Love or Money?

The  Clarkson  family  lived  in  the  country  near  Cambridge,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  nearest  village  and  about  a  mile  from  the  river.  They  had  a  big  old  house  with  a  beautiful  garden,  a  lot  of  flowers  and  many  old  trees.  One  Thursday  morning  in  July,  Jackie  came  in  from  the  garden.  She  was  a  tall,  fat  woman,  30  years  old.  It  was  the  hot,  hottest  day  of  the  year,  but  she  wore  a  warm  brown  skirt  and  yellow  shirt.

She  went  into  the  kitchen  to  get  a  drink  of  water.  Just  then,  the  phone  rang.  Hello?  This  is  Diane.  I  want  to  talk  to  Mother.

Mother  isn't  here,  Jackie  said.  She's  at  the  doctors.  Why?  What's  wrong?  Nothing's  wrong,  Jackie  said.

Why  are  you  telephoning?  You  are  going  to  come  this  weekend?  Mother  wants  everyone  to  be  here.  Yes,  I  want  to  come,  Diane  said.  I'm  phoning  because  I  have  no  money  for  the  train  ticket.

No  money?  Mother  is  always  giving  you  money.  This  phone  call  is  very  expensive,  Diane  said  coldly.  Tell  Mother,  please,  I  need  the  money.  Jackie  put  the  phone  down.

She  took  a  cigarette  from  her  bag  and  began  to  smoke.  She  felt  angry  because  her  sister  always  asked  for  money.  Diane  was  20  years  old,  the  youngest  in  the  family.  She  lived  in  London,  in  one  room  of  a  big  house.  She  wanted  to  be  a  singer.

She  sang  very  well,  but  she  could  never  get  work.  Jackie  went  back  into  the  kitchen  and  began  to  make  some  sandwiches.  Just  then,  the  back  door  opened  and  her  mother  came  in.  It's  very  hot,  molly  said.  She  took  off  her  hat  and  put  it  down  on  the  table.

She  was  a  tall,  dark  woman  with  beautiful  eyes.  Two  big  black  dogs  came  into  the  kitchen  after  her  and  ran  across  to  her.  She  sat  down  and  put  her  hands  on  their  heads.  Jackie  put  the  sandwiches  on  the  table.  Mother,  she  said.

Diane  phone.  She  wants  money  for  her  train  ticket.  Molly  closed  her  eyes  for  a  minute.  Then  she  stood  up.  This  afternoon  I  want  you  to  get  the  house  ready  for  the  weekend,  she  said.

Oh,  and  please  go  to  the  village  later  and  get  my  tablets.  Yes,  mother  Jackie  said  Molly  went  to  the  door.  Mother,  please  wait  a  minute,  Jackie  said.  Peter  Hobbes  came  here  this  morning.  He's  very  angry  with  you  about  that  letter.

He  lost  his  job,  you  know.  Why  did  you  write  to  his  office?  He  wants  to  talk  to  you  about  it.  Well,  I  don't  want  to  talk  to  him,  Molly  said.  She  door.

But,  Mother,  you  don't  understand.  He's  17,  and  it  was  his  first  job.  He's  very,  very  angry.  He  says  he  says  he's  going  to  kill  you.  Molly  did  not  answer.

She  went  out  of  the  room  and  closed  the.