Chapter 53 · Month 32 · Starting a Family

The Bad Day

Whose name is on what, and whether it matters

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

      
            Algy
            designer
            07:22
          
I'll ring Mum after eight, once her voice notes have finished — she does three in a row and listens to none of them back. But if my phone's on the table Saturday, the $870 will be the quiet part and I'd rather it wasn't.

            Penny
            teacher
            07:23
          
Leave your phone in the hall then, and I'll leave mine in my bag. Put the receipt in the tin — if my dad asks for proof, at least one of us has a piece of paper and it isn't a voice note.

            Algy
            designer
            07:24
          
The receipt's in the tin, next to the ring, which is still the daftest filing system in this city. Truth is today was worse than "long" — I got a quote back at four and it came in at $1,100, so the tin's not quite as full as I let on.

            Penny
            teacher
            07:25
          
Open the tin, and I'll put my name on the deposit this month and yours next — the $1,100 gets paid, but nobody's quiet about it again. Beans on toast now, both of us wrong-footed, and the day can go.

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