A Month of Sundays by James O'Loghlin

Author:James O'Loghlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: TRV000000
ISBN: 9781741152098
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2004-11-01T05:00:00+00:00

eleven

sticking our necks out

‘Lucy?’

‘Mm?’

‘You know how you said we could stay at your parents’ house when they went away in October?’

‘Mm.’

‘Have you actually asked them yet?’

‘Not yet. But it’ll be fine.’

‘Right.’

. . .

‘But, Lucy, do you think you could ask them?’

‘I’ll ask them.’

‘’Cos then we’d know, and it’d be good just to know.’

‘Okay.’

‘Do you feel awkward about asking them?’

‘No. I just haven’t got round to it yet.’

‘Because if you do I could ask them.’

‘I don’t feel awkward.’

‘Why don’t you give them a call and ask them now then,

just so we know, you know.’

‘Because it’s midnight.’

‘Right.’

. . .

‘Have you asked your parents about us staying at their place yet?’

‘Yes.’

‘You have? What did they say?’

‘They said it should be fine.’

‘Great. Oh, that’s great. Thanks.’

. . .

‘Lucy?’

‘You know when you said you’d asked your parents about us staying when they’re away?’

‘Mmm.’

‘And you said they said that “it should be fine”?’

‘Mmm.’

‘What did they mean? Like, what does it depend on?’

‘Nothing. Mum said it should be fine.’

‘Yeah, but “should be fine”. That doesn’t sound like definitely fine. That sounds like probably but maybe not fine. Maybe we should just make sure?’

‘Do you want me to ring her now?’

‘Yeah, that’d be great.’

‘I’m not going to.’

‘Oh . . .’

‘Um . . . why not?’

‘Because it’s half-past midnight.

‘Right.’

. . .

‘Lucy?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you check about the house?’

‘Yes, it’s fine.’

‘Definitely fine?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

‘No should bes? Definitely?’

‘Yes! Definitely! Okay!’

‘Okay. I was just asking.’

. . .

‘Have you got a key for your parents’ place?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good.’

‘Um . . . where is it?’

‘Somewhere around.’

‘Right. Maybe we should check. Like, what if you can’t find it?’

‘I’ll find it.’

‘But can you check before they go because if you can’t find it then . . .’

‘All right!

’ ‘Thanks.’

. . .

‘Their place has got an alarm, hasn’t it?’

‘Hey?’

‘Your parents. They’ve got an alarm?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Do you know how to turn it off and on?’

‘There’s a code.’

‘Right.’

. . .

‘You know the code for your parents’ place? Do you know what it is?’

‘They’ll tell me before they go.’

‘But maybe we should find out now, just in case . . . don’t you think . . . we should get it before they go? . . . Lucy? . . . don’t you think we should . . . Where are you going? Why are you running . . . I’m just trying to make sure . . . LUCY . . . DON’T PULL YOUR HAIR . . . COME BACK.’

. . .

‘Lucy.’

‘Mmm.’

‘I think I’m coping with the builders a bit better now.’

‘That’s good.’

‘Do you think that?’

‘Yes. I’m coping better.’

‘No, I meant do you think I’m coping better.’

‘Oh.’

‘Do you?’

‘Not really, no.’

‘But I’m less stressed about it. Apart from when they use that big drill at number eighteen, or they do something on the adjoining wall at number twenty-two. Which they do quite a bit, actually. That still makes me stressed.’Cos it’s loud. And getting woken up by them. That still makes me stressed. But apart from that I’m more relaxed, don’t you think? Mainly anyway. Not all the time but often. More than I was anyway.

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