首发偶发空缺 (临时空缺)-第17部分

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ght　of　the　house；　which　lately　had　sunk　even　further　below　its　usual　filthy　tidemark。　Krystal　was　especially　worried　that　Kay　had　found　Robbie　at　home　when　he　ought　to　have　been　at　nursery；　because　Terri’s　mitment　to　keeping　Robbie　in　pre…school；　which　he　had　begun　while　with　his　foster　mother；　had　been　a　key　condition　of　his　negotiated　return　to　the　family　home　the　previous　year。　She　was　also　furious　that　the　social　worker　had　caught　Robbie　wearing　a　nappy；　after　all　the　work　Krystal　had　put　in　to　persuade　him　to　use　the　toilet。

‘So　whaddid　she　say？’　Krystal　demanded　of　Terri。

‘Tole　me　she　wuz　gonna　e　back；’　said　Terri。

Krystal　had　a　bad　feeling　about　this。　Their　usual　social　worker　seemed　content　to　let　the　Weedon　family　get　along　without　much　interference。　Vague　and　haphazard；　often　getting　their　names　wrong；　and　confusing　their　circumstances　with　those　of　other　clients；　she　turned　up　every　two　weeks　with　no　apparent　aim　except　to　check　that　Robbie　was　still　alive。

The　new　menace　worsened　Krystal’s　mood。　When　straight；　Terri　was　cowed　by　her　daughter’s　anger　and　let　Krystal　boss　her　around。　Making　the　most　of　her　temporary　authority；　Krystal　ordered　Terri　to　put　on　some　proper　clothes；　forced　Robbie　back　into　clean　pants；　reminded　him　he　couldn’t　piss　in　this　kind；　and　marched　him　off　to　nursery。　He　bawled　when　she　made　to　leave；　at　first　she　got　ratty　with　him；　but　finally　she　crouched　down　and　promised　him　that　she　would　e　back　and　pick　him　up　at　one；　and　he　let　her　go。

Then　Krystal　truanted；　even　though　Wednesday　was　the　day　she　liked　best　at　school；　because　she　had　both　PE　and　guidance；　and　set　to　work　to　clean　up　the　house　a　bit；　sloshing　pine…scented　disinfectant　over　the　kitchen；　scraping　all　the　old　food　and　cigarette　butts　into　bin　liners。　She　hid　the　biscuit　tin　holding　Terri’s　works；　and　heaved　the　remaining　puters　（three　had　already　been　collected）　into　the　hall　cupboard。

All　the　time　she　was　chiselling　food　off　the　plates；　Krystal’s　thoughts　kept　returning　to　the　rowing　team。　She　would　have　had　training　the　following　night；　if　Mr　Fairbrother　had　still　been　alive。　He　usually　gave　her　a　lift　both　ways　in　the　people…carrier；　because　she　had　no　other　means　of　getting　over　to　the　canal　in　Yarvil。　His　twin　daughters；　Niamh　and　Siobhan；　and　Sukhvinder　Jawanda　came　in　the　car　too。　Krystal　had　no　regular　contact　with　these　three　girls　during　school　hours；　but　since　being　a　team；　they　had　always　said　‘all　right？’　when　they　passed　each　other　in　the　corridors。　Krystal　had　expected　them　to　look　down　their　noses　at　her；　but　they　were　OK　once　you　got　to　know　them。　They　laughed　at　her　jokes。　They　had　adopted　some　of　her　favourite　phrases。　She　was；　in　some　sense；　the　crew’s　leader。

Nobody　in　Krystal’s　family　had　ever　owned　a　car。　If　she　concentrated；　she　could　smell　the　interior　of　the　people…carrier；　even　over　the　stink　of　Terri’s　kitchen。　She　loved　its　warm；　plasticky　scent。　She　would　never　be　in　that　car　again。　There　had　been　trips　on　a　hired　mini…bus　too；　with　Mr　Fairbrother　driving　the　whole　team；　and　sometimes　they　had　stayed　overnight　when　they　peted　against　far…flung　schools。　The　team　had　sung　Rihanna’s　‘Umbrella’　in　the　back　of　the　bus：　it　had　bee　their　lucky　ritual；　their　theme　tune；　with　Krystal　doing　Jay…Z’s　rap；　solo；　at　the　start。　Mr　Fairbrother　had　nearly　pissed　himself　the　first　time　he　heard　her　do　it：

Uh　huh　uh　huh；　Rihanna　…

Good　girl　gone　bad　–

Take　three　–

Action。

No　clouds　in　my　storms　…

Let　it　rain；　I　hydroplane　into　fame

in’　down　with　the　Dow　Jones　…

Krystal　had　never　understood　the　words。

Cubby　Wall　had　sent　round　a　letter　to　them　all；　saying　that　the　team　would　not　be　meeting　until　they　could　find　a　new　coach；　but　they　would　never　find　a　new　coach；　so　that　was　a　pile　of　shit；　they　all　knew　that。

