you fast into people dem Rasclart bidnez. Oscar thought.
Lily mums smiled at her then focused her attention back to the ambulance crew who were now in the kitchen with her. They had persuaded her to put on a pair of stone washed jeans and were now trying to convince her to put on a top.
“Why are the police here? Are you going to arrest my mum?”
No one spoke. Everyone was considering and rehearsing what would be best to tell this young teenage girl. All the professionals looked around at each other, as if mentally drawing straws of who will break the news. Jumping forward, almost welcoming this little girl’s emerging distress as a distraction from his own, the psychiatrist skipped past the officer and Oscar to talk to Lily, placing his hand gently on her shoulder.
“Hi Lily, it’s so nice to meet you. I’ve actually heard alot about you. Let me introduce myself I’m..”
Just before he could go any further Oscar quickly positioned himself by Lily’s side brushing off the hand that was on her shoulder and placed his own hand around her. Lily looked up at Oscar startled by his sudden movements.
“Look Lily why don’t we go back next door and I’ll fill you in. I think that we’re in the way here and we don’t want to make this situation escalate from bad to worse with our presence.”
“Is it ok if I can just say goodbye to mum before we go?” Lily looked at the psychiatrist who shrank backwards into himself, then to the police officer standing by his side.
“Of Course you can lovely.”
The officer motioned his head towards Lily’s mum.
Oscar with his arm still on Lily’s shoulder walked her over to the kitchen. Lily’s mum had put on a top and was now considering what she needed to take with her. As Lily walked into the kitchen with Oscar the ambulance crew stepped to one side out of their way. Giving them a private moment. Oscar squeezed Lily’s shoulder and let her go. Lily slowly traversed the clutter in the kitchen. She didn’t step on a single item unlike everyone else that was now inside the Flat. Lily’s mum stepped backwards as Lily approached her giving her a weary smile. Oscar watched calmly. He remembered this morning’s theatrics which played out in his kitchen. He was confident that the speech he had given her had gone down well but he kept a small spring in his step just in case Lily decided to launch a surprise attack with the same ferocious intent that she delivered in the hallway the night before. Lily opened her arms wide and embraced her mother. Her mum, as if surprised that she felt Lily’s touch, sighed a long sigh and embraced her back. Lily kissed her mother’s cheek and quietly whispered in her ear.
“Take care mum. I hope they Fucking never let you out of that hole and throw away the key.” Lily’s mum drew back from her embrace. She held Lily at arms length and smiled a shaky smile.
The whisper was only that of a tiny mouse squeak but Oscar had heard it. His eyes were open wide in disbelief. He wanted to tell Lily off full guns blazing. Right here and right now. In Front of everyone. That was the lowest of the low. She just kicked her mother when she was down. Oscar looked around. The professionals were talking amongst themselves. No one else had heard what she just said. He caught the eye of the psychiatrist who hurriedly averted his gaze elsewhere.
One ass whooping at a time.
He stepped forward and pulled Lily gently but firmly by the back of her shirt. Lily stepped back, this time kicking over all the clutter on the floor. As she moved past Oscar he saw that same defiant smile on her face from earlier when she had stuffed all the tablets into her mouth and began to chew because he had convascated the water from her. Oscar’s eyes were wide. She saw his expression and quickly lifted her arm, hiding her face within her elbow crease. Oscar turned to leave however Lily’s mum lurched forward and caught his hand. In the same manner that Lily had done, she leaned forward to whisper so that only Oscar could hear her.
“It’s ok. Lily is gonna stay with me until Marissa gets her.” Oscar spoke first.
“Oscar. Im going to go with these people to the hospital ok.”
“I think that’s a good decision.”
“Why don’t you come too.?”
“Oh you want me to come with you.” Oscar didn’t want to go to the hospital with her. This situation was becoming a bit too much for him but if she asked him to, for support, how could he refuse?
“I think it’s a good idea. Oscar. I’m going to get help. And I think that you should get help too?”
“You think I need help.” Oscar stepped closer towards her. He thought that he hadn’t heard her properly.
“Yes You do need help Oscar. You’re sick too. You can see that little girl too. Just like me.” Lily’s mum started laughing. “And she’s not real. You’re sick just like me.”
Oscar Pulled his hand away. This time his mouth mimicked his eyes. He tried to push her last phrase out of his mind but he couldn’t unhear those words. Lily didn’t hear what her mum had said but she could see from Oscar’s face that it wasn’t good. She grabbed Oscar by the hand and dragged him from the kitchen, through the living room and out of her flat. Leaving behind all those individuals she never cared to see again. Oscar couldn’t feel his feet moving but he knew they were walking. His body felt numb. He felt like Lily’s mum had just injected him with some kind of verbal neurotoxin. Numbing his entire body but leaving it fully functioning. He was no longer in control of where he was going, he could only observe where he was being led.
