Willa and Louie 1 страница

Dare Truth or Promise

Willa and Louie could not be more different. Louie wants to be a lawyer and is an outstanding student. Willa lives in a pub and just wants to get through the year so she can graduate and become a chef. But they are completely attracted to one another when they first meet at a fast-food restaurant. Soon they fall in love fast and furiously, and everything the girls are sure of—their plans, their faith, their families, their identities -– is called into question…

Louie

There was a moment, later, that was a lightning strike. But the first time Louie saw Willa she had just begun the coleslaw. She had poured the bucket of mayonnaise over the mountain of cabbage and carrot and had plunged her hands up to her elbows in the freezing cold mixture when they walked in.

Kevin presented Willa like a new car, smug; he steered her around the kitchen, hand pressed to her back, his eyes running over her face as if he were polishing the paintwork. Then he ran into Deirdre, and you could almost hear the brakes squeak.

" And here we are, where all the real work takes place! " he announced, and was greeted by a snort. " This is Deirdre, Deirdre this is Willa—as in Will-a, Won't-a, just a little joke there, " (and a little squeeze, thought Louie) " —and this is Louie. Louie's an after-schooler like you, and she's going to show you the ropes, aren't you Louie? "

Willa had long red hair which she'd pulled back in a bushy ponytail. Her skin was pale and she looked awful in the regulation Burger Giant cap and apron. She moved away from Kevin to re-tie her apron, then turned to Louie.

" Hi, " she said, with a grin.

" Hi. "

The air stretched momentarily.

Deirdre thrust a pile of flattened chicken boxes into Kevin's arms. " You can take these on your way out. "

Kevin wasn't wearing his apron, and he took a quick step back and held the boxes at arm's length as they began to dribble blood from the bottom comer.

" Oh, gross, " he said. " Clean that up, will you, " and he disappeared out the door, beneath the board that held a photograph of Deirdre grimacing at the world and announcing that she was the Burger Giant Employee of the Week.

Louie watched Willa turn and follow her to the sink. She didn't have that new girl, first day at school look at all. She simply stood and waited as Louie washed her hands under the tap.

" Everyone has a duty each night, " Louie explained. " I'm on salads and preparation, Deirdre's on filling orders and Simone's serving. Kelly's coming in soon to help, and Kevin's supposed to be on the counter with Simone. " She watched as Willa looked about her carefully. " You'll begin with me on preparation, because we're behind, but fill orders with Deirdre later. You can start on these dishes. "

Willa was good. She'd never worked in a takeaways before but she knew how to place the tomato around the edges of the burger so it looked fuller than it was; she knew how to smear the relish see-through thin on the bun; she knew how to chop spring onions with the scissors, not the knife.

" You must have worked in a Burger Giant in a previous life, " said Louie.

Willa shrugged. " I get a lot of practice at home. "

The real surprise was Deirdre. Deirdre hated Burger Giant. She hated Kevin. And she hated new staff. She barked a couple of explanations at Willa early in the evening and after that Willa didn't have to ask her anything. Deirdre's face showed a begrudging respect for the new girl when Willa fetched ajar of gherkins from the shelves without having to ask and loosened the tight lid by running it under hot water. To Deirdre such domestic skills were worth a hundred of Louie's Shakespearian quotes. In fact the only time she had seemed impressed with Louie's academic abilities was last summer when she'd served a husky young German tourist and Louie had spoken in broken Deutsch to take his order, and wished him a Glü ckliche Weihnachten.

When Kevin returned to total the cash register, take the money and lock up, Willa was putting away the third load of dishes for the evening.

" All settled in? " he asked, sidling up and cornering her against the chip warmer. " You look like you belong here already. Here, " he said, taking a giant sieve from her, " I'll give you a hand putting those away. "

Just then Kelly bounced in from the counter clutching a canvas bag.

