EPISODE
1 - Monday, Monday
You're joking?' Fergus rolled his eyes to the voice on the phone.
'Right,' he sighed. 'I'll tell everyone to shut down and
have a look at the server.’ Fergus put the phone back on
its hook and emitted a mock scream into his hands.
‘Monday morning, eh?' Michael, one of the two workmates
he shared his office with, chuckled.
'Yep,' Fergus fumed, clattering his pen onto his desk and standing
up. 'Although, Monday, Tuesday, Friday… does it really matter
which day it is?' and with that he trudged off to tell the six-strong
sales office to log out of their computers.
Fergus had been the IT Manager for Sowerby Barcodes Ltd for four
long years; pandering to an outdated system in an office full
of kids that he mostly found cretinous.
The sales team were on the ground floor, below the office Fergus
shared with Michael and Alan ('the techies', as the three were
less-than-affectionately known). Fergus descended the stairs,
entered the main office and hollered above the buzz of idle conversation
for the young team to shut down their computers.
Sally, who had been a sales administrator for the company for
seven years, was too engrossed in a juicy tale of confrontation
from Paula to even register that one of the techies was in the
room. Paula was the eldest of their ground-floor team at 36 and
while the rest of the office found her aggressive nature intimidating,
Sally enjoyed sitting opposite her and the two got along well.
'…He said what?' Sally exclaimed, giving Paula the response
she craved; eyes agog and mouth open.
'Exactly,' Paula scowled. 'Can you believe it?! So I said oi,
mate, just coz your kid's a swot dunt make 'im any better than
my David, right…'
Fergus looked around the office; everyone was ignoring him.
'Great. Thanks,' He mumbled sarcastically to the lack of response,
before deciding a coffee was
in need.
22-year-old sales manager Dylan had been leant over Amber's reception
desk for ten minutes; savouring the scent of her perfume and being
able to see down her top.
Although Amber enjoyed the fact that Dylan was attracted to her,
she enjoyed teasing him with it more. When she put her pen in
her mouth and flicked her hair as he was talking to her, she didn't
do it because she liked him back; she did it because it was fun.
'Aren't you going to go and shut your computer down?' she asked
with a seductive smile.
Dylan looked over to his desk and let out an angry sigh that he
had to be pried away from her.
'Yeah,' he replied, not letting his disappointment show. 'See
you in a bit.'
As Fergus walked past Paula and into the canteen, she clocked
his expression.
'Ooo, the geek's mad,' she whispered, laughing.
'What about now?' Sally emphasized.
'He wanted you to turn your computers off,' Katie who also sat
with the two spat, offended for him.
Katie got up and headed towards the canteen, causing Sally and
Paula to look knowingly at
each other
'Morning Fergus,'
Katie beamed as she joined Fergus.
'Morning Kate,'
he replied without much enthusiasm.
'Did you have a nice weekend?' she asked, standing beside him
so he could see her new top.
'Yeah, fine thanks,' he shrugged, barely looking
up. 'You?'
Katie lied and said it was okay. Silence followed, Fergus making
his coffee and Katie watching him.
Seeing Fergus five days a week was the only thing that the 20-year-old
could take from her life that was positive. She knew he'd never
know how she felt about him, that he was as good as married with
a kid on the way, but clinging onto that feeling unrequited as
it was was the only thing that was keeping her going.
'See you later,' he said, leaving the canteen oblivious to the
sexual tension that Katie was feeling. Katie watched the door
close then ran her hands over the beading in her new top, returning
to her desk exhilarated by the encounter.
EPISODE 2 - Perfect Like Heather
'Sick note's called in again,' Amber called through to the rest
of the office from her reception desk.
'Well what a bleedin' surprise!' Sally called back.
'Any of us lot would have been fired by now,' Paula fumed. 'But
Little Miss Perfect gets to do whatever the hell she wants as
usual.’
Colin Sowerby, the director of Sowerby Barcodes Ltd, was a good
man but not often around. The day-to-day running of the office
fell onto the office manager, Heather… but there was an
ongoing problem, which was not being addressed, grating several
employees; Heather was never in either these days.
'I've told you she'll be sleeping with Colin,' Dylan stirred,
leaning back in his chair and laughing.
Michael from upstairs was in the sales office at the time and
he too had heard of Heather's many days off sick. 'Have you noticed
that you never see Colin and Heather in the same room together…?'
he mused, before turning to Katie. 'Maybe they're the same person?'
Katie giggled (which was one of the main reason's he'd turned
to her rather than anybody else; she was one of the few in that
office he could talk to).
Heather was only twenty-three but most people in the office saw
her as being a few rungs further up the ladder than themselves
in all aspects of life; smart, pretty, well-off family, gorgeous
boyfriend... that was why not many people in
the office liked her. It was widely assumed that
she was taking regular days off 'sick' simply because she could;
to do lunch with her friends, shop and frolic with her beau. Unbeknown
to Heather, she was the most bitched about in the whole company.
Michael returned back upstairs, wiggling his bum as he walked
down the corridor to his office to make up for the fact that he
was unable to be his big camp self around the 'plastics' downstairs
as he, Alan and Fergus referred to most of them.
'Plastic number 1 has got skivealietus again,' he informed the
others, returning to his desk.
'That bird only works part time, I swear,'
Alan scoffed.
Alan was the oldest of the whole office at 47, working his IT/Design
job to support his wife and three teenage daughters. Michael,
who was the company's designer, raised his eyebrows and pouted
in agreement.
Amber strutted over from the reception area to Paula, Sally and
Katie's shared desk, all perfume and nail-extensions.
'I can't even believe she's called in sick again!' she gasped,
flicking her long hair back, knowingly catching the attention
of Dylan.
'Don't even get me started,' Paula said angrily, putting her hands
up.
Yeah, please don't, Katie thought. Katie tried her best to concentrate
on her work but cracking on was hard with the Gobs of Britain
sat next to her. All Sally and Paula ever did was bitch, bitch,
bitch and this morning it was yet another of her friends that
was in their firing line. Heather had been two years above Katie
at school and her legend left Katie star-struck. Even though Katie's
life was far from sorted like hers was, she wasn't jealous of
her manager; she was pleased to know her. The only reason they
don't like Heather is because she's perfect and they're not, she
thought to herself.
