28
STEPFATHER: What do you mean funny?
MOTHER: Well, neither of the girls came down to breakfast
So I went up to wake them. The fact that they both slept
through the alarm is unusual in itself but when I tried to open
the door I couldn't get in.
STEPFATHER: How come?
MOTHER: They'd moved the chest of drawers and one of the
beds up against the door.
STEPFATHER: Did you ask them why?
MOTHER: Of course I did.
STEPFATHER: What did they say?
MOTHER: They said Becky had a nightmare or something and
she was scared that monsters were trying to come in or
something ridiculous like that.
STEPFATHER: Ah, you know what kids are like - don't know
there's no such thing as the bogeyman.
MOTHER: I thought they'd have grown out of that sort of
thing by now. Neither of them has been themselves
lately. Cynthia and I seem to fight all the time
now. We used to have such a good relationship. I
don't know what's going on. Becky's changed
too, whether it's got something to do with the way
Cynthia's carrying on or not, I don't know.
STEPFATHER: (pause) Do you think it's got anything to do with
me?
MOTHER: With you? What could it have to do with you?
STEPFATHER: Neither of them are particularly fond of me, I
know that.
MOTHER: Don't say that.
STEPFATHER: It's true isn't it?
MOTHER: They haven't seen you at your best. You've got
to give people a chance, they have to learn that.
Anyway, it's probably just some kind of phase
they're going through.
STEPFATHER: Could be. Teenagers do that sort of thing.
MOTHER: Although Becky's not a teenager yet. I s'pose
she's just reacting to what she sees in Cynthia.
She really
looks up to her you know.
