Bad Behaviour (ebook)

Argumento de Bad Behaviour (ebook)

A collection of short stories about bad behaviour in many forms from the author of the Libby Sarjeant series to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Accent Press.

Whether a spurned lover, a nervous teacher, or a mischievous grandparent, all sorts of people are getting up to all sorts of tricks in this collection. Maybe they told a little white lie - or a whopping great one; maybe they got up to more was strictly necessary at the office party!

Quirky, funny and sad, these are stories about everyday people behaving badly.

Watch it! Helen grabbed the ladder as Sean sneezed again. For goodness sake! Havent you taken your pills this morning?

Sean rubbed his eyes and nodded. I think I need stronger ones. He began to descend the ladder.

You cant have stronger ones. If you did, you couldnt work or drive the van. Theyd make you too dizzy. Helen pushed her hair back from her damp forehead.

You could drive the van. Sean was mopping at his swollen eyes.

I cant go up the ladder, though. You cant have a decorator who cant stand heights. Especially an exterior decorator.

You cant have one with chronic hay fever, either. Sean sat down gloomily on the garden wall. Well have to give it up.

Helen gave an exasperated sigh. Again? Like you did with the delivery service? And the sandwich business? And the light removals?

Its not my fault! Sean shifted uneasily. I cant help my bad back or my eczema.

And I cant help you, either! said Helen warningly. I agreed to give this a try until I got another job, but one of us has got to be earning a decent salary or well never pay off our debts.

Its all right for you. Sean kicked at a pebble, not looking at her. You can go and get a job anywhere. I cant.

If you hadnt left the building society because they didnt understand you

I wanted my independence! You know that. Sean glared at her from his almost-closed eyes.

Pity you dont want to be independent of me. Helen glared back.

Sean stood up. Oh, come on, lets get this job finished. Ive only got to do the bedroom window frames and thats it. Then Ill pack it in.

You wont be able to see to paint. And if you start sneezing again youll fall, like you nearly did just now.

Not if you stay at the bottom and hold the ladder. It wont take me more than half an hour.

Helen sighed and replaced the baseball cap on her head. She was getting fed up with this. Give her a nice air-conditioned office any day, with a regular pay cheque every month, even if it was boring. At least the bills got paid that way, and there was a growing sum in the building society towards a holiday - even a mortgage. At least, there had been. Until Sean had wanted his independence. Then had come the expenses. She had paid for the van and the insurance. Insurance for Sean, too. Shed had to shoulder all the other burdens in the last few months; the rent, the bills, his overdraft charges. Hed moved in with her three months ago to save rent, so her independence had gone completely. He never thought about that.

She squinted up at him on the ladder. Hed been so good looking when she first met him in the building society. Beautiful auburn hair and sharp suits, and in bed - well! She thought shed struck it lucky at last. But it had really been Sean whod struck it lucky with her. Mousy little Helen, whod only been out with one or two boys before - and they hadnt exactly been world beaters.

Nearly finished! He called down. Ill come back later this afternoon and check that the windows open all right, so well leave the ladder here.

Helen nodded and grabbed the ladder as he sneezed again. If he wasnt careful it would be the last job he did, sneezing like that. Something would have to be done about his hay fever.

They went back to the flat for lunch and Helen began leafing through the holiday brochures shed collected from the travel agent while she ate her tuna sandwich.

Id give up that idea, if I were you. Sean was looking better, sitting with his feet up on the coffee table, a can of lager in his hand.

What idea? She frowned at him.

Foreign holidays. I cant make enough money - and anyway, I couldnt stand the heat, could I? Or the pollen.

You could take your antihistamine pills - stronger ones. You wouldnt be working or driving on holiday, would you?

Ah! He wagged a finger at her. But Id be drinking, wouldnt I? Cant take them together.

You neednt drink. Helen lowered her eyes to the highly coloured picture of a Caribbean beach, wistfully.

Sean shrugged. Wouldnt be much of a holiday, then, would it?

Helen sighed and stood up. Ill go and make the coffee. Wed better get on if youve got to check on that job and collect the ladder.

OK. But you neednt come. Im much better, now - havent sneezed for ages - and Ive only got to pop up the ladder for a minute. And make that coffee a bit stronger, this time, eh? I could hardly taste it this morning!

Helen gritted her teeth and went in to the kitchen.

It was about half past five when she and the client found Seans body on the patio underneath the ladder and about three hours later when she sat in their sumptuous lounge being plied with brandy and sympathy.0