Polly. Freya North

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СКАЧАТЬ who looks remotely like him? Brad Pitt, at a scrape?’

      ‘No,’ said Polly, ‘and no. Or not that I’ve met so far, I’m afraid. There might be, but I’m jet lagged beyond belief. Do you know, this place, Meg, is so, so beautiful. There’s so much space for the children – in class and out. Guess how many I have in a class?’

      ‘Can’t! Tell!’

      ‘No. More. Than. Twelve.’

      ‘Jee—’

      ‘And they’re all impeccably behaved. They’re even quiet before class!’

      ‘—zus. No wonder That Carter Woman looks so shell-shocked.’

      ‘Everything OK?’

      ‘If you call Upper Four OK.’

      ‘Say no more. What was for lunch today?’

      ‘Lunch? Pie and mash, or mashed ratatouille and mash. And some clumpy pink mash for pud.’

      ‘Do you know what I had? Ask me!’

      ‘I say, Miss Fenton, what did you have for lunch?’

      ‘I had Caesar Salad with a selection of cold cuts and a freshly baked roll.’

      ‘Stop, stop – that’s just not on.’

      ‘Well, I could have had vegetable burritos, if that makes you feel any better.’

      ‘No it bloody doesn’t.’

      ‘Or there again, chicken papardelle with tarragon cream. The Federal Government subsidizes the food while making guidelines about fat content and protein quotas.’

      ‘I’m weeping.’

      ‘That’s not all, Meg. There were four different types of coffee to choose from, and as many teas. And that’s not counting the decaffeinated or detanninized strains! All fresh, I hasten to add, and free. No plasticated liquid from vending machines here. And, do you know, we have those fantastic swirly machines with fresh juice churning around available to us. All. Day. Long.’

      ‘I’m over there!’

      ‘No you’re not,’ said Polly quietly, ‘you’re over there – over the sea and far, far away. I better go, Max’ll be waiting. Will you write?’

      ‘I have done already. Posted it at lunch-time,’ Megan paused and continued forlornly, ‘when I went to the newsagent for a chocolate fest in lieu of lousy lunch.’

      ‘Polly? Polly? You there? That you?’

       Speak some more. Let me listen.

      ‘Polly?’

      ‘Oh, Max.’

      They hung on to their respective receivers with eyes closed and hearts bursting. They could hear each other breathe. How fantastic.

      ‘I couldn’t phone till now,’ Polly explained, ‘I’ve had every minute organized.’

      ‘I know,’ Max soothed, ‘I’m sure. I imagined. What’s it like? School and where you’re staying?’

      ‘Lovely – everywhere and everyone. So friendly and welcoming. The school is magnificent and the children are a dream – only I hope I don’t wake up. I just talked shop with Megan so she’ll fill you in, if you like. How’s Buster?’

      ‘Fine, I presume – I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.’

      ‘Will you phone The Jen Carter Person and just double-check everything’s OK at the flat?’

      ‘’Course I will. Can I have your number there? Thanks.’

      ‘God, you sound so close it’s cruel.’

      ‘You in your pyjamas, Polly?’

      ‘No, silly, it’s only six o’clock here. In fact, I’m in a frock because it’s something called Formal Meal tonight.’

      ‘Which knickers are you wearing?’

      ‘Hold on a – let me check. The pair with the blue roses.’

      ‘Divine.’

      ‘Funny fellow.’

      ‘I miss you madly, Polly.’

       Oh my God, I haven’t actively missed you yet Max, because I haven’t actually had time to. That’s terrible of me.

      ‘Polly? You there? I was saying how I miss you.’

      ‘Do you?’ she said sweetly.

      ‘I do,’ Max confirmed softly, not registering Polly’s pause.

      ‘Oh dear! Do you know, I haven’t said “I do” to you yet, have I!’

      ‘No, actually, not in so many words. Do you still have your ring?’

      ‘Maximilian, would I mislay something as precious as that?’

       I must take it from the back pocket of my jeans and put it somewhere safe.

      ‘You’d better go, Polly. Better not take advantage of your hosts.’

      ‘’Kay. Will you phone soon? Will you phone on Saturday?’

      ‘Absolutely. Night night.’

      ‘Night.’

      Polly walked slowly to her room. She went to her jeans and slipped her hand into the back pockets. And then those at the front. She fell to her knees and walked a methodical circle with her hands around the chair over which her jeans lay. She looked under the bed. And in the bin. And in the pockets of her other jeans. And in her jacket pocket. She looked behind the bedside table. She went to the bathroom and searched through her toilet bag. She went back to the bedroom, bit her nails and her lip and muffled a strangled yelp by hurling herself on to the bed. Burying her face into the pillows she sobbed. She bit, she hit them. She cursed herself. She stabbed at the bed with her fist. She cursed Great Aunt Clara. She swore profusely. She all but wore herself out. Finally, she sat cross-legged on the bed, snorting through a heavy nose and rubbing hard at itching eyes.

       I can’t have lost it!

      It seems you have.

       I haven’t even said yes, yet, I haven’t said ‘I do’.

      It seems you haven’t.

       Max, who’s been at the centre of my world, is offering me lifelong security, he’s going to provide me with my own family at last. And I haven’t even bloody accepted his offer. I can’t tell anyone I’m engaged unless I’ve formally agreed to be. I can’t tell people unless I have a ring СКАЧАТЬ