Chapter 33 · Month 19 · The Engagement

The Guest List

The guest list that quietly doubles

Oldest line first — the newest line is at the bottom.

      
            Algy
            designer
            06:40
          
That's the guest list on the laptop — ten names in your handwriting, and Mum's already added her neighbour and a plus-one. If we cut the three you flagged, that's ten off, one stays, and we're back to $19 a head.

            Penny
            teacher
            06:41
          
Twelve at $19 is $228, which is fine; the problem is it's now fifteen, and the neighbour's plus-one would technically make sixteen. Show me the total before I start crossing things out on my own list.

            Algy
            designer
            06:43
          
The neighbour stays because she's the one who drove Mum to the hospital in March, and I'm not crossing out the woman who did that. Punch out Dev's friend and both of the cousins who've never replied to anything, and we're at thirteen — $247, and I'll cover the difference.

            Penny
            teacher
            06:43
          
Neighbour stays, cousins go, and take the plus-one off with Dev's friend — that's $19 back and eleven names. I'm not letting you cover a difference we made up; give me the $247 out loud, and Saturday we say it to my parents together.

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