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‘You’re up early for a Saturday morning,’ said Patsy’s mother. ‘Couldn’t you sleep?’
‘I’m meeting Susan, we are going into town and doing some homework in the library,’ she replied, taking a bowl and pouring in some cornflakes.
‘That’s good. Got some stuff to look up?’
‘Yes, I need to look at some history books.’
‘I’m going shopping today, so do you need anything for your domestic science class next week. What are you making?’
‘Oh, I need the things for cakes. Margarine, eggs, flour, sugar. Icing sugar as well.’
‘I think I’ve got enough of those, I’ll check. Anything else?’
Patsy ran upstairs to check in her notebook.
‘We are learning how to make fancy cut vegetables. It says to bring a carrot, some radishes, two tomatoes and part of a cucumber.’
Her mother noted the items down.
‘Well, I look forward to seeing what you will make with those.’
‘Where’s Dad?’ asked Patsy.
‘Oh, he’s upstairs having a lie in. He didn’t sleep well. I heard him wandering around the house last night, it was rather hot and stuffy.’
Patsy began to think that the gods were shining on her that morning. With luck, she wouldn’t see her father all day as he often went out on Saturday evenings for drinks with friends from work. Separately, her mother sometimes had a friend of hers around to watch TV or to do knitting together, and as Patsy considered her parents’ lives she wondered why they were still together. As a couple, they seemed so ill-matched and consequently rarely went anywhere together. However, her mother appeared happy enough, so perhaps they were used to each other’s behaviour. When, and if she met someone she would make sure he treated her with respect, rather than a live-in housekeeper which seemed to be her mother’s status in life.
‘I’m going out soon,’ said Patsy, taking her bowl to the sink and washing it up. ‘Susan and I will get a sandwich in town.’
‘Make sure it is a sandwich and not just chips,’ said her mother, ‘and none of that fast food rubbish. It’s not good for you.’
Patsy nodded and went up to her room to collect her bags. She hoped her trip to the library would be fruitful.
**
‘I thought you weren’t coming,’ said Susan.
‘Sorry, I got engrossed in the library.’
‘Girly swot!’ said Susan, teasing. ‘It’s nearly the end of term so why the sudden burst of studying?’
‘It’s not for school, well, not directly. I just wanted to look a few things up, that’s all.’
‘Like what?’
‘It doesn’t matter, just something I’m interested in.’
‘You’re very secretive all of a sudden.’
‘Look, never mind, how was swimming?’
‘Brilliant and guess who was there?’
‘Er, no idea,’ said Patsy, showing little enthusiasm as she was still mulling over her research in the library.
‘Gavin Edwards!’
‘Oh, him.’
‘What do you mean, oh, him? He’s seriously dishy and looks amazing in his pair of Speedo trunks! I couldn’t stop staring.’
‘Really. So, did he ask you out?’
‘Of course he didn’t, but he did speak to me.’
‘And?’
‘Well, he said, hello.’
‘Hello? That was it? Not exactly a proposal of marriage then.’
‘Patsy! What’s the matter with you? Are you jealous?’
‘No, I’m not jealous. I won’t stand in your way. Best of luck. I hope you had shaved your legs before you went swimming and your other places,’ she joked.
‘Very funny.’
‘Look, I’m starving. Come on, let’s get some chips!’ shouted Patsy as she broke into a sprint, leaving Susan to chase her along the crowded pavements receiving curses from the tourists and shoppers.
**
‘I was just about to send out a search party,’ said Patsy’s mother. ‘It’s nearly six o’clock!’
‘Sorry, the time just flew by.’
‘In future, find a phone box and let me know you are OK. I was getting worried and I phoned Susan’s mother to see whether you were round at their house.’
‘What’s for tea?’
‘Cold ham and salad things because I didn’t know whether you were coming back,’ she added pointedly. ‘You can sort it out yourself. I’m going to watch TV. Oh and I phoned Susan’s Mum and I asked her around this evening for a chat, so you better stay in your room or you can use the dining room.’
‘It’s OK, I might sit out in the garden and read, it’s so warm.’
‘Suit yourself. I got the impression Susan’s Mum wanted to chat, and you know what about.’
‘Her breast cancer?’
‘Well, she didn’t say, but I assume it’s that. I feel so sorry for her. She’s only forty-three I think.’
‘Where’s Dad?’
‘He had a bowls match this afternoon, and this evening he’s playing darts. I doubt he’ll be back before you go to bed. Why? Did you want to ask him something?’
‘No, just curious.’
Patsy smiled as she busied herself assembling a plate of salad and a couple of slices of ham. Today, the gods had indeed been favourable, a whole twenty-four hours without her Dad’s pearls of wisdom on life, as she thought of them. It was surprising he had any friends who were willing to spend any time with him, but perhaps they were of the same ilk. Finally, she cut herself a slice of bread and poured a glass of orange squash. Susan had invited her to go to a friend’s house to listen to some music, but she had declined as she had plans of her own. The fact that her mother was also occupied this evening meant that she could carry out her research without interruption.
