Rack off

Rack off

‘Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain, Peter Jones speaking and I’m delighted to welcome you aboard this BA 537 flight from London Gatwick to Rome. I’m joined by First officer Simon Watkins who is an all-round top guy and top pilot you’ll be pleased to hear. I hope everyone's had a delightful Christmas. I know I had a bit too much turkey, so you'll have to forgive the extra baggage.'

The air hostesses looked at each other trying hard not to let out a groan. They were clearly used to Peter’s wit. A passenger with a look of concern that the pilot may be drunk was reassured by one of the hostesses, ‘I think that was Captain Jones’s idea of humour.'

The pilot continued. 'We're got plenty of wind this side...’

I was waiting for another joke but thankfully Peter had second thoughts.

'And so, we will probably arrive ahead of schedule into Rome. I’m delighted to introduce the delectable Debbie who is your host for the duration. Debbie and her team are here for your enjoyment and safety so if you could listen to her during the demonstration I'd be grateful. Enjoy Debbie's delightful hands and I'll check in with you just before landing.'

Despite the slight Benny Hill spirit, there was always something reassuring about a BA pilot. Calm, cool and collected and obviously confident of his piloting skills with that rather lacking sense of humour. I’d not been on a flight with so many jokes but was reassured by Debbie and her immaculately presented crew.

The very early morning start driving the 250 miles from Cornwall accompanied by two legends, Bryan Adams and my dad, was starting to catch up with me so I took a deep breath and tried to relax. After take-off, I pulled out my tray and pulled open my diary. 

Where to start? It has been such a wonderful Christmas and New Year packed full of family and friends. I felt quite exhausted by all of it.

My dear dad had collected me from Gatwick on Christmas Eve and as a surprise had collected my boyfriend, Luke en route. Unfortunately, Luke hadn’t understood the term surprise and had text me to let me ‘see you at the airport’. I didn’t say anything to Dad as he was a romantic soul, and I knew it meant a lot to him. 

We’d stopped in Bristol on the way down to Cornwall and had lunch with Luke’s family including both of his grannies who I hadn’t met before. I’d heard an awful lot about his granny Rosemarie. Even Luke’s mum seemed happy to see me, even though I wasn’t good enough for her precious boy. She did have a rather irritating habit of using the expression ‘top form’ at every possible moment. ‘How are you keeping Reb? Are you on top form?’ she asked when we sat down for lunch. When I presented her with a beautiful dish, I’d bought on one of my shopping trips with my Sicilian friends, Pietro and Sabrina, she looked genuinely touched. Before Dad and I left, Luke took me up to his room and while we were both desperate to get naked and jump into bed, we just held each other, and Luke said, ‘I really missed you’. That was quickly interrupted by Luke’s mum called up the stairs ‘I think Paul wants to make a move.’ 

We then left and I had a wonderful Christmas in Bude in Cornwall. Christmas day was hosted by my dear Granny and Aunty who tried their best to produce an Italian themed menu which mostly consisted of plenty of chianti and Tiramisu alongside Turkey. Just after Christmas, Luke borrowed his mum’s car to drive down to Bude for New Year and it feels a hot and sweaty blur from then on. 

We had had plans to join my sister in Cardiff for New Year, but we also realised that we just wanted to be alone together for a relatively short time before I caught my plane back to Trapani.

As I’m sat now looking at the blank page of my diary, all I can think is maybe I should have just given up my teaching contract now that Luke was home, but I wouldn't feel right about that. What would I do? Stay at my parents’ house and apply for lowly media jobs when I didn't really know what I wanted to do. The next four months would give me time to think while being paid and experiencing Sicily. That’s what I was telling myself. I was feeling nervous about a few things but mostly about returning to my flatmate Kelly. We hadn't quite left on good terms, and I wasn’t sure if I’d done something to piss bet off. I don’t know why it had all become so difficult.

I remember on my first morning in Trapani, I walked into the dining room in our apartment and saw Kelly sitting on the balcony looking over to the sparkling blue sea, the fishermen bringing in their catch ready for the market and the waiters laying tables in the square.

‘Morning’

‘Morning chook. Did you sleep ok?’

‘Yes, it was wonderful thanks. Nice to have a big bed to myself.’

We sat drinking tea, and Kelly told me about her life in Australia. She was an only child and had split up with her boyfriend of four years after she fell pregnant, and he hadn’t wanted the baby. She had then had an abortion and felt there was nothing for her in Australia so caught a boat to Germany and then to Sicily.