At 12 noon, while her colleagues were starting to take their lunches,
Heather Brook lay on her sofa with the curtains closed. Empty
cans and bottles spilled onto what was once a clean carpet and
a needle lay next to what was once a clean boyfriend. She stared
at the needle a long while. She'd not tried Tom's latest buzz
yet but night after night her urge grew stronger. She knew that
long-term drug use was a bad thing but seeing the look on Tom's
face as he snorted pure Heaven made it look so tempting. She had
to do something; pills and plants had lost their shine long ago
and anyway, she was strong. She could stop herself from getting
addicted surely?
EPISODE 3 - Out of Hours
Beep, beep, beep, beep… Katie groaned and hit her hand
on the alarm clock. 7:30am… already. The nights were never
long enough. It was all too tempting just to go back to sleep
and deal with the consequences later.
Katie sluggishly got dressed then checked on her parents as she
did every morning. Her mum was laid across her bed fully clothed;
her dad out cold in his armchair downstairs. At least they were
both home and asleep there had been worse mornings. Katie ate
a packet of crisps and a Mars Bar for breakfast before leaving
the house without waking them. As she headed down the weed-ridden
flagstones of her front garden, she prayed that her dad would
be okay with her mum that day. He'd thrown his dinner at her the
night before so she'd fled to the pub to escape him. Katie had
then watched her dad knock himself out on cider before going to
bed herself before her mum came home. It wasn't an uncommon evening
but it didn't make it any the less upsetting. She was learning
to drive and saving her minimum wage just so she could get out
of there. She loved and felt for both of them but they were alcoholics
through and through. They didn't want help because they didn't
want to change; it was just the way they were.
Katie arrived into work at 8:55am and was happy to see Heather
sat at her desk glugging down a coffee.
'Hi Heather, how are you feeling?' Katie asked.
Heather had taken Monday and Tuesday off work with “flu”.
She put her cup down and said: 'A lot better thanks, I think I'm
through the worst.'
'Good,' Katie smiled, glad to see her back albeit a looking a
little drawn.
Dylan had jumped out of bed that morning full of beans and was
in his shower signing before the sun was up. He spent an almost
record breaking amount of time getting his hair just right for
Amber today, but then today wasn't just any other day. Last night
had been one of the most amazing nights of his life. He'd asked
Amber out for a few drinks and, not only had she accepted and
turned up looking stunning, but they'd kissed too. Dyan's feelings
for Amber went beyond lust and now finally he was starting to
get somewhere with her.
He strutted in that morning and expected to find her giggling
with the girls. Instead she was sat on her own looking glum.
'Good morning,' he grinned all the same, approaching her reception
desk.
'Hi'ya,' Amber replied unenthusiastically.
'So, did you have a good time last night?' Dylan asked with a
wink.
'Shhh…' Amber scolded, looking around. 'I don't want everyone
knowing. Yeah it was alright, but I feel like cak today; I was
pretty drunk.'
Disappointment pinched Dylan's heart it wasn't exactly the seductive
morning-after conversation he was hoping for but he kept up the
pretence anyway.
'Yeah, me too,' he laughed. 'Do you reckon…'
He didn't have time to finish because Amber's phone rang and she
picked it up without hesitation, cutting him off. Dylan waved
a casual goodbye to her and sloped off to his desk, totally confused
and more than a little wounded.
Katie watched the lovely Dylan Groves arrive at his desk and
start up his computer before her thoughts were interrupted by
her work-neighbour from Hell.
'Don't tell me you fancy Hotshot as well as the geek now!' Paula
laughed.
Katie's face flushed a hot red. 'No, not at all,' she murmured,
not confident enough to say much else.
'I don't know what you see in either of 'em,' she carried on.
'Especially that weirdo upstairs. No wonder you're single, you;
you've got the worst taste in men ever. You need to get yoursen
down' Duck & Gun wi' me on Friday night to see some real men.'
Katie took a deep breath and shuffled through her in-tray.
'Well?' Paula said. 'Fancy it?'
What?'
'Coming out for a few jars: I could set you up?'
Katie laughed nervously. 'I… can't,' she said, shaking her
head.
'What too good for me now, are yer?' Paula spat seriously.
'N… no…'
'Well then, why not?'
Every inch of Katie wanted to scream 'NOT INTERESTED!!!' but people
don't say no to Paula and so that's how Katie found herself agreeing
to meet Paula in probably the roughest pub in the world the following
Friday.
EPISODE 4 - Down the Duck & Gun
Paula had the budget and time for one night out a week and she
spent it every Friday down the Dog & Gun. Her mum would take
her troublesome son off her hands for the night and for those
few sweet hours Paula could forget all her problems. This Friday
night was going to be a bit special too because Paula was to be
joined by Katie, the shy sweetheart from work that hardly spoke
two peeps. Paula had talked Katie into meeting her in the pub
because she was sure the unhappy lass was in need of a good night
out she actually wondered if she'd ever had one.
'The usual please, John,' she said to the barman, arriving at
the pub first.
'No Carly tonight?' he asked, pulling her pint.
'Nah, I'm meeting this young lass from work in a bit.'
'Oh yeah? Nice, is she?'
'Aye, she's bonny. She can pack food away though. The lass's got
no self esteem, that's the problem, John.'
'What, so you thought you'd bring her down the Gun so she could
pick some up?' the barman laughed.
'Yeah, summat like that,' Paula laughed back. 'Nah… I just
wanna see'f I can bring her out of her shell a bit.'
Katie was stood outside the roughest looking pub she'd ever seen,
taking deep breaths and trying to build up the courage to go in.
The dreaded night out with Paula that she'd been forced into was
upon her and there was no backing out now. Katie spent most of
her life wrapped in a blanket of fear and situations like this
were not good for her health. The only reason she was stood here
in the first place was out of fear of saying no. What horrors
lay beyond this door? 'Well,' she thought. 'There's only one way
to find out…'
Katie pushed open the door to a cloud of smoke and laughter. With
shaky hands and her heart in her throat, she scanned the room
for Paula's familiar face. When she spotted her laughing raucously
with the bartender, propped up on a stool, she didn't know whether
to feel relieved or gutted.
