Just the Game of Life by Peter Rimmer

Author:Peter Rimmer [Rimmer, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798201134464
Published: 2021-11-09T08:22:36+00:00

2

The next day they picked up the keys. Phillip’s new life had begun. A lifestyle six months ago he would never have hoped for in his wildest dreams. The following day the storage van delivered Martha’s personal possessions she had removed from the flat. Everything else was in its place. The old lady on the balcony across the way nearly fell off her chair waving at Martha. People liked the familiar even though neither of them had met. The abstract painting Martha had been told would one day be worth a lot of money was put back on the wall. Phillip still thought a lot of painted squares of different colours on a canvas was a load of rubbish. The tenant had spilled something on the blue carpet making Martha furious, the poor man still out of work and glad to have his deposit back. Without work and an income life in America was close to impossible. You couldn’t park off by the side of a river in a tent and fish for your supper, collect berries from the trees, lay traps for the wild pigs. In the great American cities, you had to earn a living. A substantial living. To celebrate, Martha suggested they went out to dinner, everything back in its place. She didn’t want to cook. Didn’t have to cook. They had the money. Phillip felt sorry for the evicted tenant. Where were he and his wife sleeping tonight? What were they eating? Vagrants lost in a big city if they didn’t have friends. They went down in the lift to the second-floor basement. The car that Martha had wanted to sell when she packed up to go to Africa was in its usual parking spot. The battery was as flat as a pancake, making them go up in the lift and look for a taxi.

“No booze. Definitely, no booze.”

“You don’t mind if I have a glass of wine?”

“Back to work on Monday. I can’t wait.”

“When do I get to meet a nerdy geek?”

“Don’t be impatient.”

“I won’t be impatient, Martha. I might just be bored. There’s nothing worse than having nothing to do.”

“Don’t tell me… Taxi! Come on. I got him. I feel like a good steak. Got to feed my baby.”

“Our baby.”

“Of course it’s our baby.”

“Maybe I should look for a church. Go look for a priest. Find someone to marry us. Mabel said we should marry in a church.”

“Get in, darling. The meter’s running.”

“Are there any churches around here?”

“None that I know of. You know I’m lucky. Not a trace of morning sickness. Most pregnant women want to throw up. I’m going to have to buy some new clothes. This dress is tight. I love my mother. But oh how nice it is to be back in my own apartment. Why do the English call an apartment a flat?”

“All on one level? I have no idea.”

“We’ll find you a geek. Don’t you worry about it.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Don’t be sarcastic. You’ll love being a venture capitalist.”

“If you say so, Martha… I’ll have to apply for some kind of permanent residence.

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