I was awoken yet again, by John hovering.
"The car's gone again."
"What car? What time is it? Actually …….what day is it?"
"Next door! Bloody Gordon! Where's he gone so early in the morning? As if we can't guess! Raiding the shelves of all the local supermarkets no doubt!"
"Jesus, John! Who do you think he is? Some sort of armed robber?" I thought of Gordon and Margaret, parking their purple hatchback in the supermarket car park last week. No way was John gonna hear about that any time soon! "He's hardly Ronnie Biggs, John. Anyway, what time is it?"
"It's 8.45 and to answer your other question, it's Monday."
"Ugh! I need to get a pack of those knickers with the days of the week embroidered on. Shit! Shit! Shit! Monday! Why didn't you wake me?"
"You didn't ask me to."
"Olivia!" I gasped, leaping out of bed.
Olivia: God Daisy! What happened to you? You look dreadful! Did you get the virus?
Me: I overslept, that's all. Anyway, never mind that. What about you? Antonio said you'd been arrested.
Olivia: Oh God Daisy! It was aaawful!
Me: What happened?
Antonio: Yes. What happened?
Olivia: The policeman was really horrible to me. He stopped me in the street and spoke to me really rudely. Apparently it's not considered essential travel these days to go window shopping.
Wtf!
Antonio: Really?
Olivia: I know. I explained …. you know …..that I'd been given responsibility for launching a new skincare product and that I needed to get inspiration for spring trends.
Antonio: But he didn't care?
Olivia: No. He made me turn around and go home!
Me: So he didn't actually arrest you?
Olivia: Well … technically no, but I was soooo upset. It was just awful. I cried the whole way back from London.
Excuse me?????
Me: You were in London? Did you travel all the way to London, Olivia?
Olivia: Of course. Where else would I go? It's the best place to go for the latest trends Daisy. I thought I'd have a little mooch around Knightsbridge to see what was really hot this season. For inspiration, you know?
Me: Olivia, I've said it before and I'll just say it one more time - you really need to switch on the News every once in a while.
Olivia: Whatever Daisy. Anyway, the news about the launch is that Victoria said that there may have to be a delay.
Antonio: Oh no!
Olivia: I know. It's a massive disappointment but I'll keep working on her.
Antonio: You have your ways Olivia!
Olivia: I really do! In the meantime, keep up all of your good work your ends - even you, Daisy - and we'll keep in touch like this, yes?
"What am I doing with my life?" I moaned to John as I logged off.
"I thought you liked your job?"
"What in God's name gave you that impression? Don't you ever listen to a word I say? Apart from the fact that I spend my days working with a pair of complete fuckwits, what am I actually contributing to the world?"
"Well ….."
"Exactly. During these difficult times, I look at the amazing work that other people are doing to get society through this crisis. I mean, even you contribute to the world. You design buildings that people ….. can use. Not that I've seen you do anything for a while. Christ John, you do still have a job, don't you?"
"Of course, Daisy. The hotel chain has just put a halt on the project for a month or two, that's all."
"Thank God! No, John …. I want to use this time to really think about what I want to do with my life. Hmmm. I'm gonna make some serious changes, John. You'll see."
I meant to have a Google during the afternoon, to get some ideas for possible careers, but the kids distracted me with their bickering marathon. It really did go on for bloody hours. Everything was bickered over: the felt tip pens for their map drawing exercise, the whisk for baking and when Molly eventually sustained a minor nostril injury through a scrap over a badminton racket, I finally lost the plot and instructed them to do what they liked, before locking myself in my bedroom with my phone and a box of French Fancies. Truth be told, I probably wasn't in the best frame of mind to text Rosie. I'd been putting the deed off for the past twenty four hours.
Text to Rosie (my twin sister):
Hi. Social distancing doesn't mean not contacting people by phone you know
Text from Rosie:
Some of us have been busy keeping this country going. I am a key worker!!!
Text to Rosie:
Key worker? You were down to 2 days a week in that deli the minute you found out you were pregnant with Sienna and have stayed that way for the last 8 years. I don't think the wheels of commerce will grind to a halt without you!
Text from Rosie:
What is it you sell again? Oh yeh - face cream!!!
Text from Rosie:
By the way sis, as I've got you on the phone, you couldn't lend me fifty could you?X
I growled a little, before ramming one of the pink cakes into my mouth, whole.
Text to Rosie:
Ok. I already have your bank details
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