Revelations by Susan Evelyn (recommended ebook reader .TXT) 📖

are there so often. It’s a small cinema, only the one screen, but at least they try to cater to the Uni students on weekends. Naturally we have our favourite seats and we joke about how management should have our names embroidered on the backs.

There were a good number of people there and the usual racket as everyone waited for the lights to go down. Then a bunch of guys came in, or rather, invaded.

They were boisterous and loud, and no-one seemed to have seen them before. Everyone shrank away from their rough-housing when they often knocked into other patrons. One person even had one of these louts land in their lap from a particularly hefty buffet from his mates.

And loud! They had no volume control and shouted everything they said. Nor did they stop when the lights went down for the movies. They talked throughout the previews, even shouting comments to the screen. The classic movie played first and only fuelled their behaviour.


There was murmuring among the other patrons which only made things worse. Eventually Vada stood up and told them to behave or get out. Well! We then became the focus of their shouted abuse and lewd comments.

There was no way any of us were going to walk past them to go out to the cinema staff, but there is more than one way to handle things. Nan pulled out her mobile phone and you can just imagine the rude suggestion which came from the hooligans before she contacted management.

Shortly after the phone call, someone came in and sat near the exit. Not knowing who this person was, the ruffians toned down their behaviour for all of 5 minutes. However, I recognised the newcomer as the day manager without his insignia jacket.

As soon as the raucous behaviour resumed, the manager left to return a few minutes later wearing his jacket and backed up by several male staff. They stood over the nuisance bunch and “invited” them to leave. The boys had had their fun achieving maximum disruption so they left without offering a fight. However, there was a parting barb aimed at my group threatening they would make it up to us later.

The film had been paused during the eviction so paying customers did not miss too much. Everything soon settled down and we enjoyed the movies in peace.

Afterwards the four of us had afternoon tea at the cafe next door, treating ourselves to more sugar with some chocolate Sundays. We waited there until Nan’s parents came to collect her on their way to a big family dinner at her grandparents’ place. They had to go past my home so they offered me a lift too.

We had barely gone a block when I had the strangest feeling. It was a weird sensation something similar to when Alex had been watching me in class. I stared out of the window watching everything that moved and half the things which didn’t.

When we crossed at an intersection, I saw a pickup truck dash across the intersection a block off to one side. It happened again at the next crossing. I was waiting for it to show at the third, but saw nothing until we were almost all the way across. Then I saw the front of the pickup edge into the parallel intersection. We were being followed, I was sure of it.

We turned off the main street and cut across a suburb to get to my home. The pickup truck lost us for a few blocks but soon found the trail and paralleled us again. It was too much of a coincidence.

I could not voice my concerns to Nan or her parents. They would have thought me paranoid, or mad. My thoughts were on the gang of boys from the cinema and their threats. It would be alright when I got home. Dad would be waiting for me and I would feel safe again.

But he wasn’t at home. Instead, there was a note on the kitchen table saying he had been called into work and might be late. I locked the doors and checked all the windows before running up to my room and peeping cautiously out of the window. I saw a pickup truck cruise down the street.

I did not turn on the lights; not exactly sure why. Maybe because lights would show there was someone in the house, someone who had recently got home. Also, I did not want to present a silhouette of me looking out of the window.

I was scared. I still am scared. I am sitting on the edge of my bed hugging my knees to my chest and not turning anything on. There is a good view of the road from here and I saw the same pickup drive past slowly a few times. They haven’t been around for an hour now which worries me even more than when I did see it. I worry they are on foot and creeping around the house where they can’t be seen. Every time there is a creak I get goose bumps and my heart beats faster.

Dad will be home soon. He rang half an hour ago. Five minutes more and he’ll be walking in the door. I have to hold on for five more minutes. Then everything will be alright; then I will be safe.


Day 7
Dear Diary,
Sunday! Dad’s home, the sun is out and all’s right with the world. Looking back I can’t believe how I got myself into such a tizz last night. Overactive imagination, I guess.

Nothing planned for the day except for a bit of personal pampering and relaxation. Dad’s making his Sunday special pancakes for breakfast and afterwards I think a long soak in the tub with a good book will put me in a better mood.

