The Art of Push and Pull<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\u201cShut up! Shut up! Shut up!\u201d Joseph despairs. \u201cDo you ever just, shut up?\u201d<\/p>\n
Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. SLAM. His wife pulls away in the silver Audi.<\/p>\n
From the basement flat below, Jenny perfects her wine-stained smile in a hand mirror. \u201cClever kitty,\u201d she says, recalling the tabby cat\u2019s purring consent.<\/p>\n
Joseph wonders if the young woman downstairs has overheard their disagreement.<\/p>\n
Only once or twice has coincidence brought them together, in passing to their respective front doors, with awkward pleasantries about the relentless drizzle or the charismatic feline skilled in the art of acquiring cold meat scraps. Her recent compliment on his Breton stripe jersey had left him bumbling; she actually touched his arm, as if they were on familiar terms.<\/p>\n
Joseph switches on the radio and selects a lively classical number. Remembering that his eldest daughter and her new boyfriend are joining them that evening for his legendary wild mushroom and taleggio pizza, he begins to whistle. A crisp apple tart will bring the affair to a fine conclusion.<\/p>\n
Jenny drapes a sliver of cheese across a cracker. Then a single bite that occupies her cheeks for what seems longer than necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow small I will appear, under the sheets of his bed,\u201d she confides, softly.<\/p>\n
Tonight, dressed in floral crepe de chine, Jenny will knock. Wrapped in a tea towel at her breast will be an ailing sourdough.<\/p>\n
Joseph pulls on his gardening shoes and heads outside to sow cornflowers in time for his wife\u2019s return. He scatters the seeds with uncharacteristic abandon, rakes the earth in a private display of tenderness. Still, the arrival of seedlings never fails to raise a smile, a hand slipped in hand.<\/p>\n
Jenny reaches for the flour and sets to work on her ill-fated creation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Rebecca Hattersley<\/strong> is a freelance writer and creative living in Brighton. . Her first novel is in progress. Follow her on Twitter @ifindyoucurious\u00a0 This is her website.
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