‘Yeah, good idea.’ The others both agreed.
4
Nora was getting ready to leave the house on Friday evening when a key went into her front door. For a second she wondered what was going on. Her imagination conjured up a number of scenarios where she died horribly in every single one. But the images disappeared as soon as her parents walked in chatting happily to each other.
‘Mum, you gave me a fright,’ said Nora, giving her a hug.
‘Why? Who else has a key?’ asked Una.
‘Nobody, although my neighbour has one in a box locked with a combination for emergencies. Anyway, your key is just for when I’m away.’ This was not the first time she’d had this conversation with her parents.
‘Put the chain on if you’re worried,’ said her dad, kissing her cheek and walking through to the living room carrying a shopping bag.
‘Actually, guys, I’m just going out. I’m climbing tonight.’ Nora indicated the front door but no one was paying attention.
‘I thought you would be out, which is why I used my key,’ said Una, lifting her chin.
‘It’s always lovely to see you both, but why have you come round if you thought I was going to be out?’ Nora checked her watch. There was only about five minutes before she needed to leave. She hated being late for anything.
Nora waited for her mum to reply but she just stared at her and smiled. It was the exact same thing she did when people used words she didn’t understand. ‘Dad? Why are you here?’
‘Your mother thinks you’re hiding—’
‘Ali!’ shouted her mum.
‘What do you think I’m hiding?’ asked Nora, amused by the horror on her mother’s face at being ratted out by her husband. ‘Treasure? A man? An illness?’ It was only fleeting but her mother’s expression changed. ‘You think I’m sick?’
‘Nooo,’ said her mother. ‘Because you would tell me, wouldn’t you? You would say if something was wrong? Anything not right with you. Yes?’
‘She thinks you’re too skinny,’ called her dad from the other room.
‘Ali, I swear, one day your mouth—’
‘Mum, I’m fine. I’m not too skinny. I’m in the green zone on the BMI chart along with 29 per cent of the population. I’m perfectly fine.’
‘You have no fat on you. Only muscle. It is not healthy. Women are meant to have curves.’
‘Actually, Mum, it is healthy.’
‘I disagree. You need stuffing up.’ Una gestured with her hands.
‘Mum, I’m stuffed up enough, thanks. What were you going to do? Load my cupboards with doughnuts?’
‘I made a goulash… Ali! Bring the goulash.’
Nora knew they meant well but they did drive her slightly potty. ‘Thank you. I think. Can you pop it in the fridge please? And now I really do need to leave.’
Nora’s other hobby was indoor climbing. She loved to climb, and as the indoor version was approximately 35 per cent safer than the outdoor version, was lots of fun and had safety at its core, it ticked all her boxes. She went to a smallish club on the way to Loughborough where the walls were regularly updated and the people were friendly. Climbing wasn’t exactly a team sport but to do it safely Nora did need a partner who could belay and for that she had Jay. Handily he had been looking for something exciting when it became clear Dixie’s club did not involve rafting of any description.
Nora and Jay had discovered a mutual interest in climbing and a partnership had been formed. Jay made her laugh and they had an easy friendship. As they lived near each other, they travelled together and took it in turns to drive. Jay parked and they walked inside. Coming out of the sports centre was a group of boys at the younger end of the teenage spectrum.
‘Hey!’ shouted one of them, and he began pointing frantically at Jay. ‘You’re that guy.’ His friends lookedboth alarmed and embarrassed by his actions. ‘He’s that man on the advert.’ They all stared at Jay as he and Nora walked up the steps. As the penny dropped, the lads all started burping loudly. This happened quite a lot.
‘Thanks, boys,’ said Jay, giving them a wave and ushering Nora inside as the youngsters fell about laughing.
‘You OK?’ asked Nora.
‘Yeah. It’s the price of fame,’ he joked. ‘One day I would like to be famous for something other than burping a lot in an indigestion advert,’ he added wistfully.
