Chapter 8 of U Murder U (Suicide)

Elle and Maddy sat at the piano playing one of their mother’s compositions that had once been used in a TV commercial. Elle led while Maddy stayed two or three notes behind. They smiled at each other and shoved each other lovingly as they played. Maddy tried to catch up but Elle played faster moving ahead of her. Maddy giggled as Elle missed a note and tried again to play faster but again Elle picked up speed and stayed a few notes ahead. They played to the end then Elle gave a count to three and they started the song together, this time Elle playing upper keys and Maddy playing the lower keys.

Clarissa listened to her daughters as they played, she smiled. Her babies were growing up. Each morning when she woke up and every night before she went to bed she was thankful and she prayed for her girls. She prayed that they would grow up to be better than her and achieve more than her and marry the right men (never experience separation or divorce) and be so happy. Be so happy that each day they woke up and each night before they went to bed, they would be thankful and pray for their own children to be better than them and achieve more than them and marry the right people and be so happy…..

Clarissa listened as Elle and Maddy played another song then the music stopped.

“Okay enough warm-up you need to practice your recital now Maddy,” Elle said as she moved further along the piano stool and allowed her sister greater access to the piano. “How many weeks do you have before the big recital day?”

“Six weeks and that Rebecca Marshal thinks that she’s the best piano player in the class, she’s mean to us and she won’t let Miss talk and sometimes she gets really rude. Do you think I should do something Elle?”

“No, let your teacher deal with her, you concentrate on learning your piece and kicking Rebecca’s arse by being really good. We Stapleton-Williams girls need to use our brains, let the bad guys fall into their own pits!”

“Yeah! Yeah!” Maddy snarled as she jumped up and high-fived her sister.

Elle smiled, she knew her sister so well, she knew that she was trying to avoid practicing, “Down girl, I mean sit down and practice your piece.”

“Oh, okay Elle,” Maddy replied unable to hide her reluctance. Her little fingers hovered over the keys then she started to play.

Elle turned caught her mother’s eyes and winked. They both knew Maddy didn’t really like practicing for recitals; she loved playing the piano undirected, she loved playing from her heart, ‘making music from the heart’ was what she called it.

The phone rang.

Clarissa quickly picked up the receiver, “Hello,” she answered.

“Hello Clarissa, can I speak to Elle please?”

Clarissa cringed and frowned; she clenched her fists tightly in order to stop herself from getting angry, “Jessica, Elle is busy right now helping Maddy with a piano recital she has to play at school. I’ll get her to call you when she’s done.”

“Thank you Clarissa,” Jessica said sweetly.

“Jessica, I’ve spoken to you about this before and I’ve spoken to your Mother, can you not address me as Clarissa, I’m not really one of those liberal mothers and I’d prefer if you called me Miss Stapleton or Mrs Williams.”

“Oh yeah, you did mention that didn’t you, sorry I forgot. But . . . technically you’re not Mrs Williams anymore are you? Anyway, can you make sure Elle calls me back, thank you,” Jessica said then hung up.

Clarissa took a deep breath then exhaled, replaced the receiver and marched into the kitchen fuming.

“Who was that on the phone?” Her mother asked noting the suppressed anger on her daughter’s face.

“It was Jessica Carmichael. She wants Elle to call her back. She had the audacity to call me Clarissa even though I’ve specifically asked her not to. She can be so rude sometimes and she’s just like her mother, she drinks like a fish-”

“What? How old is she again?”

“Fourteen, she’s only four months older than Elle but sometimes I think she’s forty-something.”

“She’s probably seeking attention but I’d separate the girls if you think she’s a bad influence on Elle. You know my thoughts on putting someone else’s child over your own. Children are a blessing, they don’t ask to be born but they do deserve to be loved. Love your own child, then you can love other children.”

“I find it so hard to like her let alone love her-”

“Why don’t you start by praying about the situation. You know I never really understood why you and Lady Eloise Carmichael were friends, you’re so different, she’s such a prima-donna and you’re so realistically realistic.”

“Praying?” Clarissa asked as she dipped her finger in the sauce her mother was cooking and tasted it. “Ummm, that’s really good.”

“Yes, praying. Remember, troubles can be compared to big mountains and big mountains started off as little hills in ‘prayer-less’ environments once upon a time.”

“Dad used to say that,” she smiled, “you’re right Mum but what about Elle?”

“Separate the girls, pray for Elle not to miss their friendship and get her to hang out with some of her other friends.”

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Good, dinner is ready, get the girls, I’ll set the table.”

Jessica                                               22:05

√ Why haven’t you called Elle? I asked your mum to tell you to call me. I’ve called your mobile so many times! Call me!!!

Jessica                                               22:20

√ Are you avoiding me Elle, I’ve called you a million times!!!

Jessica                                               22:25

√ Did you get my text messages? Answer your bloody phone or text me!!!

Jessica                                               22:27

√ I’ve called you so many times, answer your bloody f—ing phone!!

23:36

Elle reached for her mobile phone in her bedside drawer to set her alarm and give Jessica a quick call. Her mother had told her that Jessica had called earlier when she was helping Maddy. She saw that she had 14 missed calls and 4 text messages from Jessica. Elle read the last text and frowned, she was sick of Jessica’s swearing and aggressiveness. She turned her phone off and put it back in the drawer. After reading the last text message, she had no intention of calling Jessica back tonight or receiving any more calls/text messages from her.