Disconnect – Sandra 17

[For back story go here: Story so far at 27 July 2020.]

“Oh, I wondered where he’d end up,” said Frankie. “Doesn’t surprise me. Should have warned you, shouldn’t I?”

Frankie observed Sandra’s expression across the video phone. “Sorry,” she said.

“What am I meant to do?” asked Sandra.

“Well,” said Frankie. “That’s really entirely up to you. I mean, I’ve thrown him out. That’s the whole point and everything, isn’t it? I gave him an ultimatum and told him he could do it or he’d be out and… I guess he made a choice.”

“So you’re expecting me to do what precisely?”

“Anything you like. He’s all yours.”

“I don’t like him, Frankie, you do know that, right?”

“Yeah yeah, completely. Never doubted it. But honestly I’ve washed my hands of him, I’ve got the kids to look after – well, my mum’s here looking after them, but not all the time of course – I’m not going to waste any more time trying to get him to…  well I’m just not wasting any more time is all. Going to enjoy the rest of the summer, kick back, relax and start all over again.”

Sandra sighed. “Thanks. Just thanks.”

She moved to turn off the video line. “The kids say hi and they miss you!” said Frankie.

“Yeah, me too,” said Sandra flicking it off.

Trinny was messaging her manically now. At first Sandra had just ignored her. Her messages weren’t exactly precise, simply saying ‘not looking good’ followed by dots and then there were sad emojis and worried face emojis and some other expressions Sandra couldn’t read. Sandra wasn’t certain what Trinny was building up to. And now she’d had confirmation of Rob’s return and that it was really just going to be something else she had to deal with she really wasn’t in the mood for engaging any further with her business partner, especially if doing so was not mandatory. If she got desperate Trinny would call. Or send her frowning poo emojis.

Sandra looked out at the campervan which housed Rob. She hadn’t seen him since the other evening and so was in no position to work out his intentions. After all, he could literally come and knock on her door, or ring her or something and he hadn’t. Yet. Sandra knew it would only be a matter of time and she needed a back up plan.

Finally the poo emoji arrived so Sandra reluctantly dialled up Trinny.

“Guess what’s happened,” said Trinny, quite brightly.

“Actually I’m really not in the mood,” began Sandra.

“No, go on,” said Trinny.

“They’ve closed pubs again and it’s ruined us?”

“No, well, a bit of that isn’t quite right, but there again closing the pubs might help us – you know, finding the not so obvious places for people to meeting?”

“Oh that reminds me we got a complaint from someone who’d gone to the London Transport Museum – it’s closed.”

“Yes but they’re opening the depot for a bit in August so that’s why it needs to be there. Needs labelling differently maybe but…”

“What is it, Trinny? Is it the pub thing?”

“No its the ransomware thing.”

There was a pause.

“The ransomware thing?”

“Yes. You know all those places where someone or other has taken their data and won’t let them have it back unless they pay loads of money?”

“Yes..?”

“We’ve got one of those - isn't it exciting?”

“Yeah. Great. Super exciting. What do we do now?”

“Not certain. Adrian’s working on it but pretty soon we might want to think about where we can find a reasonable amount of cash or bitcoins – however you do those things – and if you could start drafting a really apologetic letter to everyone whose details we had – and which now someone else has – that would be great.”

“You know, I wish it was the pub thing,” said Sandra. “I could have written something great about the pub thing. I could have done the whole ‘Save our Schools’ thing – although obviously don’t try and meet up there instead. Obviously.”

“Unless you’re two parents with kids who go to that school who fancy each other and…”

“No. No. Stop. It’s not going to work.”

“Look, the data thing isn’t a huge set back,” assured Trinny.

“Seriously? It could end us.”

“It could happen to anyone,” said Trinny. “It has happened to anyone and they’ve survived. Anyway, Adrian’s on it and I’ll keep you in the loop.”

“Thanks.”

“You don’t sound your usual happy self, Sandy – what’s up?”

“Apart from us not having access to our data, you mean?”

“I can tell these things.”

“Rob’s back.”

“Ah, no.”

“He’s living in a campervan across the road from me.”

“Oo, there’s dedication. Go out and let his tyres down.”

“Then he’ll never move on. And now I can’t even recommend an app for him where he can meet someone else, can I?”

They rang off with Sandra thinking she might do a letter along the lines of ‘technical difficulties’ and see how that went. Meanwhile the thought of finding Rob an alternative suggested another course of action for her and she made a mental note to make a phonecall tonight.