Performing

Part 2

Tributaries and rivulets. Gary liked those words. They were satisfying to say. Tributaries and rivulets. He mouthed them, whispered them and rolled them off his tongue. Tributaries and rivulets. He was thinking about the sweat. He’d counted twelve drops from his head landing on the pale wood in front of him. The counting distracted from the toxic frustration wending through him. What worm of uncertainty lay in his gut that made him feel this way? Cowed by intonations and accents. Pathetic.

No, sweating it out was better. Sweat it out and let it go. Dull the sensations. That’s what a holiday is for, a taste of the good life and an opportunity to have a little escape.

Gary looked down. He’d let things slide. Sweat pooled where once it would have slid. More dripped from his nose. How long had he been here? His mind was wallowing in the slack timekeeping of ‘holiday mode’. That’s what he told Karen he’d switched onto ‘holiday mode’. He’d earned the rest, he was going to let go.

The door opened.

“So I think, yeah, it’ll work, totally. I mean, can’t see why not, given everything’s in place. Done deal, yeah?” It was them again. Plum tones and Gary flexed involuntarily.

The first one into the room was still talking some business crap when the second acknowledged Gary silently.

“Ey’up.” Bit too much volume but assertive, thought Gary.

They sat on opposing sides of the cramped room, each one adjacent to Gary. Despite a brief pause following Gary’s broad greeting their conversation continued. All talk of ‘deals’ and ‘conferences’. Gary counted sweat drops.

It was dinner tonight. Big talk. They were going to work a couple of things out. Things will get better.

“Well, check then.”

“Of course. Excuse me chap? Chap? Sorry to intrude…” A toned hand tapped Gary on the knee. He roused up.

“Aye?” Good, broad, Northern. Assertive.

“Just wondering if you’d help us settle something.” It wasn’t a question. Not really.