She had another idea. She went to the sacks in the cupboard by the back door, filled up a jug and returned to the kitchen. She sprinkled a little grain on the floor and that got their attention. She laid a sparse trail as she reversed outside into torrential rain. She was bent over with the rain hammering on her backside and the sarong sticking to her when she heard someone burst out laughing. Elliott.
‘I see you decided to let the hens out then?’ He grinned at her. But in her bedraggled state she found it hard to see anything amusing.
***
Ros didn’t adjust well to change. She knew this about herself. Having Cameron living in the apartment was proving to be a bit of a test. He’d found a home for his bike in the underground car park but other items of his kept popping up. They weren’t out of context like Darla and her odd socks on the sofa or mugs in the bathroom but it was still a big reminder that Ros was sharing her space with someone she knew little about. She quite liked the pot plants he’d introduced and she’d overlooked the Hula Hoops appearing in the tinned food cupboard and the tube of squeezy garlic in the fridge but when she walked in on Saturday afternoon to face a life-size cardboard cut-out of aDoctor WhoCyberman she felt a line had been crossed.
‘Cameron?’ she called.
He appeared a few moments later. ‘Hiya.’ He pointed at the Cyberman. ‘I see you’ve already met Cyril.’
‘Please tell me he’s only a temporary guest.’
‘I won it,’ he said proudly. ‘Are you not aDoctor Whofan?’ He looked shocked.
‘I watched it occasionally as a child but quite frankly it creeped me out. Especially things like this.’ She jabbed a finger at the Cyberman.
‘Cyril’s not creepy.’
‘He is a bit,’ said Ros. ‘I can’t believe you’re scared of sharks and ghosts but not this.’
‘He’s not real. Sharks definitely are and they can take a big chunk out of you, which is definitely something to be scared of.’
‘Not likely in Southampton though. And ghosts aren’t real.’
Cameron wobbled his head. ‘I’m in two minds on that one. My gran swears she saw her old PE teacher walk through the wall of Aldi, which was built on the old school playground.’
Ros wasn’t sure how to respond to that. ‘Not a particularly scary encounter. Unlike me bumping into this chap in the dark.’
‘He won’t come to life you know.’ Ros was alarmed at the prospect, which likely showed on her face. ‘I can put him in my room if you’d prefer,’ added Cameron.
‘Yes please.’
Cameron picked up the cut-out. ‘Perhaps I should have chosen the Ant and Dec one instead. Although it was smaller.’
‘Goodness, no. That would be far more terrifying,’ said Ros with a smile. Cameron grinned at her and took Cyril to his room.
Ros put the kettle on and Cameron joined her in the kitchen area. ‘What did you get up to today?’ he asked, getting out two mugs.
‘I went to look for a new bedside lamp because mine appears to be faulty but I couldn’t find any I liked.’
‘I could see if I could fix it for you,’ he said. ‘No promises though.’
‘Thanks. How was your day?’
‘Good,’ he said, nodding. ‘I spent some time in the uni library mapping out some ideas I have for my dissertation and I walked Gazza.’
Ros was instantly concerned. ‘Why did you walk the dog? Did Dad call? Is he okay?’
‘He’s fine. It was a nice day and I thought it would save your dad taking him.’
‘That was thoughtful of you,’ said Ros. ‘How was Dad?’
‘He seemed good. He did suggest he come with me until I pointed out that that defeated the object. We had a cuppa when I got back and a chat.’
Ros’s jaw tightened. She busied herself with making the drinks. ‘Anything in particular or just small talk?’
‘You’re okay; we didn’t talk about you,’ he said, passing her the milk from the fridge.
