Chapter 6: first morning

A voice, saying something.

What? What?

"Would you like some breakfast, dear, some bacon and eggs?"

What? I lifted myself up, "Yeah, yeah, sure."

"Put your robe on and come out, it'll be ready in a few minutes."

I managed to focus my befuddled brain enough to see that it was Mrs Keaton, her head around the partly open door. She smiled and then was gone.

She'd seen me, she'd seen me in these bloody girl's pyjamas, I hadn't woken up in time. Shit. Oh no, what'll I do?

She'd left the door partly open, I could hear noises . . . sizzling bacon . . . smell it. Hell, I was hungry.

I lay back down, getting angry. Bastards, I'm not going out there, no way . . . but, but, I was so damn hungry, I needed food, I had to eat. Suddenly, I leapt up, grabbed the robe and put it on. So what if they laughed at me, teased me, I'd show 'em. I'd show 'em that I didn't care, they couldn't shame me, I was too tough for them. Fuck 'em.

I charged out, but nerves hit me and I slowed down. They saw me.

"Good morning, Lynda."

"Morning, Lynda."

"Sit down here, Lynda, and butter yourself some toast. Your eggs and bacon will be ready in a couple of minutes."

What was this 'Lynda' bullshit? If they think that I'm going to respond to being called 'Lynda', they are outta their tree.

Mr Keaton said, "It was really cold last night, but the forecast is for it to warm up over the next few days."

"It's a beautiful clear morning, though," Mrs Keaton remarked.

"It is, just right for going up to the Peak."

"There you are, love," Mrs Keaton said as she placed the plate of bacon and eggs in front of me.

I couldn't help myself, I got stuck right into it. Shit, it was good.

Mr Keaton explained, "Lynda, the Peak is a rocky hill back a way behind the house. It's not too steep a climb and a fairly easy walk to get there. The views over the lake are great from up there."

"So," Mrs Keaton added, "as soon as we've finished breakfast and got ready, we're going to head up there."

"Mum, I don't have to come, do I?" Randolph asked plaintively, "I've seen it before."

"You're coming, Randolph," his father said firmly.

So there were two of us that didn't want to go, were there?

"Lynda, slow down, you'll give yourself indigestion. We're not in that big a hurry." Mr Keaton was shaking his head and giving me an amused grimace.

I stopped gobbling the delicious food, but I was thinking they can't make me go on their bloody walk, no way.

Hey, hang on. Once I was outside I could make a run for it, dodge into the bush, circle around and get onto the dirt road and head for the village. Sure, it was a long way, but I could make it. And them, ring my parents . . . yeah, then these bastards would pay.