Bloody Helen! That maid is such a dobber. I'd get back at her as well, but I can't risk it. Mum and Dad are watching my every move now. I hope Jason brings "Alice" along. I could really use her assistance, if you get my drift...

Someone knocked on my door. The Sturrocks hadn't arrived yet, so I knew it wasn't Dad. "Go away, Helen!" I snapped.

"Darling, it's not Helen. May I come in?"

Aunt Bex. I took a deep breath and opened the door. "I suppose Dad sent you to psychoanalyse me," I said bitterly.

"Oooh tempting, very tempting, but your mother always puts on such a delicious spread, I'd rather not ruin my appetite."

"Hey, that's not very nice!"

"Neither is leaving dead animals in your cousin's room."

"They were already dead. I didn't kill anything."

"Well, I'm glad to know that you're not a complete psychopath, Didi."

My eyes widened in surprise, and I felt my hands clench at my sides. I didn't expect my aunt to be so blunt. It took my breath away.

Aunt Bex sighed, her gaze lingering on the psychedelic posters above my bed. "Didi, it's not just about dead animals on pillows. It's about understanding consequences and the impact of your actions on others. Your emotional responses lack the maturity we expect from someone your age," she said.

Her words stung, and for a moment, I resented her brutal honesty. I rolled my eyes, dismissing it as another adult lecture. Yet, a nagging feeling crept in. Was there truth in what she said? I shook off the discomfort.

Who cares what she thinks?

"I thought you said you weren't going to psychoanalyse me!" I snapped.

"That's not psychoanalysis my dear, that's an observation that could be made by anyone who knows you. You have zero empathy for others, and you're quickly losing everyone's respect. It might be difficult to get that respect back. Does that not bother you?"

Aunt Bex's question hung in the air. I shifted uncomfortably, the weight of her words sinking in. The sounds of preparation for the gathering outside felt distant. I was in a bubble of self-reflection...

It might be difficult to get that respect back. Does that not bother you?

I don't know, maybe... Possibly, Aunt Bex is right, but while people may no longer respect me, they certainly know my name, and they're not likely to forget it!

"Didi? Didi? Edith, I'm talking to you!"

Aunt Bex looked a little freaked out by the fact that I hadn't answered her. It made me want to laugh. I really didn't care what she had to say to me. All the adults are the same. They just want to control us, stop us from having fun. But then...

"...accompanying me to New York, in August."

"What? New York? I'd love to go!" Aunt Bex had my full attention now.

"No. No, I don't think so... You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"

I hung my head in shame. "No, I... I'm sorry, Aunty. I tuned out."

"Yes, I could see that..." She folded her arms. I could sense her disappointment, her disapproval practically palpable. "You know, if you continue to ignore or disrespect others, you'll miss out on a great deal...like a trip to New York. What a pity. I thought better of you, Edith. I even tried to convince your father, but...he was right, I was wrong."

"About what?"

"It doesn't matter. From what I've seen so far, I doubt you'll be able to do it."

I bristled. "Bet I can! Mum says women can do anything, if we put our minds to it."

"Oh, really?" Aunt Bex narrowed her eyes. Her mouth twisted in amusement, or perhaps it was derision, I couldn't tell which. With her arms still folded she said, "I wonder... Can you admit that you've behaved in a beastly manner towards your cousin? More importantly, will you apologise and make an effort, a real effort, to welcome her to the family, the way Simon has?"

"Yes, Mum's making me do it!"

"Making you do it?" Aunt Bex threw her hands up in a gesture of frustration. "Listen to yourself! Your mother shouldn't have to make you behave like a decent human being, Edith. What's happened to you? When did you become so...ugly?"

"Excuse me?" I laughed. I'm many things, but ugly wasn't one of them. I wouldn't get the guys I do, if I was ugly.

It was as if Aunt Bex could read my mind. "Oh, I won't deny you're pretty enough on the outside, and you have a figure that I'm sure the boys find attractive."

I smiled, glad she could acknowledge that she was wrong, but her next words shot me down.

"But you've become ugly on the inside, Edith. That's the type of ugliness that will poison your soul. Sure, boys will screw your body, but will they want to unite themselves to a poisonous soul, long term?" She scoffed. "I doubt it!

"I don't like being around ugly people, and I certainly don't want to be accompanied by ugliness to New York."

I felt like I'd been slapped. My eyes began to sting and tears began to form. I had become expert at crying on cue to get my way with Dad - not that it had worked recently, but this was different. This was real. "I'll change," I said.

"Will you, Edith? Will you really?"

"I'll try."

"Edith, look at me."

I looked into my aunt's eyes. I saw sadness there, and disappointment, but I also saw love. She spoke gently, her tone no longer agitated or exasperated.

"This is much much more important than a trip to New York, Edith. This is about ridding yourself of the poison that will ruin your life. If you continue this behaviour, you're going to be all alone. Do you understand that?"

"I think I'm beginning to," I whispered.

"You have eight months to convince me that you're working to rid yourself of the poison. I don't want to have to tell you how to behave, Edith. You're sixteen. You should know."

"I do but..."

"No buts Edith!"

"I think I need you to help me, Aunt Bex."

Aunt Bex smiled. "Darling, I'm proud of you. You've acknowledged that you have a problem, and that you need help. You're on your way. I just wish... Hmm..." She frowned, looking pensive.

"What is it?"

"Well, I do want to help you, but..."

It was my turn to frown. "You said, no buts!"

"I was just thinking, that things would probably be much easier if you moved in with me for the next eight months, but your father, will never go for that."

"If anyone can convince him, it's you! Please try, Aunt Bex."

"Well, of course I'll try, but... You know he'll probably impose some very strict conditions."

"I know I can do it, with your help."

"You're really determined, aren't you?"

I nodded vehemently. "Please, I know you can convince him."

"All right, Edith, I'll speak to him, but I think you'll find that I can be just as strict, if not stricter than your parents. If you sneak out, even once, you'll be straight back here, and there'll definitely be no trip to New York for you, understood?"

"Understood. Thank you, Aunty. I'll behave, I promise!

Author's Notes:

Talk about reverse psychology 😂Nicely done Bex! 💖

A "dobber" is Aussie slang for a person who informs on someone. In this case the maid, Helen, tells her boss, Mr Peacock, what his daughter Edith has been up to.

"Alice" alludes to Alice in Wonderland, and was a slang term used by Timothy Leary in the 1960s for LSD... It looks like Edith might be using. 😔 I hope Bex can help sort her out.