Part 14 (2/2)
”Jeez sis,” says Carole almost falling to the floor with me, ”Whats happened?”
”You think I know?” I ask.
”Here. Put your arm around me!”
She levers me towards the sofa and finally I think I can make it to my feet.
”I never thought of you as heavy!” she joked as she hauls me up. ”If I knew my news would have this effect on you, I would have got you to sit down first....!”
Instead of feeling wild with excitement and happiness, I feel cold and sweaty, like the room is spinning. My little sister is getting married. My little sister. My little sister is getting married. I am pleased for her, but I realise that I did not expect to feel like this. I did not expect her to marry before me. When we were young, we would play 'weddings and I was always the bride and she the bridesmaid. We would write all the words of the ceremony out and act the whole thing for hours and hours. We never took it in turns, she was always the bridesmaid and I was the bride.
I looked up at her and felt ashamed. This should be one the happiest moments in our life. My little sister is getting married, and yet I feel totally hollow inside, totally useless, totally alone, totally old. How can I feel like this? I bury my head in my hands as more tears emerge. How can I possibly tell her?
Whatever she was expecting it was not this, but she took it in her stride. It pains me to say it, but she is the mature one, not me. I feel like taking a dagger and stabbing myself for not thinking of her, for not thinking of how happy she must be feeling, not being able to feel the excitement she feels. But the truth is that my little sisters announcement makes me realise that I have not grown up yet. She is not my little sister any more. She is my big sister.
”Right!” I shout, ”down the pub we go, get smashed, talk dirty and then.......you tell me exactly what is expected of a 'best woman.....”
”Thats simple!” she says without a moments hesitation. ”You make us all laugh with a funny speech and then you get drunk and try to s.h.a.g the 'best man!”
My moment of despair is over as quickly as it started. When I hear her wicked suggestion the grin returns to my face. A few seconds later, my lips part and my teeth are showing. I playfully punch her on the arm.
”Okay! Okay!” I say, my confidence returning. As I go to get my coat, I quickly turn and give her a sly look. ”I think I can manage that.”
”Okay sis lead the way!” and with that remark we went to the pub, drank all evening, got thrown out when we started to sing rude songs and staggered back to my place.
We flopped on my bed in fits of giggles.
”Do.....do you.....” Laced with liquor, my words just will not come out properly.
”I do!” she shouts hysterically.
”No. No. No!” I exclaim. ”Stop a moment. Be serious!” I demand as we lie there trying not to giggle.
”Do you want to hear something funny? Do you want to know what I thought?”
”Thought about what?” Carole asks.
”Thought your 'big news was going to be....”
”Tell me!” she asks.
”I thought you were going to say that you were pregnant again,” I laugh.
Carole dissolves into fits of giggles and starts kicking her feet in the air.
”Do you want to hear something funny?” she retorts busting her sides and unable to contain her hilarity.
”Yeah, come on! Spill it to sis” I tell her.
”I am!” she says. ”Its due in November and her name is going to be Penny Anne after you and mum!”
Chapter 22.
My plans for Elona were thwarted the next morning. Nathan phoned in sick. I called Mikes department and his colleague said that he had also not arrived at work yet. I switched on my PC and opened the personnel database system and searched for their details.
I called Nathan first and heard an answer phone message. I left a message asking him to call me. Next I called Mikes home number and a woman replied.
”Leamington 397333. Can I help you?”
”h.e.l.lo. Is Mike there?” I asked.
”Can I ask who is calling?”
”My name is Penny Im the Head of Personnel at IC,” I answered.
”Hang on a minute, Ill see if hes still here. I think hes already gone.”
There was a long pause and in the distance I thought I could hear some voices. Eventually, the woman returned to the phone.
”h.e.l.lo?” she said.
”Im still here,” I replied.
”Hes already gone to work. Can I take a message?”
I thought for a moment because the issue was sensitive.
”Its nothing really. We had a disciplinary meeting this morning but Mikes not turned up for work. Well have to rearrange. Can you get him to call me?”
”Sure,” she said, ”if I see him before you do.”
The tone in her voice was strange, almost mocking, but I thanked her and spent a few moments considering what to do next. I had a full schedule until the end of the following week. I really wanted this resolved now and did not want it to drag on. I called Phil into my office and asked him to check later that day whether Nathan or Mike made it into work. We found a slot free at 3pm the following Wednesday week I would meet them after Id had lunch with John. Phil agreed to inform all the parties concerned.
I retrieved my e-mails and my mood improved when I received a note.
Hi s.e.xy, Just to let you know that Ill be arriving in Leamington about 10.30am. Im stopping overnight with friends so we could either have our meeting late morning or make an evening of it. Will it damage your street cred if you are seen out on the town with an oldie like me?
I was glad that his sense of humour had returned, and I felt my emotions stir a bit when I read his greeting. I checked my diary and found that I had to go to an evening event with Dave a launch event for a new product. I was to chaperone the young entrepreneur who would be speaking while Dave was acting as host. With a tinge of regret I declined Johns offer of an evening meal.
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