Read Acid Row for Free Online

boots, and Barry shouted that their dad would have her guts if she broke it again.
    Gingerly, Laura relaxed her cramped hold as she felt the onslaught die away. She pressed her back against the wood and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. “Barry's right,” she warned. "Greg's only just finished painting the door since the last time you two fought over it."
    “Shut up, bitch!” howled the girl, with a last, dispirited thump of a beefy fist. "If you're so bloody perfect, why does your daughter call you “Cunt”? Think about that the next time you “ooh” and “aah” when my dad gets his pathetic little dick out. Christ, even your daughter knows you're only sleeping with him to keep a roof over your head."
    Laura closed her eyes, remembering Martin's laughter the first time Amy had used the word. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, he'd mocked. “Rent comes expensive,” she murmured. "Sex is free. Why else would I be here?"
    Kimberley must have had her ear pressed against the wafer-thin door because every nuance of her voice came breathily through it. "I'll tell Dad you said that."
    “Go ahead.” She stretched her arm towards the wall-phone, but, with her back against the door, it was beyond the reach of her fingers. Why hadn't Amy told her she went to Patsy's.. . ? Did she use it as a refuge .. . ? "But he won't be angry with me, Kimberley, he'll be angry with you. He was so damn lonely after your mother went he'd have moved a toothless granny into his bed if she'd been willing. Whose side will he take if you try to force me out?"
    “Mine and Barry's when I tell him you're using him.” "Don't be an idiot,“ said Laura wearily. ”He's a man. He couldn't care less why I'm sleeping with him just so long as I go on doing it."
    "You wishr the girl jeered.
    “How many other women have been here, Kimberley?” “Bloody loads,” she said triumphantly. "We only got stuck with you because you dropped your knickers for him.“ ”And how many of them came back a second time?“ ”I couldn't give a shit. All I know is you came back.“ ”Only because I was desperate,“ she said slowly. ”If I hadn't been, nothing on earth would have persuaded me to come here." She listened to the girl's heavy breathing. "Do you seriously think your father doesn't know that?"
    There was a perceptible pause. "Yeah, well, he didn't have to make do with a tart,“ the girl said sullenly. ”He's never even asked me and Barry what we think about it. He can't.. . you're always in the fucking way .. . rabbi ting on about your job .. . getting Amy to show off her stupid dancing."
    "In the kitchen maybe .. . never in the sitting-room. You've made it clear I'm not welcome there."
    “Yeah, right!” There was what sounded like a choked-back sob. "I suppose you've told Dad he's not welcome either."
    "I didn't need to. You and Barry have done that pretty successfully on your own."
    “How?”
    "By never turning the volume down .. . never greeting him when he comes home .. . never eating with us ... never getting up until after we've gone to work .. .“ She paused. ”Life isn't a one-way street, you know."
    “What's that supposed to mean?”
    "Work it out for yourself Laura flexed her fingers to ease the muscles.
    "I'll give you a hint. Why did your mother refuse to take either of you with her?"
    Kimberley fired off again. “I hate you!” she snarled. "I wish you'd just piss off and leave us alone. Dad won't like it, but the rest of us'll be fucking ecstatic'."
    It was the truth, thought Laura with an inward sigh, and if Amy hadn't pretended she was happy, they'd have gone sooner. "Don't worry about it, Mummy .. . I keep telling you, everything's fine when you and Greg aren't here .. ." Laura had believed her because it made her life easier, but now she was cursing herself for her stupidity. "Why does Amy go to Patsy's house?" she asked.
    “Because she wants to.”
    "That's not an answer, Kimberley. What Amy wants isn't