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She was daddy’s little princess, and no boy was ever good enough for her, except John, but all the rest he labelled scum that thought only with their dicks, and if they didn’t have money, they weren’t worth his or Deb’s time. ‘They needed to be hard working and pay their way,’ he’d say. They were his top priorities, and every time he said that all I could think was,Realistically, how many adolescent boys are on high wages and aren’t checkout workers or dishies?No wonder Deb went for rich older guys; it was ingrained in her brain.
All throughout high school, Deb’s dad demanded to meet her boyfriends and his ice-blue eyes would stare deep into theirs and scrutinise them as he asked what their parents did for work.
‘Yeah, I forgot how bad his temper is.’ I kept my eyes on the road as we passed through her modern neighbourhood.
‘I can’t take this anymore, Naomi. I need to get out of here,’ she let out in a pained rush.
I didn’t say anything for a moment. The only thing in my life that felt secure was my living arrangement, and it sounded like that soon could change too. There were so many changes happening in my life that I was having trouble keeping up with them all.
I glanced at her, my hands gripped tight on the steering wheel. ‘You’re kidding, right?’
‘No, dead serious. I have to get out of this town. I can’t stand it here any longer. There’s nothing here for me. Nothing at all.’ Her face shifted into self-pity, and she dug her heel into the car mat.
‘So, what are you going to do? Move back to Brisbane again?’ I shot up a questioning brow. ‘And it’ll go back to how it used to be when you only talked to me sometimes? Us moving in together was your way of making up for all the lost time we had when you were gone.’
‘I’m going to have to. I need work, Naomi.’
‘Okay, well, I guess you have to do what is best for you. I’ll probably move back to Mum’s and look for a job in one of the kitchens here.’
She looked down at her hands, knotted tightly together on her lap. ‘You don’t have to leave. You can stay put.’
‘Uh, no. I am not paying all of that rent on myown.’
‘It wouldn’t make that much of a difference, considering you pretty much cover most of it anyway. You’re such a good friend, chicka. Always helping me out.’
I glanced at her again, this time with a weak smile, then turned my eyes back to the road.
‘Can we stop somewhere and get chocolate, please? I just want to veg out on the couch and eat chocolate and ice cream.’ Her voice was filled with hope.
‘Yes, sure. I need fuel anyway.’ I looked at the fuel meter and noticed it was nearly on empty.
‘Uh. One problem.’
‘Mmm … and what’s that?’
‘Mum didn’t give me money so could you, pretty please, pay, and I’ll make it up to you?’
I clutched my forehead with a hand and let out a deep breath. ‘Uh … yeah, sure, but just remember I’m out of work too.’
‘I know, chick, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m so glad I have you as a best friend. Seriously, you always save my head from the chopping block.’
She hit my soft spot, and I thought,May as well shout her as it could be my last time with her if she moves back to Brisbane.
‘I’ll fill up the car and will give you the money, but can you go in and pay for it and get whatever you need?’
‘Why can’t you come in too?’
‘Because look how I’m dressed!’ I pointed to my pyjamas and laughed.
Deb rolled her eyes. ‘Fine.’ She shook her head and let out a giggle.
***
After stopping at a BP, we arrived home with a full tank of petrol, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, a block of chocolate and, of course, Deb’s cigarettes.
We had the air con pumping, cooling us from the early October heat. Deb sat on her side of the couch with her feet up. She was holding the TV remote in one hand and the container of ice cream in the other. Within minutes, she was through at least five huge scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough. An ad came on the screen showing a happy family at the beach, which must have gotten to her because she started crying again and dropped the remote in favour of the chocolate block. She broke off a huge piece and dropped it into her mouth. This wasn’t the first time she’d pigged out like this. The last time she fought with her parents over money, she ate a whole loaf of bread and a block of cheese in one sitting. I wondered if this fight might be the final straw or if they’d make up, like they usually did. Their relationship was rocky at times, but she was their only child and they loved her to bits.
The biggest problem always seemed to be money. Deb was a terrible budgeter. Almost all her pay went on cigarettes, booze, makeup, and takeout, so whenever she ran out, she’d ask her folks for help, or me. Her parents were trying to enjoy retirement and save their money, but Deb was adamant she needed money, and what were they supposed to do?
