Chapter 173 · Month 62 · Starting a Family

The Bad Day

The in-laws' new expectations

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            Algy
            designer
            08:04
          
Two invoices still out, $820 and $460, and I've refreshed the bank app so often the screen's warm. I'm not saying that at your mum's table, Penny — not unless I can put a bread bag down first.

            Penny
            teacher
            08:05
          
Then put the bread bag down first, on the counter, and say the numbers without apologising for them. I'll take the tea questions and you take the money questions — and my dad does the same to my brother, so it's a fair fight.

            Algy
            designer
            08:07
          
Put the bag down, say the numbers plain — except the second one's not $460 any more, it's $830, because of what I finally paid this morning. That's the bit I don't want to say slowly in front of your dad.

            Penny
            teacher
            08:08
          
Right — so the list for Sunday reads: $830, twelve weeks, and Robert gets the plain version once. And my thing, since we're saying them: Tuesday nights I want off — no counting, no trying, just the two of us and something from the freezer.

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The next chapter opens with these numbers on the table. The character with fewer votes is expected to demand a recount.

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