Dark Spaces by Helen Black Read Free Book Online Page B

owner asks.
    ‘Marvin Hagler,’ the man called Ted replies.
    Gem watches him putting a stiff ten-pound note on the counter and pocketing his bit of change. Imagine spending all that lot just on one meal. The bloke don’t look rich, but he must be loaded. Or stupid.
    She takes her packet of chips, the heat burning her fingers through the paper and breathes in the smell. It’ll feed them all with a few slices of bread. Tyler loves a chip sandwich with plenty of red sauce. It’ll keep him full all day.
    When she gets home, she’s already peeling the paper open before she gets through the door.
    ‘It’s me,’ she shouts. ‘I’ve brought some chips.’
    No one answers.
    In the kitchen, Gem looks for clean plates but Mum ain’t washed up from last night. Swearing, she runs them under the tap and flicks the grease away with her fingers ’cos there ain’t no Fairy Liquid.
    ‘Mum,’ she calls over her shoulder. ‘Come and get some food.’
    There’s still no reply so Gem heads through to the other room, her hands still wet. When she opens the door she stops in her tracks. Mum is stood by the window, holding Tyler, trying to stay as far away as possible from two men sat on the settee. The men are both bald, their heads shiny boiled eggs. They turn to Gem at exactly the same second, like they’re keeping time.
    ‘We’ve been waiting for you,’ says the one nearest to Gem. He’s wearing a fat gold chain around his fat white neck, and fat gold rings around his fat white fingers.
    Gem don’t move. She just stands in the doorway, her hands dripping water down her sides.
    ‘Your mum tells us you’ve got something for us,’ the man says.
    Gem wraps her arms around herself. There’s no way she’s giving them the money. No fucking way.
    The man holds out his hand. ‘Give.’
    Gem shakes her head. ‘I ain’t got nothing.’
    ‘Gem,’ Mum warns.
    ‘I ain’t lying,’ says Gem. ‘Ali weren’t in.’ To prove her point, Gem pulls out the packet of razor blades. ‘See.’
    ‘Shit,’ Mum whispers. ‘Why didn’t you go to Fred’s?’
    ‘I was gonna but I brought some chips home first,’ says Gem.
    ‘There you go.’ Mum smiles at the men. ‘She’ll get straight off, be back with some money in less than an hour.’
    The men stand up together, like they’re doing some dance routine. They’re both massive and seem to take up all the air in the room. It makes Gem feel dizzy.
    ‘You’ve wasted our time,’ the man tells Mum. ‘And we don’t like anyone wasting our time.’
    Tyler begins to whine and Mum jiggles him against her hip. He don’t like it and stretches out a hand to Gem.
    ‘Shut up,’ Mum hisses, but that just makes him cry harder. When he won’t be quiet she pinches his lips together.
    ‘We’ll have to charge you for this wasted visit,’ the man says. ‘Do you understand?’
    Mum nods, trying to stop Tyler from thrashing his head about.
    ‘I think an extra ten pounds should cover our time,’ he says.
    Gem opens her mouth to tell them they can’t do that but Mum flashes her eyes. It ain’t worth arguing with men like these. Not if you value your teeth.
    They wait for the men to leave, and when they hear the door slam Mum throws Tyler onto the settee, where he goes stiff and screams.
    ‘Fuck,’ Mum howls. ‘Why didn’t you just give them the money?’
    ‘I told you Ali was out.’
    ‘So where did you get money for chips?’
    Gem tries to think up a lie. She could try to make out she got them for free. But what’s the point? No one gives away anything for free, do they?
    ‘His wife gave me something so I bought chips.’
    ‘Then why didn’t you hand over what’s left? That way he might not have added another tenner to what I owe. Honestly, Gem, where do you think we’re gonna find another tenner?’
    ‘I couldn’t hand it over,’ says Gem.
    ‘Why the fuck not?’
    Gem points her finger at Tyler who is curled into a little ball, sobbing his heart out. ‘He needs