Trousers Ruled the House
Evie… really, why are you like this…? her mother whimpered. Maybe you should… go stay with Gran for a week? Just until things calm down.
A week? Evie let out a bitter snort. Mum, hes throwing me out. *Right now*. Cant you hear him?
Geoffreys just upset, Linda stared fixedly at the fan-shaped wallpaper, unable to meet her daughter’s eye. Go on, start packing. Ill ring you later.
Evie stared at her mum as if she were a stranger here stood a woman for whom, evidently, trousers in the house mattered more than her own child.
Clutching her one-eyed, battered teddy bear for dear life, Evie surveyed the heaps of bags tied up with parcel string in the hallway.
At ten years old, her world, which had once been just her and her mum, had abruptly ballooned to include a pokey flat dominated by a thoroughly uncharming chap.
Evie, love, dont just stand there like a lamppost, her mum fussed, tucking wild wisps of hair back into her messy bun. Help Geoff with that box of crockery, will you?
Now we’re one big family. Isnt that lovely?
Evie eyed her stepdad. He was built like hed swallowed a rugby ball, and sported eyebrows that might have had their own postcode.
His children, thirteen-year-old Tony and fourteen-year-old Maddy, were slumped on the sofa, surveying Evie with open disdain that they didnt even bother to hide.
Oi, shrimp, Maddy piped up. Chuck your stuff in the corner. Theres barely room as it is, and Im not moving my gear for you.
Madeline! Linda tried to muster a smile. We agreed Evie would have the second bed.
Great that *you* agreed, Tony grunted as he barged past Evie, accidentally knocking her shoulder. Place is cramped enough as it is.
The family patriarch now made his entrance.
Oi, pack it in, all of you, Geoffrey roared. Linda, fetch some grub, would you? Im starving!
Right away, Geoff, just a minute, darling! Linda bustled off to the kitchen, all flustered.
Evie stood motionless in the corridor, a knot in her stomach. Something in her told her she wouldnt be here long.
***
A year later, Linda produced a son Pete and devoted every waking moment to washing baby clothes and bouncing a perpetually screaming infant.
The money situation was catastrophic. Geoff worked construction, but most of his pay disappeared before he hit the doormat.
Plain pasta *again*? Geoff shoved his plate away so abruptly it nearly flew off the table.
Geoff, love, you know why, Linda jiggled Pete with one arm and stirred a dubious pot of stew with the other. The council taxs gone up, we only just got Maddy her school boots…
Not my problem! Geoff grabbed his jacket. I work my backside off and theres not even a sniff of meat on the table.
Im off to Steves. At least he knows how to play host.
Geoff, dont go, Linda’s voice broke. Petes screaming, Im dead on my feet…
Sort it out yourself, he snapped, banging the door on his way out.
Linda shot after him, row escalating in the hallway.
Evie sat, folded into a nook of the kitchen, trying to do her homework on the windowsill. As soon as her stepmother left, Tony and Maddy pounced on the fridge.
Hey, Mum said thats for tomorrow, Evie mumbled as her not-quite-siblings wolfed down thick slabs of sausage, leaving only crust.
Shut it, yeah? Maddy shoved half a loaf into her mouth. No one asked your opinion. Be grateful you even live here.
I live here because its Mums home too!
Sure you do, Tony sneered. Wonder how long thatll last. Dad says you take up too much space.
Evie stayed quiet. There was no point arguing; shed never convince them.
***
Evie had just turned thirteen, yet already the thrill had gone out of life. Her stepdad would disappear for days; when he finally showed, he was always short-tempered and glassy-eyed.
Wheres the money, Geoff? Mum asked him over and over. Pete needs a winter coat, Evies still in last years jacket…
No money, came the reply, as Geoff collapsed on the sofa, boots and all. Dont start. Im knackered.
What do you mean, no money? You just got your advance!
I spent it. Helped out mates. Why do you have to nag?
Inevitable pre-holiday row erupted again. Evie, not keen on being caught in the crossfire, darted to the room she shared with Maddy.
Her desk was a disaster: homework everywhere, and her beloved sketchpad from Granddad torn and scattered on the floor.
Did you do this? Evie was on the verge of tears.
Maddy sat at her vanity, slathering on lipstick.
Yeah. And? Your little doodles are rubbish, by the way.
You had no right to touch my things! Evie grabbed the bruised sketchpad. Ill tell Mum!
Ooh, Im terrified, Maddy shot back. Youre nobody here. Sos your mum, honestly. Dad says you just sponge off us.
Shut up! Evie took a step forward.
Or what? Going to hit me? Go on, I dare you. Dadll wipe the floor with you.
Maddy swaggered right up to Evie and shoved her, hard.
Evie toppled into the wardrobe, bashing her elbow painfully. Blinking back tears, she sprang up and slapped Maddy soundly across the face.
Her stepsister howled like a banshee, collapsing onto the bed and wailing for all she was worth.
DAD! Shes *murdering* me! Daaaaaad!
