‘Are you sure she likes green?’
‘Umm … don’t know.’
‘How do you not know? She’s your mother.’
‘I’m sure she’ll like whatever you got.’
‘I’m blaming you if she doesn’t.’
‘Why is it my fault?’
‘Because you’re the one who forgot.’
‘Yes, yes …. I’m a bad son.’
‘And I’m …?’
‘A great wife.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Where are you now?’
‘Just leaving the shop.’
‘Text me from the train.’
‘Yep, be about 8ish.’
‘Love you.’
‘Bye.’
Outside, the street was in the misery hour of workers who had stayed late again quick marching towards some distant, temporary escape before doing it all again the next day. Daylight had long gone, and the freshness of the morning shower, crisp socks, first coffee and clean mind had been dirtied and beaten by the day. This was not a time to talk, or be talked to.
‘Amy!’
She’d better like green
‘Amy!’
I’m not changing it if she doesn’t
‘Amy!’
Is that …
Amy felt a light tap on her shoulder, and turned.
‘Hannah?’
‘Amy! Hello!’
Hannah wrapped her arm around Amy’s neck and hugged her.
‘This is crazy!’ she said, letting Amy go, but not fully as she slid her arms down Amy’s and held them there. ‘It’s so good to see you.’
Cut this short, Amy She’s going to make you late.
‘It’s great to see you too, Hannah.’
‘How’s Dan? Going okay?’
‘Yeah, he’s good. How about you?’
‘I’m good. Just wrapped for the day.’
‘You’re filming here?’
‘Yep, just a street back. Wasn’t much.’
‘They not give you a car?’
‘Need to get some things. About to head in there.’
Just smile and wrap this up
‘What about you? You doing much?’
Fuck … why do you have to ask that?
‘Not at the moment, said Amy. ‘Just taking a break from it all.’
Hannah nodded and smiled at the same time.
This is awkward … say about the train
‘Scuse me,’ came a voice. ‘Can I get a picture please?’
To Amy’s side were two mid-teen girls, both with their phones out. Three steps behind was a woman holding shopping bags in one hand and two coats in another. To her side were two other mid-teeners, also holding their phones out like they were tickets.
‘Of course,’ said Hannah, smiling as she stepped into the line-up.
This is your out .. take it.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ said Amy, now seeing the queue had grown to four in line.
‘I’m so sorry,’ said Hannah, now doing individual selfies with the first two. ‘We should catch up properly, yeah?’
‘Of course … sounds good.’
‘Say hi to Dan for me.’
‘Will do.’
Amy slipped in with the quick marchers, resisting the urge to glance back.
You doing much? Yeah, I’m doing much … I’m … I’m … I should have said …
Amy felt a vibration in her pocket. She removed her phone and looked at the message.
You’re kidding me … who doesn’t like green?
This fictional short story was written for a 50 Day Project organised by the artist Amanda Billing. I get 45 minutes to an hour (not the project’s rules, it’s just about the time I have right now) to write a story, sometime between 4.30am and 5.30am. After that, the day is no longer mine.
N.B. The sketch image for this short story was created using AI (at best, I can draw a half-decent stick man). The words are all mine.
Suggested Further Reading:
