Chapter 86 · Month 40 · Starting a Family

The Misunderstanding

Whose name is on what, and whether it matters

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

      
            Penny
            teacher
            16:31
          
The form's on the table with my name first and yours second, and I keep reading it like the order means something. Tell me it doesn't, or tell me it does — either's better than me deciding for you.

            Algy
            designer
            16:32
          
When I was nine Mum put my name on the gas bill because the account was already hers and I thought that meant I owned the house. I cried about it in the bath, so no — the order's just ink. But the second line's mine and that's the one I want.

            Penny
            teacher
            16:33
          
You've gone quiet since that. What did you read into it — because I've been sat here inventing a version of you who hates being second.

            Algy
            designer
            16:35
          
Honestly? Second is fine — second is what I've been since the day we met. What scares me is you reading that form and seeing the name that's a bit of a risk, and I get a joke ready instead of asking how you are.

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What the audience made of it

Algy 0 Penelope 0 Both 0 0 votes

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

The story fund →