‘Bloody Coke? Well you’re gonna be a barrel of laughs. Just have one with vodka in it. Might settle your stomach.’
‘Nah, honest, mate, it won’t and I don’t have to get mortalled to have fun, so chill. Now lead the way, these ladies are parched.’ Beth gave Kelly a hard push and pointed to the bar.
‘Okay, I know when I’m beat but you’d better not let me down on our big night out I’ve got planned.’
‘What big night out?’ Beth was leaning on the bar, focusing on Kelly.
‘I’ll tell you later on when the others have gone but I think you and I deserve a treat. It is Christmas after all.’ Kelly tapped the side of her nose and winked, then turned away and waved at the barman.
As she ordered the drinks, all plans for career changes and doom-and-gloom memories of the past got shoved to the back of Kelly’s mind and instead she concentrated on her new friend and having some fun. The thought of her empty flat and dire Christmas card list made her even more determined that next year would be a complete new start and, if she played her cards right, she’d have a brand new, pink-haired flatmate into the bargain. Carrying the drinks while Beth held onto the bags of crisps, Kelly allowed herself a smug smile. Maybe, regardless of the consequences for all concerned and especially now her ordeal was over, she had done the right thing.
* * *
Kelly and her new best friend were seated by the window, eating KFC and watching the other customers shuffle along in the queue. The meet-up with the other women had been a success, in that Kelly had laughed and chatted about normal stuff, not the depressing subjects they covered in the group. They seemed to appreciate her generosity too, especially the platter of sandwiches and chips she’d ordered as an extra treat.
The best part was that once the others began to trail off, stressing about putting kids to bed and getting an ear-full from their other halves, Beth said she was feeling better and had suggested they went for a bite to eat while Davey was at the match. Beth certainly had hollow legs and Kelly envied her svelte figure that she said came naturally. Or maybe she lived on her nerves that were frazzled thanks to her waste-of-space boyfriend.
Once she’d finished her popcorn chicken, Beth asked Kelly a question. ‘So go on then, what’s all this about a big night out? You know what Davey’s like and the only time he lets me party is when I’m by his side and even then it’s not exactly a barrel of laughs. In fact I’d rather stay in and watchCountryfile.’
Kelly laughed out loud. ‘SoddingCountryfile, you sad act! I bet you watchDoc Martintoo.’
‘I do actually, I fancy that gormless policeman and fantasise about him handcuffing me to the bedpost and reading me my rights.’ Beth took a huge bite out of her drumstick and ducked the French fry that was thrown at her.
‘Well I have the answer to your prayers. You said Davey was going to Dublin for a lads’ weekend. Well why don’t you and me have a night out while he’s away?’ Kelly was excited already and Beth hadn’t even said yes, but going by the expression on her face, the answer was going to be no. Kelly’s mood nosedived.
Beth sucked in her breath and gave a pained expression. ‘I don’t know, mate… if he finds out he’ll go spare and I’d be shitting myself that someone would see us. But don’t get me wrong, I’d love to. Believe me, I really would.’ Beth sipped her Coke then wiped her greasy hands on the napkin.
Kelly leant forward and dipped her chips into the barbeque sauce as she spoke. ‘I’ve already thought of that. We could go out in Didsbury, well away from East Manchester and I’m not being funny but I can’t see any of Davey’s crew hanging out around there. Surely it’s some other drug dealer’s turf. And anyway, won’t they all be on the fun boat to Dún Laoghaire?’
Beth looked a bit less mithered. ‘Yeah, I suppose so.’
‘And if you’re worried about someone seeing you all dressed up, you could get ready at mine and stay over afterwards, we’d have a right laugh. Come on, this is the perfect opportunity to have some fun so what do you say?’ Kelly held her breath. She’d been thinking of nothing else since Beth mentioned Davey’s trip in a text.
‘I’ve got nothing to wear though… seriously I haven’t, this is the best I’ve got and anything that’s remotely going-outy isn’t suitable for the wine bars of Didsbury.’
Kelly raised her hand. ‘That’s not a problem, I’ll treat you to a new outfit as long as you say yes… go on, I know you want to.’
Beth folded her arms and looked pouty. ‘I’m not a charity case and anyway, since when did you win the lottery? I’ve noticed you always seem flush?’
Kelly tutted and rolled her eyes. ‘I know you’re not, so stop being a touchy cow… see it as a Christmas present if it makes you feel better. And don’t worry about money, let’s just say I’ve had a little windfall and there’s more where it came from.’
‘Ooh, that sounds interesting. Tell me more.’
‘Not until you say yes and then I might just let you into my secret.’
Beth sucked on her straw which made a loud, embarrassing slurping noise that attracted an amused stare from the man seated close by, making them both burst into fits of giggles. ‘Okay, go on then. You’re right, I’m due a bit of fun and I’m sick to death of sitting in that flat while he’s gadding about so it’s a deal.’ Beth looked at her phone and checked the time. ‘Right, we’d better go otherwise knobhead will be home before me and then he’ll kick off. So come on, where’s all this dosh come from? I didn’t have you down for betting on the horses.’
Kelly narrowed her eyes and took out her phone. ‘As if! I don’t even play Foxy Bingo. I’ll tell you while we wait for the taxi. Just let me order one then we’ll go.’
Beth joked. ‘I reckon you’ve got a sugar daddy.’
‘You’ve got room to talk, I reckon Davey’s old enough to be your granddad… I still don’t know what you see in him, or haveyougot daddy issues?’
‘Oi, you cheeky cow! Actually, he looks fit when he makes the effort and I’ll have you know I like the more mature type of bloke and he likes having a trophy girlfriend. Well, that’s what he said when he chatted me up. Now I think he just wanted a young dogsbody to look after him in his old age.’
‘Urgh, you mean wipe his bum and feed him mushed-up food when he’s past it?’ Kelly feigned horror.
‘Oh God, that mental image is so gross. I think my popcorn chicken’s on its way back up but nah, I’ll just stick him in a home.’
