Chapter 3
*…ring…*…ring…* "Hello, Springwood Institution, Marisa speaking. "
"Hi…would it be possible for me to talk to Eve Fiennes?"
"Who shall I say is calling, please?"
"Uh, it’s her daughter, Ailish."
"Thankyou, one moment please."
*…BUZZ…*
"Ward 207, this is Janice."
"Hi, this is Ailish Fiennes, could I please speak to my mother, Eve?"
"I’ll just see if she’s available right now, honey.
Are you there?"
"Yes, I’m here."
"She’s just come off her morphine for today, so she’s a little dopey – "
"Please don’t call her that."
"Sorry luv, but it does that to people."
"My mum is not dopey."
"I know she’s not, honey, but she’s… a little fuzzy still."
"And I’m not used to it?"
"Alright, alright. You want to speak to her still? She might not make too much sense."
"She’s just a bit lethargic, not incapable of speech. Please just put her on the phone."
"Okay honey, I’ll put you through."
"Thankyou."
*…CLICK…*
"Hello? Operator?"
"Mum? It’s me, Ailish."
"Oh, Ayay, sweetie. How are you? I feel great."
"Mum, it was dad’s birthday two days ago."
"Oh, that’s lovely."
"I thought you were going to call."
"Oh, that’s lovely."
"Mum! Listen to me."
"Yes, sweetie."
"Mum, you called him last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and ever since you’ve been locked away in that evil cell."
"Oh, have I? Well that was rude of me to forget. I’m so sorry, sweetie…"
"Mum, don’t cry. Mum, it’s not a tragedy. I just thought you might have not been able to call him, so I called you instead. Just a reminder. It’s not too late."
"But I should have remembered! I always remember!"
"Mum, just call him today. Ask your nurse. Janice, isn’t it?"
"Yes…"
"Just ask Janice. Tell her you just forgot."
"Okay…but…"
"But what, mum?"
"But… I shouldn’t have forgot! I never forget! I…"
"Mum, stop it! Mum, please, calm down! I’m sorry! It’s okay, really, dad’s okay!"
"Hello Ailish, this is Janice. Your mother’s not fit to talk any more. What were you discussing?"
"Oh, Christ, I’m sorry. She just forgot to call dad. It was his birthday. She’s never forgotten before, I just thought…"
"I’ll make sure she gets in touch with him. But it won’t be right now, is that okay?"
"Uh, sure. That’s fine. Uh, could you… could you just tell mum I love her? And I’ll talk to her later?"
"No problem, honey."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Goodbye."
