The spring breeze through the window, the ‘Wahoo’s’ of the
Dandy Warhols floating around the car and Faith was smiling, what more could
you want from a Monday evening? Smiling on the way home from work, that was a
whole new feeling. It was far too early to tell if this would be the new post
work trend, but for now she was going to enjoy it.
As first days go it went pretty well. The girls in the
office seemed really nice, her boss? She was going to take some weighing up,
but it was Dan that was stuck in her mind. There was something about him and
she had been thinking about him all day, yet she didn’t really know why. He
certainly must think she was a complete bimbo after their first encounter.
Maybe it was the way the morning light seemed to catch just
over his shoulder; it cast the most amazing glow over him. Whatever it was it
had her smiling stupidly whenever he called into the office. He only popped in
every now and then; his office was down the hall. Lisa had commented how he had
been in the office more than normal today though....
‘Faith you are not a teenager damn it!’ she chastised her
wandering mind
Her phone rang through the in car system, which she didn't understand, bringing her back to reality with a start. The friendly female
voice told her it was Aiden calling. He had insisted on this installation, saying
that if she insisted on driving round in the rusted tin can he at least wanted
to be able to ring and make sure she was still in one piece, not in a ditch
somewhere.
Faith shouted “accept” at the windscreen, because the
omnipresent female voice told her to.
“Hello”...nothing, “hello” she shouted louder
“Hello” Aiden replied amused by her lack of technological
grace, which incidentally only extended to the car. It was as if she was
hardwired to only include the most practical knowledge when it came to cars.
How to change a flat, oil top ups and battery exchanges were the essentials
when driving Henry so all the techno gubbins in the car was beyond her reach.
But stationary and behind a computer Faith was in her element.
“So I have the kids. Am I meeting you at home?”
“Yeah, I’ll be about another twenty minutes” Faith replied
“Ok we’ll see you soon”
“Have the boys eaten?”
“I don’t know. We’ll sort it when you’re home.”
“Alright, see you soon.”
“Love you”
“Love you too”
As the conversation clicked to an end the stereo reverted to mid song ‘we were the kings and queens of promise’ it made her smile and think of the promise their relationship had held, where had that gone? Faith pondered,
had those words lost their meaning through overuse? Or was it that not enough
attention was paid to them anymore. Familiarity hadn't bred contempt so much as
complacency.
Faith tried concentrating on the road, a diversion for her
mind from all this deep thought. She realised then that this section of her
route was one long natural tree tunnel. How had she not noticed this before?
She had no idea why tree tunnels made her instantly happy.
Was it the protection she felt in its belly, hidden from her troubles and
fears. Or was she just over thinking again. It was probably just that they
looked so pretty; the way the light filtered through the leaf canopy casting
angel rays on the world below. If nothing else she was going to enjoy the
drive; the beauty, the music and the time in her own head. Even if her head did
keep flashing images of some guy she had only just met. Ok so he was cute,
no...sexy, with a heart stopping light to his eyes. But still a married woman
should not be thinking these thoughts.
As if on cue the next song to pop up on the stereo, Mansun –Wide open space.
‘You’ll never get to heaven with a smile on your face’ Not
at all ironic!!