Masters And Lovers 1-4

*****

Thirty-Four Years Ago

She lies on her bed, reading a book. Growing tall, she’s long in the leg and arm, heading for gangly.

Chintzy pink curtains drape around a window frame stacked with soft toys. Little plastic ponies in rainbow colours sit next to stacks of books and magazines with bright cartoon animals. Rabbits and teddy bears watch, beady-eyed, the girl where she lies, her copper hair clashing violently with the pink of the comforter.

There’s a tap at the door and almost immediately, it opens and Stephen steps in. “Hi there, Princess. I brought you some cocoa.”

She smiles, sitting up. “Thanks, Stevie.”

“How’s it going?” He sits beside her on the bed, then glances down at her book. “What are you reading?” Then he frowns, looking at the cover. ‘I Robot’…. Asimov…. Not really little-girl reading is it?”

“Stevie, I’m twelve. They’re good stories. They make you think, and my science teacher says….”

“I’ll find you something better.” He kisses her forehead “I’m going to the library tomorrow. I’ll see what I can find for you.” He tucks the paperback in his pocket. “Drink your cocoa. Time to turn your lights out. Remember to brush your teeth.”

She sits up, sipping at her cocoa. After a while, setting the empty mug to one side, she gets up and goes to the bathroom.

She returns a few minutes later with a rim of wet hair at the top of her forehead and wearing pink pyjamas with Bambi and Thumper designs on the fabric. Climbing into bed, she watches the light under the bedroom door.

When the light goes out, she reaches under her pillow and pulls out a flashlight and a book: ‘Fifty Great Science Fiction Stories.’

Reading under her covers, she dreams of spaceships and explorers, galactic empires and adventure.

*****

Thirty-Two Years Ago

that.” Stephen has a set to his chin and stands, arms folded,

Rachel? She's a

the way she's dressed. I'm surprised her parents

jeans cut like that these days. It’s just a

having my sister

head. “Give her a break, Stephen. She’s got to spread her wings a

for anything these days, so that

*****

going and that’s

written into everything about her. She squares up to him, chin lifted to look her brother in the eye.

too young for that kind of party. Now go to

I should only go to parties with blancmange rabbits or peanut butter and jelly

he follows her, hand

can’t tell me what to do. I’m not a kid anymore and you’re only

now,” he spits, “and you’ll do as you’re told. Go to your room. If you argue any more,

sags, surrenders and goes upstairs. Stephen watches her, only turning away when he sees her room door click

of earshot, David says, “Stephen, I know you mean well, but you’ve got to give her a bit of freedom. She’s right. All the others in

up

She old enough to begin to make some

for seventeen. Have you seen some of the boys hanging

to deal with them if she’s never

glares. “She can go out