Glimmer and other Stories Read Online Free Page B

shoulder. She prised his bony fingers away, pushed Gladiator off her knee, and turned her head. Katy stiffened at the sight of John’s white face and contorted mouth.
    ‘Ambulance…call for an ambulance,’ he said.
    The sound of John’s raspy voice frightened her. She scuttled away from him and stood.
    ‘My heart…call an ambulance, quick.’
    She inched further away, tripped on the paperweight and fell onto her back. Gladiator ran over and nuzzled her face. Katy picked up the glass globe and stood.  
    ‘Mister?   What’s the matter? What’s happened to you?’
    John opened his mouth and clutched at his chest.  
    ‘Heart. Need an ambulance.’
    ‘I can’t call them, they’ll send the police.’
    ‘Please.’
    ‘I can’t.’
    ‘If you do you can keep the dress.’  
    ‘And the paperweight?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes, hurry.’
    Katy thought for a moment. ‘I can’t. Don’t worry, you’ll be okay.’
    ‘No, I won’t.’
    ‘Yes, you will. I know what to do. Have you got any aspirin? Aunt Karen gave some to Grandma Duggan and she got better.’
    John closed his eyes.  
    ‘It worked, really it did.’  
    John struggled for breath.
    ‘You only need one.’
    ‘Toilet…in the cabinet.’  
    She dropped the globe, ran into the bathroom, turned on the light and opened the mirror fronted wall cupboard. She picked up a packet of aspirin and brought them back to John. Her hand shook as she pulled a tablet from the box and held it in front of him.  
    ‘In my mouth, put it in…my mouth.’  
    John parted his lips and she placed a pill on his tongue. He chewed it and Katy sat down next to Gladiator at the foot of the settee. She picked up the paperweight and turned it around in her hands, all the while staring at the idyllic scene inside.
    ‘You’ll be all right now. Aunt Karen said aspirin helps the…the something keep your heart beating. I think. That and calling an… an amblance.’
    John grunted. Katy closed her eyes. Gladiator barked at her and she took a deep breath. ‘Okay, Gladdy, I’ll call the amblance. Where’s the phone?’
    ‘By the…front door.’
    Katy stood up, hugged the paperweight to her ribcage, and walked slowly towards the hall.

    ***

    ‘You’re Katy, right?’ a paramedic said, and strapped an unconscious John to a trolley. Katy did not answer.  
    ‘My name’s Brenda and that’s Peter.   This is your granddad, right?’
    ‘No…yes…’
    ‘Don’t cry sweetheart. It’s okay, you’re granddad is going to be fine.’
    Katy wiped her nose. ‘Can I come in the amblance?’
    ‘Of course you can.’
    ‘And Gladdy too?’
    ‘No, we can’t allow animals in the ambulance. Don’t worry we’ll tie her up outside and call the R.S.P.C.A.’
    ‘No, she’ll be all alone.’
    ‘It’s okay, they won’t be long.’
    She backed away, pulled Gladiator close to her chest and shook her head.
    ‘Where’s your mum sweetheart?’ Katy did not answer. ‘Your dad then? We have to call them and let them know what’s happened.’
    Katy began to shake.
    ‘Right, we have to leave now, get your Granddad to the hospital. Let the dog go and you can ride in the back with me, Okay?’
    Gladiator growled. Katy picked her up, ran into the study and locked the door. She heard Brenda tell Peter to call the police and saw the door handle twist. Gladiator squirmed free and Katy pushed piles and piles of books against the door. She grabbed the paperweight and sat on the sofa. Gladiator jumped onto her knee and she wiped away a tear. She stared at the image of the happy child, then closed her eyes and wished with all her might that she could join her on the flower-covered swing.
    ‘Open the door sweetheart, come on.’
    ‘Go away!’
    ‘Don’t be scared. It’s okay. You see, we can’t leave you alone in the house.’
    ‘Yes you can.’
    ‘No, we can’t. It’s not safe.’
    ‘It is. It is! It’s safe like the museum. Like Aunty Karen’s house,’ Katy said, and