Free Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher Page A

able to watch
Strictly
in the same way ever again) and the fact that Jonathan is clearly in the grumpiest mood I’ve ever seen (and that’s saying something because I’ve seen him have some stonkers), my nerve wavers. In fact, I delay my vision of storming into Jonathan’s office and demanding the career advancement he’d promised in the initial advertisement I replied to for my job all those years ago and potter around, ticking off my meaningless list of tasks instead – after I’ve delivered him the best coffee he’s ever had at super speedy speed, naturally.
    A few hours later, I’m in the ladies’, sat on the loo, when I overhear Dominique and Louisa from Development talking at the basins in front of the mirrors.
    They both joined the company a few months before I did, but by the time I arrived they’d already formed a clique that I am only privy to at certain times, when they allow it. Usually when they want to do some digging around things concerning Jonathan, the business or office gossip that I might have inside knowledge on; like the time Penny from Accounts was fired for coming into work off her face on pills before going into a presentation meeting. She told Jonathan he could ‘Go fuck himself’ once he’d suggested she stick to her original brief rather than talking about a fairy in the sky called Twinkle-Minkle who wanted to come and feed them all chocolate. It was pretty exciting stuff, especially when she started screaming and the police had to be called, so it’s no wonder Louisa and Dominique wanted to dig for info in that case. Obviously, I always tell them all I know, and then they go back to being a duo once I’m no longer of use to them. Office politics and classroom behaviour seem to go hand in hand.
    Blurgh!
    ‘There’s not much he can do – his visa has run out,’ Louisa moans – I can tell she’s sticking her lips out into a pout. She loves a good pout. The number of photos she posts on Facebook with that poutmouth is ridiculous. Many different locations, thanks to her job, but one stupid poutmouth expression.
    ‘So he’s got to go home?’
    ‘Exactly.’ Pout.
    ‘When?’
    ‘Next month!’ Pout.
    ‘But where does that leave your relationship?’ asks Dominique, clearly sad for her friend.
    ‘God knows, I mean we knew this would always be the case but it seems to have crept up on us so quickly.’
    ‘Yeah …’
    ‘I’m gutted. We know a long-distance thing isn’t going to work out – I mean, it’s fucking Australia.’
    ‘It’s not that far.’
    ‘It’s the other side of the shitting world,’ says Louisa, exasperatedly.
    ‘Oh, Lou.’
    ‘Yeah, I know! And if that wasn’t bad enough, you’re leaving.’
    ‘Shh!’ Dominique fires quickly – but my ears are already pricked and ready to hear more.
    ‘It’s not official yet.’
    ‘But with that offer I’d have thought it was a foregone conclusion. I’d have grabbed my coat and run out the door straight away. Fuck this place.’
    From what I can hear, Dominique has turned to sign language rather than verbalizing her response to her loose-tongued friend, as I can hear lots of fabric swishing and hands smacking in the air.
    ‘Whatever,’ Louisa replies sulkily, clearly annoyed that she’s been shushed mid-strop. ‘Life is going to suck, anyway. Maybe I should just go with him – better than being left here on my own.’
    ‘I don’t see why you don’t …’
    The conversation is dropped and the pair continue whatever they’re doing in silence.
    By this point I’ve been in the loo longer than socially appropriate. They’ll definitely think I’ve been going for a number two (which I haven’t, FYI), so I decide to wait it
out a little longer to save any awkwardness. Nothing like catching those sideways glances as though pooping in a public toilet is something to be scoffed at.
    Not that I did, anyway.
    No really.
    I didn’t.
    There’s going to be a position free on the Development team
, my head