SPARKS 16

Howard is standing there, with the biggest smile on his face. I don’t have the nerve to look at him. Dawn is definitely not happy to see him and does nothing to hide it. “What the hell are you doing back here so soon?”
“And it’s good to see you too hun” he answers “I had an emergency. I had to fly back to Manchester, and here I am. Love your neighbor as yourself … who said that? But if you don’t want me I’ll get my stuff and head to a Prêt a Manger and have a sandwich … all alone … like nobody cares for me in the whole wide world …”
Gaz brings another chair “poor Dougie, seat here by me! We will feed you and shelter you”
“No we won’t, he’s staying at Jason’s”
“Jason is in a business meeting and most of his stuff is here” he says patting his shoulder.
Dawn stands up and rolls her eyes “why do men have to be so stupid? Why? Doug, Gary follow me to the kitchen NOW!”
We all look at each other puzzled.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come too? I’m the only man left here… what haven’t I done wrong to deserve such a treatment?”
She doesn’t even bother to answer Mark, opens the door to the kitchen and waits for the two of them to walk by her.
She closes it behind them. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I had to see my mom so I cut the trip short. What’s the problem?” Howard is talking with his hands on his hips
“He’s right honey, why are you so upset?”
“BECAUSE” she takes a deep breath “because I know that look, because I know what’s coming and it cannot be happening”
“You are fucking crazy! Sorry Gaz but I had to tell her. Do you think I’m here for her?”
“Who’s her?” Gary asks trying to step in between them.
“Her! So you know what I’m talking about!”
“I know your twisted mind. I don’t care about her”
“Who’s her?” Gary asks again
“I don’t believe you”
He takes his mobile and hands it her “call my mother and ask her, number under the ‘m’ as in mom”
“I will”
“Would you be so kind to tell me who are you talking about?” Gary begs
But Dawn is already on the phone “Hello, yes …. the kids are fine thanks … I was wondering ….. really …. sure …. I hope you’re feeling better now … goodbye” she looks at him and gives him his mobile back “Fine. I was wrong, I’m sorry. But you cannot stay”
“Jason has company; do you want me to check in a hotel?”
“You don’t need me; I don’t need you, going back to the cake, lunatics!”
They don’t even bother to answer him. “You can stay with Mark”
“My stuff is here”
“No” and she crosses her arms.
He gets closer, pulling funny faces at her and making a sweet, low voice “I’ll be good, I’ll pick up the garbage and mow the lawn... please? I’m homeless and alone and it’s raining outside”
She’s trying not to laugh, “alright then but if I see something fishy going on you’re out in the street in no time”
“Thanks mom. Can I help myself with the leftovers? I had nothing to eat all day”
“Sure, I’ll save you a slice of cake, if there is any left” and she joins us.
“Be right there with you!” he takes his mobile and writes a text “thanks sis, I’ll explain later”

For the rest of the dinner Mark, Howard and Gary ask all sort of questions to Julie, trying to understand what her life was like following them around.
Mark’s phone rings and he picks it up “Hello … of course I didn’t forget to tell them … do you think I’m stupid? … they can’t wait to go … sure … see you … bye”
“Going were Mark?’ Gary asks
“I was supposed to tell you this afternoon but totally forgot about it” smiles and shrugs “the label is taking us to Salina for four days, sun, sea and celebration of Jason’s birthday. We leave on Thursday and come back home to cold London on Sunday. I already told them you’re coming”
“An Italian island, sounds like fun” Dawn says
“And” Mark adds “they’re throwing Jason a masquerade birthday party!”
“Don’t tell me he chose a theme like ‘inner beauty’ or ‘peace on heart’ because I’ll kill him. I’m not wearing any new age crap” Howard says
“No, you can be anything you want as long as it is the character of a movie”
Howard grins “this is going to be so cool”
I drink my wine “hate masquerades, I don’t see why adults should wear stupid costumes and pretend to have fun”
“Who said anything about pretending?” he asks me “Why don’t you like it? What’s wrong with you Mary Pop..”
“Don’t say it!” and I place my hand over his mouth, he’s laughing tickling my palm *my heart is shrinking, can you die for something like that?*
“It’s a long story”
“I love long stories” Mark says “as long as we have cake”
“Come on, share some dirty secret with us” and Howard rests his head on my shoulder, “Please” Gary adds doing the same.
I sigh “I was six and I was invited to my first masquerade. I needed to buy a costume. I told my father on the phone, he was on his way back home from a trip to Eastern Europe and he said not to worry, he would buy me something special. I was so thrilled. Every little girl dreams about being a princess or a ballerina or even a little farm girl – I know, don’t look at me like that, it sounds crazy but it’s really popular in Italy. Anyway, he came back and he bought me Bulgaria national costume, I also had a little tambourine… pathetic”
“Poor Bea” and Gary pat my head
“I’m not done. He took me to the masquerade and every single bloody blond princess was asking me ‘so who are you?’ and I would say ‘I’m Bulgarian’. Do you know how many 6 years old kids know about Eastern European countries? Zero! It was so humiliating… I just wanted to be a ballerina. Worst than me was only little Oreste. His mother bought him a Dominican monk costume. While I was staying in the corner hoping they would all forget about me, he would stand in the middle of the room pretending to dance with the Invisible Woman. I had such a sad, depressing childhood”
Now they are both patting my head.
“Stop it, it’s not fun”
“Yes it is” and Howard kisses my cheek.
“Excuse me I need to make a phone call” and Julie heads toward the back garden. After a good 10 minutes I start to worry about her and I go looking where she is. She’s in the garden, freezing and having an argument with someone “NO FREAKING WAY!”
I walk in front of her mouthing ‘what’s going on?’ and she says to the person she’s talking to “hold on” and to me “she says she wan! And she DID NOT! Cut the crap Caro I can hear you! Yes, she is here. Just a second. She wants to talk to you”
“Ciao Caro”
“What can I say? Let it shine!”
I laugh “I don’t want to have anything to do with your delirious bet. I’m keeping my big mouth shout”
“But you’re smiling”
“Maybe”
“I knew he would come back”
“He went to see his mother”
“Yeah right”
“Not talking about it, it’s not gonna happen. I’ll put Julie back on”
“I’m not buying it! I remember the rules, he had to be here, as in London, by five, you never said anything about England … I don’t give a shit … you lost … she wan for sure. You should be here and see the way he desperately pretends not to look at like she’s a pile of chocolate ice-cream … yes, she agreed on the pictures, maybe I can talk her into the video as well” I punch her arm, she laughs “yes, you call Tricia? Fine. Need to go back inside; we’re so going to the mattresses now!”