Page 94 of Little Wing
Nell knocked gently on the door and went in.
Wendy was watching television.
Of course she was.
But that’s OK, thought Nell. She thought, that’s what my mum likes to do.
She sat herself down on the side of the bed and studied her mother’s profile and she thought if Flora had been half as beautiful as Wendy, she’d have been blessed.
When Nell was young, television wasn’t merely something for her to watch with her mum, it had been a springboard for things to do. These were the times when Nell and Wendy occupied the same world and spoke the same language.DallasandDynastymeant that they had to play with big hair and talk in broad Texan for hours afterwards, sometimes days in Wendy’s case.Great Expectationssaw Wendy dress as Miss Havisham and Nell as Pip for a trip to the shops. And repeats ofI, Claudiushad them perfecting, even bettering, Derek Jacobi’s stammer – which made a taxi ride to the station slightly mortifying. And best of allThe Young Oneshad them playing Rick and Vyvyan, jumping up and down on the sofa, hurling cushions and newspapers about and stomping around on the kitchen table shouting unintelligibly. But today, Wendy was watchingFriends.
‘Who’s your favourite Friend?’ Nell asked.
‘Joey,’ Wendy said, her eyes not leaving the television set.
‘Mine’s Phoebe.’
‘Smelly cat.’
‘How are you?’ Nell touched her arm. ‘You’re a bit cold.’
‘I am a little chilly.’
Nell went to the cupboard and found a soft cardi. ‘Here.’
‘Which friend are you?’ Wendy was looking at her, puzzled.
‘Monica?’ Nell tried tentatively.
‘No – not off the telly. In real life?’
Nell smiled sadly and put her palm softly against her mum’s cheek. ‘It’s me, Mum. It’s Nell.’
Wendy looked startled. ‘You’re Nell? Look at the size of you!’
‘I’m thirty-five.’
‘Never!’ Wendy clapped her hand to her forehead before peeping through her fingers spryly. ‘That makes meancient.’
‘Don’t be daft, Mum.’
Wendy reached for Nell’s hand. ‘I haven’t seen you foryears.’
‘Well,’ said Nell, ‘about a fortnight.’
‘A lot can happen in a fortnight. Believe you me.’
‘A lot did happen these past two weeks.’
‘But look at you! Where have you been?’
‘I’ve been to Scotland, Mum.’
‘You don’t say!’
‘I do. I went to Harris, Mum.’
‘To Harris?’
