Read Online The Death of Ruth by Elizabeth Kata - Free Book Online Page A

small feminine necessities, and although Molly appeared to be pleased, she continues to wear her worn clothing, and her hands remain uncared for. The lipstick—never used—stands perched on her dressing table resembling a shiny cartridge.
    Young Jodie, now eighteen, has married her Bill. There had been an unpleasant evening when she had come running to our house, crying hysterically, announcing that she was ‘going to have a baby’ and that she and Bill just ‘had to get married’ and that they had no chance of getting a decent place to live. She had broken down and wept, pleading with Molly to change her mind and sell our property.
    â€˜You and Bill will manage,’ Molly had said, quietly. ‘It’s not good for young people to rely on help from their elders. You get married, Jodie, and you’ll see, everything will be all right.’
    Molly speaks in the strangely hollow voice of a deaf person. I know of course that she is not absolutely deaf. Shehears quite well when one speaks directly to her and if there are no conflicting sounds in the nearby vicinity.
    Young Rob has gone off to live with Jodie and Bill. Before leaving home he had said to me, ‘Uncle John, ever since Jodie left home, Dad has been like a lost soul. Of course, she had always been his special pet, Mum always resented that. I never have. I feel selfish leaving Dad, but it is so damned dreary living with him. Do you think I am being selfish?’
    â€˜Not at all,’ I had replied and Rob had looked relieved, he had grinned happily, then frowning, he had glanced across the room at Molly, murmuring, ‘Uncle John, Aunty Molly is going quite crazy. She could be put away—I mean—she needs treatment of some kind, she has become a bit of a freak.’
    I reprimanded him, reminding him of Molly’s past kindness to him, to his sister, and he had the grace to look ashamed, and that evening, after Rob left, I asked Molly, carefully, clearly, whether she had heard Rob’s remarks. When she said that she had not, I was relieved and I told her that Rob was leaving home, going off to live with Jodie.
    â€˜Ralph’ll be lonely,’ was her only comment, but a few nights later she had awakened me and I sat up in my dark bedroom, startled, for she never came to my room at night.
    â€˜What is it?’ I asked. ‘Molly, are you ill?’
    â€˜No,’ she replied flatly, ‘John, you would never try to have me put away, would you?’
    â€˜Ye gods, of course not, Molly! Don’t you worry about such things.’
    In the same flat voice she told me that she was not at all worried, it was just that she would dislike the trouble and embarrassment that would come about in our peaceful life if I did attempt any such foolish thing.
    I spent a sleepless night, worrying about her and about the life we led that she called peaceful. I also wondered whether Molly had been truthful in saying that she had not overheard Rob’s harsh remarks. I decided to be more thanever kind and gentle towards her, but also, more watchful in the future.
    Soon after his son’s departure from home, Ralph went off on a vacation. His firm has given him three months’ long service leave, and Ralph told me that he was going to spend his time searching for Ruth in various country towns.
    The morning he left his home, I had watched Ralph dodging Molly, who had seemed determined to have words with him. Ralph, just as determinedly, was intent on not letting himself in for a farewell scene.
    Whilst Molly stood at the Moystons’ back door, knocking and calling, Ralph had hustled from the front door and coming over to me, he had said, ‘John, here’s an extra front door key. I am renting the house whilst I’m away. Will you give the key to the agent when he calls for it?’ He handed the key to me.
    I was surprised, but said I would. ‘Also, Ralph, you had better leave a forwarding address,