Daughter: What are you doing?
Me: Resting
Daughter: Are you meat?
My mobile rings…it’s her…
Daughter: Where are you?
Me: ‘Hair & Beauty’ in Brixton. Do you need me to get something?
Daughter: Food
Me: They don’t sell food
Daughter: I bought some Coco Pops in there once
Me: For Godsakes
Daughter: Wait….where did you say you are?
Me: ‘Hair & Beauty’
Daughter: Where?
The reception’s faltering so I put the call on speakerphone…
Me: Hair and Beauty
Daughter: What and Beauty?
Me: Hair
She breaks into hysterical laughter..
Daughter: Hair??!!?
Several minutes later…
Daughter: Did you say hair?
…still laughing
Daughter: Hair!?!??!!!
Daughter: How old are you now?
Me: 52
Daughter: 55?
Me: 52
Daughter: I thought you were 59?
Me: No, 52
Daughter: Sure you’re not 60?
Me: No, still 52
Daughter: 62?
And she goes on and on and on..
Daughter: I need you to put a fried egg on your forehead.
Me: For fucksake!
Daughter: I’d like to drink myself to sleep
Me: What?
Daughter: Oh, did I say that out loud?
An open day for the foundation course at Camberwell Art College…we turn into Wilson Road, walk past St Giles church on the corner…
Daughter: This is the place for me.
Me: How do you know? We haven’t even been inside yet.
Daughter: The glory of God is close by mother…that’s all the evidence I need.
Benjy our beloved cat climbs through the window with a dead mouse dangling from his jaws…He deposits his gift at my feet…
Daughter: There you go, a fairy for the tree..