by H P Steven
“Hey there’s your beer, what’s going on?” Lacey asked handing me the beer.
“Just trying to decide where you’ll be staying tonight. My place is pretty full and your gears there,” Paul said.
“But I’ve got plenty of room tonight, so you can crash at mine and we’ll catch up with these two in the morning for breakfast. So you can head up too Paul’s and get ready, then we’ll head to Isleworth,” I suggested.
“Yeah that sounds good. How much longer are you gonna hang around for?” Lacey asked.
“Um, a few more beers possibly, I was gonna leave after this one,” I announced.
“Yeah actually, that sounds better,” Lacey responded.
“Okay cool, we sorted, hey Paul what did you get Iva?” I asked.
“I’m not saying.” Paul laughed.
“All right let’s head back to the table,” I suggested.
We turned to find that it’s been taken over so we stood there finishing our drinks and saying our farewells. Till it got late and Lacey and I walked back up to mine.
Walking past East Putney tube stop, I’m pretty sure I walked past Ann-Marie, Kalliope’s flatmate. But think nothing of it, even telling Lacey I thought that had just happened.
“Well, if it did your screwed,” Lacey said laughing.
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“She sees you walking along with me. Some hot thing and obviously thinks the worst at this time of the night,” Lacey joked.
I laughed back, “Yeah nice try.”
“I’m just up here,” I added.
Walking across the bridge, though the front gate, remembering the code and into the flat. “Hey the couch is just there, I’ll just make it up for you,” I insisted.
Folding out the couch bed and heading to the hall way closet for some more blankets.
“Hey Lacey, the kitchen’s just through here. Um glasses are in here on the left next to the fridge, take this,” I said handing Lacey a bottle of water I’d taken out of the fridge. “Um, toilets just down the hallway to the left, what else,” I said quickly making the bed up, checking the time and it wass nearly one in the morning. “All right I’ll see you in a few hours. Oh and the remote to the TV is just there on the coffee table, I’m sure you’ll be able to work that out” I added.
“Ah cool, thanks Phil. I’ll see you in the morning,” Lacey replied.
I slept like a log that night, its wasn’t till my phone started vibrating that I noticed the sun peeking through my curtains, I reached out over the other side of my bed grabbing my phone.
“Hello,” I answered
“Hi, sorry I only got your text this morning. I would have loved to have caught up last night,” Kalliope said.
“That’s okay, I ended up catching up with a few friends last night at Thai Square,” I replied.
‘How’s the birthday plans going?’ I asked.
adding, ‘I got you something so hopefully I’ll see you later,’
“Well you better,” Kalliope said
“I’m off to catch up with them this morning, but I need to have a shower and wake up Lacey,” I said
“Oh who’s Lacey?” Kalliope asked
“Oh, she’s Linda’s friend, who was supposed to stay at Paul’s last night, but he’s got a bunch of kiwi’s that turned up too crash at his, so I offered Lacey the fold out couch bed,” I said.
‘Oh okay,’ Kalliope said.
’Is she hot?’ Kalliope added
“Really, not as hot as you,” I replied, smirking to myself
‘Hey, I’ve got to get ready and head down for breakfast. Can I talk to you later?’ I said, sounding a little annoyed.
“Yeah okay, have a great day,” Kalliope replied.
“Yeah back at ya, I’ll talk to you soon,” I insisted. Hanging up and rolling over to get a few more minutes of sleep till interrupted by Lacey knocking on my door. “Hey Phil, are you awake?” Lacey asked.
“Yeah come in!” I yelled out.
“Morning what’s the time?” I asked.
As Lacey stepped into my room.
“So that’s the desk hey, where the magic happens?” Lacey asked.
“Yip sure is. Hey what’s the time?” I repeated.
“Oh it’s only 7:30am.”
“Argh okay, I need a shower, get out!” I yelled. laughing throwing a pillow at her.
“Oh ha ha,” Lacey mocked.
“Give me thirty minutes, do you know how to use a jug?” I asked.
“Yeah of course do you want a coffee?” Lacey asked.
