/stroke

Writing.

Posting.

See
B
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o
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The sunlight streamed through the open window, reflecting off the polished edge of the kettle as Cara absentmindedly swung it off the stove. In her other hand, crumpled at the corners, was a letter, headed with red felt and gold-leaf. They swirled together forming regent looking words that read ‘Montgomery Grammar’.


“Tor…” She muttered his name under her breath, not daring to look up at him, lest he see the tears in her eyes.

“You know I don’t think we can afford to keep paying this…”

Even without watching him, Cara could feel his face drop.

“But mum…you said work were giving you more money! I thought you said we’d be okay for school this year.”

“I know!” She paused and took a deep breath, not wanting to get angry at Tor for something that was not his fault. She had promised, he was right.

“Baby, I know I did, but these prices are getting steeper every term…” She looked up at him then, surprised to find his eye’s still hopeful. She smiled.

“Tell you what, why don’t you finish your toast and get off to school? I’ll find a way to sort this.’

She threw the piece of paper on the kitchen side and walked to the table, kettle still in hand. Tor grinned at her then, his lopey fringe catching in his eyes. He looked so much like his dad when he smiled like that, but Cara had stopped telling him so years back.
Those kinds of memories were still painful, even all this time after.


Still, his bright blue eyes and cheeky smile couldn’t help but cheer her up, and she was glad of it
this morning. She didn’t dare tell Tor that she had lost her job only yesterday.
The recession had finally hit their everyday lives but his fragile 13 year old mind couldn’t handle the implications.

She ran through her plans for the day as she poured herself a cup of tea, watching Tor decimate a whole stack of toast.
First of all, the bank. She’d never been in bad debt before, and wanted to avoid it if possible. Then the job centre. Then the school, to request an extension on Tor’s tutor fees.



More later.

Now I must smoke.

Kay