The Mammoth Book Of Vampire Stories Written By Women

His mother stomped upstairs, but he knew she wouldn't wash her face or anything else. She'd stew in her rage until she couldn't stand it any longer and come hit him again. His auntie tried to stop it, but she didn't have any place else to live, so she turned away when she failed. Andrew felt sorry for her, thankful that at least she tried.

One of the police officers sat down beside Andrew and asked him a hundred questions. Or so it seemed. It was past his bedtime and he was beginning to fall asleep. When the man decided he had enough information, he told Andrew they were going to go by the Delaneys' house. Then the constable asked if Andrew felt safe enough to stay in his house. That they had somewhere else he could stay.

"It'll be all right. She gets upset easily. But she always cools down. Besides, I have my auntie." Aunt Molly grinned from across the room.

"Okay, then. But you call us if things get heated again. Don't be afraid." The police officer looked to Aunt Molly then back to Andrew. "We'll let you know what our investigation turns up."

"Yes, please," Andrew managed. His eyelids sagging, body limp.

Last thing he heard was his auntie opening the blanket chest to get him an extra bit of warmth.

When Andrew woke, he knew half the day had gone. Though it was grey out, he could tell by the angle of the light in his room. His mum was off at work, surely, and his auntie was probably cleaning someone's house, since it was Wednesday. He dressed in his school clothes and went down to the kitchen. His auntie was sitting at the table having lunch.

"Ah, well, look who finally got himself up. Did you sleep all right?"

"Yes, Aunt Molly. I don't remember going up to bed, though. Is Mum all right?"

"One of those nice policemen carried you up. You fell asleep before they reached the door, and I knew I'd never get you up those stairs alone."

"Is Mum okay?"

"What do you care? She beats you terribly and wails into the night about how awful you are to make her worry. She doesn't deserve you, Andy. She was too young to have a child alone in the first place. It should have been me. I'm a better mum to you than she is." She stopped, looking away from Andrew. "I'm sorry. I know you love your mum. Sometimes, I can't help myself. The truth slips out. Forgive me."

"I love you too, Aunt Molly. Don't be mad at Mum. She's unhappy."

His auntie smirked at him. "She and all the rest of us miserable old women."

"You're not old."

She looked Andrew over. "You think you can go to school now?"

He looked at the clock over the sink. It was nearly noon. "Four more classes after midday. Yeah. I'm okay, now. Are you cleaning today?"

Aunt Molly set a sack on the table. "Here's a sandwich, then. There's a note inside, but I'll telephone the school and let them know you're on your way. And yes, not a day goes by I don't have a house to clean. I got a cancellation today, that's all."

"Thanks, Auntie. You're the best!"

"Oh!" Andrew stopped at the door as his auntie spoke. "Your friend Frank is fine. You'll see him in school, I'd wager."

"Thanks!" Andrew closed the door too hard, but he hardly heard it. He ran to school, anxious to learn what had happened to Frank.

He caught up with Frank on his way to class. When he saw Andrew, his friend frowned.

"What? You mad at me?"

"You pissed off my mum, you stupid idiot. She told me to get lost after school cause she was entertaining her friends; so I told her I was meeting you at the church. She just guessed we was going to visit that old guy. You really ruined it for me. When the police showed up, she got even angrier. Don't you get it? Can't you be cool?"

Andrew was speechless. Wouldn't Frank have done the same for him if he'd seen Andrew on the bus with the old man? Wouldn't Frank have suspected something was up with the old man being friendly to another boy right after his ward died?

Frank walked off. Nothing bad had happened to Frank, and that was good, but couldn't he see that Andrew's concern was heartfelt and real? Couldn't he understand that? He hadn't meant to make Mrs Delaney angry. Andrew did his best not to cry. He hung his head and shoulders as he went to class.

He was listless the rest of his day in school. He questioned everything from the moment he saw the old man at the nailer's cottage with his ward. Were all the strange things he saw and felt just his imagination? Didn't it seem odd that the old man stayed around Belper after the accident? That he seemed happy and chatty on the bus with Frank? It was creepy. Very creepy.

All the way home, Andrew kept his head down, watching his feet as he went. When he got there, his mother was remote, ashamed of her behaviour, but unable or refusing to apologize and make it up to Andrew. His auntie was quiet, on edge that she'd set off her sister. He felt very alone.