Ashley Lazlo

  Patrick knew he did not need a babysitter but his mum continued to have Connie come in even when he was home alone. Connie was seventeen, six years older than Patrick and four years older than his sister. Connie would often bring a friend or two babysitting with her, they would spend the time doing homework or talking about boys while Patrick stayed in his room. Connie brought someone Patrick had not met before, a new girl, no, not a girl, a young woman. “Patrick this is my cousin MaryBeth” Patrick blushed as MaryBeth leant and kissed his cheek, her low top displayed a cleavage that belied her nineteen years. He scurried up to his bedroom, shut the door and leant back against it. Connie and MaryBeths distant sniggers and giggles came under his door, Patrick knew they were still downstairs, he knew every loose floorboard, every stair creak, he pulled out a sketch pad and settled into drawing.  The third stair from top creaked, his pencil paused. “I do not believe you haven’t…

  “David, have you told June yet?” Emma said into the phone, we had been chatting for half hour when she casually slipped the question into our conversation as if it was no big thing. “Do you think Mum might have let something slip that last time June and I came to the house” I replied, there was no need for me or my sister to elaborate, we both knew of what we spoke.  “Mum won’t have mentioned it, WHY WOULD SHE? How could you even think that?” Emma paused “I mean she hasn’t even let anything slip to Dad in all these years” I cut Emma short, “He was hardly ever home to find out” “Well it’s you who have to tell June” Emma said “and you can’t keep something like this from her any longer, imagine how hurt she would feel if she found out by accident” “I’ve thought about telling her, even tried a couple of times, it’s not easy. I mean how do I even start that conversation Emma?” I said, my mind wandered as I imagined different ways how June might react…all of them different levels