It　had　been　Mr　Fairbrother’s　team；　his　pet　project。　Krystal　had　taken　a　load　of　abuse　from　Nikki　and　the　others　for　joining。　Their　sneering　had　hidden　incredulity　and；　later　on；　admiration；　because　the　team　had　won　medals　（Krystal　kept　hers　in　a　box　she　had　stolen　from　Nikki’s　house。　Krystal　was　much　given　to　sneaking　things　into　her　pockets　that　belonged　to　people　she　liked。　This　box　was　plastic　and　decorated　with　roses：　a　child’s　jewellery　box；　really。　Tessa’s　watch　was　curled　up　inside　it　now）。

The　best　time　of　all　had　been　when　they’d　beaten　those　snotty　little　bitches　from　St　Anne’s；　that　day　had　been　the　very　best　of　Krystal’s　life。　The　headmistress　had　called　the　team　up　in　front　of　the　whole　school　at　the　next　assembly　（Krystal　had　been　a　bit　mortified：　Nikki　and　Leanne　had　been　laughing　at　her）　but　then　everyone　had　applauded　them　…　it　had　meant　something；　that　Winterdown　had　hammered　St　Anne’s。

But　it　was　all　finished；　all　over；　the　trips　in　the　car　and　the　rowing　and　the　talking　to　the　local　newspaper。　She　had　liked　the　idea　of　being　in　the　newspaper　again。　Mr　Fairbrother　had　said　he　was　going　to　be　there　with　her　when　it　happened。　Just　the　two　of　them。

‘What　will　they　wanna　talk　to　me　abou’；　like？’

‘Your　life。　They’re　interested　in　your　life。’

Like　a　celebrity。　Krystal　had　no　money　for　magazines；　but　she　saw　them　in　Nikki’s　house　and　at　the　doctor’s；　if　she　took　Robbie。　This　would　have　been　even　better　than　being　in　the　paper　with　the　team。　She　had　burst　with　excitement　at　the　prospect；　but　somehow　she　had　managed　to　keep　her　mouth　shut　and　had　not　even　boasted　about　it　to　Nikki　or　Leanne。　She　had　wanted　to　surprise　them。　It　was　as　well　she　had　not　said　anything。　She　would　never　be　in　the　paper　again。

There　was　a　hollowness　in　Krystal’s　stomach。　She　tried　not　to　think　any　more　about　Mr　Fairbrother　as　she　moved　around　the　house；　cleaning　inexpertly　but　doggedly；　while　her　mother　sat　in　the　kitchen；　smoking　and　staring　out　of　the　back　window。

Shortly　before　midday；　a　woman　pulled　up　outside　the　house　in　an　old　blue　Vauxhall。　Krystal　caught　sight　of　her　from　Robbie’s　bedroom　window。　The　visitor　had　very　short　dark　hair　and　was　wearing　black　trousers；　a　beaded；　ethnic　sort　of　necklace；　and　carrying　a　large　tote　bag　over　her　shoulder　that　seemed　to　be　full　of　files。

Krystal　ran　downstairs。

‘I　think　it’s　’er；’　she　called　to　Terri；　who　was　in　the　kitchen。　‘The　social。’

The　woman　knocked　and　Krystal　opened　the　door。

‘Hello；　I’m　Kay；　I’m　covering　for　Mattie？　You　must　be　Krystal。’

‘Yeah；’　said　Krystal；　not　bothering　to　return　Kay’s　smile。　She　showed　her　into　the　sitting　room　and　saw　her　take　in　its　new；　ramshackle　tidiness：　the　emptied　ashtray；　and　most　of　the　stuff　that　had　been　lying　around　was　crammed　onto　the　broken　shelves。　The　carpet　was　still　filthy；　because　the　Hoover　did　not　work；　and　the　towel　and　the　zinc　ointment　were　lying　on　the　floor；　with　one　of　Robbie’s　matchbox　cars　perched　on　top　of　the　plastic　tub。　Krystal　had　tried　to　distract　Robbie　with　the　car　while　she　scraped　his　bottom　clean。

‘Robbie’s　at　nursery；’　Krystal　told　Kay。　‘I’ve　took　’im。　I’ve　put　’im　back　in　pants。　She　keeps　puttin’　’im　back　in　pull…ups。　I’ve　told　’er　not　to。　I　put　cream　on　his　bum。　It’ll　be　all　right；　it’s　on’y　nappy　rash。’

Kay　smiled　at　her　again。　Krystal　peered　around　the　doorway　and　shouted；　‘Mum！’

Terri　joined　them　from　the　kitchen。　She　was　wearing　a　dirty　old　sweatshirt　and　jeans；　and　looked　better　for　being　more　covered　up。

‘Hello；　Terri；’　said　Kay。

‘All　righ’？’　said　Terri；　taking　a　deep　drag　from　her　cigarette。

‘Siddown；’　Krystal　instructed　her　mother；　who　obeyed；　curling　up　in　the　same　chair　as　before。　‘D’yer　wanna　cup　of　tea　or　summat？’　Krystal　asked　Kay。

