It’s five o’clock. I have just collapsed onto a giant sofa in our home away from home. Today was my first day in my job; exhausting, but immensely enjoyable. I consider fixing myself a sandwich, but decide that if it can’t be done via telekinesis, it’s not worth the effort. Claire isn’t home yet, so I decide against ordering take-out: Claire has feelings about food, and knowing my luck, if she feels like Chinese, I’ll order pizza.
To lessen the hunger problem, Claire bursts through the door. (Question: why is it that some people fail miserably on the inconspicuous front?). She says nothing, merely grabs my hand and drags me towards the door. Suddenly she stops, turns and studies me.
“Nope, no good”. Apparently unsatisfied with my appearance, Claire alters her projected route and I am led to my room. Claire disappears into my closet.
“Hey Claire. Hey Kel. Did you have a good day? Yep, it was great, and you? Same, really enjoyed it. So, what are we going to do tonight? Well, I though we could-“. I give up; Claire is not getting the hint. Eventually she reappears with an armful of clothes.
“Barbecue”, she states. I expect more details. On noticing my hesitation, Claire instructs me to change. “I met these guys today”.
“I am totally unsurprised”. Claire sticks her tongue out at me. I pull a face back. “Save that for them!”
She grins, “I got sent on a job to these recording studios somewhere. Had to discuss image and styling with this band; take notes and stuff. Anyway, three of this group are kind of young, but I got talking to the older two, and one of them invited us to a barbecue party type thing at his place tonight”. The penny drops: Claire’s motives behind her choice of holiday job begin to dawn on me.
“When does it start?”
“Seven”.
“So we are leaving now because?”
“It’s in Orlando”.
I shake my head. “Orlando? Nuh-uh. That’s like…hours away! And if it’s in Orlando, we have to drive. And if we drive, we can’t drink. And if we can’t drink, it’s not much of a party!”
“Oh, that’s okay, Kevin said we could sleep there”.
“Oh right, now you’ve persuaded me. Let’s go. We can drive two hours to Orlando, stay overnight at some strange guy’s house, and assuming we haven’t been murdered in the night by the psycho that you have arranged a sleep-over with, we can get up tomorrow morning and drive back here in time for work. Good plan Claire”.
“I knew you’d agree. And he’s not ‘some strange guy’, he’s really nice. They all are. So get changed and let’s get going!”
Why do I get the impression that sarcasm and common sense are lost on
Claire? Deciding that there is no point arguing, I change, grab some
overnight-type things and follow Claire to the car. Not before making a
note to myself that I will whine the entire journey about the lack of
sense and personal safety being exhibited.
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