“Yes please. All the stuff is next to the jug and the milk’s in the fridge. I’ll be twenty, thirty minutes,” I said.
“Yeah all right, that’s the least I can do,” Lacey replied.
Heading off to the kitchen, she exits my room allowing me time to roll over and go back to sleep for a few more minutes before I realise I’ve got things to do today and people to see especially Iv. So I pulled myself out of bed away from my comfortable cocoon of blankets and pillows, then headed off and had a shower.
Rolling my clothes up in my towel once I had finished and changed in the bathroom, I noticed the hamper in the corner of the my room, tossing the clothes ball in with out touching the sides I went to fist pump, as I noticed Lacey smirking on the couch seeing this. I turned and went to join her in the lounge..
“Ah, morning Lacey, how’d you sleep?” I asked.
“Um, really good thanks that couch bed is a lot more comfortable than lumpy blue,” Lacy joked. Laughing as she passing me a coffee from the coffee table.
“Oh thanks, have you heard from Paul?”
“Yeah he’s just woken up, but not too far away. I think he’s just gonna have a shower as well and point his mates in the right direction. So still on for nine-ish at the Railway,” Lacey announced.
“Ah cool, hey nice coffee. You’ve made it just how I like it.”
“You’re welcome,”
Finishing off the coffee and putting all the dishes into the dishwasher I head back to my room to put some shoes on. Feeling a bit average but happy I got Greg to take Iva’s presents with the cake so less things to have to worry about. The way I was feeling I probably would have forgotten them.
“Hey Lacey I’m all set, lets head off,” I suggested.
“Yeah sounds good, thanks for letting me crash here,” Lacey replied.
“No worries, let’s go get another coffee and some breakfast at the railway bar.”
Grabbing my keys and wallet making sure the place was all locked up and heading down to the main road.
“Oh man this parties gonna be brutal. I might quickly text Greg making sure he has panadol at his place,” I joked.
“Yeah, probably a good idea,” Lacey replied.
It didn’t take us that long to walk down to, The Railway. Luckily feeling slightly better as we both walked in.
“What kind of coffee do you want?” I asked.
“A flat white would be great thanks.”
Heading up to the bar to order a couple of flat whites. Turning as I saw Lacey find us a table and possibly text to see how far away Paul was. I slowly and carefully picked up the suacers with our coffees and clumsily make my way over to her, somehow not spilling a drop as I placed them both down on the table.
“Oh cheers, looks like Paul’s coming now. I might just pop up and have a shower, then head back down for breakfast,” Lacey suggested.
Lacey finished her coffee just as Paul arrived with the key to get into his place. We both laughed as Lacey left reassuring us that she wouldn’t be long. Well, she took forever but finally re-joined us for breakfast. I think we were all feeling a little average. We were all feeling a lot better and joking around when we finally got to where we were going. After a very slow train ride got to Isleworth. With a bottle or two of water on hand.
“Oh man, buckle up guys and follow the balloons. Looks like Linda’s been busy.” I laughed.
“Yeah, let’s get in there,” L
acey insisted.
“Yeah you first Lacey,” Paul said.
We entered the backyard and into the party. The bouncy castle taking up half of the yard and the rest was basically a Dora the explorer themed party.
“Oh well guys, I’m heading inside to the fridge, catch you guys later,” I announced.
Leaving those two to the loud cries of at least six, two year olds, I smiled my way inside, to see if I could find Greg or Linda. Running into Audrey.
“Hey you’re here early,” I said.
“Yeah we can’t stay to long,” Audrey replied.
“Oh cool, well good to see you, have you seen the parents anywhere?” I asked.
“Yeah Linda’s in the kitchen and Greg’s somewhere,” Audrey joked.
“Ha nice, best go say hello to Linda and see if I can get in the way and help,” I commented.
“Oh nice job on the cake,” Audrey replied.
“Cheers, I’ll talk to you again soon,” I insisted, excusing myself and making my way to the fridge. Oh and too see Linda.
“Hi Linda, need any help?” I asked. Mostly for brownie points. Thinking I’ll just get in the way.
