“Hello Madge, I haven’t seen you round here for ages, popping back to see your folks are you?”
“Oh, hi Ange, something like that.”
“And how’s that gorgeous hubby of yours, keeping well is he? Still playing his guitar?”
“I presume so, I don’t really know, the fact of the matter is that we’ve split up.”
“Oo, sorry to hear that, trust me to put my foot in it. How you coping then, fancy a drink?”
“That would be great Ange.”
“I’ll get these, you still on the red wine?”
‘Yes please, could I be cheeky and ask for a large one?”
“Of course you can luv, you look like you need it. Two large red wines and two packets of cheese and onion crisps please.”
“There you are luv, get it down your neck and tell Auntie Ange all about it – was it another woman?”
“No, not another woman, but the break up was about his first love.”
“Are you saying he’s left you and gone off with a bloke?”
“No Ange, his first love, don’t you remember what I told you about his guitar. He fell in love with it the moment he saw it in the music shop, practically drooled all over the window. It took him months to save up to buy it. Remember me saying that he almost slept with it? I soon put a stop to that.”
“Do you mean Betty Boop? I always thought that was a crazy name for him to give his guitar. Is she still around?”
“She never left, she is the permanent feature in his life, that was part of the problem. It sounds crazy but he loves that guitar more than he has ever loved me. He lavishes care on it, cleans her every night, but I ask him just to put the hoover around, he takes the huff.”
“So, where are you living now?”
“I’ve got my old bedroom back at my mum’s, it’s not ideal though. She keeps on coming in without knocking and offering me endless cups of tea.”
“I remember that about your mum’s, kettle always on the boil.”
“It’s been really difficult going back, I didn’t realise quite how much I valued my independence, and do you know what, I really miss that guitar, how stupid is that. I had been thinking of Betty Boop as my nemesis, having to share Mick with her. I can’t believe that I was so jealous. Maybe life was better as a threesome than what I’ve got now.”
“Will you go back then?”
“Do you know what, I think I will.”
