Reedsy Prompts Comment.
I shuddered at that final twist ! Wow ! John, this was brilliant. You created a story full of tension that made me question what would happen next. Beautiful descriptions, as usual. Great job !
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They liked to share these idyllic quiet moments, in front of the mirrored dressing table, George combing Georgina’s hair. It was something soothing, calming, and therapeutic, a necessary and intimate ritual, an important part of their relationship, which they had been doing together since they couldn’t remember, certainly since childhood. In complete silence – never a word spoken, Georgina in a catatonic state of mind, completely immobile, a trance-like state. George slowly, softly, gently glides the brush through her long tresses of hair. This quiet ritual went on for hours, quietly, blissful, they were inside a bubble of tranquility.
Gloria watched on, grinning from ear to ear, lolling against the chair, propped up with cushions, Gloria had seen it all. Gloria was a gift, a valuable gift of subterfuge for George, a bribe from his parents, to keep him quiet, keep his mouth shut. About the secret that must be kept in the family, no one, absolutely no one must know, you know that, George. Don’t you? His parents would explain to the innocent ears of George. This is Gloria, you can whisper in her ear, if you ever want to talk to someone about it – OK?
Gloria became the listener, the therapist, and then she would pass on the secret information to Georgina. Georgina was the stronger of the two, made of rock, nothing disturbed or frightened Georgina. That’s why George doted on Georgina, he knew he was weak, and she was so strong, she possessed the strength for both of them. Gloria was so pleased to be added to the family, and to be an integral part of it. The family was wealthy, the father a world renown specialist surgeon from a wealthy legacy, he was privileged from birth, nannies, boarding school, his pathway in life was constructed and planned before he was born, from generations prior, and generations to come. The tried and trusted way. His marriage was arranged, with only a select few who could be considered a match in their world, in those high circles of society. She was perfect, of similar family status, she didn’t lose any of her privileges, it was a perfect transition from her maternal family into her family of marriage, she didn’t lose any sleep over the matter, life continued on as normal, gatherings, parties, friends, it was seamless.
When she became pregnant shortly after the marriage, it made the headlines on the celebrity pages, the joyous ink leapt off the gossip pages. She demanded to be fully anesthetized for the birth, pain was not a word in her personal experience dictionary. She was completely unaware of the conception, totally out of it, she could have given birth to a horse, and was equally unaware she had delivered twins.
Gloria was selected as a gift, a treasure for George, she was token of unspeakable secrets, unfulfilled desires, her appearance with her blond braided pigtails, gaudy red lips might have been misconstrued, but George hugged her lovingly from the very first time they met. His parents were incapable of showing affection, demonstrating their love with hugs and kisses, not in the normal sense. It was not accepted in their constrained unemotional legacy, their upbringing, and it continued in this generational circle of supposedly refined upper-class family and friends. When Gloria arrived, George understood what he was missing, a feeling of unknown nostalgia for simpler circumstances, which he didn’t have an inkling about or any comprehension that it existed, another life, a different life, a life uncomplicated, without the subtle stresses or pressure continuously made by his parents. George always felt vulnerable, awkward; a feeling of an unfinished project in the presence of his parents, on the rare occasions he was allowed into company of his parent’s friends, such as cocktail party events, or saying farewell at nighttime, George was nervous, uncomfortable, shyness overcame his speech, as he stood dumb and gormlessly in front of the onlooking adults inspecting George like an alien life form.
“Strange boy!” They would whisper, as he turned his back on leaving the room. George heard the whispers, these overheard comments like so many others send him further into his interior cave of solitude and despair. At least George had Gloria to confide in, he always thought, and the thought consoled him.
In the eyes of his parents Gloria’s arrival filled a gap, Gloria symbolized a desire for perfection and control over George, which was completely immoral. The family secret must be suppressed, at all costs. George was getting older, and wiser, Gloria was introduced with the sole intent of keeping the family secret secure.
Everybody was aware that George was the weak link in the subterfuge, the conspiracy, the dark secrets of the family, Gloria was the guardian, she was central to it all, and that made her the gatekeeper to the whole incestuous situation. She was the overseer and protector. The only person Gloria confided in was Georgina. Gloria’s secret was safe with Georgina.
“Doing a good job, is he? That’s about all he is good for, combing your hair.” Gloria said sardonically, without moving her lips like a ventriloquist dummy.
“George is a sweetie, stupid as an ass, but he is my loving brother, and I will always protect him – even from your foul mouth!” Georgina replied defensibly.
“He’s so stupid, he can’t hear us, or he ignores every word, the truth, he’s a lame brain!” Gloria continued her verbal attack.
“You are the smart one, the strong one in this family Georgina, if it wasn’t for you, we would still be in the clutches of those dinosaur parents, the molesting evil creeps!” Gloria continued.
“DON’T say a bad word about Mummy and Daddy like that, shut that vile mouth of yours, Gloria!” Georgina was getting agitated now, but George continued the slow grooming strokes, undeterred and it seemed oblivious to the conversation between Georgina and Gloria. The smooth grooming strokes of brush helped Georgina to keep her temper, remain calm.
“I won’t tell anybody what you did, don’t worry, those abusers of innocent children deserved it – justice was served. Only you Georgina had the balls to do it, George doesn’t have what it takes, never did. He always hid behind you, scared of his own shadow; the stupid one.” Gloria continued in her negative tone.
“I watched on for years as they took you to their bed for their evil desires, for years, Daddy wanted control, his evil desires, his manipulation, his family fun; and she; Mummy followed; a willing assistant; always pickled, in her normal alcohol fueled state of mind, anesthetized, she was a lush most of the time, both were heartless immoral bastards.”
“I was used like a comfort blanket, a rag doll, to make it seem normal. Those twisted monsters.”
“Whisper in Gloria’s ear, Gloria will keep the secrets of the night, Gloria will make any pain go away. Tell Gloria, but don’t tell anybody else.” Gloria mimicked the parents’ words to their sexually molested victim.
“They deserved what was coming.”
George dropped the hairbrush, and went to Gloria, and started hugging her, whispering in her ear.
“What did he say?” asked Georgina.
“He says he loves me, and will I forgive him, will I forgive him for his weaknesses.” Gloria replied.
“Always the same, he’s that stupid, he thinks it’s his fault!” Gloria was angry.
“Don’t be too hard on him, we need him to be his normal complicit self, we need his continued silence; we need him to keep his mouth shut now more than at any time. These are dangerous times, no slip-ups; we all need to stick together, otherwise there will be trouble for us all – including you Gloria – understand?” Georgina continued to look into the mirror, but her steely eyes, and tightly drawn mouth emphasized the words. It was a threat.
“Don’t you trust me, Georgina? to keep your dirty obscene family secrets locked away in my head?” Gloria said in a challenging teasing manner, she was goading Georgina.
Georgina lifted her right hand, both hands had been hidden from sight, low between her parted legs, during the long grooming process. As she lifted the concealed right hand, one could now see she was holding the blade of the nine-inch carving knife, splashed in crimson blood, the blood stood out a dark dull shade of red, against the shiny silver blade of the knife. Slowly she raised the blade higher, and then held it above her head. She held the pose, and slowly turned her upper body and head to face Gloria.
“Unless you are looking for the same, Gloria, I would recommend you keep your mouth shut, as you always have, it was the reason you were ingratiated into this family, your loyalty has kept you alive and your dirty mouth tolerated – your circumstances can change fatally IF you start to change, my dear Gloria.” Georgina glared at Gloria threateningly.
“Now, let’s clean up the mess. They say no bodies, no crime.”