'Hi Paula,' she said, approaching her with mild caution.
''Eyyyy! Look who it is our Katie!' Paula bellowed, slapping Katie's
back. 'Glad you could make it, lass. 'Ere, sit down. What yer
drinking?'
'Just a coke for me, thanks.'
'Coke? You wha'?!' Paul asked incredulously. 'It's Friday night!'
'Okay, I'll have a Bacardi Breezer then,' Katie said, not daring
to tell Paula she didn't usually drink alcohol.
'That's more like it!' Paula laughed, 'Come and get yoursen sat
down, chuck.'
For the first hour Paula struggled to make conversation; Katie
was so painfully quiet around folk. It was only when the two sat
at a table in the corner when Katie's shoulders started to relax
and on her third drink she even took off her coat. By Katie's
forth drink she was coming out of herself and chitchat suddenly
became effortless.
'So, come on then, seriously. What's the attraction to Fungus?'
Paula asked when the time was right.
This comment would usually have offended Katie but she found
herself running her hand through her thick black hair and giggling
coyly: 'He's cute!'
Paula laughed: 'You have got some weird taste lovey, I'll tell
you that fer nowt!'
'Okay, okay… he makes me feel good. He's really nice…
and funny.'
'It's those ears, int it?'
Katie found herself crying with laughter despite herself.
Paula spoke in a soft voice that until that moment Katie hadn't
known existed: 'Seriously though mate, his bird's about to drop,
you know what I mean? He's unavailable. You should find yourself
someone that can make you happy. You're a beautiful girl, you
deserve someone of your own.'
No-one had ever called Katie beautiful before and (with no help
from the watermelon-flavoured alcohol running through her blood)
she suddenly found herself fighting hard to keep tears of gratitude
at bay. Paula was right too, she had to stop obsessing over Fergus;
it wasn't going to happen.
By 11.30pm the two women had truly bonded and were more than
a little drunk. Katie was sad to leave when her taxi pulled up.
'Next Friday then?' Paula asked with a smile.
For the first time ever Katie made a decision to socialise without
fear ruling her answer. 'Yeah,' she smiled, nodding, 'definitely.'
Katie had been expecting a horrible evening with a horrible woman
but instead she had found a new friend. In the taxi home she found
herself pressing her face up to the taxi window, feeling freer
than she had in… she didn't know how long. Maybe her life
could finally start.
EPISODE 5 - What's Eating Dylan Groves
'God, I wish he'd stop staring at me,' Amber rolled her eyes
to Sally as they gossiped over her desk on this rainy and windy
morning.
'He's proper obsessed with you,' Sally grinned, eyeing the subject
of their conversation.
Dylan could tell by the way Sally kept looking over at him that
he was being discussed. He would have been intrigued if it wasn't
for one tell-tale glance from Amber that let him know it was probably
not about wanting his babies. She'd looked over with poison in
her eyes and a pout on her lips before flicking her hair and turning
around when they made eye contact. He didn't get her at all; she
blew fire one minute and ice the next. The previous week they'd
gone out for the night and even kissed at the end of it, but rather
than that getting them together she now acted like she hated him.
She almost came across as embarrassed but Dylan couldn't understand
why. He was a good looking lad and she was probably the only girl
in the world that didn't treat him like one.
'I thought you two wer' getting it on though?' Sally asked.
Amber shrivelled her nose up and shook her head. 'Nah,' she said.
'Not interested.'
'Then how come you're all over him every Christmas party?' Sally
laughed.
Amber thought for a moment then shrugged her shoulder and said
casually: 'Boredom.'
Dylan was caught in a daydream when his internal line rang. It
was Heather, calling him from the other side of the office. Why
she couldn't just holler like everyone else he didn't know…
but then Heather was becoming increasing quiet these days, almost
a shadow of her former self.
'Hello?' Dylan said.
'Dylan it's me,' Heather croaked. 'I'm not feeling great so I'm
going to get off but I don't want to make a big deal so when I
leave, if anyone asks, will you just tell them I've gone home
sick?'
Heather was Dylan's boss but when it came down to it she was taking
this sickness lark too far and he couldn't help himself.
'You're off on the sick again?' he asked quietly (as to not alert
the attention of the gossips. He still respected her… just).
'I… I'm not well…'
'Heather, you're off more than you're here! I can't remember the
last time you did a full week and no-one else can either! Seriously,
what's going on?'
There was a silence and then Heather's voice sounded darker. 'It's
none of your business,' she hissed.
'What's gotten into you?' Dylan asked genuinely. 'We're stuck
with all your bloody work all the time and we've got enough on
as it is. We need you in and a junior or something, and instead
we've got neither! What's wrong?'
Rather than replying, Heather slammed the phone down, took the
coat off the back of her chair and stormed out. Everyone else
in the office looked up in the wake of her departure. Dylan shook
his head. All the women here are mad, he thought.
'Please don't tell me she's throwing a sicky again?' Paula shouted
to no-one in-particular.
'She'll get fired soon if she keeps doing this,' a usually tight-lipped
Katie responded.
Dylan was glad to get out of work that evening. He was due to
meet his friends for their Wednesday night drink… but at
the last minute all three pulled out. Josh's girlfriend was kicking
off, Andrew couldn't find anyone to baby-sit his little boy and
Terry had finally bagged the date he'd been trying to get for
ages. So, just to make Dylan feel even bluer, he ended up sat
in his crisp white shirt and trendy branded jeans, alone, watching
TV gripping a can of beer. He could go out and get a girl and
move up a notch like everyone else in the world seemed to have
done, but there was one thing that was stopping him and he hated
it… he was in love with Amber. No-one could ever compare
to her so why waste his time on others? She'd come around eventually,
surely? She'd been leading him on for four years now… she
must feel something for him? In a way it was her treat-him-mean
attitude that kept him at her feet and he liked that (most girls
were so easy around Dylan, no chase at all), but on the same hand
it was like she was slowly torturing him. He was putting his life
on hold for her. He just hoped it would pay off eventually.
