Chapter 5

The house we were in was rented, and I had no way of affording the $420/week the landlord wanted. I phoned them and hit what I understand is a common problem. The rental agreement was in Mum’s name. That meant I couldn’t break it without her approval. I tried to tell them that Mum was dead and couldn’t give anyone any permission to do anything. But the person on the phone kept replying that they needed to talk to the rental agreement holder. I got the same response from the power, gas, and water companies that supplied our house. Not knowing what to do and feeling overwhelmed by grief, I curled up in my bed and vowed to stay there until those idiots kicked me out.

Three days later, a woman strode into the house. She was dressed to the nines in a tight-fitting V-necked white minidress that clung to her breasts. She was tall, elegant, massively endowed, stunningly beautiful, cool, calm, and in control. I assumed she was from the real estate agency, but she ripped the covers off my bed and growled, “Get out of bed. You stink, go shower, change, and meet me in the kitchen.”

“Fuck you,” I responded. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you can’t come waltzing in here and demand I do a fucking thing!”

She slapped me across the face and hauled me from the bed by my hair. “I’m your dad’s sister, Liz Donnelly, and your last remaining relative. Your mother composed a letter to me years ago, asking me to look after you if she ever died. So, pack a few clothes, you won’t need many, and get your lazy ass in the shower.”

“I’m eighteen, nineteen next month,” I protested. “I don’t need a babysitter!”

“No, you don’t,” Liz snarled. “You need a kick in the ass and some motivation to escape from the cesspit your mind and body wallows in. Your mother allowed you to underachieve and put up with your behaviour because she was afraid the only one she knew would love her regardless would leave her. Every man in her life left—her father, her first few boyfriends, her brother, who was killed when she was a child, and your father. She couldn’t face you leaving, too.”

She leaned down and slapped me again. “Now, move! If I have to, I’ll drag you into the shower by your hair.”

I stood and looked into the woman’s eyes. “I never knew my father had a sister,” I stated angrily. “He never mentioned you even once.”

“You were five when he left, and you wouldn’t have remembered, anyway.”

“Mum never mentioned you.”

“She and I didn’t exactly get along. I’m sure you’ll discover why soon enough. However, I promised your mother I’d take care of you until I was sure you could take care of yourself, however long that is. Now, do I have to drag you to the shower? Or...?”

I mumbled something and walked to the bathroom.

“Good girl,” Aunty Liz responded.

I didn’t react to her label but did wonder if she’d simply misspoken or what. I wore only boxers and was pretty sure my aunt studied my slender yet shapely ass avidly as I walked from the bedroom.

“Hurry up,” she called after me. “We’ve got quite a drive to get to my place in Albany Creek. I’ll pack you some clothes, but you won’t need much because I’ll refresh your wardrobe for you. Don’t worry about anything else because the cleaning crew is coming in in the morning, and there’s nothing in here worth keeping.”

I could hear the derision in her voice as she talked, but she was right. My clothes were all from The Sallies (The Salvation Army Thrift Shop). The furnishings belonged to the landlord, including the fridge, kitchen table and chairs, beds, and lounge suite.

I showered and shaved before returning to my room. Aunt Liz perched on the bed’s edge, looking at me expectantly. She’d laid out a pair of my hip-hugger jeans and a tight T-shirt I thought I hadn’t seen before, then realised it was one of Mum’s. In hindsight, that should have been my first warning, and I should have fled immediately.