A Stringed Instrument Ch. 11

It was a short trip to the station, and Helen was quiet for most of it. Just as we got to the car park she spoke rapidly: "You must think I'm mad, talking at you like I did before. I probably am, a little bit. I can't deal with too much happening in my life, I need to keep it simple or I start going off the rails. But I have to know Phoebe's all right."

"I worry about her too, you know. It's hard when she's living so far away, and she pushes herself hard. But I love her, I'm going to do my best by her." And then, since we'd just we pulled into a spot, I leant over and hugged Helen. I don't know if it was welcome, but she looked so worried, I felt I ought. "Thanks for the lift. I promise I'll look after her. Catch you back here tomorrow!"

I arrived at John's place late, thanks to a delayed train, but that was okay: he was still vacuuming as I walked in. "Evening 'Von." He looked out the door, side to side. "Did you bring this girlfriend of yours?"

"She's running late. Her grandma's in hospital."

"That's no good. Give us a hand moving this sofa."

"You vacuum under sofas now? Well, I never."

"Cat says it gets her hot when I do housework. What can you do?"

From the kitchen I heard: "Yeah baby. That's how I like it. And don't forget to change that top, it's filthy."

"Hi Cat!" I called out.

"Hi Yvonne!"

I helped set the table and then caught a quick shower to rinse off the day's dust. As I was coming out of the bathroom I heard Cat at the door: "...and you must be Phoebe? Nice to meet you!"

I hurried over to greet her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Hey sweetie!"

"Hey there. Sorry, I was planning to dress up a bit, but I came straight from the hospital."

"Don't sweat it. We're casual here... yeah, like that." My brother had just made his appearance in a Megadeth T-shirt that I'd given to him for Christmas eight years earlier. "Phoebe, this is my brother John. John, this is Phoebe."

"Evening!" He shook her hand. "Get yourself comfortable, dinner's in five."

As we ate, John made conversation: "So, Pheebs, little sis says you're a cellist?"

"That's right."

"What'cha play? Anything I'd have heard?"

"Um, I don't think so... mostly classical and folk..."

"She does a good version of 'Sweet Child of Mine'," I offered.

"Do you know S