Page 58 of Where Do We Go From Here?
S: Oh, work’s terrible. Not that that’s new at all.
W: More cutbacks?
S: Endless cutbacks. Child protection is so underfunded that I doubt we’re protecting anyone at all.
W: Fifi’s convinced they’ll get massacred at the next election.
S: Well, everyone in social services is hoping they will. Um, Neil’s fine, in case you were wondering but didn’t dare ask.
W: …Well, good. I’m glad.
S: Can I…?
W: Yes?
S: I… um… I mean, I know this is difficult and everything…
W:Oh God, no! Please don’t go there, Sue.What is, honey?
S: But Neil won’t talk about it either…
W: Ha, the list of things my brother won’t talk about…
S: So I’m going to come right out and ask you, I think.
W:Please don’t.OK…
S: Did you two fall out about something specific?
W: Oh.
S: I mean, you must have. I know you must have. But I really don’t know what it was.
W:Perhaps leaving Mum’s end of life care to me and phoning twice between the moment she was diagnosed and when she died might have something to do with it.No, me neither really. I mean, sometimes you drift apart, don’t you? Busy with our lives and everything.
S: Really?
W: Yeah. Yes, I think so.
S: So it wasn’t anything to do with me? Because I sometimes feel like it was.
W:Well, my brother stopped phoning me, visiting me and in general giving a shit about me when he met you. And you didn’t seem to care too much about our mother dying either.No, honestly, Sue. We’re good.
S: He was going through a lot when your mum died, you know. I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it one day.
W:Was he?! I can’t wait for that conversation. I can finally tell him about Mum’s final months and exactly what the two of us were going through.Yeah. I’m sure. We all have so much going on, don’t we?
S: But we’re definitely OK, you and me?
W: I’m phoning you, aren’t I?
S: Well, I’m actually phoning you.
W: OK, well, texting you or whatever.
S: Yes.
W: Oh, gosh, I’ve got to go, Sue. My French teacher’s coming up the path. She’s early.
