Chapter 48 · Month 31 · Starting a Family

New Parents

A 3am night that neither of them handles well

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            Penny
            teacher
            01:11
          
It's ten past three and the kitchen tap's still dripping in E flat — I've been awake since half one doing sums about the 14th. If I'm the only one lying here counting, say so now and I'll stop counting out loud.

            Algy
            designer
            01:13
          
The pen's gone dry, so here's a pencil from the drawer under the takeaway menus — and I've been awake since two doing my own sums, which is why I moved the tap handle twice already. I wrote the 14th in, look: 9:40, and I got September wrong once and rubbed it out.

            Penny
            teacher
            01:14
          
What would actually help is you taking the 14th off now, in pen, and me not asking again. Nine-forty means we leave at eight-fifty, and the tap can drip till morning.

            Algy
            designer
            01:15
          
I've written it on the back of the form: 14th, off, client stuff moved to Friday. It's in pen, and I'll text the two people it costs me before I sleep, not after.

            Penny
            teacher
            01:16
          
Six-forty alarm then; I'll do toast and the good tea, and we can be out by twenty-five past eight. And Algy — hand me the pencil, because I couldn't have done that night on my own and I'd like to write it down while I still mean it.

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