" All done, " she announced, and handed the bag to Kevin. " The door's snibbed but I've left the cash totalling to you. " Kelly had had her teeth capped last month and she delivered her best Ail-American smile to Kevin. " Simone left five minutes early cos it was so quiet, okay? " Without waiting for an answer she pulled her apron over her head. Kelly always seemed to perform this maneuvre with the utmost squirming and wriggling, and always right in front of Kevin.

Willa used the distraction to slip away with a container full of cutlery. Kelly, who watched a lot of soaps, pushed home her advantage with a protracted stretch which left Kevin face to mammary glands for at least five stupefying seconds.

" Aaahhh, what a night, " she moaned, eyes closed. " I can't wait to slip into my little bed. "

" I am your spaniel; and Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you, " Louie quoted sweetly to the air.

" Hmm, yes, okay Kelly, " said Kevin, trying to cough his voice back into control, " pop that bag upstairs on my desk, will you? " He put the sieve down on the bench and slipped across to Willa again. Louie and Deirdre exchanged looks. Kevin's new girl routine was truly sickening, but also a matter of some fascination. More could be told about their new colleague from her reaction to Kevin's come-ons than any test they could devise.

Kelly had disappeared through the white swing door that led to the stairs and offices. Kevin approached Willa, or rather Willa's bottom, as she was bent over sorting cutlery into containers under the bench.

It was a gift to Kevin. His vision of himself as a subtle, sensitive operator in matters of seduction never conflicted with such an opportunity. He reached out and patted the bottom. As Willa leapt up, he dextrously managed to turn her so they were standing front to front, his arm still around her waist.

" Why, Willa, there's no need to leap on me, " he smarmed, then lifted his arms out wide. " I'm all yours! "

Louie and Deirdre looked on in horror as he laughed at his joke. " Seriously though, " he continued—

" Seriously, " Willa interrupted, and now Kevin saw the butcher's knife pointing at his groin, " If you touch me again, I'll cut off your goolies and sell 'em for chicken nibbles. Understood? "

The air stretched thin again, the two figures taut and surreal. Willa was magnificent, all flame and fury, her eyes fixed on Kevin's. Louie noticed that they were a light light blue, like opals, and they glittered. The combination of ferocity and composure in Willa's manner had an immediate effect on Kevin, and he backed away, hands up like a gangster held at gunpoint.

Louie knew immediately that she should have threatened to chop off Kevin's dangly bits months ago.

Willa had a dog called Judas. It was a German Shepherd and it was tied up by the loading dock behind Burger Giant.

" Get down, Judas, " she said as the dog leapt and whined in greeting, sniffing the bag of leftovers Deirdre had given Willa. In two years Deirdre had never once offered leftovers to Louie.

" Is he yours? " asked Louie, who was undoing the chain on a mountain bike.

" Yes, of course he's mine. He goes everywhere with me. " Willa let the dog off his rope and he bounded in a few circles then came back to Willa's side and looked up at her with expectant eyes.

" Every time for you a little death, " said Louie, pushing her bike over to Judas and giving him a pat.

" Pardon? "

" Absence. The times we went away, every time for you a little death. It's a poem, to a dog. "

" Do you always quote poetry? "

Louie shrugged, and followed Willa and Judas through an alleyway onto the street. " I just remember things sometimes. "

" You must have a photographic memory. I can't remember anything off by heart. " Willa clicked her tongue at Judas who had taken off in the wrong direction. He weaved briskly back to Willa, nose sweeping the pavement for scents. " You going this way? " Willa asked Louie.

Louie paused. She did go that way, but was planning to ride her bike. Willa had already started walking, Judas trotting happily at her side. Louie wheeled her bike along the footpath to catch up. " Sure. "

It had been raining, and the streetlights left a smear of yellow along George Street. They passed a few other people coming out of bars and restaurants, but mostly it was still and empty, and Louie had a strange urge to leap about in the middle of the road and shout out loud, to take possession of the main street of Dunedin.

" It's weird isn't it, no one in George Street, " she said.

