Anywhere's Better Than Here by Zöe Venditozzi
Authors: Zöe Venditozzi
broad smile. He pulled the headphones off and stood up.
ââHi Laurie. Sorry, I was miles away.ââ He pointed at the headphones.
They took a step towards each other, shy again, but only momentarily. Then they grabbed at each other, Gerry crushing her against him and kissed messily, toothily for a few minutes. Then Laurie was blushing, but felt like running around and yelling. Gerry pushed his hand through his hair, picked up the headphones and held them against his ear for a second and then dropped them again. They hung from the lead, almost reaching the floor.
ââThe musicâs stopped.ââ He stared down at the headphones and laughed. ââAnd guess what?ââ
ââWhat?ââ Laughed Laurie.
ââI donât care! Letâs go to the pub.ââ He grabbed his coat and bag.
ââWhat about your shift? What about your listeners?ââ She was quite shocked by his giddiness. She thought all this meant a lot to him.
ââYeah. Youâre right.ââ Gerry looked chastened. He glanced up at the clock. ââIâve only got about twenty minutes left. I could put on an album until the next shift.ââ He raised his eyebrows at her, looking for permission.
ââYeah, yeah. Good idea.ââ She stepped over to the pile of CDs heâd left by the machine. ââRadiohead?ââ
He shook his head. She rifled thought the pile. She didnât recognise a lot of the bands.
ââBruce Springsteen?ââ He shook his head again.
ââThe Who? The Stranglers? Muse?ââ Three shakes of the head.
ââNo, no. Nothingâs right. It has to be something â¦ââ He trailed off and started fishing through his bag. ââI know, a classical compilation.ââ He put it in the CD player. ââMusic from the Movies â perfect.ââ
He put his coat on and picked up his bag.
ââRight, you ready?ââ
ââYes. But Iâm choosing the pub this time. Not that skanky old guysâ place.ââ
ââWhatâs wrong with it?ââ He looked hurt.
ââItâs full of old men and that Mags woman gives me the creeps.ââ
ââOkay. Itâll be closed anyway. Do you know somewhere with a late license? Nowhere trendy. I donât want cocktails. I want a cheap pint.ââ
ââNot a problem.ââ
Sunday the 19th of December
Early in the Morning
Becoming Drizzly
Laurie lay motionless as Ed rooted around in the bedroom. God, what time had she come in? It felt like sheâd only been asleep for minutes. She couldnât face speaking to Ed. Something had been decided, she felt. She listened to him walking through to the kitchen and picking up the phone. There was only one person he could possibly be calling at this time.
ââHello, itâs me, Edward.ââ
He was her only child and yet every time he called her, he still felt the need to identify himself. Laurie shook her head.
ââI thought I might come and visit you.ââ His voice caught on might . ââToday. Now actually.ââ She could hear him throw his rucksack on to his shoulder. ââIâm leaving the flat now.ââ
Laurie held her breath until Ed spoke again.
ââNo, itâs just me.ââ
It was obvious that Sandy was asking Ed questions.
ââItâs okay mum, I know. Listen â¦ââ he paused. ââIs it okay if I stay for a couple of nights?ââ
He said this more quietly and Laurie wrapped the quilt around her head so that he wouldnât hear her crying and come back.
Early Doors
Bright but Nippy
By mid morning, things looked better. It was one of those sharp sunny days that happen in December. Super cold, but sparkly, making her
ââHi Laurie. Sorry, I was miles away.ââ He pointed at the headphones.
They took a step towards each other, shy again, but only momentarily. Then they grabbed at each other, Gerry crushing her against him and kissed messily, toothily for a few minutes. Then Laurie was blushing, but felt like running around and yelling. Gerry pushed his hand through his hair, picked up the headphones and held them against his ear for a second and then dropped them again. They hung from the lead, almost reaching the floor.
ââThe musicâs stopped.ââ He stared down at the headphones and laughed. ââAnd guess what?ââ
ââWhat?ââ Laughed Laurie.
ââI donât care! Letâs go to the pub.ââ He grabbed his coat and bag.
ââWhat about your shift? What about your listeners?ââ She was quite shocked by his giddiness. She thought all this meant a lot to him.
ââYeah. Youâre right.ââ Gerry looked chastened. He glanced up at the clock. ââIâve only got about twenty minutes left. I could put on an album until the next shift.ââ He raised his eyebrows at her, looking for permission.
ââYeah, yeah. Good idea.ââ She stepped over to the pile of CDs heâd left by the machine. ââRadiohead?ââ
He shook his head. She rifled thought the pile. She didnât recognise a lot of the bands.
ââBruce Springsteen?ââ He shook his head again.
ââThe Who? The Stranglers? Muse?ââ Three shakes of the head.
ââNo, no. Nothingâs right. It has to be something â¦ââ He trailed off and started fishing through his bag. ââI know, a classical compilation.ââ He put it in the CD player. ââMusic from the Movies â perfect.ââ
He put his coat on and picked up his bag.
ââRight, you ready?ââ
ââYes. But Iâm choosing the pub this time. Not that skanky old guysâ place.ââ
ââWhatâs wrong with it?ââ He looked hurt.
ââItâs full of old men and that Mags woman gives me the creeps.ââ
ââOkay. Itâll be closed anyway. Do you know somewhere with a late license? Nowhere trendy. I donât want cocktails. I want a cheap pint.ââ
ââNot a problem.ââ
Sunday the 19th of December
Early in the Morning
Becoming Drizzly
Laurie lay motionless as Ed rooted around in the bedroom. God, what time had she come in? It felt like sheâd only been asleep for minutes. She couldnât face speaking to Ed. Something had been decided, she felt. She listened to him walking through to the kitchen and picking up the phone. There was only one person he could possibly be calling at this time.
ââHello, itâs me, Edward.ââ
He was her only child and yet every time he called her, he still felt the need to identify himself. Laurie shook her head.
ââI thought I might come and visit you.ââ His voice caught on might . ââToday. Now actually.ââ She could hear him throw his rucksack on to his shoulder. ââIâm leaving the flat now.ââ
Laurie held her breath until Ed spoke again.
ââNo, itâs just me.ââ
It was obvious that Sandy was asking Ed questions.
ââItâs okay mum, I know. Listen â¦ââ he paused. ââIs it okay if I stay for a couple of nights?ââ
He said this more quietly and Laurie wrapped the quilt around her head so that he wouldnât hear her crying and come back.
Early Doors
Bright but Nippy
By mid morning, things looked better. It was one of those sharp sunny days that happen in December. Super cold, but sparkly, making her
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