Room 46 & Short Story Collection Read online

  A little depressed now, she decided to leave her sandals on to cheer herself up. Stuff my grubby old sneakers and their comfort, Ella thought, today I am going to arrive in style. Poking her shoes down the edges of her bag, she then reached in deeper to retrieve the dog-eared Cosmo she’d been reading all week.

  Ella was engrossed in an article about hair straighteners when the melodic tone of her mobile announced a text message. Reaching down, she felt around absently, her attention still on the article. Finally unearthing the phone, she hit the unlock sequence, missing it twice before it finally co-operated. Stupid phone!

  Making the switch from her employer provided iPhone to a no-frills Nokia was a major adjustment she still struggled with. She knew she should be grateful that Natalie had managed to swing them a matching pair in a special two for one promotion that included hugely discounted rates when combined with their internet plan but her fun side was still rebelling.

  She frowned as the screen flashed “private number”. Who outside her address book would be texting her at this time of the morning? Hitting the OK key the message appeared. It read, “Hey QT I’m watching you.”

  Ella sat up straighter, her curiosity piqued. Doing her best to look neutral she glanced around the carriage at the familiar faces that made the same journey each day. Nobody appeared to be holding a phone. Before she had time to consider any further the Nokia vibrated in her palm and the message icon appeared. “Love your shoes,” it said.

  With as little obvious movement as possible she keyed in a reply. “Thanks.”

  The screen flashed again about 30 seconds later. “Italian?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Running l8 2day?”

  Ella glanced around surreptitiously before replying. “Who are you???”

  The answer came back in a flash. “An admirer.”

  “How do you know me?” she typed back.

  “I’ve been watching u for months,” said the reply.

  “Why not say something?”

  “2 shy!”

  Thinking for a second, Ella hit the call button and was startled seconds later when a jarring mariachi tune burst into life about five seats in front. Jumping to her feet she followed the sound, amazed to eventually trace it to an elderly woman in a tracksuit. ‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’ Ella demanded.

  ‘What? Oh is that mine?’ the woman asked, opening her bag and rummaging around. Ella glanced at her own phone, only to realise that the call had been rejected already, while the woman’s phone was still ringing. Scratch that idea.

  The phone vibrated again just as Ella sat back down. “Tricky, tricky!” it read.

  “Why didn’t you answer?”

  “More fun this way.”

  Ella stared at the screen, frustrated again not to have her iPhone. It could have given her so much more information. But then again maybe it was more fun this way. She hadn’t had a secret admirer since year nine. She could do with a liaison of some sort after almost six months of singledom.

  “Why me?” she asked.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  “Aw shucks.”

  “I mean it.”

  “Thx :-)”

  For the next five minutes they texted back and forth, each message becoming increasingly flirty.

  Finally Ella decided to take control of the situation. “Coffee at Central after work?”

  The reply was almost instant. “Maybe”.

  “Oh, only maybe???”

  “I want to REALLY get to know you first.”

  Ella shook her head. Technology had a lot to answer for sometimes. Guys these days hid behind text messages and emails instead of getting out there and talking to women. As much fun as this had been, she wasn’t wasting any more of her phone credit on a loser.

  “Sorry, face to face or no chance!”

  “We’ll see about that!”

  At this Ella’s stomach clenched. How was she supposed to take that? Was it meant to be funny and friendly or was it a tad threatening? Hitting the lock sequence, she dropped the phone back in her bag and picked up her Cosmo again.

  The message beep came almost immediately but Ella didn’t respond. Then came another beep and another. Ella knew she shouldn’t engage any further but curiosity got the better of her. Checking the screen, her pulse quickened. Each message, accompanied by an angry face, was one word in capitals – DON’T – IGNORE – ME!

  Right, thought Ella, you are getting blocked! Holding the phone aloft she scrolled through the menu but couldn’t work out how to activate the block function.

  The phone beeped again then and although Ella knew it was her imagination, this time the tone seemed menacing.

  “Play nice!”

  Ella’s stomach clenched again, tighter this time. This interaction was getting weird. Shoving the Cosmo into her bag, she got up and walked towards the next carriage, studying each face briefly as she walked past. Dan the nerdy guy from the bank would never try anything so forward. Patrick from Qantas was way too tight with money to send frivolous messages. Reg the park ranger didn’t have a mobile phone.

  As she stepped into the alcove at the end of the carriage her phone screen lit up again saying, “I know where you live and work.”

  Ella was starting to feel faint. Recalling the story about mobile phone stalking she had seen on the news the previous week she strode through the next two carriages and sat down next to a woman with a baby. This carriage was much fuller, providing her with a sense of anonymity.

  The messages started coming faster then and Ella decided to turn the phone off. As soon as she got to work she would ring the police and have this fruitcake arrested, assuming of course they could trace a private number.

  It was only when she turned the phone over to activate the off switch that she noticed the little orange dot on the bottom. The one Natalie had put on her phone so they wouldn’t get them mixed up.

  It’s not my phone! Ella realised. Natalie must have picked up the wrong one this morning.

