Page 7 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Sash is sat on the patch of grass at the front of her apartment block when her dad comes to pick her up She is surrounded by possessions stuffed hastily into bin bags and suitcases, dragged there over the course of the day From behind as once her curtain, Martin watches the sorry scene, more than satisfied to finally see the back of his trouble-ridden tenant

“Running away?” Henry asks froside her He’s a wiry e, and a handlebar h he’s never ridden a horse in his life

Sash raises her head “Thinking about it”, she says, ht she would be to see him

“Hello, Sash”

“Hello, Dad”

It takes the into the trunk of the car Her dad hts to stop herself fro When they are done, and Sash is sat in the front seat of her dad’s beaten up Sedan, toying with the broken ashtray nervously, unsure what to say to hi at all, he takes a arette and check to see if she’s ok

“You should have called earlier”, he says eventually, putting the cigarette behind his ear, the act of constructing it enough to satisfy his need

“I didn’t know I needed to”, Sash says

“We haven’t heard fro time”, he says “It’s kind of nice to hear once in a while, you know”

“I’ my oay”, Sash says

“I can see that”

“I lostfor another one I didn’t think it would come to this”

“You seen your brother?”

“He’s not my brother And no, I haven’t seen him”, Sash lies

“If there is anyone who can help you out, it’s hi more money than a third world country, not that we see any of itYou used to”

“Yeah? Well things change”, Sash says

“Evidently”, her dad remarks

“I don’t need his help”, Sash says

“Of course you don’t You’re independent, just like your mother As stubborn as an ox”

He turns the key in the ignition, and with a series of coughs and splutters, the car fires up

“I can’t believe this piece of shit is still working”, Sash says, happy to change the subject

“Hey”, Henry cos, I’ll have you know That’s no way to treat an old war horse”

He swings the car back out onto the road, turning back the way he ca Sash about on the near spent suspension, the chassis creaking and groaning as he goes In the wing th of electrical tape, she watches her block of apartet smaller and smaller, until they eventually disappear co sky line behind her The end of yet another era for her A co stop

“It’s good to see you, Dad”, Sash says

Her dad looks at her suspiciously and smiles

“Yeah”, he says, grabbing her knee fondly “You too, honey”

The car putters as it fights to cliht of Sash’s belongings, the exhaust scrapes along the tar up into the sky

“You still dancing?” he asks, but Sash doesn’t answer Instead she just stares at the city rushing away to the side of her and then down to examine her hands Henry reaches over and takes them in his

“There’s no shaain, honey?

??, he says “We’ve all got to do that from time to time Even the most important of us have had to set the clock back to zero and just get on with it I know I have”

Sash appreciates the sentiment, but still feels like a co away in the distance, her dad takes the cigarette from behind his ear and sparks it up “Just to warn you”, he says, sucking the acrid ss around a little at home”

Sash turns sideways in her seat “Changed things how?” she asks

“You’ll see e get there”, her dad says, taking care to avoid her eyes “It’s easier thanit”