Rite of Passage

Mention long white dresses, gloves, seventeen year old girls and limousines and what is brought to mind? If you were in my household at any time in the last twelve months, you’d know it was the age old rite of passage for young women, the debutante ball. It may now be called a presentation ball but the hype and preparations are pretty much the same. From finding the perfect dress, to selecting the boy and choosing the car, to the dancing lessons and the myriad of grooming measures required to attain perfection, it is easy to see why it has taken a year to get here. But finally we have reached the night before the big event. The nails are done, the dress is back from its final fitting, the accessories are chosen now all we need is the day. Bring on tomorrow.

Rescue Me

Part 12

There were only two further customers as Jesse waited. Watching Kayla as she moved around, closing up, he was impressed. In a marked change from last night she moved with energy and confidence. She looked to be in complete control. Helping her close the shutters again a few minutes later he asked “do you work late every night?”

Kayla kept her eyes down as she secured the lock “no I close at six on the week end.”

Jesse nodded but didn’t say anything else.

Kayla sighed as she dropped her keys into her bag and Jesse looked at her, puzzled. She lifted her head, but he noticed she didn’t look at him and her voice was flat as she said “let’s go.”

They walked along in silence for a while, before Kayla asked “do you work the same shift every day?”

Surprised, Jesse looked down at her for a second, wondering what had prompted the question. Then he turned his head to face forward again “no not always.”  

A few seconds later she asked “what’s your rank in the police force?” 

 “I’m a sergeant.”

“So you wear a uniform?”

“Yes”

“Do you like being a cop?”

“Do you always ask so many questions?” he countered with a hint of a smile.

She grinned “no, normally I get answers that contain more than the bare minimum so I don’t need to.”

Smiling properly now, he said “fair call. I guess I’m just not used to people asking.”

“So you don’t have friends, a girlfriend, family who want to know about you?” 

Looking straight ahead again, his expression was grim “no.”

He could feel Kayla’s eye’s on him. She said in a quiet voice “sorry.”

Jesse looked over at her “why?”

She shrugged “I have more family than I can do with sometimes, but I wouldn’t know what to do without them, I forget not everyone is so lucky.”

“So what about you” he asked, trying to steer the conversation away from himself “any boyfriend?”

Stopping as they reached her house she turned to face him “no, no boyfriend.”

“How come?”

Kayla laughed “I don’t know, why don’t you have a girlfriend?” 

But Jesse didn’t laugh nor did he answer. He couldn’t talk about it. Stepping back he gestured towards her house “you’re right now.” Then pushing his hands into his pockets he turned away

“Would you like to come in for a drink?” she asked.

Turning briefly, without meeting her eyes he said “nah, I’ve got to go.”

He heard her call out “thanks” and he held up a hand to indicate he’d heard but kept walking.

Going Home

Part 22

Later that night as Grace and Josh were watching TV Josh’s phone rang. Looking at Grace with a sense of deja vu Josh picked up the phone and pushed the receive button. He didn’t even bother to look at who was calling. It would be a number he didn’t know and besides he knew who it was. “Hello”

Hearing the gruff greeting Margaret Joshua began a little hesitantly “Um Josh? It’s your mother.” The first time she rang she didn’t realise how hard it would be saying those words and it’s not any easier this time. She wasn’t used to using that word in relation to herself anymore, she hadn’t felt like a mother for a long time and she doubted Josh has considered her one for years either.

“Yeah?” Josh replied.

“I was wondering if we could have breakfast tomorrow. You tell me where and I’ll be there” she said trying to make it as easy as possible.

“Hang on.” Josh said and putting his hand over the phone he looked at Grace “she wants to have breakfast tomorrow, where will we go?”

Looking at him Grace said “tell her to come here.”

Josh just looked her, doubt visible in his eyes. He wasn’t sure he wanted her at their place.

Seeing the look on his face Grace sighed “Josh she’s your mother not some stalker, tell her to come here.”

Frowning at her Josh lifted his hand off the phone and replied in short sharp sentences “I’ll give you our address. We’ll have breakfast here.”

Breakfast at Josh’s home was better than Margaret had hoped for. Despite his tone on the phone she hoped this was a positive sign.

Watching as Josh hung up the phone Grace noticed his frown. “What’s the problem?”

Looking over at her Josh didn’t know how to answer. He wasn’t entirely sure himself what his objection to his mother coming was and rubbing his face he said “nothing I guess.” Then turning his head to look at her asked “you ready for bed? I’ve had enough for today.”

Smiling at him tenderly Grace nodded “sure.” She knew today has been hard for him and as they got into bed a few minutes later, she was worried Josh wouldn’t be able to sleep. She made a suggestion that she hoped would help him relax “hey feel like a massage?”

Where is the news?

I have noticed on a popular website that purports to report news, that they have recently changed their look. Well even though the saying goes, a change is as good as a holiday, it seems in this case, the only holiday the producers of the page are taking is one from their senses. I’m not sure whether it is the font they are using, or their choice of images, or the way it is laid out, or a combination of all of these aspects, but now everything that is posted looks like an advertisement. 

The first few times I visited the page after the change, I skimmed straight past the news items thinking they were indeed ads. It was only when I went back and read the titles again that I realised they were serious new articles. And even now when I know that they are reports of news worthy events, I have trouble taking them seriously. This problem was further compounded yesterday by an unfortunate typing error in the report of a very serious and disturbing event. One wrong letter changed the word in question and as a consequence, the whole tone of the article. Proof reading seems to have gone out the window, along with their credibility. 

