Free I Dream Of Johnny (novella) by Juliet Madison

Chapter 1
    It really shouldn’t be that hard. I mean, all I had to do was press a simple button. But deleting the answering machine’s greeting message would officially commemorate the end of yet another failed relationship. Another break-up, another ‘it’s not you, it’s me’, and a painful reminder of being the last single woman over thirty-five in my family and social circle.
    But I had to do it. It would be childish to keep the message any longer than the two weeks that had already passed.
    I’d just listen to it one last time...
    “Hi, you’ve reached Mandy and Dan. We’re too busy canoodling on the couch to take your call —”
    “Canoodling? Is that what you call this ?”
    “Dan! Stop it!”
    “Okay, Mandy and I are canoodling and will return your call in about ten minutes.”
    “Ten?”
    “Okay, fifteen.”
    “Anyway, we thank you for calling. Bye!”
    We’d only lived together for one month. One month! God it was good in the beginning...
    No, Mandy! Be strong, don’t think about it. Just press the damn button!
    “Hi, you’ve reached Mandy and Dan —”
    DELETE.
    I did it. All over. The End. Finito.
    Okay. That wasn’t so hard. Right, time for a new start.
    “Hi, you’ve reached Mandy and...oops.”
    DELETE.
    “Hi, you’ve reached Mandy . I’m unable to...”
    Ding, dong!
    “...oh crap.”
    Sighing, I walked to the front door. Susan wasn’t due till 2 p.m. so who was here at the ungodly hour of 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning? I yanked open the door to find two perky twenty-somethings smiling and holding up a collection tin.
    “Hi-ee, did you know that over seventy percent of cancer sufferers have to travel more than one hour to get to hospital for treatment?”
    “Um—”
    “We’re collecting donations to ensure that these patients’ transport costs can be covered. What amount would you like to donate today? Can I suggest fifty dollars perhaps?”
    The rosy-cheeked girl came up for air and I chewed my bottom lip. They really knew how to send people on a guilt trip. And rightly so, I mean, those poor people.
    “I, ah, I’ll just have a look and see how much I’ve got on hand.” I smiled as though I was used to giving bucket loads of money away and sauntered to the hall table where I kept my purse. My stomach twinged as I clicked open the clasp, knowing too well I really couldn’t spare any cash.
    Let’s see...Susan and Peter will be driving me to the wedding today so no need for taxi fare...Monday I promised to meet Mum for a long overdue lunch before my shift at work...Tuesday night is yoga, although I could miss it just this once...and I need the train fare for Wednesday’s online marketing course in the city...
    I plucked out a ten dollar note and a few gold coins, leaving behind the bare minimum to get me through the next week, barring the carefully allocated funds in my bank account.
    “Here, I don’t have any more on me at the moment, I hope this will do.” I felt bad for lying, but even ten bucks was a stretch for me these days. I’d have to start selling off my valuables if business didn’t pick up soon, not to mention take extra shifts at The Gristle and Grill.
    I gracefully declined their suggestion to enter into a monthly direct debit donation and farewelled the charity collectors, closing the door just as the phone rang. “Argh!” I tripped on a box of art materials I’d failed to put away and landed on my hands and knees. “Stupid box,” I said, getting to my feet as a voice travelled through the room.
    “You’re unable to...oh crap? What kind of greeting message is that?” Susan laughed. “Anyway, just letting you know that unfortunately we can’t pick you up this afternoon, Peter and I decided to stay an extra night in the city so we’ll be going straight from here. Sorry hun, but I’m sure you’ll be able to get a cab and I can’t wait to see you! It’s been too long, looking forward to telling you all about our trip! Hey, are you still with