" Spooky, " agreed Willa. " I love it late at night. It's my favourite time. Come on! " And she jumped onto the road and began running along the centre line, Judas loping beside her, tongue hanging out. " Race you! " she shouted, from a good head start. " To the horse! "

Louie swung a leg over her bike and started pedalling crazily, the bike lurching left and right as she tried to get up speed and overtake Willa. The tyres whizzed against the wet road and somewhere behind her the Town Hall clock began striking midnight.

" Aaaarrggh! " groaned Willa from ahead as she drew to a stop. Arthur Barnett's neon horse posted up and down on top of the shop roof like a lobotomised Davy Crockett minus his arms which had short-circuited. " Judas won, " Willa panted to Louie as she caught up. The pale tip of Judas's tail could just be seen bouncing along the road ahead. " Oi! Judas! Get back here, " she shouted, and the dog turned a wide circle and began trotting back along the road.

" You're fast, " Louie commented. " For someone who's just worked seven hours. "

" I like speed. "

Louie decided she did too.

Willa went to Woodhaugh Girls' High too, but explained to Louie that she'd just moved there from Miller Park College, and was doing mostly repeat sixth form subjects. When Louie asked her why she'd shifted schools Willa laughed and said, " Did she jump or was she pushed? You should have a poem about that. "

There was a person shuffling along the edge of the kerb, pulling things out of rubbish bins. Louie didn't know if it was a man or woman, they were so covered with layers of clothes and hung about with semi-filled plastic garbage bags. Both of them fell silent as they watched the figure sift through the nearest bin, undoing wrappers and sniffing chip packets. As they got closer Louie saw that it was a woman.

Judas trotted over to investigate. Willa called him but he only paused for a moment. When he reached the woman she made a strange noise and pulled the rubbish bags closer round her body. " Git! Git out! " She flapped a hand at the dog, and Judas jumped back and barked.

" Oh god, " said Willa. She called out to Judas, but he was startled by the strange jerky movements of the woman, and kept barking at her. She bustled around the other side of the rubbish bin and hissed at him, which only made him more excited.

" Stop it, Judas, " said Willa, going over to get him. Judas looked at Willa and barked a couple more times. " Sorry, " she apologised. The woman turned her head away from Willa and didn't speak. She held on tight to her garbage bags. " Look, " said Willa, " would you like these? " And she pulled out of her pack a Burger Giant bag. Judas jumped up at it as she held it out, but the woman turned further away.

" Bugger off! " she spat.

" Go on, " said Willa. " They're leftovers, you might be able to use them. Please, " she added, when the woman didn't respond.

" Put 'em in there. " The woman fired the words like gunshot, flicking a hand at the rubbish bin and turning away again.

Willa walked over to the bin and placed the bag carefully on the top. Judas tried to jump up at it, but she said " No" firmly, and then kept him at heel as she walked back to where Louie stood. The woman never moved. Louie made a face at Willa.

" Come on, " Willa replied, frowning. " Keep moving. "

For the second time that night, Louie admired Willa's behaviour. Why didn't she ever have the poise to offer something to tramps instead of just feeling bad? Louie hopped back on her bike and paddled it along with her feet beside Willa.

" That stuff with Kevin, " she said, trying not to make a big deal of it, " that was cool. "

Willa gave a little sniff, and scuffed a stone in front of her. They were both on the pavement now.

" You reckon? "

" Yeah. He had it coming to him. I wish I'd done it ages ago. " Louie mentally kicked herself for saying so much.

Willa turned her head and looked up at Louie, a delighted smile like a new moon on her face.

" I guess I won't be Employee of the Week, eh? "

As they approached the Duke Street intersection they hit another bunch of people spilling out onto the street. Three men had their arms around each other, singing, " Love me tender, love me do, all my dreams come trewww... " Someone else yelled out from a ute, " Seeya in sexual. Seeyin Sexual Targa, " by which Louie worked out he meant Central Otago. She was just about to tell Willa what she thought he'd said, when her companion stopped and called Judas to heel again.

