Love, Rosie (81 page)

afternoon
waiting
for
the
final
bell
to
ring
for
the
weekend.
For
my

freedom.
Whatever
use
double
maths
has
in
life
is
beyond
me,
but
it

sure
prepares
you
for
the
boredom
of
work.

Greg:

Oh
Rosie
I’m
sorry
to
dampen
your
good
spirits
but
I
have
to
head

up
north
to
Belfast
tonight.
I
only
found
out
this
morning
so
it’s

completely
last
minute.
I’m
sorry.

Rosie:

Greg:

Oh
no!
Why
do
you
have
to
go
to
Belfast?

Oh
there’s
this
seminar
that’s
on
that
I
have
to
go
to.

128

Rosie:

Greg:

Rosie:

What
kind
of
a
seminar?

A
financial
one.

Cecelia
Ahern

Well
of
course
it’s
a
financial
one.
I
hardly
expect
it
to
be
on

French
cuisine.
Do
you
have
to
go?
Will
they
even
notice
if
you’re

there?

Greg:

Well,
no
they
wouldn’t
notice
to
be
honest,
but
I
want
to
go.

They’re
quite
interesting
you
know,
and
I
have
to
stay
ahead
of
my

game.

Rosie:

Oh
how
much
more
could
you
possibly
learn
about
bloody
banks?

They
give
you
money
and
ask
for
ten
times
more
back.
That’s
about

it.

Greg:

Rosie:

I’m
sorry
Rosie.

Oh
this
is
so
annoying.
Of
all
the
bloody
weekends
Bill
gives
me

off,
it’s
the
one
you
have
to
go
away
for.
You
do
know
that
I
will

not
get
a
weekend
off
for
another
year
don’t
you?

Greg:

Rosie:

Greg:

Rosie:

Greg:

I
love
the
way
you
never
exaggerate
Rosie.
Listen,
I
have
to
go,
OK?

Talk
to
you
later,
love
you.

Oh
hold
on,
before
you
go,
did
you
see
the
phone
bill
this
morn-

ing?

What
was
it
like,
high?

Guess.

Damn.
That’s
you
and
all
that
time
you
spend
on
that
Internet
send-

ing
e-mails
you
know.
I
don’t
understand
why
you
and
Ruby
can’t

just
arrange
to
meet
like
normal
people.

Rosie:

Because
no
establishment
allows
us
to
sprawl
across
their
couches

in
our
pajamas
and
smoke.
It’s
far
more
comfortable
at
home.

Anyway
the
price
of
the
bill
couldn’t
have
anything
to
do
with
all

those
hours
a
week
you
spend
on
the
phone
to
your
mother,
con-

vincing
her
she’s
perfectly
capable
living
on
her
own,
by
any

chance?

Greg:

Rosie:

I
somehow
think
you
don’t
really
mind
me
spending
those
hours

convincing
her,
my
darling!

True!
Oh
if
only
we
knew
a
bank
manager
who
could
give
us
a

loan
.
.
.
how
simple
life
would
be
.
.
.

love,
rosie