  The relief was so immense she almost burst into tears. True, she felt bad for Natalie, but at least she was safe at the hospital for now. She would call the police anyway and then ring Nat and warn her too.

  Natalie always claimed she had an inbuilt radar for sensing how genuine a person was within moments of meeting them. Obviously it had short circuited on at least one occasion thought Ella a tad smugly. She had warned her housemate about being too friendly and trusting of people. Shaking her head, she thought, dear old Nat, living in her little fantasy world. This might just be the shakeup she needed to get with the program and embrace the real world.

  Ella bounced off the train at Geebung station, happy to see that the drizzle had dried up and the sun was now shining. It was amazing how your world could be turned upside down and then right side up again in such a short time frame. She actually enjoyed the ten-minute walk to work from the station along the back streets. It was much quieter than along the busy main road and there was a lovely little secluded park where she could sit and catch her breath before facing another day at the coalface.

  I really shouldn’t have changed my shoes, she berated herself as she sauntered along, these sandals are not made for walking! It’s lucky I don’t have to run at this end.

  Still feeling buoyed by the relief that she wasn’t being stalked after all, Ella forgot she wasn’t carrying her own phone and didn’t even check the screen before answering the phone when it rang as she walked through the deserted park.

  ‘Hello,’ she chirped.

  The voice was low and menacing. ‘Hello Ella,’ the caller said. ‘Don’t forget to give Natalie back her phone.’

  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

  The call scared Ella so much she dropped the phone and immediately started running, but of course she didn’t get far in her shoes.

  Emerging from the bushland he ran over to where she lay crumpled on the ground clasping her left ankle, which was already swelling rapidly. H
er handbag and its contents were strewn across the grass nearby. He had never seen her look like this before, scared and helpless. She was usually so poised and controlled. Yet again fate had intervened, amazingly, to make him the hero.

  At the sight of him she immediately burst into tears.

  ‘Craig!’ she exclaimed, between sobs. ‘Please help me!’

  She knew his name! He thought he was just another employee number, a faceless member of the construction crew who visited the payroll office every Thursday morning to sign his timesheet.

  Craig had been smitten from the first moment he had laid eyes upon Ella. But he’d always been so shy with women and the office was so crowded that he’d never got the chance to speak to her alone. That was why he had been waiting in hope these past few weeks. What could be more natural than bumping into a workmate and walking with them to the office?

  His main aim had just been to speak to her, but something much bigger was going on here and he wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  ‘Don’t cry Ella,’ he soothed, ‘everything is going to be all right.’

  Natalie finally emerged from her room at nine o’clock, sleepy eyed and with crazy bed hair. She wasn’t surprised to see Marty ensconced on the couch, watching TV.

  ‘Hey sleepyhead,’ he said, ‘Glad you called in sick today?’

  ‘Yeah, what do you reckon?’ she replied with a grin. ‘I haven’t slept in for weeks and I can’t wait to catch some rays once we get to Mooloolaba. I’m a big believer in the occasional mental health day.’

  ‘Oh yeah, me too.’

  ‘So, you been here long?’ Natalie asked, as she poured herself a glass of juice.

  ‘A little while.’

  ‘You weren’t bored were you?’

  ‘No, not a bit, I’ve been catching up with some text messages.’

  ‘Okay, great. Just give me a minute and we can get going.’

  ‘Sure Babe, no hurry,’ he replied. ‘Oh, by the way Ella took your phone by mistake.’

  Natalie put her hand over her mouth. ‘Oops! That was my fault. It was still half dark when I grabbed it this morning to call work. I didn’t realise I got the wrong one.’ She raised her eyebrow questioningly. ‘How did you realise that?’

  ‘You left it on the couch. When I picked it up to move it there was no little dot.’

  Natalie shook her head. ‘Oh no, I feel bad! I hope it doesn’t inconvenience Ella too much.’

  ‘No point worrying about it now,’ Marty said and then lay down so Natalie wouldn’t see his grin.

  From the moment she had moved in Marty had taken an instant dislike to snooty Ella, Miss High and Mighty who used to have such an important job and a place in the city. He was tired of hearing her whinge about the long commute and how primitive life was out here in the sticks so he had taken the opportunity to make her reconsider her long train journey each morning.

  It was fortuitous that he had seen her running down the road with the heel of one of her stupid shoes hanging out of her handbag. Having heard her rave on and on about them they lent a great deal of authenticity to his text conversation. He was also glad he had kept the prepaid SIM card he’d bought on his latest trip to Bali. It was totally untraceable.

  Oh yes, he had finally solved the Ella problem.

  With a bit of luck she would be gone before the month was out.

  The Group

  Beth couldn’t believe how nervous she was.

  It was ridiculous – after all she was a successful, confident woman with a corporate career. She had two bachelor degrees and an MBA and she earned a six-figure salary. Yet, as she stood here in the small, run-down community hall facing a rather motley crew of strangers her palms were slick with sweat and her heart was pounding as if she’d just leapt off the treadmill.

  The pages Beth held in her hands were dog-eared from incessant handling. She had still been flicking between them making last minute adjustments when she was introduced by Gordon and invited up to speak.