It all sounded quite ‘heavy’ as Luke used to say, and I just felt out of my depth with what to say to her apart from ‘I’m sorry.’ I hadn’t met anyone who had gone through the same experience, but I was also conscious I hadn’t met anyone who had divulged such a lot of personal information to someone in such a short space of time.

After a week or two, I noticed Kelly became very irritable in the apartment, smoking more than I had seen so far and writing notes on the bathroom mirror in lipstick ‘you are more beautiful today in every way.’

She had started to become critical of my every move and I felt I was being watched. The final outburst that I experienced came out of nowhere on the night of the Christmas dinner organised by Theresa and Giovanni, the owners of the school where we worked. Kelly mentioned a few days before that Davido and his cousin would give us a lift to the dinner in Marsala. The dinner was in a wonderful farmhouse, and we had a huge room for teachers and students at the school. I had met so many wonderful people in the six weeks of working in trapani that I had floated around the room and when Theresa announced we should take a seat quickly , one of the students Maria had taken my arm and asked me to sit down. I found it hard to refuse as Maria had been so kind and invited me over to her home several times for espresso and cakes.

'Why didn't you sit with us?’ Kelly said after the dinner. ‘Afterall, Davido gave us a lift and I think he was expecting to be repaid by your company.' I replied, ‘look I’m sorry Kelly, Maria asked me to join them, and I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.’ I couldn’t understand the sensitivity over something so small. After all she was shagging Davido, not me. I had told my family about the infamous Kelly on Christmas day and Dad had said 'She's probably annoyed because England keep beating the Aussies in the rugby.' My brother who watched a lot of Australian soaps said, ‘yea Reb, tell her to rack off.’ To which my family laughed.

Debbie and her immaculately sculpted bun and neckerchief pulled me away from my worries for a moment. She had a wonderful smile and turned to me.

‘Can I get you anything love?

‘Oh, thank you, maybe a magic ball? Sorry a cup of tea and a cheese sandwich would be lovely.’

‘Of course. are you off to Rome for business or pleasure?’

‘I’m on my way back to Sicily via Rome.’

‘Ooh what are you doing in Sicily?’

‘I’m teaching out there.’

‘How lovely.’

‘Yes, it is.’

‘Well have a lovely time. I bet the Sicilian chaps love you.’

‘Not sure about that.’

‘Here is your tea love.’

 ‘Thank you.’

 As I sipped my tea, I felt full of longing for home. ‘It’ll be ok’, as my mum said, ‘just give these things a go.’

After arriving back to my apartment in Trapani, I called Pietro and thanked him for organising the taxi from Palermo to which he said, ‘no problem, dear Rebbie, see you tomorrow.’

And with that I lugged my heavy suitcase up the three flights to the top of the apartment block and our apartment. As I walked through the door, Kelly’s bedroom door creaked and she walked up to me in a very sexy black negligee, ‘happy new year’ she said kissing me on both cheeks and giving me a slightly lingering grin.

‘Happy new year.’

‘Can I get you anything?’

‘No, I’m fine thanks, I’m just going to crash.’

‘Ok speak tomorrow.’

‘Night night.’

Davido was clearly in her room. I’m surprised she was willing to risk her job for a bonk with one of the students but she’d also mentioned she was giving him ‘English lessons’ on the side.

The next morning, I had a knock at my door and Kelly walked in with her negligee.

‘Morning chick how was your Christmas? I wasn’t sure you’d be coming back.’

‘Of course I’d come back.’ Was she hoping I wouldn’t come back? ‘My contract is till April. Christmas was lovely thanks, how was yours?’

‘Yeah, it was good, I went to Rome and Davido joined me for new year.’

‘Mmm things are moving along. How’s it going?’

‘Yes good. He’s sweet. Quite timid despite his exterior confidence. I’m enjoying all the sex. Was it nice seeing Luke at Christmas?’

‘So nice.’ I didn’t want to divulge too much as I was starting to mistrust Kelly. She had repeatedly told a few of the teachers at school that I was a terrible flatmate ‘her mother clearly did everything for her, or she clearly didn’t have to do anything domestic at that boarding school’. I had felt hurt by it initially as all I wanted was a bit of kindness living away from home. ‘Just give her a wide birth’ was my dad’s last words as he dropped me off at the airport and I was determined to be breezy. ‘Well good for you. Right, I had better get ready and up to school.’

‘Ok I’m teaching later so see you this evening.’

