Kelly shuffled over to her bed’s backboard and crossed her legs.You mean study?
You’ve got a one-track mind. No, I mean hang out.
Kelly grinned.Okay.
I’ll be at your place in an hour.
She sent a thumbs-up emoji, which felt a bit stupid as soon as she saw it appear, but it was better than a heart. When she hauled herself out of bed, she got a strong whiff of what she smelled like after twelve hours of drinking in the sun and then sleeping in her clothes.
‘Oof. I’m going need every minute of that hour.’
***
Eli sipped noisily on his smoothie as they strolled through the shopping centre. When he’d told Kelly they were going shopping, she’d almost told him to forget about it. But, despite the public holiday crowds, she was actually enjoying herself. They’d been wandering around for about half an hour, browsing the shops. Kelly hadn’t known this was something men enjoyed.
‘You know, I’ve never met a man who liked shopping the way you do.’
‘Then you’ve never met a real man, Kelly, my dear.’
She liked the way he talked. A bit weird, but fun. She looked at him sidelong as he walked in loping strides, his mop of hair bouncing lightly, his glasses a fraction too far down the bridge of his nose.
‘And I’m Jewish. We can’t resist a bargain.’
‘Are you allowed to say that?’
‘Of course I am. It’s the Seinfeld principle. Or probably more Woody Allen, but I think he may have been cancelled.’
‘What principle?’
‘Jews get to make fun of themselves. But if you do it, young Gentile, you’re a racist.’
This sounded suspiciously like Toula’s line of reasoning. Kelly wasn’t sure if he was serious. ‘Okay, no Jewish jokes, then. But no blonde jokes from you either.’
‘Blondes aren’t a race.’
‘Doesn’t matter.’
‘What if I identify as a blond?’
‘You’ve got black hair!’
‘Doesn’t matter.’
Kelly laughed. ‘You’re probably right. Okay, you identify as a blond, I’ll identify as Jewish and then we can say whatever we like to each other.’
Eli raised his smoothie in a toast. ‘Another win for diversity and inclusion.’
Now he did remind her of Toula and she wondered how she had suddenly become surrounded by people who didn’t seem to care at all about the culture shifting around them. That attitude could get them in a lot of trouble in the wrong setting.
Like a hospital.
‘You know you need to be more woke than that at work, right?’
‘Oh, trust me. I’m so woke in the hospital, it’s like I’m on diversity and inclusion methamphetamines.’
Kelly shook her head. ‘Even that’s borderline offensive.’
‘Speaking of the hospital, I’ve been thinking about your predicament.’
