The one in the socks - Prolouge

“Say thank you to Mr Kelipleto, Sammy.” Luke told me, grinning.



“Thank you Mr Kelipleto!” I echoed, taking my cone of chips outside to Edge Street, where the sun had cast dark shadows across half the street. We sat on the front wall of the chip shop, on the sunny side of the street, opposite our house.



I was a carefree six year old girl, living in Edge Street, on the darker edge of the Central Ring of Packyard, or paradise, city, but I didn’t mind. I probably had the worst childhood I could possibly have, living with my ex-alcoholic uncle, Luke, in a rundown area, but I wouldn’t have swapped it for anything. Edge Street was like one big happy family.



Max and Mia, our next-door neighbours, crossed the road to sit next to us, joined by Max’s brother, José. Max and Mia were the perfect couple. Mia was always arguing but Max always managed to stay cool and collected.



I liked it on Edge Street. I'd often go out to play with the chip shop owner's son, Tammy. Tammy was a good four years older than me, but nobody seemed to mind. he was funny and kind, and didn't have any friends of his own age so our friendship was fairly praised on Edge Street.



The two of us sat, hidden behind the wall from my uncle, Max, Mia and José, listening in on their conversation.



“Are we still up for Saturday then?” José asked.



Mia sighed, annoyed “You’re going out again! You seem to go out every Saturday! I swear, I never seem to see you at the weekends! We’re meant to be going to that dinner at my mum’s. She didn’t think I could get a boyfriend. Silly cow. Oh, well. You can go, can’t you Luke? Just this once? Just to prove her wrong.”



“Sorry, Mia.” Luke said “I’m going with them.”



“What about Sammy?” Mia asked.



“Baby-Sitter.”



“Do you really think it’s wise, Luke?” Mia asked “You have only just got over the drink problem.”



“I’ll be fine.” Luke insisted.



“Why don’t you come too, Mia?” José asked “My Jane’s coming. We’re inviting a few others, too.”



“Can I stay with Lee, instead?” I asked, suddenly.



The adults looked at each other, and then their eyes flickered from me to number seven across the road, where Lee Bendle lived. Lee had once been the life and spirit of our small community, always up for a laugh. I had grown closer to him that even my own uncle. I wasn’t to know what went on behind closed doors.



Arguments.



Arguments between him and his ever faithful girlfriend, Lucy. Arguments in the middle of the night that usually ended in tears. Arguments about it.



The drugs



The same drugs he’d become addicted to, that never let him leave the house. The drugs that were forcing the rest of his life away. There was only Lucy left now. Lucy and the drugs.



Lucy or the drugs.



Only seconds after I uttered the words, the door seemed to blow off and Lucy ran out, crying and shaking. She ran, faster than I had ever seen anyone run, to the middle of the road, where the shadow of the houses stopped and the bright shine started.



She turned to look back.



Lee stood in the doorway, half hidden from the sun. He looked terrible. I had never seen anyone look so awful in my entire life. His face was sheet white from lack of daylight; his eyes and nose were red, his eyes from crying and his nose from something else. His unkempt hair, unwashed and greasy, fell around his face as it did. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t.



There was silence for a moment.



“Go inside, kids.” Luke whispered, but no one moved.



“I’m sorry but I can’t do this anymore.” Lucy sobbed “I just can’t. Ever since you started hanging around with those thugs you've changed. You've changed into some one I can't love anymore. You got fired from the radio, we've no money coming in and you’re never telling the truth. You’re never home. And even when you are you’re off your head on something or other. You’re addicted.”



“I am not addicted!” Lee said sternly.



“Prove it.” Lucy said.



“I can stop any time I want to!” Lee snapped.



“Then stop now!” Lucy begged “Please, Lee.”



“I don’t want to.” Lee snapped.



“Then you don’t want me.” Lucy said quietly.



She turned to go. Lee shot across the road and grabbed her arm.

“Please Lucy!” he begged, tears streaming down his face “Please don’t go.”



“No Lee.” Lucy said, pulling away “It’s over. You need to get sorted. I need to get away.”



She left. She walked away, tears streaming down her face, towards the happier, suburban areas. Lee fell down to the ground, where Lucy had stood, face hidden, shaking.



She had been everything. Everything in this entire life. Everything he had ever cared for. Everything but the drugs. Now she was gone, he had nothing. Nothing but the drugs.



Alone with the drugs.







Later that night, I sat crying on my bed. Lee had hit me hard. I had always looked up to him and he was one of the only adults that didn't treat me like a stupid kid. Luke pushed open the door to put me to bed. He sighed and came over, holding me tight.



“What’s the matter, Sammy?” he asked, quietly, brushing my hair.



“What’s wrong with Lee?” I asked him, quietly.



Luke sighed. What was he going to say? How do you explain drugs to a six year old?



“Some people...” he said, before hesitating “There are some bad people in the world.”



“Is Lee a bad person?” I asked.



“No.” Luke said, slowly “Sometimes bad people give bad things to good people. It’s like... bad medicine. Bad medicine that makes you poorly if you eat it.”



“Did Lee eat bad medicine?” I asked.



“Yes,” Luke said “Now, if a bad person gives you bad medicine say no, ok?”



“ok.”



"I love you, Sammy." he whispered softly.



"Love you too."