New York Girl (formerly known as Maple Street)

Chapter Seventeen

I stood outside Fozoli’s apartment not sure whether to knock or not.  She’d know something was up; one look at my face and she’d know.

Plucking up the courage, I was just about to ring the bell when the door flung open.

 'Hey Noosey, what are you doing standing out here?’

‘Are you still calling me that?'

She shrugged. ‘Why not? It suits you.’

The decor in her apartment always soothed me – the beech furniture, wicker chairs and white linen draped over each chair made it so inviting.

Fozoli had called me earlier that day to tell me she’d had one of her ‘dreams’ again – she always claimed that they came out in real life and of course, I just laughed it off but I do recall a few years back when she kept on about a re-occurring dream - of owning a house– big enough to host humongous dinner parties – she fervently believed it would happen – she didn’t know how – all she knew was it was going to somehow manifest into reality. It was only two years later when she got a call from her great auntie telling her that she was owed a large sum of inheritance money from a distant relative on her Dad’s side of the family.

And bingo – she was set up for life in the house of her dreams – literally.

'How's my best buddy ole pal?’ she asked, appearing from the kitchen holding a tray of china cups. 'I am having trouble with the 'Two K's' again.’

'What's happened now?'

The 'Two K's' were Fozoli’s virtual boyfriends.

She had been speaking to Kevin and Kip for the last few months and they competed like crazy for her affection. They both knew the other existed and one of them (Kip) was a budding Country singer, hoping to win her over with his sleepy renditions of Kenny Rogers. The thing he doesn't know is, Fozoli detests Country music but hasn't got the heart to tell him.

Kevin on the other hand was more of a ' Pacey Witter' circa 1999 and much more up her street. I always knew she had been speaking to him as her voice would be full of anticipation, dying to spill the beans on their latest tete - a- tete.

'Anyway enough about me, how was the trip!?'

'Okay I guess.'

'You went to Klosters, right? Isn't that where..'

'Yes, the Royals go.' I said, rolling my eyes.

'Don't curb your enthusiasm’ she paused, propping herself at the edge of the sofa. ‘So, was Mr. Wonderful there?’

'Yes, he was.’

'SPILL!'

'There's nothing to spill. In fact, I’m seriously considering my career options at the moment.’

'Oh no, what happened?’

'Nothing, I just need a change that’s all.’

Adjusting her glasses so they sat at the base of her nose, she peered down at me, and I knew what was about to come – she was going into Investigator mode. ‘You were only saying a few weeks ago how much you loved it there. What changed?’

‘Maybe I can utilize my knowledge of Marketing to good use somewhere else.’

'You slept with him didn’t you?’

'No I did not and I’m upset you would think such a thing.’

'So why did you just do that wriggling thing you do when you’re telling a lie?’

'It’s not my fault your chairs are uncomfortable.’

'That’s bull, you love these chairs. What was it like?’

'I don’t know because nothing happened.’

‘Did you get fired?’

‘No!’

‘Stop wriggling!’

‘I’m not wriggling!’

‘Who did you share a room with?’

I coughed into my cup. ‘Ethan.’

‘Ha! I knew it! Did you share a bed?’

I got up slamming the cup onto the table. ‘I didn’t come here to be interrogated. Can we talk about something else, please?’

She flicked her eyes to the floor and sighed. ‘Fine, suit yourself.’

There was a few seconds of silence and then as if the previous conversation had never taken place Fozoli’s eternal enthusiasm reared it’s not so ugly head. ‘Have you heard that new song by Felix Knolton?’

‘Who is Felix Kno’

‘You’ve never heard of Felix Knolton? Oh, you are so afterwards! It’s that new song, it goes, nar nar nar, something, something, I love her, bla bla.’

‘I can’t say I have heard it.’

She shook her head in disbelief. ‘So, afterwards.’ Her attempt at changing subjects was always pretty naff and this was a typical example, we both knew it was crumbling and Fozoli was always clever enough to conclude the previous conversation with her normal ray of sunshine approach. ‘So, you’re thinking of a career change? That’s awesome, what are you thinking of going into?’

‘I’m not sure yet, maybe writing.’

‘That’s a great idea!’

‘Do you think so?’

‘Of course, I don’t mean to bring up his name again, but it could hardly work out what with him being your boss and you the employee.’

‘Why not?’

‘It never does, that’s why not.’

‘You’re probably right.’

‘I’m always right.’