This rockstar life

2.1 Hangin' on the telephone - pt I

Content: See Introduction for general content notes.

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"You have reached the..." *click*

"You have reached the..." *click*

"You have reached the..." Alice clutches the receiver to her chest, hand over the mouthpiece, screws her eyes shut, and tries to slow her breathing.

*beep* "Er, hi, er, Mum. Just calling to um, say hello, and er..."

*click* "Liss? Is that you?"

At the sound of his voice, Alice's legs fold and she lands back in the tatty plastic chair.

"Um, hey. Yeah, it's me."

"And the four hang-ups?"

"Were also me, sorry."

He laughs, "And I'm your mum now?"

"Well in case they're," she lowers her voice, "listening. I'm only allowed to call family."

"Course. So you're still in Bedlam then?"

"Yup, 'til next week. Assuming I don't have any more 'setbacks' anyway."

"Oh. Right. Is it...going okay?"

"Well they give me heaps of butter and cheese and white bread and I eat it and pretend it's not disgusting. So it's fine I guess."

"Oh. Oh dear..."

"Um...so what have you been doing since they let you out?"

"Err, unpacking the boxes that came back from America, sort of. Filling in a million bits of paper. Um, going to the pub."

"Ah. It didn't stick then?"

"Never does." He sounds resigned.

"Have you got to do more music...stuff? Recording or whatever."

"Mm hm, I'm supposed to be working on bits for the next album. Then off to Dublin in a few weeks to record."

"Wow, your life is...I just can't imagine what it's like."

"It's...great, I suppose, but...you know, hard sometimes. Heh, not really what I'd imagined either."

"I suppose not." There is a thoughtful silence.

"So, what are you going to do when you get out?"

"Back to my parents' place I guess." Gloomily, "Time to 'pull myself together'. Then back to work if they'll still have me."

"Sounds...fun."

"Yeah...uh oh, Vickers is glaring at me. She's probably found out I skipped art therapy. I'd better go."

"Oh. Right. Look after yourself then. And, er, call me again, okay?"

"Yes? Yes! I will. Byeeee." *click*

(November 1989)