" Home sweet home. "

Louie looked about. There was only a park, a bus terminal, a service station and—

" The pub? "

" Uhuh, " grunted Willa. " We live upstairs. " She waited till the ute did a U-turn and roared off down the street. " See ya, Louie, " she said, as she and Judas crossed the road.

" See ya, " replied Louie, still startled. She half-lifted a hand. " Maybe at school, eh? "

" Yeah, maybe. "

Louie stared at the pub. It was a big concrete building painted dark green and red, a neon sign outside advertising it as the DB Duke Tavern. The bottle store and lounge bar were both dark, but there was a light on somewhere in the public bar. Upstairs three long narrow windows were lit behind blinds like yellow teeth.

Louie looked back to the street to see which door Willa had gone in, but there was no sign of her or Judas.

Willa

Willa was first up in the morning again. She wasn't used to it. Bliss always used to be in the bathroom hogging the shower or stealing Willa's hairdryer then singing at the top of her voice.

She made herself toast and tea, and took a cup through to her mother.

Jolene stirred when Willa turned on the radio, and then she spotted the tea beside her.

" Oh, you wee love, " she croaked, and pulled herself up in bed to drink it.

The morning light was a cold winter glare through the upstairs window as Willa drew back the curtains and rolled up the old manila blind. Through the bars of the fire escape she watched the early traffic bunch up at the lights, then take off in a cloud of exhaust. The mechanic at the corner service station stood over the open bonnet of an old Cortina as his friend revved the engine and added more exhaust to the morning air.

" Pass me m' smokes, love. "

Willa turned and studied her mother.

" Don't start. I've got a bloody shocker. " Jolene leaned her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes. Willa tossed a full packet of cigarettes and a lighter from the dresser. They landed on Jolene's lap, and she patted the bedclothes until she located them. Jolene always had headaches in the morning these days, and she seemed to have given up trying to quit smoking. " You bloody try to quit smoking while you're working in it all day, " she'd say. " It's like Jenny Craig working in a flamin' cake shop. "

Willa perched on the dresser and watched as her mother lit the cigarette and drew in deeply. " Ahh, beaut. That's better. " The line of white smoke she exhaled flowed toward the window where it mingled with the dirty white view. Jolene reached for her cup of tea with one hand and the ashtray beside her bed with the other. Her hair was muzzed on the side where she'd been sleeping and her face was blotched with pink on that side too. Her eyes looked small and bare in her face without make-up.

" Oh, god love, don't look at me, I'm a mess, " she said, catching Willa's eye, and with the hand that held the cigarette she tugged away at the flatter side of her hair. Jolene had the same red hair as her two daughters, but nowadays she dyed it a darker auburn to cover the greying temples.

" No one looks good in the morning, Mum. " Willa stepped inside an approaching drift of cigarette smoke, and flopped into an old armchair on the other side of the bed.

" You all ready for school? " her mother asked.

" Just need some money for lunch. "

Jolene snorted. " Shoulda known. Cups of tea don't come cheap round here. " She pointed at the dresser. " In me handbag. Oh, there's the mail there too, from yesterday. I think there's a letter from Bliss and Gary. Bring it over. You got time? " she asked her daughter.

" Sure, if you've got the money. " Willa dropped the black bag into her mother's hands.

" You've lived in a pub too long. " Jolene rummaged in her purse and pulled out a note. " That enough? " she asked Willa.

" Uhuh. " She put it in the pocket of her jeans and sat back down in the armchair. Jolene was sorting through a bundle of letters, firing the bills onto her bedside table and putting others beside her on the bed. She handed one to Willa with a grin. " Love letter? " she quipped. Then she frowned quickly and bit her lip. " Just joking, " she muttered and returned to her own mail. " Here it is, " she said with relief, and looked back at her daughter. Willa's letter had disappeared.

" Open it, " Willa replied.