‘That’d　be　great；’　said　Kay；　sitting　down　and　opening　her　folder。　‘Thanks。’

Krystal　hurried　out　of　the　room。　She　was　listening　carefully；　trying　to　make　out　what　Kay　was　saying　to　her　mother。

‘You　probably　weren’t　expecting　to　see　me　again　this　soon；　Terri；’　she　heard　Kay　say　（she　had　a　strange　accent：　it　sounded　like　a　London　one；　like　the　posh　new　bitch　at　school　half　the　boys　had　stiffies　for）；　‘but　I　was　quite　concerned　about　Robbie　yesterday。　He’s　back　at　nursery　today；　Krystal　says？’

‘Yeah；’　said　Terri。　‘She　took　’im。　She　e　back　this　morning。’

‘She’s　e　back？　Where　has　she　been？’

‘I　jus’　bin　at　a　–　jus’　slep’　over　at　a　friend’s；’　said　Krystal；　hurrying　back　to　the　sitting　room　to　speak　for　herself。

‘Yeah；　bu’　she　e　back　this　morning；’　said　Terri。

Krystal　went　back　to　the　kettle。　It　made　such　a　racket　as　it　came　to　the　boil　that　she　could　not　make　out　any　of　what　her　mother　and　the　social　worker　were　saying　to　each　other。　She　sloshed　milk　into　the　mugs　with　the　teabags；　trying　to　be　as　quick　as　possible；　then　carried　the　three　red…hot　mugs　through　to　the　sitting　room　in　time　to　hear　Kay　say；　‘…　spoke　to　Mrs　Harper　at　the　nursery　yesterday—’

‘Tha’　bitch；’　said　Terri。

‘There　y’are；’　Krystal　told　Kay；　setting　the　teas　on　the　floor　and　turning　one　of　the　mugs　so　that　its　handle　faced　her。

‘Thanks　very　much；’　Kay　said。　‘Terri；　Mrs　Harper　told　me　that　Robbie　has　been　absent　a　lot　over　the　last　three　months。　He　hasn’t　had　a　full　week　for　a　while；　has　he？’

‘Wha’？’　said　Terri。　‘No；　’e　ain’。　Yeah；　’e　’as。　’E　only　jus’　mist　yesterday。　An’　when　’e　had　his　sore　throat。’

‘When　was　that？’

‘Wha’？　Monf　’go　…　monf’na　’alf　…　’bout。’

Krystal　sat　down　on　the　arm　of　her　mother’s　chair。　She　glared　down　at　Kay　from　her　position　of　height；　energetically　chewing　gum；　her　arms　folded　like　her　mother’s。　Kay　had　a　thick　open　folder　on　her　lap。　Krystal　hated　folders。　All　the　stuff　they　wrote　about　you；　and　kept；　and　used　against　you　afterwards。

‘I　takes　Robbie　to　the　nurs’ry；’　she　said。　‘On　my　way　to　school。’

‘Well；　according　to　Mrs　Harper；　Robbie’s　attendance　has　fallen　off　quite　a　bit；’　said　Kay；　looking　down　the　notes　she　had　made　of　her　conversation　with　the　nursery　manager。　‘The　thing　is；　Terri；　you　did　mit　to　keeping　Robbie　in　pre…school　when　he　was　returned　to　you　last　year。’

‘I　ain’　fuckin’—’　Terri　began。

‘No；　shurrup；　righ’？’　Krystal　said　loudly　to　her　mother。　She　addressed　Kay。　‘He　were　ill；　righ’；　his　tonsils　were　all　up；　I　got　’im　antibiotics　off　the　doctor。’

‘And　when　was　that？’

‘Tha’　was　’bout　free　weeks　–　anyway；　righ’—’

‘When　I　was　here　yesterday；’　Kay　said；　addressing　Robbie’s　mother　again　（Krystal　was　chewing　vigorously；　her　arms　making　a　double　barrier　around　her　ribs）；　‘you　seemed　to　be　finding　it　very　difficult　to　respond　to　Robbie’s　needs；　Terri。’

Krystal　glanced　down　at　her　mother。　Her　spreading　thigh　was　twice　as　thick　as　Terri’s。

‘I　di’n’　–　I　never　…’　Terri　changed　her　mind。　‘’E’s　fine。’

A　suspicion　darkened　Krystal’s　mind　like　the　shadow　of　some　circling　vulture。

‘Terri；　you’d　used　when　I　arrived　yesterday；　hadn’t　you？’

‘No；　I　fuckin’　hadn’！　Tha’s　a　fuckin’　–　you’re　fuckin’　–　I　ain’　used；　all　righ’？’

A　weight　was　pressing　on　Krystal’s　lungs　and　her　ears　were　ringing。　Obbo　must　have　given　her　mother；　not　a　single　bag；　but　a　bundle。　The　social　worker　had　seen　her　blasted。　Terri　would　test　positive　at　Bellchapel　next　time；　and　they　would　chuck　her　out　again　…

（　…　and　without