She isn’t real.
The words kept reverberating throughout Oscar’s head. Echoing in his mind. There was nothing else in there. Only that. Oscar now stood up against his kitchen counter. Lily closed the door behind them. Her new replacement phone rang, she answered it but Oscar wasn’t aware of what was being said. Lily came and stood in front of Oscar. He could see her mouth moving but he couldn’t hear any words. He could only hear one thing.
“Oscar.” He heard that. “What did she say to you?”
Oscar wasn’t aware that Lily hadn’t heard what her mother said. It was probably for the best. It had knocked him for six. He was completely unprepared for the words which he heard. He imagined how Lily would have responded if she had heard those words from her own mother. That blow would have bounced Lily far beyond her boundary line.
“What did she say?”
“Hmmmm. Nothing much, it just threw me off. She said that she thought I wasn’t real.”
“She’s mad Oscar she lost the plot. Oh Marissa and Josie are almost here. Don’t worry about anything she says ok.” Lily smiled at Oscar then went to sit down on his sofa. She had a look of relief about her. As if things were finally looking up in her life.
Oscar took a deep breath. The shock of what he heard was slowly starting to lift from his mind, after all. He was just their neighbour. all these years living next to each other they had never really gotten close. They had never developed a close relationship with each other. He felt bad for Lily but was it really his business. He looked at Lily doting over her new phone. Depending on what would happen in the future would he even see her again? Maybe. Maybe Not. He thought about talking to her about what she had said to her mum but Oscar thought against it. She looked happy now ,maybe he had given her enough advice over the weekend. This was a heavy Saturday morning which he just wanted to enjoy. He remembered he had told Sara to come back tonight. That would be fun. He took out his mobile phone from his pocket and sent her a text message. She messaged back straight away. He laughed and peered into his kitchen looking at his cooker clock. 1245. Oscar thought it would have been a lot later. Closer to 4pm but maybe that was just because of the hectic turn of events that had happened. Another text came through on his phone which was accompanied by a knock at the door. Oscar’s smile suddenly froze as he cast a sharp look at the door. Lily instantaneously cast the same look. It was as though they both thought “what now”. Oscar went to the door and opened it. He opened it by the slightest measure peering through the narrow gap. A 5ft7 dark skinned woman stood in front of the door. She had deep dark tektite hue to her skin with striking facial features. Flawless Oscar thought. Her hair naturally combined out displayed a majestic crown of an afro. Beside her stood a smaller younger version of herself who Oscar recognised as Josie. Oscar opened his door wide. At seeing him the woman stepped backwards putting her hand onto her chest.
“Ohhhhh.” she gasped as a surprised smile curled up on her lips. This was the second person who had been surprised to see him today.
“Hi Marissa.” Oscar gave a small wave with his hand and turned his attention to Josie. “Quam Quam Girl.” He winked and presented her with his closed fist.
“Quam Quam Oscar.” Josie said with a huge grin on her face and pressed her own closed fist against his.
“Go see your bredrin while I have a quick word with your mum.”
Oscar moved to the side nodding in Lily’s direction. Lily jumped up and the two girls locked arms around each other. Lily instantly pulled away displaying her new smart phone. Josie gasped and the two fell back on the sofa fussing over the new toy.
“I’m really shocked to see you Oscar, it’s been a really long time.” Marissa said laughing. Her hand still on her chest. “You don’t look surprised.”
“Oh I’m not. I knew Josie was yours. She’s the spitting image of you when we were that age.”
“I mean Lily is often talking about you by name but it just never came to my mind that it was the same Oscar.”
Oscar nodded. He regarded her while she stood in the hallway. She had a slim solid frame. She was always very slim growing up. Well defined body, well defined features. She was always on the school athletics team doing some kind of running, long distance or sprinting. Oscar remembered how he and the boys used to watch her. She was more developed than the other girls and the boys in school used to dribble over the size of her busts. Which was the catalyst for many play ground scraps and pushing matches. Nothing serious. Just boys being boys. A lighted hearted rough and tumble between friends as they constantly tried to re establish the pecking order. Oscar would always come out on top. Not always in the scraps but with Marissa. She was his very first girlfriend. That first puppy love, first kiss.
“I see you’re still in great shape. Are you still running?”
Marissa looked down at herself self consciously. Her hand running down her chest to her stomach.
“Shut up.” She held back a smile. “I’m so thick now. I’ve lost all my youthful slenderness. She has it now.” She motioned to Josie.
Marissa caught herself staring at Oscar. It had been many years since they had seen each other. The fact that she always loved the boy that he was back seemed to naturally progress into taking a liking to the man standing before her now. Oscar caught her eye and laughed. He knew that look she was giving him.
