Jessica Who?

1

A/N: This is a work of fiction and didn't happen. No libel or slander intended; no profit is being made. The events portrayed in this story are fictional and do not reflect on the actual people written about.

1

Jessica leaned on the kitchen table, stirring her coffee with a spoon in one hand, and scrolling through her Kindle with the other. She took a sip and carried it through to the living room, picking up a cushion from the one-seater over to the sofa.

"Tim, you need to prop it up," Jessica lifted his leg which was wrapped in a cast up to his knee.

"Yo, it's the X Games," Tim craned his neck, and Jessica closed the sliding door.

Out in the sunshine, the trees bordered the front lawn as did many of the neighboring houses, on this tight street where the neighbors kept to themselves.

Her Kindle beeped, and she saw that it had low battery.

Every so often, as Jessica walked down the driveway, she would hear the bins being wheeled out, the clank of recycling, their cars and waves from behind the steering wheel, but she never really knew them and thankfully, they barely knew her.

At the letterbox, Jessica pulled out the mail, and bent to pick up the sheaf. She yawned and saw from afar, the tree wilting leaves into their pool which had been stagnant for a while.

In her hands she flicked through the envelopes, and shut the sliding door behind her as she shuffled into the living room, and ESPN flashed across the screen.

Tim saluted with his beer, "Little Tricky's just won a gold."

Jessica set the mug in the kitchen sink, plugged in her Kindle, and rang the number on the letter.

"Hello, yes... could I speak to someone about our health insurance please? Yes, I'll hold."

Jessica set the phone on speaker, a trill of music, and stuck her fingernail in the plastic wrapping that coated the catalogue, and she flicked through the pages.

"Hello?" Jessica snatched up the phone, "Yes... yes... it's just such a large bill. I mean, I don't really think - well, I'd have to talk to Tim. Yes. I'll discuss it with him. Thank you."

Jessica heard Tim guffaw from the other room, and covered a smile by biting her lip. She flipped the catalogue closed and saw on the rear, the sticker of her name and address. Tim raised his voice.

"Nyjah's gonna break records."

She turned to speak but he turned the volume up, and she picked up the phone.

"Hi, hello - sorry for bothering you on the weekend... my grandma's got me a subscription to your magazine, but she's put the name wrong. I'll give you my address. Yes... Jessica, yes, that's right, but I'm not - I'm married now. It's O'Connor. It's a little thing to call for, but I'd rather my neighbors not know - "

Jessica frowned over her shoulder, and turned back with her finger over one ear.

" - thank you. You've been a great - er, no. I don't - I wouldn't know. I'm surprised people still remember - no. You'd think so, but I haven't seen him in years. No, we're - we're definitely not in touch anymore. Thanks. You, too."