Part 19 (1/2)
”That his wife has cancer. One of my neighbours children is at school with Daves kids. They were playing one day and came straight out with it. 'My mums going to die he said. Anyway, my neighbour went round and they admitted she was not well.”
Just as Jo was giving me the low down, Elona walked in. She looked dreadful, as if shed been unable to sleep for a week.
”Hi!” we both said to her.
She nodded, but did not talk and started to look in the mirror.
”Anyway,” Jo continued, ”they said that Daves wife looked terrible.”
I was not sure whether to confirm or deny the rumour. This was a difficult call because I was obliged to keep information confidential. At the same time, rumours spiralling out of control were problematic and could cause embarra.s.sment.
”When was this?” I asked.
”Oh! A couple of weeks ago, I think. You know anything?”
With this remark, I could tell that Jo was digging for information because her casual manner was suddenly replaced by attentive curiosity.
”Ive heard the same rumour,” I responded as casually as possible.
It was not a lie. Jo seemed to know as much as I did, even if her source was a little further from home, and the admission that Id heard a rumour did nothing to substantiate or deny her claim.
”Where did you hear it?” she asked, clearly not satisfied by my response.
I gave a small laugh.
”Well, Jo, where do you hear most rumours?” I asked.
”In here!” she responded.
I said nothing.
Quite masterful that, I thought. I omitted, of course, that it was Jo who had told me the rumour only a few moments ago. I was relieved that shed got the rumour from outside the company. My respect for Dave remained intact.
Elona reapplied her make-up and listening to our conversation.
”b.l.o.o.d.y rumours!” she remarked, clearly not happy.
”Sorry, Ellie?” asked Jo. ”What rumour?”
”I just said that I dont like rumours. They are hurtful and mess people up.”
Jo clearly did not understand why Elona had the hump.
”Someone been p.i.s.sing you off, Ellie?” she asked.
”If you havent heard, you will soon. Theres a rumour going 'round about me.”
”What rumours that?” asked Jo.
”bout me and Nathan!”
”What about you and Nath?” Jo enquired.
I was concerned at the direction of this conversation. If there was a rumour, it was the first Id heard. I knew from past experience that if a rumour started it would be hard to quash.
”What rumour?” asked Jo enthusiastically.
”That Nath has a thing going with me!”
What was Elona doing? I felt that I had to act fast.
”Elona! Not another word. To my office now!”
I was not sure if there was a rumour, or whether Elona was trying to start one, but whichever it was I had to put a stop to it.
Jo looked both shocked and amused. She gestured with her eyes and head to indicate something to me, but I could not take it in.
”Quickly now!” I demanded and Elona packed up her stuff and hurried out of the toilets. As she left, I turned back to Jo.
”That rumour,” I said, glancing at Elona, ”is not true.”
I turned to leave wondering whether issuing a denial was wise. By drawing attention to it, I was indicating that 'something was going on between Elona and Nathan. Half an hour earlier, I felt that things were under control, but now they could easily spiral out of control again. If Jo went back to her team and started talking about it, the rumour might yet cause more problems.
”Jo?” I said.
”Yes,” she replied.
”I would appreciate if you did not repeat to others what Elona just said.”
”Sure!” she said, with a smile. But it was a smile I didnt feel I could trust. There was too much pleasure in it.
I dont often lose my temper, but this was an occasion when coolly losing my temper was the most effective way to drive home what I had to say. As soon as Elona was installed in my office, I turned to her and let fly.
”What the f.u.c.k dyou think you were doing?”
Elona was so shocked that she did not sit down.
”What.....what do you mean?” she said quietly.
”Just answer the question,” I demanded.
”But....but you......you.....” blurted Elona, trying to get a grasp of the situation.
”I what?”
”I.....I thought.....thought you...,” mumbled Elona ”Thought what?”