I left the apartment and crossed the two streets to meet Via Manzoni where the Institute was located. I had forgotten the noise of the cars and scooters weaving up and down the roads and the locals throwing themselves in the road to stop the traffic.

As I walked into the school, the school secretary Rosaria greeted me with her cheeky smile and two kisses. ‘Happy New Year Rebecca. How are you?’

‘All the better for seeing you gorgeous.’

Rosaria had spent Christmas with her family and new year’s with her fiancés family. 

‘How are all your wedding plans going Rosaria?’

‘Good thank you.’

‘You will be the most beautiful bride Rosaria and I love the church. Stunning.’

‘Oh, thank you. I cannot wait to be married and then it dosen’t matter if I make the babies.’

‘you are so funny. And how are Theresa and Giovanni?’

‘They’re good, they got off to Sydney fine and they will be back next week some time. It’s such a long flight and Theresa misses her family. It should be quiet this week. Classes don’t really start until next week, but we’ll be open for preparations, and I’ll be here in the evenings till 8 if your mummy wants to call.’ My mum rang the school each Monday and tried her best to speak to Rosaria in Italian ‘Posso parlare con…’ ‘your mummy is so cute.’

‘She loves speaking to you Rosaria. Ok I may do a bit of photocopying and then head to the gym to burn off all the Christmas excess.’

‘Before you go Rebecca, I thought you’d like to know we have a few new teachers starting. Marie is arriving tomorrow and Helen next week.’

‘Lovely! Fresh blood’ 

On returning to my apartment, I heard a lot of giggling and a really sweet smell.

Kelly was sat on the balcony sipping coffee and smoking with a tall familiar looking chap.

‘Mario, may I present Rebecca.’

Mario who was tall and blond came over to me and leaned in for the customary two kisses.

‘Ciao Mario. Piacere.’

‘Aah you speak Italian’

‘Poco poco. I need to learn.’

‘Well, you know the best way to learn is to take a lover.’

Kelly jumped in with ‘Aah she’s taken already. She’s got a boyfriend who looks like he’d rugby tackle you to the ground.’

Feeling slightly annoyed that Kelly felt the need to speak for me, I tried to calmly reply, ‘It was lovely to meet you Mario, I’m just about to do some planning.’

‘Before you go chook’ said Kelly, ‘Mario and his friend Francesco want to cook for us here on Saturday night. Does that sound ok? You don’t have plans with Pietro?’

‘No not at all.’ Secretly wishing I’d agreed to something with Pietro to get me out of this. 

And just like that Saturday rolled around. I heard the knock on the door just after 6 and on opening the door was greeted by a waft of Paco Rabanne accompanied by two incredibly well-dressed chaps, Mario and Francesco.

Kelly appeared at her bedroom door in a very slinky black dress. I suddenly felt I should rethink my top and chinos attire, but I felt quite relaxed in it and after all I wasn’t trying to impress.

Mario grinned at me for an inordinately long time which in England would count as ‘creepy’ but in Sicily counted as ‘intense’ or ‘mysterious’. 

‘Wow Rebecca, Molto Bella. May I introduce my friend Francesco?’

‘You can call me Cesco’ he smiled.

‘Hello, Buonasera. Welcome.’

Sending that all eyes weren’t on her for a second, Kelly piped up ’ok boys I’ll show you everything in the kitchen and we’ll be in charge of music.’

Kelly and I had bought some wine earlier from the local enoteca in the old town and the boys had brought a bit more.

‘So what do you think?’ as we pulled out the cd player.

‘What do I think about what?’

‘Mario?’

‘He’s gorgeous isn’t he and he likes you.’

‘Kelly, I have a boyfriend.’

‘Oh, I know but it doesn’t count when they’re not here. He’s probably having fun somewhere else.’

I doubted that as he was at home with his parents on his back about getting a job but it did get me thinking. ‘Well, I’m not interested.’

‘And have you seen Francesco’s eyes?’

‘Yes, he’s quite good looking. Kelly why do Mario and Francesco look familiar?’

‘Oh yes, they’re both students at the school but I’ve been giving Mario discounted lessons and Francesco said he’d be interested. Davido is also planning on leaving the British Institutes at the end of this term and I’ll be able to continue his lessons.’

‘What do you think Theresa will say?’

‘Well, the bitch can go fuck herself. She’s looking to get rid of me anyway, I’ve already had a warning.’

I thought Kelly was playing with fire. It was only a matter of time before Theresa found out as it felt as if all the walls in Trapani had ears.