Between the Prison and the Sewage Works by Maryline Suchley (snow like ashes txt) 📖

who passed away yesterday at school.

Shit, I forgot about him. Was that his last name? Mara thought guiltily.

‘Tony has been at the school many years and was a good teacher who was dedicated to his job, always willing to do what was required for his pupils.’

The perils of teaching! I don’t want to be a good teacher and dedicated to the job if that’s what I’ve got to look forward to; dying at work with nobody noticing or even giving a shit! Mara thought.

‘We feel for his family and have passed on our condolences.’

Alan raised his glass and said.

‘To absent friends.’

With this everyone raised their glasses and mumbled absent friends.

‘This term has been an unusual one,’ Alan continued.

‘We have had two tragedies in the school, and have been informed about an OFSTEAD inspection in term two, which will indeed be stressful for all of us. So I hope everyone tries to relax this Christmas and comes back after the holidays refreshed. I would also like to introduce a new member to our team. James Roper,’ he then gestured his hand to where James was sitting. James smiled, nodded and raised his hand.

Alan sat down and immediately the waitresses came around to take orders.

Mara swigged more wine but made a mental note not to get drunk; she had to create a good impression in front of James.

Remember what happened last time! She reminded herself.

Feeling a little remorseful for paying no attention to Mat she made the effort to talk to him while James was conversing with Daniel.

‘Hey Mat, what’s been happening, I’ve been so busy this term that I’ve not really spoken to you.’

This was a blatant cop out; she was avoiding him.

‘Things have been a bit up and down this term I’ve had a few things to contend with,’ he replied heavily.

‘Oh Mat dear. I’ve been meaning to talk to you to see if you would like to do some cross curricular stuff between history and Media studies; a drama production of some sort. It would be just marvellous if we could do something like that,’ Steffi had just returned from somewhere.

Although Steffi’s rudeness always annoyed Mara, she was glad of the distraction from Mat. Mara smiled at Mat and turned back to talk to James, who was to her surprise, already looking in her. This made Mara’s stomach jump. Daniel was now thankfully being entertained by Lucy, which meant that Mara had James all to herself. She chatted to him easily for most of the dinner. Occasionally Mara found herself glancing at Mat who was now completely dominated by Steffi. She did feel sorry for him, but at the end of the day it wasn’t her fault?

After dinner people started to disappear from the restaurant, wishing each other a Merry Christmas as they left. Daniel then had the most sensible idea of his life and suggested going for a drink in a pub around the corner. It was only ten thirty and they could get another drink in before last orders.

Daniel, Lucy, James, Mat and to his irritation Steffi with subordinate Emma in tow, walked to the Pub.

The bar was congested with smoke, noise and people. Somehow they managed to find a corner to stand and talk in.

‘So Mara, what are you doing this Christmas?’ James asked.

‘Back to Somerset. I shall just chill for two weeks and forget about work. What about you?’

‘I’m going back to Belfast for just over a week then I’m coming back so I can do some preparation for this OFSTEAD thing.’

‘Oh okay. Where do you live?’ she asked

‘Lewisham. What about you?’

‘A few minutes down the road from here.’

‘That’s not far. Perhaps we should go out for a drink sometime before we start back?’ said James.

Mara couldn’t believe her luck. Thank you Lord! She thought.

‘Yeah, that would be great. I write down my number, perhaps we could go out on the Saturday night before we start back,’ she suggested.

‘Perfect,’ he replied smiling at her.

She now felt inebriated and for a change it wasn’t because of the wine.

Daniel irritatingly interrupted the conversation by asking Mara questions about her Christmas plans, unfortunately allowing Steffi to move in on James and talk to him about art.

‘Oh marvellous. You know I’m a rather artistic person myself,’ she babbled, ‘I belong to an amateur dramatics club and I often get the lead roles.’

‘Mara, how did your assessment go today,’ Daniel asked quietly.

‘Okay. But to be honest I can’t be bothered to think about it.’

‘Alright. Hey, what do you think of James?’

‘He’s really nice.’

‘Yeah, bit of a charmer though.’

Mara didn’t really know what to make of this comment; she just put it in the basket with all his other remarks, after all Daniel was a prize jerk.

The call came for last orders. The bar filled quickly with people trying to get another drink to chuck down their throats in the twenty minutes before closing time.

‘I think I’ll get a taxi home, anyone want to share?’ asked Lucy.

‘James and I may as well,’ Daniel answered.

‘Emma’s driving me home,’ Steffi said firmly.

She’s like a bloody servant to you! Mara thought.

Mat asked Mara how she was getting home.

‘I’ll just get a cab.’

‘I can drive you. I haven’t been drinking because of the antibiotics.’

‘Antibiotics! Are you okay?’

‘Yeah, yeah, I need to tell you on the way home.’

Mara didn’t know what to think. Firstly should she let him take her home? Secondly, what were the antibiotics for and what did he have to tell her?

After wishing everyone a Merry Christmas they all went their separate ways. Mara and Mat walked to his car.

The journey back to the flat felt awkward for Mara but Mat just talked freely. Apparently the antibiotics were for a foot infection.

The car stopped outside Mara’s flat.

‘Mara can I come in there’s something I need to talk to you about.’

