They Didnt Let Their Daughter In
“Why didnt you let her in this time?” Victoria finally dared to ask the question that had been tormenting her. “You always used to”
Her mother gave a bitter laugh.
“Because Im scared for you, Vicky. Do you really think we dont see you hiding away in your room every time your sister barges in at all hours? The way you tuck your textbooks out of sight so she doesnt ruin them? She looks at you with nothing but resentment. Shes angry because yourenormal. You have another life ahead of you, and sheshe left hers at the bottom of a bottle years ago.”
Victoria hunched over her open textbook, tensing as the shouts started up again in the next room.
Her father hadnt even taken off his coat. He was standing in the hallway, clutching his mobile and shouting down the line.
“Dont you talk nonsense!” he roared. “Wheres all your money gone? Its been two weeks since you got paid! Two weeks, Laura!”
From the kitchen, Elizabeth poked her head in. She listened for a moment to Johns tirade before sighing, “Again?”
John just waved her off and flicked on the speakerphonesoon, sobs echoed from the phone.
Victorias elder sister had always known how to wring sympathy out of anyoneeven a stone might soften for her. But after so many years, her parents had grown tough.
“What do you mean he kicked you out?” John snapped, pacing the narrow hallway. “Well, good for him. Whod put up with your endless drunken messes? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Youre thirty, yet youve always got that look about you, like a whipped dog.”
Victoria nudged her door open a crack.
“Dad, please” Suddenly, the sobbing stopped. “He chucked my stuff out into the hall. Ive got nowhere to go. Its pouring out, its freezing Please, can I come over for a few days? Just to rest up.”
Mum lurched forward, aiming to snatch the phone, but John turned away sharply.
“No,” he said sharply. “Youre not coming here.”
“We agreed last time, didnt we? You pawned the television while we were away at the cottagedidnt we say that was the end of it? I meant it. The doors shut to you for good!”
“Mum! Mum, tell him!” came the howl from the phone.
Elizabeth covered her face with her hands, shoulders shaking. “Laura, how did it come to this? We took you to the doctor. You promised. They said that last treatment should last three years. You couldnt even stick it out a month!”
“Those treatments are rubbish!” Laura snapped, her voice instantly switching from desperate to spiteful. “Its just a money drain! Im suffering, cant you see? I feel like Im burning up inside, cant even breathe! And all you care about is that telly Ill buy you a new one!”
“With what?” John stopped, staring at a spot on the wall. “What money? Youve blown it all again! Borrowed off your mates, or nicked something from that boyfriend of yours?”
“Its none of your business!” Laura shouted. “Dad, I have nowhere to go! Do you want me to sleep under a bridge?”
“Go to a shelter. Go wherever you want,” her father answered, his tone now eerily calm. “But youre not coming here. Ill change the locks if I see you loitering outside.”
Victoria sat, hugging her knees on the bed. Normally, whenever Laura worked her parents into a frenzy, the recoil landed straight on her.
“Why are you wasting your time? Always glued to your phoneyoull turn out just like your sister, useless!” Words shed heard repeatedly these past few years.
But tonight, they forgot all about her.
No one shouted, no one picked a fight. Dad hung up, shrugged off his coat, and with Mum, vanished into the kitchen.
Victoria crept into the hallway.
“John, you cant just do that,” her mother fretted. “Shell end up gone. You know what shes like when she gets into that state. She loses all control.”
“And Im supposed to take responsibility for that?” her father banged the kettle down upon the hob. “Im fifty-five, Liz. I just want to come home and find some peace for once. Im done clutching my wallet under my pillow. Im done hearing from the neighbours, saying they saw her bringing all sorts into the block and mouthing off at them!”
“Shes still our daughter,” Mum whispered.
“She wasuntil she turned twenty. Now she just bleeds us dry. Shes a drunk, Liz. Theres no fixing it unless she wants to help herself. And she doesnt. She wakes up, hunts for her poison, drains it dry and drifts away.”
The phone rang again.
The parents fell silent, before her father picked up.
“Yes?”
“Dad” Lauras voice again. “Im at the station. The police are walking about. If I stay here, theyll take me. Please”
“Listen carefully,” her father cut her off. “Youre not coming home. Thats final.”
“So I should just kill myself then?” came Lauras biting challenge. “Is that what you want? For the coroner to call you next?”
Victorias pulse froze. That was Lauras trump cardthe one she always played when nothing else worked.
It used to work. Mum would break down, Dad would clutch his chest, and Laura would get her way: cash, place to stay, food and a bath.
But tonight, her father resisted.
“Dont try and frighten us,” he said quietly. “You love yourself too much for that. So heres what Ill do.”
“What?” Hope flickered in Lauras voice.