“Yeah that’ll be great, can you take these out to the kids. Handing me a bowl of chips,” Linda replied smiling. “Oh and get yourself a beer from the fridge as well,” Linda suggested.
“Yeah no worries it’s a bit early in the morning for me, but why not,” I laughed.
Taking a beer out then heading out to see the kids and taking them a bowl of chips. Before turning around pretty quickly and heading back inside just to see Iva walking in to the lounge followed by Greg. Dragging her Eeyore fluffy toy through the room smiling at me.
“Ha inky Phil, ha,” Iva grumbled.
“Hey at least she got my name right bro, hey good job Princess Iva.”
Crouching down to pick her up. But she sidesteps me and heads for the door. Before I turned around and pick her up and take her outside. Placing her down on the Dora mat with her little friends.
“There you go your highness,” I commented, before heading back inside amd catching up with Greg. “Hey bro how’s it all going?” I asked.
“Yeah, so far so good man,” Greg said. “Pretty sure, we’ve got it all under control,” Greg added.
“Yeah nice man, I’ve seen Paul and Lacey grab a bottle of wine each so you may need to keep an eye on them as well,” I declared.
“Well, if they get out of hand I chuck them on the bouncy castle and get the bigger kids to bounce around them,” Greg laughed.
Just as we’re joined in the lounge by Linda. “Hey thank Hannah and Devin. Those Disney toys are really thoughtful.”
“Yeah no worries, I’m sure they would have been here if they could,” I replied.
Moving along to the kitchen to grab another beer from the fridge.
11
Home Before 1:30am
The day went great; Linda’s lunch was awesome. Audrey introduced me to her partner a really cool journalist called Meredith. Iva kept running up to me with books yelling out, “adventure inky full!”
So a lot of my weekend was spent sitting on my behind, reading a lot of books to little kids while their parents drank and ate. Occasionally Paul and Lacey would rock up and tell me which kid had pooped. Pointing at someone’s child.
“Hey, who’s kids this?” I asked. “We seem to have a number two alert here, code brown,” I announced.
With Iva laughing and giggling before Iva yelled, “Keep reading!”
Other than that, I was actually having a great time. Sure Iva was using the sleeves of my shirt as a handkerchief.
“Hey Greg could you pass me a steak so I can make a sandwich?” I asked.
“Yeah sure bro,” Greg said grabbing one off the BBQ and passing it over for me.
“Thanks bro.”
As Greg just turned and went back to burning the other meats on the BBQ. I kept on reading to the littlies, a Dr Seuss Marathon.
“Hey Iva, I’m gonna pop inside,” I said.
“Okay, thank you pinkie lil,” Iva replied making me laugh.
“Oh man,” I whispered. As I could feel my legs again, standing up and stretch all the muscle before the started to go to sleep. After sitting for so long, just as Meredith came up to me.
“Thanks for taking care of the kids like that,” she insisted.
“Yeah no worries I don’t mind reading to Iva, just a few more little kids to read to that’s all,” I said.
“Well, I think a lot of parents appreciated it,” Meredith insisted.
“Ha brilliant, I should get them to bring me beer.”
“They probably would have,” Meredith laughed.
“So what are to two laughing at?” Audrey asked as she walked up to us both.
“Beer,” I said looking serious at Audrey.
“Oh, okay, so we are about to head off and they’re about to light candles on the cake,” Audrey announced.
“Oh okay, where’s Iva?” I insisted
“Ah the reason I’m out here, there she is,” Audrey pointed. Picking up Iva and taking her inside followed by the other parents taking their kids in just as Greg walked out and handed me a beer.
“Thanks mate,” I declared.
“Yeah no worries you looked like you needed one after reading to the kids,” Greg announced.
“Yeah you’re not wrong bro, hey, have you met Meredith?” I asked Greg.
“Yeah man, she went to university with Linda,” Greg said.
“Oh okay, you lived in Wellington?” I asked.
“Yeah but I had blonde hair and we’ve actually met before,” Meredith laughed.
“What, really?”
