An Unwelcome Guest

I heaved Aunt Mariam’s bag in through the front door.

“Laney, let your brother do it,” said Aunt Mariam.

“I can take a bag of clothes into a house, its fine.” I said. She was here again. The smell of cheap duty free perfume filled my nose, as it always did, the moment she stepped into the house. She was like a pink, paisley balloon filled with the stuff. Brandon reached the top of the grey, London stairs behind her. He smiled at me and raised his eyebrows behind her back. He was right, she’s family. We just have to live with it. He put the car keys in his pocket and walked into the house.

“Right, cup of tea anyone?” He said, rubbing his hands together. I glared at him.

“Brandon! You know that I am lactose intolerant!” Said Aunt Mariam. He remembered.

“Oh, sorry, Aunt Mariam,” he said, “but you can have it without-“

“Nonsense. Tea without milk is just pointless. Haven’t drunk it since I found out. I’ll just have an orange juice,” she said.

“Ah, I don’t think we have any,” he looked at me and I knew what was coming, “Laney, would you mind going to the shop for Aunt Mariam please?” asked my brother. I didn’t say anything, just grabbed my coat off the banister and started for the door.

“No, no don’t worry about that, Laney dear, I’ll just have a glass of water, thank you,” said Aunt Mariam. She walked her large body into the living room and took a seat on the sofa. Brandon looked at me. He saw my dull expression, but didn’t care. She was family. He flicked a pointing hand toward the kitchen. I went.

I turned on the tap, letting it fill the cup with tasteless London water and sighed. My Dad had been waiting for her in the living room and I could hear them talking now. Whenever she came over he enjoyed seeing his sister, but by day two all those feelings were replaced by annoyance and impatience. Sadly that’s all I ever felt for her.

I carried the glass through to the living room and wore my best fake smile.

“There you go, Aunt Mariam.” I said.

“Oh, thank you dear,” she said, “Did you take my bag upstairs?” I shook my head. “Would you do that for me?” she asked. I nodded and left the room, letting my smile drop into a scowl as soon as my back was turned. The rest of them continued to talk and laugh.

While I was dragging the bag up step by step, I wondered why it was so big. Was she going to be travelling around London? Maybe she was going to Gatwick tomorrow to catch a plane. Whatever the reason, I hoped it wasn’t that she was staying here for longer than a day or two.

I walked back into the living room to a cup of tea Brandon had made for me. There was a chair by the table in between Dad and Brandon. That seat was as far away as was socially acceptable from the stench of Aunt Mariam’s perfume. I took it. Then it came. The doorway to hell.

“Laney, Aunty Mariam is going to be staying here for a few weeks,” said my dad.