ABSTRACT
HALEY. Don't blame me. You remember what happened last time I went to the shops. It was terrible. I was so scared. I came back crying and shaking. My clothes were torn and wet. There was blood on my legs. You wiped it away with a tissue. I was crying so much I couldn't breathe properly. You remember that , Presley? I was hysterical. Wasn't I? Hysterical? [PRESLEY (softly). I suppose so.]
You were so nice. You put your arms round me and let me suck the dummy. You remember that? [PRESLEY. Yes.] And I told you what happened. How when I got to the end of the street a pack of dogs appeared. Seven of them. Big, filthy dogs. With maggots in their fur. Foam on their lips. Eyes like clots of blood. One dog started to sniff me. Its nose was like an ice cube between my legs. Then it started to growl. Lips pulled back over yellow teeth. It started to chase me. I was running. Running and screaming. The other dogs chased me as well. All of them howling and snarling like wolves. They chased me over the wasteground. I fell. Fell into a pile of tin cans. There was a dead cat. My hand went into its stomach. All mushy like rotten fruit . I was screaming . Screaming so loud my throat tasted like blood. One of the dogs bit my coat. I pulled it away. The coat ripped. I ran and ran. All I could hear was snarling and growling and the sound of my own heart. I ran out of the wasteground. Through the old car park and into the derelict church. And still the dogs chased me. There I was, standing at the altar, with seven rabid animals coming down the aisles towards me. I picked up some old bibles and threw them. Did no good. The dogs ripped the bibles to pieces. I was so afraid. And the dogs could smell it. My fear. They were attracted by it. They came closer and closer and closer. I could feel their breath against my skin. Hot and reeking of vomit. I backed away. Stumbled up some steps. I wanted to pray. But I couldn't. I knew that if! could pray or sing a hymn, then the dogs would leave me alone. But all I could do was scream. Then one of the dogs made a lunge for me. I jumped up. Reached above me. Caught hold of something. It was smooth. Cool. Solid. I started to climb. Like climbing a tree. And I was halfway up before I realised I was climbing the marble crucifix and my chest was pressed close to the chest of Christ. It felt so comforting and safe. Then a dog bit at my feet. Pulled my shoe off. My toes were bleeding. A drop of
blood landed in the open mouth of the dog. It went berserk. Started to climb the crucifix. I scarpered higher, wrapped my legs round the waist of our Saviour, clung onto the crown of thorns for all I was worth. Then the base of the crucifix started to crumble. It rocked from side to side. Any minute it might fall and send me into the pack of dogs. Like a Christian to the hungry lions. I was so scared. So I kissed the lips of Christ. I said, 'Save me. Don't let the crucifix fall'. But the crucifix fell just the same. I crashed to the floor. The dogs nibbled at my bloodied fingers. I'm going to be eaten alive, I thought. Eaten by savage dogs. I screamed, 'Help me! Help me!'. And then ... gun shots! I flinch at every one. I look round. The seven dogs are dead. Blood oozing from holes in their skulls. I feel sick. A Priest approaches me. He is holding a rifle. He asks me if I'm all right. I tell him I am. He says, 'Did you come for confession?'. And I say, 'Yes.' Because I think that's what he wants to hear and I owe him something for saving my life. So I go into confession with him and he asks me what I've done wrong. I tell him I can't think of anything. He says, 'Don't be stupid. No one's perfect'. I know he's right. I know there's something I've done. Something that made me a naughty girl once. But I can't think of what it is. I tell him I can't think of anything. He tells me to think harder. I can feel him getting angry and frustrated. He wants to forgive me but I'm not giving him the chance. Finally, I say, 'I kissed the lips of Christ and they tasted of chocolate' . He calls me a sinner and says I must repent. I ask him if! can be forgiven and he says, 'No! Your sins are too big'. I'm crying when I leave the church. I vow never to go shopping again.
