ReadFin Literary Journal (Winter 2018)

After much small talk, Sharon began rambling at a fast pace.
“It’s so fuckin’ hot in here. Turn on the air-conditioner ya bloody
bastards! I’m startin’ sweat. Stupid pricks!!!
“So, ya been watchin’ Fat Tony’s? Those bloody fools have got
the story wrong! They can’t even act! What were they thinkin’
getting a bunch of idiots on there!
“Hey, do ya have any money??? Do ya reckon you can buy me a
can a Coke? C’mon treat ya old mum!”
The vending machine inside the visitor centre sure was popular.
Every where I looked, there were Coke cans being sipped between
conversations, pink packets of salt and vinegar chips being
shared over a laugh and chocolates being consumed by every
man, woman and child. So much that there was queue to get
access to the vending machine.
“Ya must be thirsty love. I can’t see ya drinking the tap water
over there. Hell, I wouldn’t even drink it,” Sharon said.
“Are you after anything else besides a Coke, Sharon?” I asked.
“Fuck, I hate it when ya call me Sharon. Ya know I’m ya mum
right? Maybe not the best mum but I popped ya out and it hurt
like hell. You weighed 6.6 kilos. Fat little baby ya were, but ya
were mine.”
“My fat days are well and truly behind me mum. I’m as fit as a
fiddle now. I ran a charity marathon a couple of months ago with
a team from work. Work is going great too. I have been promoted
to second in charge. And I won an award for my contributions to
the CFA. I wished you could have been there to see me. Your kid
has turned out alright mum,” I said.
“You are an angel when you want to be. If you want to be an
angel right now get me a Kit Kat and Coke okay? Nothing more
than that alright? I have to watch me weight for when I get out.
Darryn said he’ll pick me up and I want to look nice for him. I
still look sexy in me old age don’t I love?” Sharon asked.
I proceeded to the vending machine and I could still hear her
carrying on. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to buy her a Coke?
I mean she was already clearly bouncing off the walls as it was.
Constantly talking a million miles and hour, twitching and
so full of energy. By the time I came back to our seats, snacks
in hand, she had already managed to change chairs and was
rocking back and forth. She snatched the Coke and Kit Kat from
my hands. First she guzzled the Coke down in one gulp and then
she virtually inhaled the Kit Kat. It was as though she was a
child trapped in a woman’s body. And, I certainly wasn’t about to
remind her to say thank you. I mean what did I really expect?
“I’m going to kill Lucy if she starts with me again. I already had
some business with her Mrs the other day. I mean who do they
think they are? Running this fuckin’ joint? I reckon they are in
with the screws. Probably payin’ them for favours. I mean it’s
just a load of bullshit,” Sharon snarled.
“None of that nonsense in here mum. You want to get out and
see us all soon don’t you? John’s kids want to have a grandma
around. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend too,” I said.
“I didn’t raise you to be gay. You are just like Lucy. You people
need help. Her and her Mrs disrespected me. I told that bitch I
had enough so I went and pissed on her sheets,” she said.
“Look there is something important I came here to tell you,”
I said. “Geez love, let me finish me story would ya!” she said
angrily.
“Its serious! I got some bad news when I went to the doctors a
few weeks ago,” I said.
“Quacks are all full of shit. Don’t believe a word they say! The
quack here reckons I need to go on a higher dosage of meds. But I
reckon he should shove it up his arse. I’m not crazy!!!” she yelled.
“It’s not too much longer for me ya know. Ill be outta here before
ya know it. Then nobody can tell me what...” Sharon ranted.
“Its time,” said the prison guard. “Time flies when you’re having
fun,” I said.
“It was good seein’ ya love, you should try come again ya know.
Think of your poor mum stuck in this shit hole,” Sharon said.
As the guard escorted her away, I could still her voice chattering
a million miles an hour. “Wendy, is the gym open yet? Do
ya reckon I can go use the gym? C’mon Wendy. Why aren’t
you answering me? Wendy!“Hey, Wendy you know that’s me
youngest daughter. She works at a crèche. She is real good with
kids. She turned okay didn’t she Wendy? I did my best with them
lot you know,” she explained to the guard.
Suddenly Sharon diverted her attention back to me and yelled
out from across the room: “It’s not me fault ya have brain
cancer!” The door closed and Sharon was gone.
Unexpectedly, Wendy the prison guard appeared before me. “I
have been hearing about you for a long time Crystal. She doesn’t
talk about your brothers and sisters much. She told me she
even started praying for you recently. Anyway, it’s none of my
business but I just thought you should know,” Wendy said.
“Thank you. It means a lot,” I said. I got up, walked outside the
gates, holding my head high and smiling.
ReadFin Literary Journal 47