Later that night when she lay upstairs in bed, Eléni thought back over the last few days and how much everything had changed. She was pleased to be back, but also frustrated. Just three days before, she’d left home in such a temper she’d told herself she was leaving for good, never wanting to see her parents or her sister ever again. She knew now that wasn’t going to happen. She’d wanted to break free from her quiet goody-goody image — well, she’d done that. According to her parents, who’d had to pass the crashed car on the way to see her in hospital, she was lucky to be alive. All they kept saying was it was so unlike her, so out of character. They’d let her live a lie, so what was her true character? She was so confused she didn’t know herself. The last thing she remembered on Saturday night was the Mini speeding towards the hedge, the noise of the skidding crash and the car rolling over into the field. Every time she closed her eyes, her head filled with her own blood-curdling scream and panicked voices of the others. Then no images. Just blackness.
What had she done? She’d put her parents and sister through hell all because she didn’t have the courage to do the right thing. She didn’t want a second double Bacardi and Coke. And yet she’d drunk it. She knew Andy had been drinking and still got in the car with him. Did she really think it was worth trying to impress Andy Smith and show him she was one of the trendy girls? It was obvious he only thought of himself. She was sure there would already be someone else to show off to by now. How could someone as weak as her even contemplate travelling to Kefalonia on her own and trying to find a long-lost relative? She knew her parents had been overprotective of her becauseof her mutism. She’d always shied away from social situations because of it, but she was a grown woman now!
She tried to turn over and pain shot through her arm. She had to remember how restricted she was with her arm in the splint. In a week’s time, she’d return to have it replaced with a plaster cast once the swelling had gone down. Her quickly made plans as she’d rushed to Gabriella’s house after the row were dashed. She’d planned to get the money for the Kefalonia trip by asking for extra shifts at the Welsh craft shop and trying to get work at the large hotel in the evenings. They were always advertising for waitresses to do evening shifts.But how could she manage waitressing with a broken arm?Tears prickled along her eyelids. She’d ruined everything!
Eléni heard what sounded like a tap on the window. Then several more. Slowly, she got out of bed and drew the curtain back a fraction. Standing below, about to throw more chippings up at the window, was Andy Smith. Eléni gasped and closed the curtain. He continued to throw the tiny stones until she drew back the curtain again and managed to open the window with her uninjured hand.
‘Eléni, I’ve come to see if you’re all right,’ Andy said in a loud whisper.
Eléni went to answer him, but it was as if a door slammed shut at the top of her voice box. No words would come out. Her pulse raced. She’d hoped her speech would come back now she was home and sleeping in her own bed. The ordeal of the crash was over, so why couldn’t she get her words out? All she could do was give Andy the thumbs-up.Yes, I’m all right.
In a louder voice, he said, ‘That’s good. I want to say I’m sorry.’
The outside light flashed on, and her father marched across to where Andy stood looking up at her.
‘What the hell are you doing here, Smith? You’ve caused enough trouble so GO!’
She thought her father was going to hit him. Andy put up his hands in protest.
‘Okay, I’m going. I just came to see if your daughter is all right and to apologise. If you must know, she was begging me to slow down and I was too pig-headed to listen. Showing off, see.’ He looked up at her window and waved as he slunk away.
The next morning, PC Cooper arrived at the house to speak to Eléni. Her mother called her down from her room and they went into the sitting room.
‘I’m afraid my daughter won’t be able to answer you, constable.’ Tom placed a hand on Eléni’s shoulder.
The young man frowned. ‘Well, I’m afraid she’ll have to, otherwise she will be obstructing the police with our enquiries.’
‘No, what my husband means is she is physically unable to answer you. She has lost the ability to speak... since the accident. It’s happened before. But I think she’ll be able to write her answers down, won’t you,agápi mou?’
Eléni nodded. Cassia went to the bureau and took out a writing pad and pen. She handed it to Eléni.
‘Oh, I see. Sorry.’ The policeman faced Eléni. ‘Now, Miss Beynon, all I want to know is everything you can remember before the accident. The six of you who were travelling in the red Mini had just left the dance at the Rock Park Pavilion, is that right?’
She nodded.
‘Can you tell me why you left the dance and whose idea it was to get into the car?’
Eléni paused before beginning to write, her left arm propped on a cushion. She knew she would be incriminating Andy Smith, but he did seem genuinely sorry by calling last night to see if she was all right.
Everybody thought the dance was full of sixth formers. We’d all left school and were working. Somebody said there was a Young Farmers’ dance in Nant Melin, so we left to go there.She still hadn’t mentioned Andy’s name.
PC Cooper read what she’d written and handed the pad back to her.
‘Whose suggestion was it?’
She wrote,I can’t remember.
‘Think. I put it to you it was Andy Smith who suggested you go to Nant Melin as he wanted to show you all his new motor.’
Eléni’s face burned.Yes, I think it was Andy.
Her parents exchanged glances. ‘Why are you shielding that yobbo? He’s a waste of space.’
Eléni’s eyes blazed.No, he’s not,she wrote. He told me he’s sorry.
‘Anyway, let’s get back to Saturday night,’ said the police constable. ‘We know Mr Smith was driving. He was seen racing out of Porth Gwyn, and it seems he lost control on the bend before the mill. Was anyone egging him on before the impact? Anyone telling him to increase his speed, for instance.’
Eléni decided not to tell the policeman that, led by Dave, everyone had laughed and shouted, ‘Faster, Smithie’, ‘Put your foot down’, ‘Woo-hoo’ . . . except for her. She remembered her terror. Perhaps that’s what had locked in her words again.
