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Alexander was in bed when Louise told Frank about the Pindone biscuits and Tess being put down. Frank was scarlet with rage.
“You left Alexander to look after the dog?” he roared. “He’s only seven. What a stupid thing to do.”
“Kids need to develop responsibility, Frank,” Louise replied.
“Responsibility!” he roared. “How responsible was it to let the kid handle a deadly poison?”
His arms began to swing, which they did when he was very angry. They swung up in front of his face and then down to his sides, up to his face and down to his sides. Louise knew from experience that to get too close to Frank at a time like this was dangerous. If he got angrier, the movement of the arms would change, flinging out from his hands held in front of his stomach to as far aside as he could reach, and back again. The flinging outward started at the level of Frank’s waist but as he got more violent the hands would fly higher. Anyone within range of his long arms would be hit, not deliberately but definitely powerfully enough to knock one down. Or in Louise’s case, break her nose.
“I didn’t know the green bits were poison,” said Louise.
“Well, you should have checked. Good God, do I have to do everything myself round here!” said Frank in a loud voice.
“Don’t you raise your voice to me!” said Louise sharply.
“I’ll say what I bloody want, in any way I want,” said Frank.
“And bet money on seducing your wife?” said Louise. “Is that the way you want this marriage to go? I heard you and Larcombe. You’re scum. Is that why Larcombe is always here? Because you bet he couldn’t seduce me without drugs?”
Frank rushed at Louise. He hit her in the middle of the chest. Louise couldn’t breathe. She sat on the floor on her backside trying to get some breath. Then Kezia hit Frank with a small wooden baseball bat that belonged to Alexander. Frank staggered and went into their bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
Kezia stood still, her mouth open and her eyes wide open like a startled horse. She held the bat loosely in two hands as if she was putting a golf ball. Louise got up and left the room. Kezia found her crying on Kezia’s bed.
“Mum. You couldn’t help it,” said Kezia. “That’s unfair. Where did you buy the biscuits?”
“At the supermarket,” Louise replied. “I can remember there were no green biscuits when I changed the bags from the old one to the new one, because Charlotte was here and we liked the pretty colours.”
“Kezia,” roared Frank from the lounge, “get back here. Now.”
Kezia ignored him.
“It’s all right, Mum,” she said. “Alexander is fine. He’s upset at Tess dying but he hasn’t been poisoned.”
“Kezia!” Frank’s voice was very loud. “I won’t tell you again!”
“You’d better go, love,” said Louise. “I’ll be all right. Just don’t answer him back. He can’t stand that.”
“Kezia!”
“Coming, Frank.”
“Where the Hell is your brother?” asked Frank. “I want to see he’s all right.”
“He’s playing footy in the park,” said Kezia. “I’ll make him a sandwich when he gets in.”
“No you bloody won’t,” said Frank. “That should be your mother’s job. Lazy cow. Bloody good for nothing sheila.”
“Don’t speak about my mother like that!” said Kezia. “She’s a lot better than you deserve. And if you hit her again, you’ll be dog tucker. Go away and leave us alone!”
Frank’s arms swung and hit Kezia across the chest, knocking her down. Louise flew out of the bedroom to intervene in Frank and Kezia’s shouting match.
“Oh, sorry!” said Frank. “Sorry Kezia. It was an accident.”
Frank bent down to help Kezia to her feet. She was not hurt but needed to catch her breath. Louise clawed at Frank with her hands and nails.
“Get off her! Get off her you drunken bastard!” she roared.
Frank fended Louise off. He was now contrite with all the anger gone from him.
“Kezia, I’m sorry,” he said. “Forgive me please!”
He helped Kezia to her feet. Kezia said, “Mum, are you alright?”
Frank, who had blood running down his face from Louise’s raking nails, turned to Kezia.
“Please, Kezia. I didn’t mean it.”
Without a word the two of them turned and left Frank standing where he was.