“Maybe something like ‘Simone’ would have been a better choice of name.” I suggested.
“Well yes… but I’d told her I had a PA called Janine or Janice months and months ago.” Mum replied. “A better choice would have been to not to tell porkies in the first place… but hindsight always comes too late.” she said, looking at me and smiling, before apologising again.
“Let’s not dwell on it.” I said, taking a final drag of my cigarette before stubbing it out. “What’s done is done.” I added.
“Yeah.” Mum agreed, clearly disheartened.
We sat and chatted about everything but today’s events as the evening sun cast its rays over us. I’m due to start a college course in September and I informed my mother that I plan on doing it part time over two years instead of full time in one year. She thinks I should do the full time course but, “I’ve just left school and I think I’d rather just have a couple of years where it’s not full on.” I explained.
“Well I suppose… in a few years you’ll have to work full time just to make ends meet.” Mum said. “Don’t you think you should study something a little more vocational that Art & Design though?”
“I like art.” I replied. “I know I probably wont become some rich or famous artist or designer but… I fancy doing something I enjoy whilst I can.” I told her. “Anyway there’s loads of web design jobs going… after A&D I might do a programming course or something.”
“The world is your oyster.” Mum smiled. She sipped her drink. I sipped mine. She lit another cigarette and placed the packet and lighter between us. “Help yourself.” she said.
“Thanks.” I replied, but didn’t take one. Mum talked more optimistically about moving her business forwards after loosing her biggest client. It wasn’t going to break the bank as she has plenty of other paying clients, but she needs to pull her finger out and get the ball rolling. Mum has a habit of saying things that don’t really say anything. She could sell ice to the Eskimos if she put her mind to it, and talk the hind legs off a donkey. She asked if I wanted a top up and I handed her my almost empty glass. Mum returned a moment later and I asked if I could have another cigarette. “Help yourself.” she said. “Do you smoke much?” she asked. She advised me stop before I’m twenty, otherwise I’ll be hooked for life. It’s good advice I guess, but not as good as don’t smoke. The conversation soon returned to the disastrous meeting. “Well, today’s certainly been an experience.”
“You can say that again.” I said as I swiped a stray bit of ash from my forearm. “Do you reckon it’ll grow back?” I asked as my fingers lingered on its smooth surface.
“Course it will.” Mum said. “It always grows back.” she added. We sat in silence for a while. The light breeze has almost completely dropped, just like the sun. A swirling hoard of starlings morphed with seemingly impossible precision over the estuary and held our attention for a while. Then Mum said, “You must think I’m an awful mother…” she said after a few moments of quiet contemplation. “…making you pose as a twenty something secretary just to cover my back.”
“Er… personal assistant if you don’t mind.” I said, before grinning.
“Yes.” Mum laughed. “You were a good one too… it’s been nice having you in the [home] office these last few days.” she added.
“It’s been quite interesting finding out what you actually do.” I replied. I took a final drag of my cigarette before stubbing it out, then I sipped my spritzer. “And it’s been ‘interesting’ finding out what women go through; waxing, hair, eyebrows, make-up.” I said.
“Shape wear.” Mum added, glancing at my mid region. “How are they anyway?”
“OK.” I replied, visualising them beneath my high waisted skirt. “I mean, they’re still tight but… I’ve kinda got used to them.”
“Well you have had them on since lunchtime.” Mum smiled. She gulped and said she was proud of me, before raising her glass. We clinked and stared towards the golden horizon, each of us presumably spending a moment to reflect on the days events. The starlings mesmerised us as they danced a whirling dervish in the dusky orange sky. We sat in relative silence as the sun slowly sunk below the bungalow roofs. We made small talk and enjoyed the evening air and each other’s company, even sharing ‘twos’ on cigarettes. Up until today Mum’s always been a ‘mum’, but all of a sudden we’re ‘hanging’ like friends ‘hang’.
The orange glow ebbs into shades of lilac, purple and deep dark blue. “The stars are coming out.” Mum noted.
“It’s still warm.”
“I was about to ask if you’re warm enough.”
“Yeah I’m fine.” I smiled. “What time is it?” I asked.
Mum checked her phone. “Almost nine.”
“Maybe I should put something else on.” I said as I uncrossed my legs, sat myself up and re-inserted my foot into the shoe that had been dangling from my toes. I smoothed my skirt over my lap and straightened my blouse.
“Is there any point at this hour?” Mum asked.
“Probably not but… I’ve already dropped ash on your skirt twice.” I said. “I’m worried I’ll burn it.”