But why do it? Why change to a format that raises doubts about their integrity. Did nobody see the flaw in their new look?  Or was it perhaps a purposeful tactic? Is it a ploy intended to trick readers into reading about what is happening in the world before they realise? Or worse still is this the latest demonstration of a growing complacency about world events, where they are now treated no more seriously than an infomercial? Maybe we need a new description for this type of reporting. Anewsment seems to fit the bill, because it is difficult to see such reporting as anything more than a joke.

Going Home

Part 21

On the walk down to the pub Grace glanced at Josh. He was quiet, obviously still thinking about what he learnt from his mother and she couldn’t blame him, it was a lot to take in. But she’d hoped by taking his mind off it for a while, he’d have a different perspective when he went back to it. First though she had to change his focus. She was hopeful some healthy competition at the pool table would give him little time to think about anything else.

But Josh’s head was a mess. Everything his mother told him kept going around and around. As they walked to the pub he couldn’t stop the thoughts from coming and it was driving him crazy. So grateful for any chance of a distraction, on reaching the pub he immediately commandeered a pool table while Grace went to get them a drink. As he set up the balls Josh frowned as memories of his life before the accident flood his mind. Times he had played pool with Gavin that he hadn’t thought about for years. But surprisingly, as he steeled himself for the pain those memories always brought he found it didn’t eventuate. He found he could remember those times without being overwhelmed by grief and guilt. Maybe meeting with his mother had helped him in a way he didn’t expect. Suddenly Josh’s mood was lighter.

Walking back from the bar Grace studied the strange expression on Josh’s face. Not sure what it meant she handed him his beer and putting her own down on the edge of the table picked up a cue “ok my break.”

Her voice breaking into his thoughts Josh looked up with a slight smile “how do you figure?”

Smiling sweetly Grace teased “well I thought seeing as you were so much better than me you could afford to give me a head start.”

Josh raised his eyebrows “oh so when it suits you I’m better than you.”

“Well of course, but if you repeat that to anyone I’ll deny it.” Grace joked.

Shaking his head and smiling Josh stepped back and watched as Grace took the first shot wondering how he ever got so lucky. 

Seeing a smile on Josh’s face and sensing the change in his mood, Grace was filled with hope that he would come out the other side of this more at peace with his past than when it started.

Going Home

Part 20

As they entered their apartment, concerned Grace looked at Josh. They had been silent all the way home. She wanted to give Josh time to think about everything but now she hoped he was ready to talk.

After closing the front door Josh strode into the living room and sitting on the couch rubbed his hands over his face.  The agitation he was feeling visible in his movements. He was more confused than ever now and was doing his head in.

Running her hand tenderly over his head as she sat down next to him, Grace asked “you okay?”

Frowning, Josh glanced at her then away again and growled “stuffed if I know.”

Moving onto her knees so she could reach him, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed the side of his jaw. She asked “can I do anything to help?”

“Yeah tell me what I do now.”

Smiling Grace said “I wish I could Josh, but you have to decide that otherwise it won’t work.” Then after a pause she asked “what did you think about what your mother said?”

Turning his head to look at her, his expression was grim. “I don’t know. I’d like to believe what she said but it’s been so long.”

“I know Josh” she said. Then treading carefully she asked “tell me this then Josh, what was she like when you were growing up? What sort of person was she? Would you have believed then that she would have not wanted to speak to you for so many years no matter what happened?”

Looking away Josh considered this for a minute. “No” he finally said in a quiet voice.

Grace nodded. “Then she probably didn’t Josh.”

Turning his head Josh looked at her puzzled. “What did you think?”

Grace shrugged her shoulders “it’s different for me. I’m not as involved, so I can see both sides. Hearing what she had to say I could understand how it was for her and how things turned out the way they did. From what I saw today I think she’s a good person and I don’t think she meant to hurt you or to leave it so long before contacting you. I think she got caught up in a horrific situation the same as you did. And I think she’s suffered for it as much as you have.”

Josh was silent. He didn’t know what to think. He could see the point Grace was making, that they were all victims of circumstance but after all those year he didn’t know if he could forgive so easily.

Watching Josh Grace saw his worried expression and wanting to take his mind off it for a while she said “look why don’t we leave it there for now and go and have a drink and a game of pool. A change of scenery may help clear your head.” Then smiling, she teased “besides I might have a chance of beating you if you’re distracted.”

Shaking off the concerns about his parents for the moment, Josh responded to her levity. A crooked smile appearing on his face he said “think so? We’ll see about that” and giving her a quick kiss he stood. Helping Grace to her feet he led the way out the door, as they headed for their local pub.

Rescue Me

Part 11

Looking around the shop, Jesse was curious, “how long have you owned this place?”

“Not quite a year.” She looked around too as if trying to see it through his eyes, “my parents thought I was mad.”

His eyes coming back to rest on her he asked “how come?”

She shrugged and went back to sorting prescriptions “they thought I should just work for someone else. They didn’t think the stress of owning my own shop was worth it.”

“What do you think?”

She looked over at him again and he could see the surprise in her eyes, like she wasn’t used to people asking what she wanted.

“Last night I was beginning to think they might be right” she said.

“And now?” 

“Now I know, despite the problems, this is right for me.”

Jesse nodded “fair enough.”

She smiled, “thanks.”

“For what?”

“For everything.” She looked away, “I meant to say that last night.”

“I’m thinking you weren’t feeling too thankful then” he teased, giving her half a smile as she looked back at him, a surprised expression on her face. 

Kayla smiled before looking away again as someone entered the shop. Watching as a middle aged woman rushed into the shop towards Kayla. Jesse noticed that this time she didn’t jump.