Leonora's day

Leonora was sitting in her office annoyed with Leonard, and totally failing to concentrate on work because she was so preoccupied with horrid Leonard.

As usual, Mark walked in mid-morning.

"Morning Leonora.

"I've spoken to payroll and sorted out your wages so that you get paid up to next week, but you can leave tomorrow as we agreed yesterday."

He smiled at her.

Is that the conversation I missed yesterday? wondered Leonora. Just as well Mark's told me, I would have looked such a prat coming in on Monday if I was meant to have finished on Friday.

Leonard's fault, she thought, and scowled. Mark saw the change in her expression.

"Something wrong?" asked Mark, sounding worried.

"No, no, sorry Mark, that's fine. I was just worrying whether or not I could get everything finished for tomorrow, but I'm sure I can.

"Thanks, you've been super about all this," she said, and beamed at him.

He really was a nice guy. Why was she spending her time obsessing over stupid Leonard when she had this one wound round her little finger?

"I thought to celebrate you could come to my house tomorrow night after work, and I'll cook dinner. We can have a nice long walk with Sheba first, and then a romantic meal in. What do you reckon?"

Leonora felt like vomiting. What is it with these men that talk about romantic dinners? Food is for eating and is very nice. Then there is sex, which can come before or afterwards. Bit messy in the middle of eating, she thought. Distracting too from decent food.

But romantic anything?? She remembered not to pull a face this time though.

"Oh, a meal would be lovely Mark. You're such a good cook, I really enjoy it when you cook for me," she said winningly. "And of course, Sheba is such a darling."

Mark smiled at her flattery, feeling pleased with himself. He touched her lightly on the shoulder.

"That's great. I'm sure we'll see each other before then, but if not, you can just come home with me, maybe we can get away early too."

Alarm bells. Oh no. Mark was determined to let the whole world know that they were A Couple. In A Relationship.

"Oh Mark, it would be much easier if I go home first and get changed and everything like that. Then I'll either make my own way over to your place, or give you a ring to meet up somewhere. Is that OK?" she said.

"Whatever suits," said Mark, still pleased with Leonora's agreeable response to everything. "See you later then."

When he'd gone out of the office, Leonora breathed deeply, wondering how on earth she was going to prevent this nice casual relationship escalating out of hand.

In fact, she even forgot about horrid Leonard. She cracked on with her work for the rest of the day.

When she got in, she quickly turned on the computer to see what nasty emails Leonard might have sent her. Nothing. Again.

She considered sending another one to him.

"I assume from your lack of response that you fully accept that you are a total and utter arse........"

Maybe not.

She went through to the kitchen to put something on for tea.

"How are you today darlings?" she called to the little crutches.

"We've got a plan Leonora," they replied.

"Oh, that's interesting," she said. I could do with a few plans in my life to get it sorted.

"What's that?"

"We were thinking it might be nice for the other three little crutches to come here and live with us," they said, slightly hesitantly.

"You see, last time we were at Leonard's they were very sad and lonely," said the first little crutch.

"They are just abandoned in Leonard's store cupboard because he doesn't care about them any more," said the second one.

"And they are worried that one day he will just throw them out on the scrap heap," added the first one.

"You see, although we didn't get on when we last talked to them because they were so miserable and we have a super life with you, we thought....." said the second one.

"We thought," said the first little crutch interrupting quickly as the second one was talking too much, "that we could all be happy and friends again if you would let them live here."

The second little crutch glared at the first one for interrupting. The first one smirked. It had started and finished the conversation.

"Only if you want of course Leonora," said the second one, much to the annoyance of the first little crutch who stopped smirking.

"Well, that's a very nice thought of you," said Leonora, disappointed they hadn't come up with a magical solution for her to sort the men in her life, but touched by their generous and kind nature.

"Trouble is right now, I'm not really getting on very well with Leonard. If I mention adopting the other little crutches, he'll probably demand I give you back and you will all end up on the scrap heap."

The little crutches opened their big eyes wide and looked horrified. They didn't want to go anywhere. They loved living with Leonora. She was kind and funny and they felt wanted, even though she didn't need them any more.

Leonora felt guilty when she saw the look on their faces.

"I wouldn't let him have you back of course," she said. "I just need to time it right to ask for the other three."

The little crutches breathed a sigh of relief. The truth was Leonora wasn't convinced she wanted five bickering little crutches cluttering up her hallway. Two were manageable but another three would make the place look even more untidy, and there was much more potential for argument and chaos. Still, she would think about it. But not right now.

After tea, she thought about messing around on the internet, but decided to lie on the sofa instead with a book.

Pring pring. Pring pring.

She wandered over to the 'phone. No number came up.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hello Leonora." The unmistakeable tone of an assertive Leonard.