EPISODE 6 - Problems Within
Amber struck a pose in the mirror. Her lips pouted fully and
her hair fell seductively down her face. She was gorgeous. Another
pose and more beautiful still. This time she tipped her head up
and pulled her shoulder forward, half closing her eyes. Amber
relaxed the pose and sighed loudly. She didn't want to be practising
poses in her mother's mirror, she wanted to be doing it for real
on the red carpet. This little town had nothing for her; Amber
Bradley had bigger plans. For the past four years, since she left
school and started work, Amber had been saving each month for
a flat in London so she could live the high life and mingle with
celebrities, until she became one herself. Dylan thought she was
pretty? So what. Dylan wasn't enough. Amber wanted everybody to
think that she was pretty, she wanted every man to fancy her...
she was born to be a celebrity. For now though she thought dully,
as she applied a generous squeeze of lip gloss my life is that
reception desk and leading on Dylan Groves is the only thing that
adds excitement to my day. With that she shouted bye to her mum
and little brother before leaving the house.
Heather had passed out on the bathroom floor 12 hours earlier
and woke that Wednesday morning in her bed. If it wasn't for the
fact that her alarm was automatic she'd have slept through til
the afternoon. As she smashed her fist onto it, she groaned as
she recalled the previous night.
Most of it was blurry but she could clearly remember those few
hours she'd spent sat up against the toilet with silent tears
running down her face, wondering what was she doing with her life,
how it had come to this… and the rest of the night was nothing
but a black void.
Heather rubbed her eyes and fought the crushing urge to go back
to sleep. You'll loose your job soon if you keep knocking off,
a voice deep inside her warned. Get up! With her head feeling
like it weighed more than her body, she staggered out of bed and
picked at clothes from the floor. How am I going to get though
today?
Amber arrived in that morning to a ringing phone. The sure fire
way to put her in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
'Good morning, Sowerby Barcodes,' she said unenthusiastically,
still in her jacket.
Sally swept in soon after, all red faced and flapping after a
stressful morning getting her two young boys to school. She waved
an out-of-breath hello at the perfectly groomed Amber before walking
through to her desk where Paula and Katie were in the mist of
juicy gossip. They hardly even looked up to say hi. Sally used
to count Paula as one of her closest friends but these days Katie
had muscled in and now Paula wasn't the same. Sally couldn't understand
it; Paula used to while away hours gossiping and speculating about
Katie and with a 16 year age difference they were an odd pair.
'Alright Sal? We're just taking bets on whether Sick Note will
turn in today,' Paula said.
'She hasn't had a day off since last Friday… it's well overdue,'
Katie sniggered.
'Have you seen the state of 'er recently, an'all? She's doing
drugs man, I'm telling yer,' Paula said to Katie.
Katie gasped and said: 'Oh my God! That would totally explain
it!' and the two carried on the conversation between each other.
Sally should have left them to it but she couldn't help it; she
wanted to be involved. So, in order to get in on their suddenly
exclusive conversation, she hollered: 'I'm sure I saw 'er waiting
for business down the dark arches the other night, wearing that
stupid pink coat. Probably on the game to pay for her crack!'
Sally threw her head back to laugh and that's when she saw Heather
standing there. Just to make the situation all the more cringeworthy,
Heather was actually wearing the pink coat Sally had referred
to.
'Oh…' Sally stuttered.
Silence fell among the four girls until Heather asked feebly:
'Are you talking about me?'
Sally looked to Paula and Katie for back-up but they suddenly
became engrossed in their work.
'I… erm… no…'
'You bloody were!' Heather cried, pent up tears surfacing immediately.
'How could you say that about me?!' and then she fled, before
Sally even had chance to reply.
The office fell silent and Paula and Katie looked up at Sally.
Sally was just about to sarcastically thank them for their support
when Amber burst through.
'What have you said to Heather?' she exclaimed, with the whole
office watching. 'She's quit!’
EPISODE 7 - Facing The Music
Sally sat over her morning coffee at her kitchen table with a
heavy heart. She stubbed out her cigarette and rubbed her hands
over her face. The feeling that was pumping through her body was
not a pleasant one. In fact, to Sally it was the worst of them
all: guilt. She had upset Heather so much three days ago that
she had walked out on her job and not been back since. Colin,
the company director, was sipping champagne at some exclusive
resort in the Med and would be back next week… to be made
aware that there was no management in his company anymore. What
have I done? Sally thought. Her anxiety was interrupted by a sudden
crash from upstairs. She checked her watch and realised she was
on the verge of running late. Leaving her coffee and grabbing
her boys' lunchboxes, she marched through to the hall and called
up the stairs: 'Come on you two or we're gonna be late!'
James appeared at the top of the stairs. 'Mam, Gary keeps going
like this to me,' he cried, before sticking up two fingers.
'GARY!' Sally despaired.
Eventually they both pushed down the stairs and Sally handed them
their lunchboxes. 'Come on, OUT,' she said, grabbing her bag and
opening the front door.
The first thing Furgus did when he arrived in the office was
head for the kitchen and pour himself a black coffee. He was briskly
joined by Katie.
'Morning Furg',' she chirped.
'Morning.'
'I went out with Paula last night and met this really fit guy…'
'Mm-hm,' he replied, swirling his coffee.
'Yeah, we went this really cool place in Holbeck and he said I
was gorgeous and that I had a miles bonnier face than his wife…
you should come some time.'
'Thanks but a night out is the last thing on my mind right now.
Mandy was up all night with heartburn, I haven't had a wink.'
'When's she due again?'
'Just four weeks now.'
Katie meant to smile but she was sure it came out a grimace. She
hated 'Mandy'. She had what she wanted and now his baby too. Sally
broke up the silence by joining them in the kitchen but it was
too late, Katie's day had been ruined by the mere mention of her
name. She said a brief hello to Sally then left the room.
'Alright, Sally,' Furgus said. 'Heard about Heather.' He eyed
her for just a moment, but it was long enough for Sally to read
his thoughts about her lack of tact.
'Yeah,' Sally sighed, shaking her head. 'I didn't mean to…
I don't know why I said it.'
