#smallsteps32

Really want to know what the final ruling was

“Stop arguing.”  ;)

Oh wow, I don’t know whether to be pleased for them or wish things had gone differently - which is to say, well done with this : D

oh my god, he does do this doesn’t he? he absolutely does

I hope this fits the bill.  It’s an (unedited) quadruple drabble.  If you haven’t read Worth Them All, you might need to for this to make sense.

*****

Helena doesn’t bother herself to slam the door behind her asshe goes, not that it really matters. Every word had been calculated to strike right at Douglas’s heart, tolay bare all his worst insecurities, and the fact that Martin is there towitness his humiliation must, for her, be icing on the cake.  For Douglas, it’s only another nothing to add to the long string of nothings that have filtered through the Perspexglass behind which he’s been living for at least the last fortnight.

It’s safe here, in this sheltered bubble.  Nothing touches him, nothing hurts him,everything is calm and ordered and relaxed, treacle slow and soft as goosedown.  The world outside may rush andrumble, churn and change, but here, in his house, in his room, in his head,nothing moves, nothing matters, nothing sticks.

Distantly, Douglas realizes that Martin’s flicking on thekettle in the kitchen.  Douglas shakeshimself out of his reverie and drifts to the sofa, picking up his novel fromwhere he’s left it spread eagled on the coffee table and losing himself in thefamiliar prose again.  Martin comes inwith a mug of something, setting it on the table, hovers a bit, and leaves, allin the space of time it takes Douglas to unearth a thanks.

The day passes in a dim haze.  Douglas reads some, sleeps some.  At least he thinks he does.  After all, if he’s waking up, he must havehad to fall asleep before, presumably. His watch shows six pm, even though he thinks it was nearly noon thelast time he looked.  Not that itmatters.  He has nowhere to be, noappointments to keep.  Restlessly, he movesto the piano, but then sits there, hands settling on the keys in no particularpattern.  Nothing comes to mind, not asingle note.  Where before there wasmusic or at least a humming tune, there is nothing, just the sandpaper-smoothchurning of his mental gears.

For a long while, Douglas just sits there, then, handsspread wide, gaze distant out the window, until his phone rings.  It’s Martin, in some sort of trouble.  His mind sparks, stutters, starts, grinds toa halt, starts again, and finally settles into some sort of rhythm.  This, at least he can do.  He can manage.

Ok, lots of questions - Last book she read? Only has $/£10 to spend, what does she choose? Ideal pet? Reaction to knock at the door? Favourite icecream? What is her fallback career? (Not her first choice) What makes her angry? (hope this helps)

Okay, so...

Last book was a biography of some musician.  She doesn’t really read fiction books, or much at all for that matter.  She’d much rather be listening to music.

She spends £10 on sheet music for her clarinet, or music from iTunes, if there’s a good album she wants.

She would only be good with plants, not animals--she’s a bit scatterbrained, so would forget to feed them and things. 

She loves knocks at the door--they usually mean something good.  However, she’s not usually at home much to hear them--works late hours and gets up earlyish.

She likes fruity type ice creams, like mango or whatever.

She’s already in her fallback career.  She was going to be a professional clarinettist--was studying at Uni and everything, had offers from prestigious orchestras, but then got into an accident and now can’t play like she could.  So, she teaches music to kids and volunteers to run a youth orchestra (which is how she meets Douglas).

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?  1.  I’m not afraid of the dark by itself, there always has to be something else to make me scared (a spooky movie, for example)

13. Your worst enemy?  Laziness

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?  I don’t even have non-secret talents!  I suppose maybe going to restaurants before the big rush hits?

34. What was your last dream about?  I don’t really remember.  Something about failing a test.

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?  Should I stay or should I go?

60. Do you believe in aliens?  Of course.  It’s statistically improbable we’re the only life forms in the galaxy.