‘Sure,’ Mara replied uneasily.

She made some tea and asked Mat what was on his mind. Although she had an idea of what he was probably going to say.

‘I really want to start a proper relationship with you,’ Mat blurted out.

Mara’s gut wrenched. She knew that no matter how gently she tried to let him down he would be upset.

‘Look that night you stayed here was probably a mistake and that’s not how I would want to start a relationship.

‘I slept on the sofa,’ he answered.

‘I know,’ Mara said, now trying not to sound like she hadn’t forgotten the later part of the evening. But I have to be really honest with you Mat I can’t see myself with you.’

Mat looked truly hurt. Which made Mara feel like a heartless bitch, but she couldn’t keep stringing him along. Enough was enough.

Mat got up from his chair and slammed the door on the way out. He didn’t say a word.

‘Jesus. I didn’t sleep with him! Thank God!’

 

 

Chapter Seven

7

 

Mara opened her eyes. Ah Christmas Eve, she thought.

No school, no London and no crap flat and James asked me out for a drink.

She got out of bed and put on an old dressing gown she had when she was a teenager; it was a bit tatty but gave her a comfortable feeling. She could hear her mother’s voice in the kitchen singing to the Cliff Richard’s song Mistletoe and Wine playing on the radio. Mara’s mother loved Cliff Richards and would regularly go to his performances with her friend Mo Binding who lived around the corner.

‘Merry Christmas Eve dear,’ her mother said.

‘Merry Christmas eve mum. Mmm fresh coffee, smells good, I’ll definitely have a cup.’

‘Your Dad’s just gone up to the church to put flowers on the graves, he’ll be back around twelve and said if you want to go for a drink at the Bell end you can walk down with him.’

‘I said I would go down with Samantha for a pint at lunchtime. Do you want a hand with anything before I go?’

‘No, it’s okay, I’ve got it all under control, you go and sit by the fire.’

‘I won’t argue with that,’ she replied.

Mara parked herself by the fire and sipped her coffee flicking through the newspaper. This was the first time she had truly felt relaxed since September. She was back at home with her family being fussed over by her mum; secretly loving it despite repeatedly telling her mother to stop fussing. She was almost mentally free of the Polytechnic which gave her a huge sense of liberty.

Looking at the Christmas tree randomly flashing different coloured lights at three second intervals, Mara felt nostalgic, back to a time where she thought she had no stresses.

Loads of prezzies, she thought looking at the new pile that had appeared overnight. Plainly conscious that most were for her brother’s little boy Declan, who was four and always the centre of attention; the boy couldn’t fart without being lavished in affection. The excess of affection poured over Declan got on Mara’s nerves and she could see he was probably going to end up being a spoilt little brat, just like his dad.

Mara’s only sibling Ángelmí; pronounced anhelmme; Spanish for my angel, was four years older than Mara and worked overseas in Hong Kong as an engineer. Ángelmí and the mother of his child had split up a few years ago and she was now living with her new boyfriend in the next village. So when Ángelmí came back from working in Hong Kong he would have custody of the boy, and luckily for Mara’s mother and father, Declan’s mum freely allowed him to spend time with them, although judging by Declan’s behaviour his mother was probably glad to get rid of him. Mara’s mum doted on Declan nearly as much as she doted on Ángelmí. Thankfully her father was a little more sensible and wouldn’t indulge the boy quite so much.

Her brother was due back in Somerset today; he had flown in a couple of days ago and was staying with friends in Cardiff. Mara’s mother was busy in the kitchen making his favourite meal and preparing some of the food for Christmas Day. Ángelmí had arranged at the last minute to have his son on Christmas Day so was now at a loose end for Christmas Eve. He had accepted an invitation out with Mara and her friend Samantha, who had grown up in the house across the road and was home from Bristol for Christmas. They had arranged an action packed evening at the British Legion club. Although not members themselves, Samantha’s father was going to sign them in on his membership. First she had arranged to go for a pint that afternoon with Sam.

Wrapping herself up with a warm scarf, gloves and a hat she strolled across the road to Samantha’s house and rang the bell which played, We wish you a Merry Christmas.

‘Hi Sam, how are you?’ she said giving her a hug.

‘Good and you?’

‘Good, well today I am, anyway. I’ll tell you over a pint.’

‘Good idea, I’ll just get my coat,’ replied Sam as she moved the giant Santa out of her way. ‘Mum still really likes Christmas!’ she added, moving the Santa back.

They took a leisurely walk down to the local pub casually avoiding the dog faeces on the pavement, whilst gossiping about the fortune of former schoolmates.

The village itself was reasonably big; with a small grocery shop, post office, a couple of tourist shops, café and six pubs. It had a mixture of old cottages and new buildings as well as a an old yarn market, which was the centre piece of the tourist industry, and also doubled up as a meeting place for bored teenagers chewing gum and trying look disaffected.

The old wooden door of the pub creaked as Mara opened it to reveal an open fire belting out yellow flames and the waft of beer and hot chips. This was indeed the warm and inviting feeling that she missed living in the Capital.

‘I’ll get the pints in if you want to get a seat near the fire,’ Mara said.

The barman was a hundred times friendlier than