She did. She knew exactly why she said it. She said it to fit
in. She didn't even mean it. Yeah she was as annoyed about Heather's
constant sick days as everyone else but she didn't feel that strongly
about it.
'Is she coming back?' Furgus asked.
'It doesn't look like it,' Sally shrugged. 'God, I can't believe
this has happened. I feel awful. I haven't slept right since.'
'If it's bothering you that much, why don't you go round and sort
it out?'
'To her house? That's asking for trouble though int it? Anyway,
I don't know where she lives.'
'It might sort things out… and Alan can get you her address.'
Sally was a strong woman. She'd had experiences as a teen that
had taught her how to confront problems and the more she thought
about it over the course of the day the more it seemed like the
right thing to do. The only thing to do. Even if Heather screamed
a tarraid of abuse at her, at least she would have tried.
Sally went upstairs to see the techies. 'Can you pull me off Heather's
address?' she asked Alan.
Alan, Fugus and Michael all looked up. 'So you're doing it?' Michael
asked. They'd obviously been talking about it.
Sally nodded.
Alan started clicking on his computer and said: 'While you're
there, you should find out the problem, why she keeps missing
days. She might need some help.' With that he wrote down her address
and the three of them wished her good luck.
Venturing back downstairs, Sally announced that she was going
round to Heather's to sort things out. The whole office heard
and looked up.
'You better tell 'er an'all that if she comes back she int gonna
get away wi' bunking off no more,' Paula said.
Sally nodded. 'If I get as far as that, I will,' she gulped. 'Wish
me luck.'
And with that she set off to Bilbie Street, to Heather's house…
to face the music.
Part 8: Confrontation – I
Three sharp knocks snapped Heather from her daydream. She was laid in the foetal position on her sofa, thinking of the days before her ‘true love’, before her addiction. Immediately, her heart rose into her throat. It was the usual reaction these days, hence the reason why her phone was unplugged and she hadn’t seen her family in weeks. She had no intention of going to the door but she had to have a look, otherwise paranoia would only eat her up. What if it’s the police?! She rose from the sofa and made her way to the closed curtains to peep through…
…Sally was just about to turn to leave when she glanced towards the window and saw the curtains twitch. She was met by a red-rimmed eye and for a split second she and Heather were face to face, before her pale and puffy features retreated.
‘Heather?’ Sally instinctively called out.
‘What?!’ Colin cried. He’d only phoned work to tell Alan a minor thought and now he was being told that his office manager had walked out and that his sales team were falling apart. ‘What the hell has happened! I’ve only been away two weeks!’
Conscious of the wife and three kids that depended on him, Alan treaded carefully. ‘Colin, to be honest mate, you’re not here right often anymore and neither’s Heather. She’s off more than she’s here these days and the rest of them are struggling to keep afloat. Sally said something about it and Heather quit... now they’re behind on orders and starting to panic.’
‘Jesus.’
‘It might be okay, Sally’s gone round there to talk to her. But we could do with another pair of hands down there even if she does come back.’
‘Right… where’s Ferg?’
‘He’s gone to the hospital with Mandy.’
‘Do I have any staff left? Okay. Listen Al, I know this isn’t your job but would you mind putting an ad in for another sales person? What day is it? Okay. If you call the Observer now they might be able to get it in tomorrow’s. I won’t be back til next Wednesday so any CVs you get in, would you mind calling them in straight away?’
‘You want me to interview?’
‘You interviewed Michael and he’s been great… just use your judgment.’
Alan was busy enough with his boss constantly living it up on some sun-kissed beach, but what could he say? ‘Okay Collin. I’ll sort it.’
Heather retreated back into the darkness of her living room, shocked. She hadn’t been expecting that cow to turn up! What a nerve! Heather hated Sally. How dare she slag off her jacket and insinuate that she was working the streets… behind her back too! How bitchy can you get?! Heather had never clicked with Sally anyway, with her loud, brash voice and high opinion of herself but now, NOW….
‘Heather!’ Sally called again. She went up to the window and knocked on it. ‘Heather, just let me speak to you! I’ve come to apologise!’
There was no movement from behind the curtains so she knocked onto the glass again. ‘I’m sorry Heather! I feel awful and I just…’
Heather opened her front door and leaned out. ‘How dare you come here! Get off my property!’ she screamed.
‘Heather listen to me,’ Sally begged, turning around and approaching her. ‘I am SO SORRY! I want to help you, whatever it is…’
‘You patronising cow! Who do you think you are?!’ Heather fumed. Heather was so angry she was shaking and was intent on giving Sally a long over-due piece of her mind. ‘You TALK about ME? What about YOU! Look at the state of you! Loose some weight and get a life, you sad cow!’
Sally was stung by the personal attack but quick-as-a-shot used the slur to her advantage: ‘Well you need to gain some weight, Heather. You used to be beautiful but now you just look scraggy and old. You need to get some help love and come off the drugs otherwise you’ll be dead in six months.’
Heather’s next onslaught hung in her mouth. How did she know? Was it really that obvious? Heather couldn’t think of a suitable reaction and before she had time to decide Sally said softly: ‘Now can I please come in?’
After what felt like a lifetime of silence caused by the verbal slap Sally had just dished out so precisely, Heather found herself looking into Sally’s eyes and involentry tears began to run down her face. Surprisingly Heather didn’t feel anger or embarrassment, she just felt numb. Surprising herself even more – when Sally embraced Heather – she found herself embracing her back and crying onto her shoulder.
‘Shhh,’ Sally whispered. ‘Come on, I’ll put the kettle on…’
Part 9: An Unexpected Phone Call
Amber stared in the ladies mirror after applying her lip gloss. The spot that had blighted her face for the past three days was clearing up just in time for the X-Factor auditions. She knew this Friday would drag – with another shot at fame just 24 hours away, the last place she wanted to be was stuck in an office answering phones. She was born to be on a stage, in front of a camera. Modelling, acting, singing… the people she worked with had no idea what she could do. Tomorrow might really be my big break! Amber thought giddily. Then it’ll be goodbye Sowerby barcodes – thanks for nothing! She opened the door just as Dylan was walking down the hall.
‘What’ve you been doing in there? You look a bit pleased with yourself,’ he said, his heart skipping a beat when she held eye contact.
