Every idiot alive is on the roads today
Grey drizzle streaks the windows. That windscreen wiper scrapes and squeaks
Going to be late. My gritted teeth are giving me a headache.
I pull into the car park. My colleague taps the window.
"I'll make coffee" she says.
"Haven't time." I growl. She shakes her head at me and laughs.
"Two sugars in yours," she quips and walks away.
I mutter under my breath, stare at my phone.
A number starts to dial itself under my fingers.
I nearly stop it...and then I don't.
A ring, two rings, three.
"It'll be the answerphone," I grumble, cradling the phone.
And then it isn't. And my friend is in the car with me.
We don't say much. Never do, really.
He makes a joke, I laugh. Asks about my husband, mother, son.
We say - again - we must meet. Try to not make it so long.
I ask about a mutual friend - the news not good.
We hold each other invisibly for a minute - a hug of many miles.
He says something kind, we both smile. Say our goodbyes. Hang up.
Actually - it's not raining any more, is it?
My headache seems to have trickled away with the rain.
And I'm not truly late
I lock the car, walk into work.
That coffee she's made smells really good.
Words copyright Sister Tiberia 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment