Schemer by Kimberley Chambers Read Free Book Online Page B

possessing heroin. He comes out next week, so Mary reckons.’
    Pam put her hand over her mouth in shock. ‘What a scumbag family they are! That young boy we saw moving his stuff in last week is the old slapper’s son, apparently. Edna next-door-but-one reckons he’s started at Priory. I hope they don’t put him in either of my girls’ classes. He looks more Steph’s age than my Angie’s.’
    ‘Yous two talking about us?’ Angela shouted as she galloped down the stairs, followed by her sister.
    For the second time in minutes, Pam stood with her jaw wide open. Both her daughters had lipstick and mascara on and Angela had gone one step further by plastering her eyelids with bright green eyeshadow.
    ‘Where’re yous two off to, all done up to the nines?’
    ‘Just out,’ Angela replied, stroppily.
    ‘Out where? Yous pair got boyfriends or something?’ Pam replied, knowingly.
    ‘No! We’re just meeting some friends over the park,’ Stephanie lied.
    Knowing that turning the tables was always the best way out of a difficult situation, Angela immediately turned them. ‘Me and Steph wanna know why you were talking about us? What we done wrong now?’ she asked, accusingly.
    ‘We weren’t saying anything detrimental against you girls, were we, Cath?’
    ‘No. We was talking about the old slapper’s son across the road. He’s started your school by all accounts, and your mother said she hoped he weren’t in any of your classes.’
    Unable to stop herself, Angie started to giggle.
    ‘Come on, let’s go,’ Stephanie said, grabbing her sister roughly by the arm.
    ‘I weren’t born yesterday, you know. In your opinion I might be past me sell-by date, but I ain’t bleedin’ simple. I know you’ve got boyfriends and I shall find out who they are,’ Pam shouted angrily as the front door slammed.
    Cathy raised her eyebrows. ‘Girls, eh! Who’d have ’em?’
     
    Bill Jackman was quite pleased that his grandson was stuffing a bit of fluff, but his wife had her concerns about the situation and had insisted on hanging around to meet the girl.
    Wayne agreed to the introduction. As long as his grandparents didn’t cramp his style, he didn’t care what they did. He knew he was lucky to be allowed to have the house to himself to bed a girl, none of his friends were, and he couldn’t wait to have sex with Angela again. He had seen her every evening this week, but she’d flatly refused to let him have his wicked way with her over the park, even though he’d begged her. When the doorbell rang, Wayne bolted into the hallway. ‘All right, babe? Come and say hello to me nan and grandad,’ he said, dragging Angela into the lounge.
    ‘Hello,’ Angela said, awkwardly staring at her feet. If they sussed her real age, she was dead meat.
    ‘Nice to meet you, love. Our Wayne says you live with your mum and dad near the Heathway. Is that right?’ Doris probed, nosily.
    ‘Yeah,’ Angela replied.
    ‘What’s your mum and dad’s names? I’m always up that Heathway.’
    ‘Pam and David Marshall,’ Angela lied.
    ‘Come on, Doll. Let’s leave the kids to play records and stuff,’ Bill urged, gently shoving his wife out of the room.
    ‘Well? Pretty little thing, wasn’t she?’ Bill asked as he shut the front door.
    ‘Horrible little cunt! Couldn’t even look me in the eye – and if she’s fifteen like our Wayne says she is, then I’m fucking Doris Day.’
     
    Barry and Stephanie took the District Line train to Bow Road Station and then had a ten-minute walk to get to the market. ‘Have you been up ’ere before?’ Barry asked.
    ‘Yeah. My mum comes from Bow and my grandad still lives here. We ain’t been to visit him for ages though. I was only about twelve last time I came to the market, I think.’
    ‘Do you wanna pop in and see your grandad while we’re up this way? I’ll wait for you outside if you like,’ Barry asked, thoughtfully.
    ‘Nah. He’ll probably be in the pub anyway,’ Stephanie