“Ill find you a roomcheapest I can, on the edge of town. Ill pay a months rent. Ill send you some groceries. Thats it. From then on, youre on your own. Find a job, stop with the nonsenseyou can manage. If not, youll be out on the street in a month, and I wont care.”
“A room? Just a single room, not even a flat? Dad, I cant do it alone. Im scared. And there could be awful neighbours I dont have a thing, not even beddinghe kept it all!”
“Your mother will pack some sheets into a bag and well leave it with the concierge. Pick it up there. But youre not coming into the flat, Ive warned you.”
“Youre monsters!” Laura screeched. “Sending your own daughter to some dump! You sit in your nice three-bedroom, and I have to cower like a rat?”
Mum snapped, clutching the phone. “Laura, enough! Dads right! This is your last chance. Room or streetchoose now. Because tomorrow, not even a room will be on offer.”
Laura fell silent.
“Fine,” she muttered at last. “Send me the address. And some money, transfer it now. Im starving.”
“No money,” John said firmly. “Ill pack some food in with the bedding. I know what youll really spend it on.”
He hung up.
Victoria decided it was time to show herself, padding quietly into the kitchen, feigning thirst.
She braced herself for the usual onslaughther father finding fault, her mother complaining that she was heartless amidst all this commotion at home.
But her parents didnt even glance her way.
Vicky, Mum called softly.
Yes, Mum?
There are some old sheets and pillowcases on the top shelf of the cupboard. Fetch them, please, and put them in that blue bag in the hallway cupboard.
All right, Mum.
Victoria found the bag, shook out the rubbish. It boggled her mindhow was Laura even going to manage on her own? She couldnt even boil a pot of pasta and that habit of hers
Victoria knew Laura wouldnt last two days without a bottle.
She returned to her parents bedroom, climbed up on a stool and started stacking up the linen.
Dont forget towels! Dad called from the kitchen.
Already packed them, Victoria replied.
She watched as Dad laced up his shoes, gathered the bag and groceries, and left without another wordoff, presumably, to find Lauras dump.
Victoria wandered back to the kitchen. Her mother sat, staring blankly ahead.
Mum, do you want a tablet or something? Victoria quietly offered, moving closer.
Her mother looked up at her.
You know, Vicky she began, in a strange, colourless tone. When she was little, I thought she’d grow up and be my right hand. That wed chat forever about anything and everything. Now, all I pray is that she remembers the address that she makes it there at all.
Shell make it, Victoria perched at the edge of the chair. She always finds a way.
Not this time, she wont, Mum shook her head. Her eyes have changed. Empty, like theres nothing left inside except the urge to fill up on poison.
She paused, looking searchingly at Victoria. I know youre scared of her, too
Victoria fell silent. All this time, she thought her parents hadnt noticed her fear, that they were too busy always saving lost Laura.
I thought you didnt care about me, she confessed in a tiny voice.
Her mother reached out, stroking her hair. We do. Were just out of strength. You know in the safety talk on a planethey say put on your own oxygen mask before your childs. Weve spent ten years trying to give Laura that mask. Ten years! Doctors, clinics, all sorts. And now were suffocating.
The doorbell rang. Victoria jolted.
Is it her? she asked, alarmed.
No, your Dads got the keys. Must be the grocery delivery he organised.
Victoria opened the doorthe courier lumped two heavy bags into her arms. She set them down, unpacking: pasta, tins, oil, tea and sugar. Nothing unnecessary.
She wont want this, Victoria commented, pushing aside the buckwheat groats. She only eats ready-made stuff.
Let her cook it if shes hungry, Mum snapped, her old sternness resurfacing for a second. Weve pampered her into an early grave with all this pity.
An hour later, Dad was back, looking finished.
Sorted, he muttered. Got the keys. Landladys an old stickler, ex-teacher. Warned me: one whiff or one racket and shes out, no questions. Told her to do exactly that.
John Mum sighed.
What? Time for the truth. She needs to hear it.
He took the bag and shopping and left for the concierges desk.
Ill call her, let her know where to collect it. Lock the door behind me, Victoria. And if she rings the house phonedont pick up.
He left. Mum disappeared into the kitchen and broke down in sobs.
Victorias chest ached. How did it come to this? Laura, barely livingjust hanging on, bottle to bottle, dragging the family down with her
***
Her parents hopes were short-lived. Within a week, the landlady phoned Johnshed evicted Laura with the police after she brought three men back and drank all night.
Yet again, Mum and Dad couldnt turn their daughter out. They sent Laura off to a rehabilitation clinicstrictly run and well-secured, with promises (so many promises) that a year might finally change her.
Who knowsmaybe a miracle was still possible?