‘Maybe, just maybe, I’m going to be famous as of tomorrow!’ she said, her eyes sparkling.
Dylan laughed: ‘You trying out for Big Brother again?’
‘No, X Factor.’
‘No way! You can’t sing, can you?’
‘I can sing brilliantly thank you very much. In fact there’s a lot of things that I can do that you have no idea about.’
‘Oh yeah?’ Dylan winked with a cheeky grin.
Amber leaned in close to him. ‘Yeah,’ she replied seductively, before flicking her hair in his face as she turned her back to him and walked off. Dylan stood watching her as she walked away. He was dizzy in love again, just he always was after she had showed him a bit of attention.
‘Amber?’ he called as she opened the door into the reception. She turned to face him but stayed silent. ‘Would you like to go out again some time?’
Amber rolled her eyes and said: ‘I’m going to be on the X-Factor, Dylan. I’ll be a little too busy to date small-town boys from now on,’ then she tutted and slammed the door behind her. Dylan exclaimed: ‘EH?!’ and wondered whether all women were as confusing as she was.
Sally’s dinner break usually consisted of a Pot Noodle and a copy of Chat, but today she was spending her dinner break sat on an uncomfortable plastic chair in the doctor’s surgery.
‘I’m so nervous, I’m so nervous,’ Heather kept whispering under gritted teeth.
‘Don’t worry. It’s never going to get harder than this. From here on in you’re going to be getting better.’
‘What if he tells my Mum? They have no idea what’s going on with me.’
‘He won’t. They’re not allowed.’
‘What if Tom leaves me for wanting to stop?’
‘You said he’s unhappy too though and you could come off it together and be stronger than ever.’
‘What if he doesn’t want to?’
Sally looked at Heather strongly. ‘Then you need to decide what will make you happiest; living with a junkie or getting your life back.’
Heather snapped: ‘don’t call him a junkie!’
Sally bit her lip. In the week or so since her and Heather had had it all out at her house, Sally had learned a few things about her that she never knew before and she was damn sure no-one at work knew either. Firstly, Heather had nobody. Nobody. Her boyfriend was a drug addict who was responsible for turning a pretty, popular young woman into a shadow of a person (nice guy, huh?), her parents had little time for her due to the several businesses they ploughed all their energy into night and day, and she’d fallen out with all of her friends one by one. If Sally didn’t help her, no-one would. Another thing that she’d learnt pretty quickly was that Heather was paranoid and easy to upset. Sally had seen her nearly every day recently and Heather had screamed abuse or stormed away from her on several occasions. Sally had to watch what she said, something that didn’t usually come natural to her. She was hard work but Sally couldn’t see her get past the point of no return. There was hope for her yet, although – going by what Heather had let slip about Tom – he wasn’t going to be so eager to get help, she felt.
Fergus rolled up a piece of paper and threw it. Right on target, it hit Michael’s head. Fergus sat back in his chair and laughed.
Michael looked up and quipped: ‘has it ever occurred to you that you are about to become a father?’
Before Fergus had chance to reply, Alan interrupted and read out from a stack of CVs on his desk. ‘Jeeze – check out this one. Her hobbies are card-craft and bird watching… she won’t exactly fit in with that motley crew downstairs, will she!’
‘I feel sorry for anyone taking on a job down there. Whoever they are, they’re gonna get eaten alive,’ Fergus nodded.
‘Any blokes?’ Michael asked.
Alan shook his head slowly. ‘Most of them are young teenage girls… sorry, Michael.’
‘I wasn’t asking for pervy reasons as you well know. I happen to live with the most kind and gorgeous man in the world and very happily at that, thank you very much.’
‘I’m married, Mick, I keep telling you!’ Alan joked. ‘You’re only saying that cos you’re still in the honeymoon period. Wait til you’ve been together nearly twenty years like me and our lass, mate. That soon wears off!’
Fergus’s phone started ringing. He picked it up to a frantic Amber.
‘Ferg? It’s Mandy!’ She cried. ‘I think she might be in labour!’
Fergus suddenly sat upright. ‘What? Put her through…’
‘Ferg!’ Mandy screamed.
‘Mandy?’
‘It’s coming!!!!’
‘Oh my… W… wait there! I’m on my way! Don’t panic!’ and with that he leapt from his desk, a tangle of arms and phone wires, and ran out of the office shouting: ‘she’s having the bayyybbeee!!!’ behind him as he went.
Alan and Michael sat in stunned silence for a moment.
‘Well, I wasn’t expecting that,’ Alan finally said in his usual jokey manner.
‘She isn’t due for three weeks though, is she? Will it be alright?’
‘Ah the little thing’ll be fine. All of my three came early. Impatient little buggers. They’re all just as bad now. Worse, in fact.’
‘I wonder what’ll be? I’ve got a feeling it’ll be a girl.’
‘Knowing Fung’ it’ll be a hermaphrodite,’ Alan said seriously, before the two laughed playfully. ‘Can’t believe it’s finally here. Good on the lad.’
Part 10: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
‘So, what do you think you can bring to the company?’ Alan asked the gorgeous young lass sat opposite him in the meeting room. Her name was Donna, straight from school. Younger than Alan’s eldest daughter at 17.
‘Well I’m hard working and got good grades in my GCSEs. I did sixth form for a bit but decided to leave to earn money. I’ve not had an office job before but I’m a fast leaner.’
‘Good,’ Alan said, ‘when can you start?’
They’d been talking for a while and he’d seen scores of office junior applicants but there was something about Donna. He could talk to her like an adult (they’d already been in the meeting room simply chatting for 40 minutes) and she really did seem to be smart as well as pretty. Very pretty… too pretty maybe for a man of 47 who still had the looks himself and hadn’t been intimate with his wife in a long time.
‘Really?’ She squealed. ‘Just like that - wow! I can start straight away. Thank you, thank you, thank you – I could kiss you!’
Alan cleared his throat before eventually seeing her out with a ‘see you on Monday then.’
Sat back at his desk that day, he tried not to think about her too much… but she had been flirting with him, he was sure of it. And she seemed so sweet too… but she was 30 whole years his junior. ‘Snap out of it man,’ he eventually told himself, ‘…and buy your wife some flowers.’