The letter was in Bliss's large round writing. She and Gary had found a flat in Grey Lynn, nice and central, although it was a bit of a hovel. They were sharing with two other guys, an ex-girl-friend of one and occasionally her new boyfriend. " Nice going, " commented Willa. Gary was loving his mate's workshop, lots of grunty bikes and good overtime, and Bliss had just got a part-time job in a clothes shop in Newmarket. The weather was fantastic, still shirt-sleeves, they'd heard it was freezing in Dunedin at the moment blah blah blah... Hope the pub's okay and no hassles lately, make sure Sid looks after you all right, and love to Willa, tell her to stay out of my wardrobe I still want those things, hope everything's good at the new school, what a business—Jolene faltered a bit in her reading.

" You told her. " Willa glowered at her mother.

" Only a little, love. "

" What does she say? "

" Oh, not much, just the usual. " Jolene turned the page.

" What? "

Jolene sighed and turned back. " She just says it sounds like an overreaction to her. "

" Huh. That's for real. " Willa got up and started to leave the room.

" You fed Judas? " Jolene asked.

" Yup. "

" Elvis? "

" No, not yet. " Willa tried to close the door.

" Do it before you leave. "

Elvis chirped as soon as Willa came back into the kitchen, and Judas bounced around her legs.

" Okay, okay, " she said irritably. She took the feeding dishes out of the birdcage and washed them in the sink. She hated the sweet smell of the budgie cage, and the mixture of droppings and white fluff that always got in the water dish. As she replaced the filled dishes in his cage, Elvis jumped back and forth from his perch to his swing to the bars of the cage and chirrupped at Willa.

" Yeah yeah, " she muttered, sliding down the glass plates that held the dishes in place. " Life's a dream, I know. "

When Willa picked up a shoulder bag that held all her school work from the table, Judas jumped up and ran to the door with her.

" Sorry mate, " she said, patting the dog's head. " I'll see you after school. " Judas's ears flattened and he stretched his lowered head out toward the door hopefully. " You know the story, Judas, " Willa warned, and the big dog sank to the floor and gazed up at her with his sad brown eyes. Willa gave him a last rub around the ears which made him thump his tail once only, then she went out the door and headed for the stairs. She yelled a " Hooray" to her mother, but all she could hear in reply was a hacking cough from the bedroom.

At the turn of the stairs she hit the smell. Beer. The smell of it and cigarettes pervaded her life. The walls of the pub seemed to ooze it, and although Jolene and Sid were scrupulous about cleaning up at night, not the morning after, the smell never disappeared. At the bottom of the stairs she glanced through the glass doors to the lounge bar. The red and gold patterned carpet was in shadow but a little light from the window made the dark wood tables and stalls gleam and the spirit bottles glittered from above the bar. Willa reached into her back pocket and pulled out the pale blue letter her mother had handed her. She stared at it for a bit, then finally ripped it open, and read the slip of paper inside.

Die, bitch.

Woodhaugh Girls' High was set in a small open valley in north Dunedin, an area which had become popular in recent years with the subdivision of a tract of land along Woodhaugh, high on the sunny side. New residents had fabulous views to the north of the city across hills of native bush—much of which had been felled on their side in order to build houses. The Leith River ran through the heart of the gorge, and spread around its course was the original valley suburb known for its modest homes, bush tracks, gardens and a park. During summer it could be idyllic, but winter in the valley was harsh and the new residents on top of the hill often looked down on a blanket of fog and permafrost where the park and the school were located.

It was a short walk for Willa from the Duke to the new brick school in the valley. The sleek, colourful classrooms, albeit overheated by eight o'clock in the morning, were a luxury compared to the old prefabs at Miller Park. These were carpeted, and had comfortable chairs and soundproofed rooms. All she could remember from Miller Park was noise—constant clatter and sound rebounding off thin, shiny walls.

