Rose (left) almost gets into an argument with Mark as she tells him that their son Dennis was suspended from school. Shot directed by Rosie Murray. - Anthony Minott

by Wednesday Reed, STAR Writer

EPISODE 5

As Mark enters the house, Rose prepares to tell him Dennis has been suspended from school. But before she can do that, Rose reflects on the relationship between the two and almost starts an argument.

Rose sat on her chair looking off into nothing. A light evening breeze, bringing the scent of her neighbour's cooking wafted in and Rose tried to use it to calm her further. The leaves of the East Indian mango tree danced slightly in the breeze. Summer was coming, so though it was growing quite late, night had not yet fallen. The sound of the gate opening attracted her attention. It was Mark. She had been so far off into her own world that she hadn't heard the car pull up. She steeled herself for the confrontation that was ahead. Maybe this time they could have a decent conversation. When the year had started she had told herself that this year would be different. On Watch Night she prayed for strength to hold her tongue in the new year but it seemed patience wasn't destined to be one of her virtues. All it had taken was Mark coming in drunk for her to lose her cool. Her new resolve hadn't even lasted a day.

Resent

The dark blue sedan pulled into the driveway and cruised to a stop making hardly a sound. Rose resented that car. She resented the little double beep as Mark set the alarm. The whole thing was a waste of money. There was no point living in the house they lived in and driving a car like that. And it was asking for trouble. The neighbourhood was starting to fall on hard times. Most of the good families were slowly moving out leaving only the 'booguyagga' and more new booguyagga who seemed to just spring up from the concrete over night.

So by the time Mark walked over to the house, opened the grill and stepped inside, Rose's blood was already boiling.

"So people don't say good evening in this house any more," she said without turning to look at her husband.

"Rose mi just come. Tek it easy," Mark said. He walked past her and stepped into the house. "Yuh cook dinner?"

"Yes the helper cooked."

"We don't ave a -" Mark stopped realising the trap about to close around him. He put his pouch on the sofa, reached for the remote then sat down and put his feet up on the coffee table. As he did so, Rose came to stand at the door, her arms folded defensively before her chest. She glared at his feet. Passing his hand slowly over his balding dome and sighing heavily, Mark took down his feet with excruciating slowness.

"So why'd you ask about dinner if you're not eating?"

"You naw share it?"

Without waiting for a response Mark turned on the television, but before the picture brightened the screen he turned it off again. "Wait you wan' pick a fight this evening? Wha' happen?"

"Your phone isn't working?" Rose said, still stationed at the door. He looked at her but didn't respond so she continued. "I tried calling you earlier," she said. Still he did not respond. Instead he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes as though she were not speaking.

"Well," Rose asked in the face of all that silence.

"Well what?" Mark responded without opening his eyes.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I figure if you call me, yuh ave some'n fi say and since mi deh ya now, I waitin' to 'ear is wha."

"Fine, I'll tell you. Your son got suspended."

Mark's eyes flew open. "Dennis!" he bellowed.

NEXT on Monday in Episode 6, Mark hands out his own brand of discipline to Dennis.

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