Forget It

15 Minute Write

They were lost. The last-minute decision to go shopping had brought a tense and nervous energy to both of them. Heading against the flow of the commuters catching the tube, they had exited through a passageway of unfamiliar tiles and strange, sweet city smells. Now they were on the street, wet underfoot, pulling their coats tight and taking stock of their position.

“It’s this way, I’m telling you”, said the daughter.

“I don’t think so, darling. Google is telling me it’s up this way “

“But this way is South - the river is down this way “, she nodded the direction.

“I’m going to turn on the direction voice thingy - that’ll be the simplest”

“Don’t you dare - we’ll look like complete idiots, like a pair of lost tourists. You may as well get a tote bag saying ‘mug me’ “

“ But we are tourists, darling. And we are lost. Why don’t we ask someone? “

“We don’t need to ask anyone, you don’t need to ask anyone, you just want to talk to someone - you old people are all the same “

“Don’t be cruel darling - this is meant to be our day, a nice day, not a bickering day”

“Look. Let’s just walk. We’ll come across something we recognise, we’ll take it from there - where do you want to go anyway? “ 

“I want to go to John Lewis’ - I want to look at their toasters “

“But you can see those online - we should try to find Covent Garden and find some interesting independent shops - you’ll find something you never knew you wanted “

“ Well, yes, but to be honest I do want a toaster, and they have such a good range and you can’t pick it up and see how it works online, can you? - not everything is better online “

“ Okay. Okay - let me look “

In grabbing the phone it slips, somehow, between their two hands and drops, with both of them watching, to the floor where it impacts screen-down. There is that sickening sound, the thud of an expensive repair, the embarrassment of having everyone see that you can’t even look after a damn phone.

“ Jessica! “

“What?! You let it go before I had a chance to take it - don’t blame me! “

The day was not turning out well. This was not what mum had hoped for, the ideal scenario of a perfect weekend shopping, a bite to eat, perhaps a glass of wine. A reconnection with her daughter as they both navigated the complexities of growing up and older. There was a blot now - a pall over the day, every time she looked at the phone the crack would remind her, bring her down, and make her see the ridiculousness of the situation. It would make her realise that mother and child would never have that special bond they once had again.

“ I’ll get it fixed - Jack knows a guy down the market who will do it for a tenner “

Jack was the new boyfriend whom she wished someone would break the heart of - her daughter or otherwise. It would be best for both sides, she felt. She desperately wanted to forget this day - what was she thinking? -his irritation would continue for days.

“ Good afternoon ladies” a deep voice, with a hard-to-place lilt, slowly and softly enunciated.

“ Let me,” he said as he leaned down and picked up the phone, resting it on his palm, screen-up and passing it to the mother.

“ My name is Ethel, my arrangement allows you to have a lovely day “

Before either had a chance to answer he was gone, looking down at the phone they were both amazed not to see the screen cracked, in fact, there was not even a scratch.

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Old Bond Street, December 2023. Nikon d750

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