Gob Shy

Sadie could never be accused of mincing her words.  When she had an opinion on something she said it.  She didn’t really care who got hurt in the process or that her friends were probably only behind her because they were too scared to walk away.  Scared that, any movement that didn’t support hers would set off an onslaught of Gob Shy’s retaliation. 

Gob Shy was the nickname her friends had given her after she told a teacher exactly what she thought of her new haircut.  “What were you thinking!”  She had vocalised upon entering the class room.  “You look like some rock chick reject from the eighties.  I thought this was a science class not history – how dated are you!”

Sadie didn’t think her Gob Shy attitude was anything bad.  In fact, she believed everyone ought to appreciate her honesty.  That was exactly why her friends valued her opinion when clothes shopping, “Yes, your bum does look big in that!” she would answer without hesitation.

Boys liked her, not just because she was good looking, but also for her reckless attitude towards making out.  Without care over who would disapprove of her hands down their pants, Sadie would go for it, wherever and whenever she felt like it. 

She had morals though and like everything in her life, it had to be on her terms.  In fact she told Colin that her first time had to be special.  Not like her best friend Mary who lost it on the beach.  “You should be ashamed of yourself you hussy!”  she had told Mary.  “Your first time ought to be memorable.”  So, when her first time came around she made sure it wasn’t on the beach.  Colin had saved up and paid for a nice hotel room... although that didn’t quite meet her requirements, he managed to talk her round. 

Since then, Colin hadn’t been able to afford a hotel again.  So now they were camped in the middle of a field and Colin was trying to persuade her that it was romantic to do it under the stars.  Whilst Sadie, couldn't move past the point that it was freezing and the ground was bumpy! 

She sat outside the tent whilst Colin tried to address the problem.  Desperate to calm her down and ensure she didn't go home, Colin had given her his coat.  It was warm from his body and smelt good like him. 

Colin peeped out from the tent.  “come in.”

Crawling in, Sadie found he had dealt with the bumpy ground problem by piling the blankets up on top of each other.  She had to admit it was... cosy.  “Okay, it's comfy but you can take a running jump in that river if you think your getting me out of my clothes in this heat.”

Colin grinned at her mischievous.  “Oh, I think it’s going to heat up in here pretty soon.”

The next morning Sadie woke up wearing nothing more than Colin’s winter coat.  Outside she could hear a lot of noise made by the gathering of many people.  Sadie crawled out the opening, leaving Colin fast asleep, whilst she investigate what was going on.

Outside there were many caravans.  They filled the field and must have arrived over night.  Gypsys – Sadie guessed.  Although, they didn’t look how she imaged gypsies would.   They had regular looking caravans and the women didn’t have long skirts and hooped earrings.  She had heard that the fair was coming and with them the travellers (or gypsies) had followed.  

“Morning,” said a little girl with a toothy grin.

The girl was playing in the dirt and was filthy.  Her clothes were grubby.

Sadie shook her head.  “You look like a filthy urchin.  What sort of mother doesn’t keep her children clean?  It’s disgusting. “

“Excuse me?”  Sadie had not noticed the woman sitting at a plastic white table with her back to her.  She swivelled in her chair to look at Sadie.  “That’s my urchin.  What sort of mother raises a child with a filthy mouth like yours?  It’s disgusting.”

Sadie laughed, “You’re only offended because what I said is true.  You should be ashamed of yourself.  You’re not fit to be a mother.  I don’t care for your opinion.”

“I was talking about the filth that came out your mouth last night.  We all heard it.”  The woman stood and approached the tent opening.  Placing her hands on her hips she nodded “No-one cares about your opinion either.  Just be silent!”

Sadie tried to come up with a clever retort but nothing came.  In fact, from that day onwards Sadie never vocalised her opinion ever again.  She was dumb.  Mute.  Unable to ask the gypsy to undo her silent curse.