Silent Treatment by Jackie Williams

frowning.
    “Yes, well so long as it is just a bug. I don’t want you mucking about with that great oaf Carrie. He looks dangerous to me. He obviously has enough hormones in him for the whole street.”
    Carrie struggled to sit up and defend Dan iel.
    “Dad, don’t be ridiculous. He’s my friend and I really like him. It’s not his fault he’s grown so big and it’s nothing to do with his hormones, more like his genes. Dan’s father is really tall too. You would hate it if someone didn’t like you just because you’re bald like grandpa. It’s a hereditary thing not a failing.”
    Jim took a shocked breath and rubbed his hand self-consciously over his shining head.
    “Now wait just a minute young lady! There’s no reason to be so rude. I’m only saying that someone that huge is going to have trouble along-side him somewhere. I don’t want you getting too involved. He’s so massive his hormones must be running riot. He’s got to have that much testosterone raging round him. He’s going to have to give it an outlet sometime and for someone his age, that means either fighting or having sex. I don’t want either of them to be with you, okay.”
    Carrie was outraged. She ignored the pain in her shoulder as she shot forwards.
    “I don’t think Dan iel has ever had a fight in his life and I am certainly not having sex with him! I’m not having sex with anyone! Yet!” She added furiously. “Not that it’s any of your business if I do. I am sixteen you know and it’s quite legal, but just so you know, he’s never even mentioned the subject to me. We’ve walked to and from school together almost every day since I was six. There’s nothing in it at all.” Carrie crossed her fingers under the duvet, desperately hoping that there would be. “He plays rugby or some other sport all the time. He gets rid of all his testos…stuff there. He’s a really nice guy dad, and so are his mates. You shouldn’t let appearances sway your opinion so easily.”
    Her father took a step back from Carrie’s onslaught and raised his hands in surrender.
    “Okay, I beli eve you, I’m sorry I spoke. You had better rest if you are going to rehearsals tomorrow. Antonio is going to be as mad as hell that you are going to miss tonight, better not make him madder.”
    Carrie was about to protest about the being sick rule when her mum spoke up for her.
    “She can’t go to rehearsals tomorrow either Jim. They have to have forty-eight hours clear before they go back to training, otherwise it’ll go round the group like wildfire. It’s the warm, sweaty atmosphere in the studio that does it. It won’t matter too much anyway, Carrie has the routine down to a tee. I’ll give Antonio a call in a moment. Why don’t you go and relax Jim. Go and pour us both a sherry. I’ll just help Carrie clean up and be down in a jiffy.”
    Jim left the room after kissing Carrie on the forehead but her mum stayed sitting on the bed.
    She waited until she heard the television downstairs and then she spoke to Carrie again.
    “Are you really sick Carrie? You look a little flushed, but not ill and you don’t have a temperature. Come on honey, you can tell me if anything’s bothering you. You’re not getting cold feet about the dancing are you?” Her tone was full of genuine concern.
    Carrie smiled weakly and laid her head back on the pillows. She suddenly felt awful for being so deceitful. She couldn’t meet her mother ’s gaze. Instead she made a big drama out of plumping the already plumped pillow.
    “Don’t be silly mum. I could do the dance standing on my head. I just feel ill, that’s all. I think I was stressed about the exam and it’s given me a nervous stomach.”
    But her mother wouldn’t leave it.
    “And Daniel? Are you telling us the truth about him.” She flapped her hands as Carrie jumped forwards in the bed again. “Look, don’t get mad at me. He’s eighteen and you’re a very pretty girl. He wouldn’t be normal if he