“Yeah one night you and a mate of yours named Andrew, I think. Came along to meet up with Greg outside a bar and we all drank Long Island ice teas till the sun came up,” Meredith started.
“We got some awful looks from morning runners,” I said.
“Yeah that’s the one,” Meredith laughed.
“Oh wow and you were there?” I asked.
“Wow, I knew you didn’t remember me,” Meredith joked.
“Ha, I was pretty drunk that night, it was fun though,” I admitted.
Just then the choruses of happy birthday were coming from inside, which made us quickly wander in.
“Happy birthday to you,” we sung, just reaching the lounge for the end of the song. Just getting inside to watch Iva blow bubbles all over the Dora cake I made for her.
“So you made the cake then?” Meredith asked.
“Yeah it’s not gluten free or egg free. I made sure I filled the middle with ganache and butter cream and drenched the whole thing in sugar syrup and butter cream,” I winked at her with a grin.
“Ha good, it’s Audrey’s night to take care of Rupert tonight. I’ll try and get him two pieces.” Meredith laughed.
“Well, there’s more in the fridge, I cut into squares just in case Iva spat all over the cake, so Linda could put pieces in party packs for the kids. Oh yea Meredith not my first kid’s birthday,” I insisted, joking around.
“Ha, good to know,” Meredith laughed heading towards the kitchen.
“Hey you,” Lacey said. Poking me in the chest with her finger slurring.
“Hey Lacey, what’s up?” I asked.
“Why aren’t you drunk like us?” Lacey slurred, spitting on me a little.
“I’m just taking my time,” I said. Trying to hold her up a bit. “Why don’t you lay down for a bit?” I added.
“Maybe I will, do you want to join me?” Lacey asked.
“Sure let’s get you into bed for an hour or two,” I replied. Walking past Linda still in the kitchen and into her’s and Greg’s room to put Lacey to bed for a couple of hours. Where she crashed as soon as her head hit the pillow. Walking back out I ran into Paul who looked a little green around the gills.
“Hey man how are you feeling,” I asked.
“Not good man,” Paul replied.
&nb
sp; “Why don’t you get a few hours’ sleep aswell,” I insisted.
“Lacey’s in there getting a couple hours,” I added.
“Yeah man that could be good. Wake me, when the missus gets here,” Paul said.
Luckily Linda heard so I told him, she’ll take care of that.
“Thanks sis,” Paul replied walking into the room to crash out with Lacey.
“Oh man, how’s your day going Linda?” I asked.
“Um really good, thanks for taking care of the kids for a while. Think the parents really appreciated it,” Linda insisted.
“Yeah I think it was more Iva’s doing, but she is a massive fan of Dr Seuss. The foods good,” I mentioned.
“Yeah thanks, so what’s happening in your world?” Linda asked.
“Audrey tells me the books looking good,” Linda added.
“Yeah it’s coming along, hopefully should be finished soon,” I replied.
“Well, hurry up, I want to read it,” Linda remarked.
“Yeah I should be finished soon. Did you try the cake,” I asked Linda.
“Yeah thanks for doing that, it really is great, very sweet but great,” Linda said.
Just then my pants vibrated
“So who’s this?” Linda asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said.
Taking my phone out of my pocket.
“Is that Kalliope? Wow, she’s completely out of your league.” Linda joked.
“Yeah, looks like she’s dressed as Punky Brewster?”
“Wow, is it an 80’s themed party,” Linda asked.
“Who’s the Mr T. Barney Rubble looking guy behind her?” Linda asked.
“Um that’s her workmate, the girl dressed as a French maid is her flatmate and the Mad Max guy lives with her as well.”
“Looks like a cool party,” Linda said.
“Yeah looks okay. So, what’s happening here?” I asked.
“Well, we’ve got the rest of the day to party here. So you’re more than welcome to hide out for as long as you want,” Linda laughed.
“Ah thanks, just need some time to think.”
Just then Greg, joined us. “Hey bro, the guys are coming to pick up the bouncy castle in a few hours, we’ve got some games for the kids to play. What’s happening here?” Greg asked.
“Oh man, just chilling,” I said.