The hall was really an auditorium, with raked blue seating looking down on a wide polished wood stage. At assembly Willa's form filled about two rows on the left of the hall. The principal, Mrs. Eagles, spoke to them about the usual things; the debating team had won something, the Maori Culture Group was going to Turangawaewae, the netball team was fund-raising, nobody was returning their library books and studies had shown smokers didn't make it to the top one third of management. Mrs. Eagles called it the " nicotine ceiling" and some girls laughed. Willa knew all about nicotine ceilings, but she thought she was probably taking it too literally.

The prefects sat at the front of the auditorium facing the stage, and Mrs. Eagles gestured to the front row, then called up Louise Angelo to speak about drama.

Louie was dressed as a clown in spotted pantaloons and a crazily patterned shirt. She wore huge pink plastic shoes which she fought with getting up the steps to the stage. When the audience began to laugh, she played it up, and fell over, then glared at Mrs. Eagles who was laughing at her. Finally she waddled to the microphone, patted it, then got a big fright when the thump reverberated around the hall. She went back slowly and blew in it and the same thing happened. Eventually, pretending to be terrified by the audience and the mike, she read her lines from dozens of tiny little cue cards in the flattest, dullest voice you could imagine.

" Ladies and gentlemen it. Is my pleasure to invite you. To the magnificent stupid—stupi—stupendous unbelievably exciting. Opening of the Comedy Club. " Her face was unmoving and she continued in the same frightened-to-death voice. " Today at lunchtime right. Here in the auditorium you will. Never forget the thrill. And spectacle of our performance everyone. Is welcome but please—do. Not get too excited. Tickets are free yes. Free from the prefects. Room you must have a ticket to get. In get yours now yes now and laugh your heads. Off at the wit brilliance and. Antics of the world's funniest comedy troupe from Woodhaugh. High. " Then Louie turned to Mrs. Eagles with relief and as the principal congratulated her on getting through it she pretended to faint in Mrs. Eagles' arms. A few wry slaps on the cheeks from Mrs. Eagles brought the clown around pretty quickly, and holding her hurt cheeks she shambled off the stage to a round of applause and laughter from the school.

Next to her, a girl Willa had met last week, Geena, said, " She's so good, eh. Got anything on at lunchtime? "

Willa shook her head.

" Let's go then, eh? " Geena had dark hair and a cheeky grin. " Should be a laugh. "

" As long as there's no audience participation, " answered Willa. " I like plays where I sit and know I'm safe. "

" Scaredy-cat. " They were moving out of the hall. " What've you got now? " Geena asked.

" Maths. "

" Who? "

" Mrs. Lamont. "

Geena grimaced. " Better you than me. Okay, " she said, as they came to an intersection of corridors and got caught in the press, " I've got a free, I'll pick up tickets for both of us and meet you—where? Here? "

" Sure! " yelled Willa as Geena was swept further away. " Twelve-twenty, here! "

Willa

The tickets to the Comedy Club performance were bright orange with the letters PCC on them. At the door to the auditorium they were checked but everyone was told to hold onto them. Geena and Willa found seats right at the front, which was lucky because the auditorium was about two-thirds full.

Eventually the lights went out and Willa noticed a large screen on the stage.

" Did you ever hear the one about... " came a voice through the auditorium speakers

"... the teacher??? " On the screen appeared a huge face shoved up against the camera so it was distorted and ugly. One beady eye peered out at the audience.

A person jumped out from behind the stage. " She resigned from the morgue because of too much talking back. "

Another figure leapt out. Louie. " She was fired by the Freezing Works for cruelty to animals. "

" She was thrown out of the Iraqi army for brutality. "

The lights came up. They were in men's tailcoats and large coloured cravats. Louie's was purple, the other girl's orange. Louie stepped forward first.

" Welcome to the first performance of the soon to be worldfamous Comedy Club. You each have a ticket in your hand. I'm going to ask you to do something very important. Tear it up. Go on, tear it up, and throw it away! "

All around Willa people began tearing their ticket and throwing it into the air.

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