The Turn of the Wheel – Jenny 19

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

[Click on in-text links for relevant back story]

Jenny was trying to fix her bike. That was the idea at least, but it wasn’t going well. Just when she thought she’d got the chain back on over the gears she found the tension wasn’t right and changing down would thrown the entire thing off the cogs. At the same time one of the axle bolts refused to get to the right tension so she was wondering whether this was the source of her problem – the wheel just kept wobbling. But then maybe the source of her problem was actually that the bike was too old or maybe she was too old to be considering doing this kind of work or even riding the thing through the busy streets.

"Need some help?" Izzy asked, appearing at the door.

"I guess," sighed Jenny. 

"I could try with that spanner if you like?" 

"You could just try with that kettle and a cup of tea," said Jenny. "That would be enough.”

Izzy did so and found the biscuits they'd hidden from the kids.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"OK. Well, not OK. Not able to put my finger on anything that makes any sense," replied Jenny. “You?"

"Same. Been trying to get my head round work but I"m not sure it's worth it. We do one thing and then a few days later they change the rules. Either the government or the directors. Goal posts keep moving.”

“I used to think work was a sanctuary from everything else but it's really not that now,” said Jenny. “Now it’s just a wind up. Really. Most of what we do was never in the job description.”

“The pandemic was never in the job description,” said Izzy. "Do you want to quit?”

The question shot out of nowhere so far as Jenny was concerned. True it was something that had crossed her mind, but usually on bad days or the bad parts of days when not only did the work mount up but so too did the obstacles to her completing it. So many different corridors to walk down due to the one-way system around the office, so many different doors to stop at and sanitise hands once again.

"And do what?” she asked.

"Anything," said Izzy, "Anything at all. You used to like cycling long distance. You raced occasionally.”

“This one is going to be lucky to make it round the corner…”

“Get a racer. Like the one you used to have,” said Izzy. “Live a little.”

There was a pause and in that time Jenny let her mind wander over all the other possibilities that presented to her. Way back she could remember a time when she dreamt of doing something different but now she couldn't remember exactly what it was.

“Why are you saying this?” She asked. 

"Looking forward to being a grandma?”

"Do we have to think about that now?”

“It’s nearly all I’ve been thinking about,” said Izzy. ”Grandparents. Grey haired, comfy chairs, another kid to look after. Is that our future? 

There was a cough from the hall.

“Watch out,” said Jenny, “here comes the future now.”

Peter appeared at the doorway, he was clutching an in-ear thermometer.

“It’s OK,” he said. “I’m feeling better. And the numbers say I am too.”

“Woah,” said Jenny, “Don’t come any closer. We need to do some research before we get carried away. Izzy, do you want to do the honours?”

Izzy smiled agreement and set off for the nearest computer to delve around for some kind of certainty over whether Peter’s symptoms and general health now merited some kind of easing of lockdown measures.

“Can’t hide away for ever,” said Peter. “Well, I guess I can but you might not like it. Might get embarrassing. Is she going to be long?” he added, nodding after Izzy.

“Oh, yes,” said Jenny. “Gets longer and longer.”

“Sorry about Jude, too,” said Peter. “Guess you could have done without that?”

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Jenny. “If you’re happy then…”

“Not sure happy covers it,” said Peter. “Sort of difficult, but I’m OK with it.”

“So congratulations are in order,” said Jenny.

“What just for that?” Asked Peter, unenthusiastically.

“Not just for that,” said Jenny. “You’ll be fit enough to go back to school so good timing there.”

Peter smiled vaguely.

“Oh and congratulations for not having any exams this year that would have been completely screwed up,” added Jenny. “That was a smart move.”

“Question of timing,” said Peter, “And that was down to you.”