The Fall of Chance by Terry McGowan Read Free Book Online Page A

thought he saw that same guilt too.
    “That’s kind of her,” he said. “Tell her I’d be glad to.” And it was good of her. The Fall was the absolute end for the family unit and she’d chosen to include Unt in it. Maybe the gesture was expected but that didn’t stop it being kind.
    “Best leave it a bit,” Bull raised his palm as though Unt had been about to get up there and then. “I’m not exactly flavour of the month right now. Seems like I made a bit of a mess when I got in last night and mum’s cleaning it up. Dad’s noticed his drinks cupboard’s a bit bare too.”
    Unt shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, don’t worry,” said Bull, “You’re still the golden boy, as usual.”
    “Ok but we’ll have to head off in half an hour or so. You’ll have to finish getting ready too.”
    Bull grinned lazily. “Funny you should mention that. Got any shaving water?”
    “I threw it out,” said Unt, honestly.
    “Go and pull us some more,” Bull yawned and stretched.
    “Get it yourself.”
    “Never mind, I’ll go dry,” he said and wandered into the house.
    A few minutes later he re-emerged, face bloody like he’d been in a knife fight and sopping hair only slightly neater than when he’d turned up. At least his boots were now tied but his jacket still flapped open.
    They wandered over to Bulton’s house and entered through the back door that Unt had used so many times before. Jenna, Bulton’s youngest sister, was playing with a toy on the kitchen floor. All of five, she didn’t even look up as they entered. They skirted the big, square kitchen table into the family room. There, Bulton’s mum was arranging her hair in a mirror while her husband herded Bull’s other two sisters.
    His mother, Yvesse, caught sight of them in the mirror and spun to meet them. She was a tall lady in a very straight way with little shape to her body. She was up and down like a vertical line and this was matched by her long blonde hair. It was the colour of straw, like Bull’s and that seemed to be the only trait he got from her.
    Bull’s dad, Sandy, also looked up at them. He was dark and stout, squat and powerful. It was from him that Bull got the rest of his physical attributes. Where he got his personality, Fate only knew.
    Child-dressing duties forgotten for the moment, Sandy came and stood with Yvesse as they looked Unt over.
    “Unt, lovely to see you,” said Yvesse.
    “Looking damn good, son.” Sandy was speaking to Unt, not Bulton and leaned in with a powerful slap on the shoulder.
    “He looks good? What about me?” said Bull.
    Yvesse looked at her son with maternal affection. “Of course you’re looking splendid, dear: nothing a bit of flannel and water can’t amend. But wait: look at this! A coffee stain on your lapel! Never mind, no one will see it once it’s fastened, I suppose. Now you see why I told you to keep it open.”
    Bull stood embarrassed. He probably wished he’d kept his mouth shut now.
    “You come with me,” Yvesse continued, taking her son by the arm. “Unt dear, you just help yourself from the kitchen. Sandy will just be a moment with the girls and then we’ll all go up together.”
    She disappeared with Bull, Sandy returned to chasing his daughters and Unt followed Yvesse’s orders and went back to the kitchen. He went straight to the familiar place where the cake tin was kept on high, out of the reach of childish hands. Unt knew the orange cylinder well: his childhood had involved many raids on that tin. He found a rock cake and munched his way through it, listening to the chaotic sounds of a love-filled home. If today brought him a family with this much joy, he’d be happy with his lot.
    “Are you going to Fall today?” a loud child’s voice broke in. Unt looked down and saw Jenna. She wore a pink frock with white stockings and polished black shoes. All three were already marked from playing on the floor. Unt supposed if you were a parent like Yvesse and Sandy you had to cut