Page 53 of The Reboot
‘You know – give it a bit of oomph. Polish it up.’
‘I think it’s got plenty of oomph as it is. Not that I’m an expert,’ she added quickly, not wanting to sound like she was telling him his job. It was ridiculous since he’d been in a band, but she’d never thought of Roly as a musician until they’d started living together. ‘When did you start playing guitar?’
He gave her an indignant look. ‘I always played guitar. Well, since I was about eight.’
‘Really? How come you never played it in Oh Boy!?’
He shrugged. ‘There wasn’t much call for it. And I needed my hands for dancing.’
‘Ah yes, the dancing!’ She grinned.
‘Anyway, I’m just using the guitar for writing. When I get into a studio, there’ll be proper musicians. I’ll have a whole band with me.’
‘You’rea proper musician. You’re really talented.’
‘Thanks. But I’m not planning to become some singer/songwriter type.’
‘Wouldn’t you like to be? It could be good to do something different – surprise people. And you’d have complete creative control.’
‘Maybe.’ He put the guitar down and leaned it against the sofa. ‘Anyway, let’s have those fajitas. I’m starving!’
It was nice to see Roly so happy. He chattered enthusiastically and ate with the gusto of someone who’d earned dinner. Ella could relate. Unwinding after a good day’s work was so much more enjoyable and satisfying than the smooth slide from day to evening, from sofa to table to bed that she’d got used to.
‘How did it go signing on today?’ she asked casually. It was his first day collecting Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Ella knew he was nervous about it. She’d been anxious all day that he’d be too worried about being seen and bottle out. But she didn’t want to sound like she was checking up on him.
‘It was amazing! I just queued up, signed my name and they handed over the cash, just like that! I even got back pay to the day I was approved for benefit.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of notes to show her. ‘I couldn’t believe it was so easy.’
‘Well, what were you expecting to happen?’
‘I dunno.’ He shrugged. ‘More of an interrogation, I suppose.’
‘Someone shining a big light in your eyes?’
He nodded. ‘Being exposed as a fraud in front of the whole post office.’
‘Ending up in the sidebar of shame in tomorrow’s papers.’
‘Exactly! But there was none of that. I didn’t even get any dirty looks. The woman who gave me my money barely glanced at my social security card, got me to sign the electronic thingy and then started counting out the cash. She even smiled and told me to have a good day.’
‘So she didn’t make you feel like a criminal for collecting social welfare? That was nice of her.’
‘Yeah, it was. I was still half expecting someone to stop me before I made it to the door. But there was nothing.’
‘No hand on your shoulder, no “stop right there”?’
‘No being hauled away by the guards.’ He shook his head. ‘I totally got away with it.’
Ella laughed. ‘You were collecting benefit, Roly, not staging a hold-up.’
‘Still, I can’t believe they just hand out free cash like that for doing nothing! I kind of get why people who work are so pissed off about it.’
‘How many times do I have to tell you? It’s not free. It’s your own money – you’re entitled to get some of it back when you need it. That’s how social insurance works.’
‘Well, anyway, it’s a big relief. Thanks for making me do it.’
‘You’re welcome. And you mightn’t have to do it much longer. That cafe around the corner are hiring. I passed it on my way home and there’s a sign in the window.’
He was spooning guacamole and salsa onto his plate and didn’t even look up, which immediately irked her.