“Would you like to come inside and we can discuss what’s happened”
“Yes ….. No… I can’t.” Marissa took a step towards Oscar but stopped. I have to get Josie ready. It’s her dad’s birthday and she’s going to his party.” She paused and to be honest I want to get Lily away from here before the police come.”
“Too late.”
“They’re here already?”
“Yep.”
“Ok. I need to get some of Lily’s things.”
“Already done. She’s got her pink unicorn bag.”
“Oh wow when did she get that.”
“Literally just now before you came.”
“Did she see what was going on.”
“Yep.”
They both looked back at Lily sitting on the sofa with Josie.
“She looks so happy right now.” Marissa noticed the new toy. “Where did she get that from? Thats not her phone.”
“Oh it’s cool. she had a little accident with her old one so I gave her that one.”
“That’s an expensive phone?”
“It’s only a phone.”
Marissa smiled.
“You’ve always been generous Oscar and you’ve always been good with kids.” She looked around the flat searching for something.
Oscar laughed.
“There’s no children here.”
“ You never had any kids? Never settled down?”
“No not really. I think I missed my opportunity for all of that.”
At that Josie came up with Lily. Who had her Pink backpack over her shoulder.
“Mum sorry for interrupting but I need to get my hair done for Dad’s party tonight.”
“Sorry babes. Yes I was just catching up with Oscar?”
“You know Oscar?” Lily asked with a questionable look on her face.
“Yes. Oscar and I went to the same school. We kind of grew up together.”
Josie and Lily looked at each other.
“Mum can Lily come with me to my Dad’s party? She can get her hair done the same time as me and she can wear my clothes.”
“I actually think that will be the case but that hair dresser is expensive.” Marissa checked her watch. “I don’t know if she’ll see Lily and if she does she’ll over charge me.
Oscar reached over to a short black jacket that was hanging by the door and took out his wallet. He took out four pink notes and folded them in two passing them to Marissa.
“I don’t know how much it cost for Little girls to get their hair done but that should cover it. And some ice cream afterwards.”
Marissa stood back. She put her hand on her chest again.
“I just got chills right now Oscar. You just sounded exactly like your mother.”
Oscar couldn’t help but smile. That comment had calmed the fire that had slowly been flickering in his stomach.
“ Thank you.”
“Ok come on girls we have to go.”
Josie stepped out of the flat and gave a small wave to Oscar who returned the gesture. Lily stood in front of him.
“I noticed that my nintendo is still connected to you tv. So i’ll let you borrow it and collect it another time.”
Oscar nodded and gave her a slight wink. She walked forward and pressed her head into his chest wrapping her arms around him. He hugged her back kissing the top of her head. They didn’t need to say anything more to each other about today. Sometimes it’s best to let things settle. Withdraw from a situation and come back another day. Lily slowly pulled away and went to rejoin her best friend.
“By the way Oscar.” Josie tugged on her mum’s top. “My mum’s not with my Dad anymore. She’s single.”
Marissa cast Josie a sharp embarrassed look. Josie giggled and pulled Lily by the hand. Lily gave a little wave and the two disappeared down the hallway, away from her front door, then disappeared down the staircase.
Marissa looked down the hallway after the two girls. Still embarrassed from her daughter giving out her personal marital status so openly.
“Thank you so much Oscar for looking after Lily. I’ll be in touch.” Marissa saluted the money in her hand at him mouthing the words thank you and quickly walked down the hallway after the girls.
Just as she had gone Lily’s front door opened.The two officers followed by Lily’s mum appeared, then the ambulance crew. Oscar stepped inside his flat and drew the door just enough to mask his presence but still wide enough to see through. The female police officer was carrying a duffel bag. Which was half open. It looked like some clothes, toiletries and other personal bits had been thrown in for her comfort. They made their way down the opposite end of the hallway. The same way Lily’s dad had gone a few nights prior. Last out of the flat was the psychiatrist. He pulled the door closed and locked the bottom lock with a set of keys. Just before he turned to follow the others Oscar stuck his head out from his door in plain view. The healthcare professional stepped backwards. He didn’t make any noise. Oscar’s eyes narrowed. The rest of the attending crew disappeared down the fire escape leaving only the psychiatrist. Oscar stepped out and walked towards him with his fist clenched. The healthcare Professional lurched back against the wall holding his hands up in front of him motioning for Oscar to keep his distance. The fire in his stomach started to flicker and he walked faster towards the man pressed up against the wall who was now panting heavily. Oscar felt the flames grow hot. As he took another step closer he heard Marissa words in his head.
Exactly like your mum.
The flickering flame suddenly blew out. Oscar stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowed, piercing through he who stood in front of him. Then relinquishing his clenched fist he turned and disappeared back inside his flat slamming his front door behind him leaving the man panting, his arms still raised.
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