The Wages of Sin
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007
Phone for you Jess!”
I looked up from ‘Social Behaviour and Customs in England: 1750 – 1815’ in surprise. It was quickly replaced by a sense of foreboding. Was this the call to tell me that my so-called guardian had finally expired of a heart attack in a puddle of scotch whiskey, grouse, Ladbrokes tickets and final demands? Nobody ever called me at school (apart from Beth or Sylvie in the holidays). The common room was pretty noisy and full and I could see Sylvie looking up at me quizzically from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. I went to the payphone outside the Dashwood common room.
“Hello?” I said cautiously
“Jess! Christian. You ok? Bloody hell, it would be easier to get through to Bill Clinton than you. Why don’t you have a bloody mobile?”
“Oh! Hi Christian! Nice to hear from you. Why are you calling me at school? Is Saturday cancelled?”
I was aware that Amelia had just come out of the common room and appeared to be tying her shoelace. I curled my body around the phone, lowering my voice. He boomed back through the receiver.
“No no, everything is fine. I’m calling about your birthday. The good news - I spoke to Mr Black about tickets for you lot and that’s all fine. But the even better news is that when he heard it was your birthday, he said to tell you that he was giving you two cases of champagne with his compliments. Now aren’t you lucky! He never gives me bloody champers.”