Within seconds, Geoffrey stormed in.
Whats going on here?!
She *hit* me! sobbed Maddy, hands over her face. I was just sitting here and she *attacked* me!
Geoffrey slowly turned to Evie, who clung to the ruins of her sketchpad, still panting.
You laid a finger on my daughter? he asked, voice menacingly quiet.
She ruined my things! Shes always mean to me! Evie yelled.
Dont care what she did, he advanced. In my house, you keep your head down and your mouth shut. Since you cant manage that get out.
What? Evie froze.
You heard me. Pack your bags and leave. We dont need extra mouths or drama.
Geoff, please, Linda appeared, ghostly pale in the doorway. Its late… Wheres she supposed to go?
Zip it, Linda! thundered Geoffrey. Either she goes or I do. Im done with this snake pit.
I only put up with her because of you, but enoughs enough.
Linda glanced at her daughter:
Go on, Evie. Pack your things. Stay with Gran for a month or two. Think about what youve done. Maybe if you apologise, theyll let you back in
Evie said nothing. She shoved her essentials in her rucksack: schoolbooks, a couple of blouses, that loyal teddy and left as the evening set in, her mother not even seeing her to the gate.
When she arrived, crying, at her grandparents flat, Granddad simply clenched his fists, and Gran whisked her into the kitchen for a strong cuppa.
Youre not going back there, Granddad declared once he got the story. Let them just try it! Ill show them whats what!
Evie never returned.
She grew into a fine young woman, finished school and university, landed a good job, got her own little flat.
She saw her mum only now and then mostly out of duty.
Her mum would ring sometimes, moaning about life, but Evie was unmoved.
Evie, Geoffs stopped giving us any money, her mum wept down the phone. Pete went to school this year in hand-me-downs, not even a proper schoolbag.
Maddys married now, but still living with us; her husband never works…
Mum, this is your choice, Evie replied calmly. I help Gran and Granddad. I have my own life.
But were family!
No, Mum. We stopped being a family the night you shut the door behind me.
Their conversations always ended the same way.
***
Linda didnt even ring on Evies twenty-seventh birthday she called a month late, insisted on meeting.
Evie dithered, but her curiosity got the better of her.
They met awkwardly in a quiet café. Mum brought along little Pete.
I havent much time, Evie warned. Give it to me straight.
Geoff… Mums eyes filled with tears. Hes gone off the rails. Got into dodgy debts. Hes mortgaged the flat, can you believe it?
The bailiffs kicked us out last week. Maddys off at her in-laws, but Pete and I have nowhere.
Evie said nothing. Could she really be asking to move in?
Evie, sweetheart, Linda reached across with a shaking hand. Help us. Just something to tide us over. Or could we stay with you?
Youve got a big flat, we wouldnt get in your way. Petes very handy, can do housework and all sorts. I taught him myself!
Mum, wheres your darling husband these days? Petes dad?
Oh, Geoff… Mum let out a bitter little laugh. The moment the debt collectors showed, he packed a bag and scarpered.
Said he didnt need us holding him back. Just dumped us, Evie. Like a sack of rubbish…
Funny how the world comes round, Evie said quietly. Thats exactly what he did to me ten years ago. And you went along with it.
Evie, I had no idea it would turn out like this! I was scared of him! her mum was now raising her voice; a couple of customers peered over their teacups. Try to understand! I had Pete to think of, Im his mother
And you werent a mother to me…
How dare you say that?! Have you no heart?! Lindas voice shook. Were on the streets! Your brothers hungry, not a crumb since yesterday!
Evie calmly stood, pulled a wad of twenty-pound notes from her purse and slid them over.
This should cover food and a few nights in a hostel. Thats all Im able to do.
Evie! her mum grabbed her arm. You cant just leave us like this!
Why not? Evie gently freed herself. You left me when I was thirteen. Trousers in the house were more important…
And I dont need you now. I managed on my own.
Evie turned and walked out.
Evie! Evie, come back! her mum shouted after her. Ungrateful! We raised you! I gave you life, you shameless girl!
Evie didnt look back.
***
A week later, her granddad called.
Evie, your mums turned up here, he grumbled. Tried to move in with us, but I didnt let her past the doorstep.
Told her to go find that Geoffrey of hers let him deal with it!
And what did she say?
She yelled and threatened to take us to court for maintenance. Silly woman, honestly…
The lad was peering out from behind her… Poor kid. But let that snake in here? Not a chance. She slagged us off something rotten when you came to live with us.
I know, Granddad. Dont worry. She wont bother you again.
And she didnt. Turned out Geoffrey vanished somewhere in a half-derelict village, scraping by, living in a house without decent heating.
Linda became a cleaner, got a room in a hostel from the local council.
Maddy and Tony, who never learned to work, got caught up in endless domestic squabbles and mounting debts.
Evie regrets nothing. She keeps in touch with her littlest brother for by all accounts, Pete is entirely blameless.