It had been two weeks since Ferg had darted out to tend to his girlfriend giving birth and since then a beautiful baby girl by the name of Ruby had entered the world… had even entered Sowerby Barcodes with her tiny fingers and doting parents. Colin, the director, was back from his holidays and things seemed calm after a tough year for the company. Workloads were manageable; Heather was back with slightly shinier hair and eyes; the whole place had a friendly vibe about it for once and it had an effect on nearly everyone…
‘Cheer up Charlie,’ Paula said to Katie after seeing her gazing into her coffee cup for a little too long. ‘What ave yer got to be so down about, you, eh? Is it your driving test?’
‘No,’ Katie sighed.
‘Nothing thar a few jars tonight won’t solve eh?’ Paula laughed.
But that was the problem: a few too many jars on a few too many nights. Katie’s parents were both hopeless alcoholics and Katie was starting to see why they liked the escape. Katie had been having fun and Paula was her first real friend in a long time, since they’d bonded nearly a year ago. But when she saw Fergus and that cow Mandy cooing over their baby, she had done something she never in her life thought she would do. She bought a bottle of 20-20 on the way home, went up into her room, and drank half of it. The night after she drank the other half, and then she bought more. Katie was bitter and she knew it. Drinking made it worse in a way but there was also a certain amount of twisted enjoyment in obsessing over him, that ‘kid’, and ‘her’ after a few. Tonight she didn’t want to go out to meet ‘fit men’ like she had been doing up until recently (although, to be fair, that was only to take her mind off her true love and also to try and make him jealous with her tales of flirtations the day after), no, tonight she wanted to go out and get utterly smashed. A large part of her knew it wasn’t right but there was also the voice saying ‘you’re not good enough Katie. You’re not good enough for Fergus, your parents, your friends. You’re a waste,’ and that voice was louder than the other.
‘Jude?’ Michael called, arriving home for a surprise visit to his boyfriend. Odd though, that on Jude’s day off the TV wasn’t on and the house was quiet. There was no answer, but he was definitely in – the front door had been unlocked. He called his name again and then walked upstairs and into their room. Jude was sat on the bed next to a packed suitcase.
‘What…?’ Michael started.
‘Mick, I’m sorry. But I can’t do this anymore.’
‘Can’t do what? Jude, what’s going on?’
‘I can’t be with you anymore. I’ve met someone else,’ only then did Michael’s first proper boyfriend and his reason to get up on a morning raise his eyes to meet his own. ‘Sorry.’
‘no, Jude, no. Come on, let’s talk about this. How can you have met someone else… who?’
‘I can’t talk about it now, I’m sorry. I was going to leave you a note but, well, you came home.’ Only then did Michael notice the paper and pen beside him on the bed.
Tears welled up in Michael’s eyes. It had just been a normal day – he wasn’t expecting this! He thought everything had been fine. ‘Don’t do this Jude! Don’t leave me! My family stopped talking to me because of you…’
‘That wasn’t because of me! That was because you’re gay and they’re small minded! Look – I’ll call you when you’ve calmed down. I’m going and that’s final. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry!?’ Michael screamed after him, as he stood up and began down the stairs. ‘You’re SORRY?! I’m nothing without you!’ But it was too late, Jude slammed the door behind him and Michael’s life had changed in a split second.
Dylan entered reception, leaned over Amber’s desk and pressed
a button on the phone she was talking on, just to wind her up.
She looked at him with disgust and Dylan laughed.
‘Do you mind?’ She said, once she’d
put the caller through.
‘So, come on then, what did you sing
to Simon?’
‘I’ve told you! I’m not talking
to you about it.’
‘Oh come on!’
‘Dylan! Leave it!’
‘But I thought you’d be downing
tequilas with Ozzy by now. What happened to that?’
What happened to that, Amber thought. She’d
gone in, the nerves had got to her, and they weren’t interested.
It was plain. She was plain.
‘Look, I don’t want the pressures
of being a singer and anyway, the most important auditions are
coming up soon and that’s Britain’s Next Top Model.
I want to be a model and that’s what I’m best at.’
Dylan had picked up over the past couple of
weeks that her confidence had been knocked and that made his increase.
He no longer felt so intimidated by her beauty, although he still
thought she was an angel in every way. ‘Why don’t
you just stay here and marry me?’ he quipped, something
which he’d have never dare do in the past.
‘I’d rather slit my wrists thanks,’
she said, pulling a face.
‘Don’t worry love, I was just messing
anyway,’ Dylan said with a cheeky wink, before wandering
off without looking back. When he did that, something odd happened
to Amber, she found her eyes following him as he strode away.
Maybe she wasn’t too good for him afterall, and maybe he
had realised it too. This presented a challenge to our wannabe
reality-tv star and Amber was never one to pass up a challenge…
Part 11: Lives on the Move
Alan's life had been settled. Okay, so maybe his relationship
with his wife wasn't the most passionate in the world but they'd
been happy enough. He'd had no intentions of leaving Alison and
they both doted on their three teenage girls… but something
had rocked Alan recently, something just as exciting as it was
damaging, and that something went by the name of Donna Parker.
Alan had hired Donna as the sales office's junior just a few weeks
ago and since then, he had been changing in a way that felt wrong
but was beyond his control. He was jumping up from bed in a morning,
shaving more regularly and visiting the office's kitchen more
often than ever. Donna was a hit with the staff, chirpy and beautiful,
she brought a breath of fresh air into the company and into Alan's
life. Alan had a crush on her that he couldn't conceal, which
would have been fine if he was 17 and unattached, like her. But
as a married man of 47 with three kids his fondness of Donna spelt
trouble, and yet he was still powerless to stop it from snow-balling.
'Coffee, Mick?' Alan asked Michael.
'Yeah, okay,' Michael sighed.
Alan fought the temptation to ask Michael whether he was alright.
He knew already that he wasn't. The poor lad had just had his
heart broken and was still grieving. Alan let out a huge sigh
as he walked down the stairs. He used to love working in his office
and avoided the sales team downstairs at all costs, but now he
felt stifled and bored up there and liked getting to know the
20-somethings more. They were more fun. Fergus was off work spending
time with his new baby daughter, Michael was inconsolable, Colin
was in and would be until after Christmas which meant less talking
and more working anyway, and the girl he couldn't stop thinking
about was downstairs.