  Beth couldn’t believe how different Gordon was in person. Her impression of him from his emails, and his name, had been an older, distinguished gentleman, and she was still struggling to come to terms with the twenty-something guy with his straggly goatee and waist length ponytail. His face was open and friendly, but also slightly puzzled as he eyed Beth now, obviously wondering why she hadn’t yet spoken.

  ‘Beth?’ he prompted.

  Beth nodded and managed a weak smile. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, ‘I’m just very nervous.’

  ‘No need to be,’ Gordon reassured her. ‘We were all the newbie once.’

  Several other audience members nodded their agreement.

  Beth took a deep breath and focused her attention on a spot on the timber-panelled wall. Breathe Beth, she instructed herself. If you can speak at a national conference you can speak here. Yeah, but the national conference was business, she reminded herself, this is personal. You are about to expose a side of yourself that has never been publicly acknowledged.

  A woman in the front row coughed and a man up the back glanced at his phone. People fidgeting was not a good sign and Beth knew she had to either get on with it or get out.

  Taking another deep breath she opened her mouth and finally the words began to flow.

  The huge thunderclap and accompanying flash of lightening ended Beth’s hopes of leaving the office to buy a sandwich and a magazine. ‘Damn,’ she muttered, realising she should have gone half an hour ago. Josie from the secretarial pool had already buzzed twice to remind her that ‘lunch hours need to be strictly adhered to so as to ensure the smooth running of Lloyd and Morgan’.

  Beth conceded she had a point; after all it was hard to put calls through and schedule appointments when staff didn’t stick to their break times. Even so, did everything about the accounting world have to come down to numbers? She had just wanted to get Mrs Borthwick’s complex tax return done and then enjoy her break.

  She clicked on the lodge button and sighed wearily as the file uploaded. It wasn’t accounting that was the problem, it was her. A box containing her newly updated business cards – which now proudly acknowledged her as Senior Associate – caught her attention. This new position and the pay rise that came with it should make her feel happy, right? A decade of study and hard work had finally been rewarded after all. Yet what she felt now was weighed down with expectation and trapped into a future she didn’t want.

  The urge inside Beth had been growing stronger for a long time now, it had been there since childhood really but she’d never had the courage to tell anybody. In the past she had managed to squash it by working harder and studying more but now as she approached her thirtieth birthday, well, it seemed if she didn’t act soon she would go crazy.

  Boom!

  Another rumble of thunder sounded, followed by the pounding of heavy rain on the roof. Well, that was that, it was the lunchroom or bust today. Flicking her computer to hibernate, Beth picked up her water bottle and trudged down the hall.

  Considering that Lloyd and Morgan was a prosperous, long-established firm with very fancy office space, they paid little attention to the state of the staff lunchroom. Stuck in a windowless corner of the building, the fluorescent lighting was much too harsh for the small space and the lingering olfactory reminders of thousands of microwaved meals permeated the room, resulting in a persistent, unpleasant odour. Beth could not understand why more of her colleagues did not choose to escape to a nearby café like she generally did.

  Fortunately, the staff club kept a supply of basic food items for sale, so Beth paid one dollar for a packet of generic chicken noodle soup mix and selected a packet of chicken Twisties from the vending machine. After mixing her soup she took a seat at the only vacant table and leafed listlessly through the selection of junk mail, accounting journals and ancient magazines on the table.

  Adam from IT sat down opposite her, frowning as he examined a bruised Granny Smith apple.

  ‘Whoa,’ Beth said,
‘that’s a lovely looking specimen.’

  ‘Yeah isn’t it just? I found it at the bottom of my backpack and can’t quite remember when I put it there,’ he admitted. ‘But my options are pretty limited aren’t they? I see you snagged the last cup a soup and you’ve hogged all the best reading material.’

  ‘You’ve got to be quick around here,’ Beth laughed. ‘But let me save you some time – Coles have a two for one special on tinned tomatoes, Woolies have rolled back the price on Safe toilet paper and according to this five-year-old New Idea, William and Kate are never getting married.’

  Adam reached over to the next table. ‘Here you go,’ he smirked, handing her the latest edition of the local community newspaper. ‘I’m sure there will be some ground-breaking headlines in here.’

  ‘My humble thanks,’ Beth deadpanned. She never read the free paper, but in the absence of anything better today she slid it over and started flicking through it.

  It was only a small notice, buried in the free classifieds section, but Beth noticed it immediately. It had occurred to her that a group might be a good outlet, a way to test the waters and try something new without having to turn her whole life upside down.

  Maybe it was just what she needed to get the idea out of her system for good. Because, in the end, it was a crazy and very impractical desire. She hadn’t studied for all those years and worked her butt off for even longer to throw it all away on a whim.

  Still, it couldn’t hurt to check the group out.

  Adam noticed her preoccupation. ‘Don’t tell me you’re getting involved in community affairs.’

  ‘No, nothing that noble. Just checking my stars.’

  ‘Let me guess…you’re on the brink of a whole new life cycle and destined to meet the man of your dreams?’