A Year Ago
Peggy nailed it. If she said so herself. She was nervous as hell when they asked her to do the TED talk. She had said No till she told Honor and Honor rang them back and said Peggy was congenitally deaf, had misheard and, of course, she’d love to speak. When and where?
She lay back against her pillow and pressed loudspeaker – Honor’s voice filling the room.
“I like the part where you gesture with your hand. It’s strong. I use it myself in the Chamber.”
Peggy smiled at the thought of Honor chopping away in debate. They were watching it for the third time. Each of them in their separate beds, in their separate cities.
“Christie would be so proud.”
“Do you think?”
Peggy didn’t need to ask, but she wanted to hear Honor say it.
“The guys at the allotments would never have heard the end of it.”
Jansky leapt for the bed, circling over and over till he decided it was safe to collapse. Peggy’s fingers reached for him, and he rolled on to his back, spindly legs in the air, his narrow nose pointing at her, his pink tongue lolling and eyes pleading for more attention.
“You are a ridiculous dog,” she said, as she tickled behind his soft ears, sliding her hand along his skinny ribs, ruffling then smoothing the fur. He whined in appreciation, his hind leg beating the air in quiet ecstasy.
She heard Honor’s lips part, draw breath.
“Tell me you aren’t smoking in bed,” Peggy said.
There was a whoosh of air as Honor denied it. “It’s my emphysema playing up.”
“If you fall asleep with a fag in your hand, you will burn to death.”
“If I fall asleep with a fag in my hand, he will be a lucky man. And also, a little confused.”
Peggy shoved the laptop off her knees, as she leaned over the other side of the bed to reach for the off switch on the lamp. Immediately the room darkened, lit only by the golden glow of her own lamp, and the cool blue of the Mac screen as it powered down. There was a scratching noise from Jansky.
“And how is JP?” Peggy tried to keep the disapproval out of her voice, but she suspected Honor heard it anyway.
“Devoted.”
“And more than 20 years too old for you.”
“You like old things. Stars are very old. I heard that in a superb TED talk.”
“I like old things which are far, far away.”
Honor giggled.
“I should go. JP is getting cross. His Viagra must be wearing off.”
“That picture is now in my head for all-time. I may puke.”
“Kiss Janksy for me. Love you.”
“Back at you.”
Peggy reached for her own light, and there was darkness.