..............................

The day has been pretty quiet. Watched a few movies, prepared clothes for next week, did a bit of house work – that sort of thing.

I didn’t tell Dad about what happened at the movies. He might have been worried, and it was nothing, really. As for later last night, I have chalked it up to my paranoia. There is nothing to indicate otherwise, and no unexpected visitations or drive-bys today.


That said though, I did listen to the news. You never know, a slow news day could lead to some minor local incidents being reported. There was nothing about the scuffle at the cinema, which was gratifying.

There was one report which stuck in my mind though. The reporters took a mocking tone when they presented yet another unverified report of a ‘big animal’ in the area. I have no idea why I even listened let alone remember it. This sort of thing gets reported on a regular basis, particularly when there is nothing big to dominate the news.

The local suburbs end abruptly at the foot of a range of hills. Some farming properties have fields on the facing slopes, but beyond is a natural reserve. Once in a while a rogue animal will come into the paddocks and take down an animal or two before the farmers either catch it or run it off. There have been all sorts of things from wild dogs to the bigger hunting felines. More than half the time, though, it is someone’s fevered imagination that sees a dark shape moving among the shadows.


The reporter did not interview the group of young men who had alerted the police, and there was a strong suggestion they had been drinking. The article continued to say they had been found on the edge of town in their pickup truck, badly bruised and shaken, and claiming a wild animal had attacked them. The tone of the account had implied a ‘good time gone bad’ after the liberal application of alcohol and authorities did not want to alarm the locals without some corroborating evidence.

Maybe my attention was caught by the mention of the pickup truck in relation to a group of young men. I will talk to my best’ies tomorrow. Maybe they know something.


Day 8
Dear Diary,
The brief respite is over. Back to classes today. It is early days yet and the prospect is not too onerous.

I was a little early to Creative Writing this morning but I was not the first. I sauntered in and was a little taken back to see someone in the far corner seat. It was Lexie.

He looked up as I pulled back my seat and dropped my books on the desk. And he smiled! He actually smiled at me. Be still my fluttering heart!

Ok, so it was just a little smile, nothing special but I felt it was a miracle. He had not smiled before, not at school, not seen by others.

He was wearing a blue denim shirt and the colour reflected in his eyes sparkling with crystal clarity beneath lowered lashes. The smile lit up his face with the merest flush of warmth. Such a lovely smile, he should do it more often.

My own reaction was unprecedented and took me quite by surprise. I should have said something, found out if he remembered me. Before the right words came to mind others were entering the room and put an end to the speculation.

I have not told my best’ies about Lexie. There is no good reason to not let them know of our previous encounters. I usually share everything with them, but not this. It has become something precious I hug to myself and now the image of his smile sets me tingling inside with the added thrill of something secret.

I haven’t told Dad, either. The time has never been right. Besides, what would I say anyway? It’s not as if there’s something special between me and Lexie..... yet. I can always hope, though, can’t I?

During the class, Mr Silverman walked up and down the corridor of facing desks and every now and then I would see Lexie behind him. My mysterious friend was becoming more involved in the class and even made a few comments today. Perhaps he is coming out of his shell.

More though, I could tell he kept looking at me when he thought no-one noticed. Maybe he is putting the memories together but he doesn’t give any hint other than when he looks my way his expression softens. There is something in his wide-eyed look; an openness like the innocent need to please seen in a young puppy’s expression, a yearning for approval.


That’s it! I knew it would come to me eventually. That is just the way his dog used to look at me. Maybe Alex learned it from him. I would always give in to that look and the puppy would take the food I offered and lick my hand. If I was bending down, he would try to lick my face too. He was such a friendly animal, at least to me. Although if someone walked past he would stand tall and rigid, and those pretty eyes would narrow and his lips quivered in the beginning of a snarl until the intruders were gone. It was so cute.

Meeting up with my best’ies in the canteen we all had yesterday’s news report on our minds. We speculated as to whether it was the group who had disturbed the cinema session and I confessed how I thought we had been followed in the car home. The others nodded sagely when I mentioned the pickup truck. But what had happened to them? That was the big question,