Katie was due in late that morning as her dreaded driving test
was at 9.40am.
'Oooo how do you think she's got on?' Donna asked no-one in particular
excitedly at ten thirty.
'She'll be reet will the lass. She's been taking her lessons for
long enough,' Paula said with a shrug of her hand. My girl will
be fine.
'If she passes her test, she'll be able to take us all to McDonalds
on a lunchtime,' Sally grinned. Donna looked over to Sally and
they both squealed excitedly to each other.
Donna's presence seemed to bond the rest of the office, who had
been in little cliques prior to her arrival. Sally liked Donna,
Paula liked Donna… everyone liked Donna. Especially Alan,
Paula observed, who was walking through to the kitchen yet again,
something that he never did before she started. Paula smiled juicily
to herself but decided to keep her mouth shut and keep an eye
on them… for now.
'I don't know though, it took me six times to pass,' Heather said.
'Yeah, that's coz you drive like a maniac,' Dylan laughed.
'Oi, shut it, Dyl-do!' Heather jibbed flirtatiously.
The two held happy eyes for a moment longer than they used to
do and then they broke off the look and continued to work enthusiastically.
Seeing Heather so bubbly had shifted Dylan's affections away from
the unobtainable Amber and more towards her. In fact, the more
Dylan began to fancy Heather the more he went off Amber, with
her self-assured attitude and silly dreams. Seeing Heather filled
his heart with joy these days, where-as Amber thrived on keeping
him begging like a puppy. Dylan wasn't a puppy, he was a stallion,
and Heather seemed to comprehend that. 'Your loss, Amber,' Dylan
thought, as he caught her looking at him before turning away sharply
when he caught her gaze.
Heather had taken up smoking heroin earlier in the year but Sally
(of all people) had helped her dump the habit - and her boyfriend
- before it got any worse. In recent weeks Heather had admitted
her addiction, moved back home and started to clean up, gaining
her huge amounts of respect from her fellow workmates. It was
that respect that kept Heather strong and for the first time she
felt part of a team. She loved her job and despite being back
at home, she now loved her life again. She had been that close
to jacking in life in favour of the drug and she recently found
out, was about a week away from losing her job. What scared Heather
the most was knowing that if she had have lost her job she probably
would have spiraled into a place of no return, but Sally had pulled
her back from the brink just in time. Heather now felt like she
had been given a second chance at life and that made her feel
humble and determined. Not living with Tom and all his problems
anymore also re-awakened her eyes to what a good man is and as
she brushed past Dylan on the way to the filing cabinets, her
body tingled with excitement. No drugs needed.
Fail. As usual. Katie threw the paper in the outside bin before
walking into the office with a brave face.
'Well?' Amber beamed.
'Nope, not this time,' Katie shrugged.
'Ah well, I'm sure you'll pass next time,' Amber comforted.
Katie walked to her desk and dashed her workmates anticipation
with the outcome. As she switched on her computer she realized
she felt disappointed, but not utterly gutted. The reason? If
she had have passed, that would have meant she'd buy her car and
then she wouldn't be able to drink as much. The awareness of this
thought made Katie feel more of a failure than ever and she looked
forward to that bottle of vodka she had waiting for her at home.
Donna clocked the handsome Alan walking into the kitchen and
swiftly realized she too needed a drink. She quickly joined him
and the two chatted about general subjects while they made their
coffees. Donna thought Alan was gorgeous. He reminded her of George
Clooney and so what if Katie and Sally didn't agree - it wasn't
like anything was going to happen, he was married and the same
age as her dad! 'As if he'd be interested in a kid like me anyway,'
Donna thought naively, 'I hope he doesn't realize I fancy him
- he might fire me!' Donna reached for the milk at the same time
as Alan so he flicked her arm with the spoon and they both laughed
playfully. At that exact moment Paula walked in and both Donna
and Alan zipped their giggles despite themselves.
Paula muscled between them to make her drink, loving it. The fact
was that Alan was attractive, Donna was attractive, and there
was an atmosphere of exhilaration surrounding them. They obviously
fancied each other. Paula could smell trouble ahead and wherever
there was trouble, Paula never liked to be far behind. With his
salt and pepper hair and a sharp dress sense to match his humour,
Paula fancied Alan a bit, as most the girls there admitted to
doing after a few glasses of wine, but he was married with kids
so no-one had ever seen the point of pursuing him. Likewise, she
couldn't blame Alan for his obvious crush - Donna was dippy and
friendly and had no idea how lovely she was - but she was also
young and immature and seemed like just the sort of girl to ruin
a marriage without even having any idea of what she was doing.
She eyeballed Alan and felt elated that he couldn't even look
at her. 'That's right, you dirty old man,' she thought with an
inner smirk, 'I'm onto you.'
She stood between them, reveling in the awkward silence for as
long as it lasted.
'So, Paula,' Alan cleared his throat and spoke at last. 'How's
your David?'
'Ah you know what kids are like Alan, he's a little nightmare.
How are your three teenage girls?'
Alan paused and the two locked eyes for just a second before he
replied: 'They're fine, thanks.'
'Good,' she replied before turning to him. 'Oh and - just wondering
- will you be breaking the habit of a lifetime and attending the
office Christmas party next month, by any chance?'
Alan knew what she was doing but she had the control and he was
forced to reply, as innocently as possible: 'Ay, I thought I'd
be a bit more sociable this year, actually.'
Paula smiled broadly and chirped 'Excellent!' before walking out
victoriously.
'What was all that about?' Donna whispered after she'd gone.
Alan shook his head, embarrassed. 'Nothing. She's a funny one
is that Paula, you watch yourself around her. Look, I better get
back to work, I'll see you later,' and with that he left.
Paula was still looking at him with knowing eyes as he walked
across the office.
'Look's like this year's Christmas party is going to be even more
fun than usual,' she thought with a glint of excitement in her
eye…
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Local
author Rebecca L Royle writes exclusively for the Morley Knowledge.