Picture That – Jenny 42

 

[For back story go here: Story so far at 30 Nov 2020 and this one.]

[For other back story click in-links] 

“What do you think you were doing?” Said Peter, a little too forcefully given his proximity to Jenny.

“I was trying to plan a nice event for you,” she protested. “I realise it’s not about to happen any time soon but…”

“You went behind my back to talk to Jude? About getting married? And you didn’t think it might be good to talk to me about this?”

“Obviously I wanted to talk to you about it, but there are two of you and I don’t want her to feel left out.”

Peter just stared at her, trying to figure our what to say next but not finding it in time. Helen pushed past heading for the utility room.

“She’s not going to be…” started Peter. “We’re just…”

“I’m sorry,” said Jenny. “I apologise if you think it was the wrong thing to do…”

“I think?”

“But really I only want to do what’s best for you guys, and I thought it would be nice if Jude and I had a little chat as well. It’s not like we get much of a chance at the moment. Or indeed will do any time soon.”

Helen came back. On her own mission, oblivious to the conversation she was wading through.

“Is there any cardboard packaging I can use?” she asked. “Boxes. Flat boxes, that kind of thing?”

“You should have told me,” said Peter, “The least you could have done is told me. Either that you were going to do it or that you’d done it. Instead I find out by text.”

“Did anyone hear me?” asked Helen, pointedly. “Cardboard boxes – packaging, maybe left over from Christmas or someone sending us something or… something.”

Jenny looked at Peter. “Wait,” she said. “We need to finish this conversation, OK? Even if that means I need to apologise some more.”

She escorted Helen back into the utility room to survey the place where cardboard was generally stored before being recycled or given a second life at home. There was nothing any good there –  a shoe box over which Helen poured scorn before sighing heavily apparently about the injustice of there not being any further cardboard lying around the room.

Jenny escorted Helen back through the kitchen where Peter was now consoling himself with toast, and upstairs to the spare room. Despite everyone’s best intentions the room was still suffering from the after effects of Izzy’s loft management project. There were a number of boxes still lying around, some sealed, some open and other pillaged and left to decay.

“What is all this stuff?” asked Helen, a bit of wonder in her voice, but mainly just amazement that there was so much of it.

“Oh, you know, just stuff,” said Jenny. “Left overs, stuff that fell out of use and we couldn’t be bothered with or bothered to throw away. Although mainly we thought it would come in handy again.”

“Handy for what?” Helen observed, lifting a strangely shaped piece of wood.

“Anything,” said Jenny. “you never know who might need what and why. That said you are looking at a work in progress if you like - something we got half way through and then other stuff happened.”

“So is this all going free?”

“At the moment, I guess so,” said Jenny. “Or going to the tip. Whatever seems like the best idea at the time.”

Helen rooted through a few boxes with interest. Most of it appeared broken or too old to consider doing anything with, but there was the odd piece that bore a little more consideration, a bit more thought and perhaps storytelling. Trinkets which had come from foreign countries, maybe the odd trophy from some holiday or other. Weird pieces which wouldn’t look out of place on someone’s desk at work, or even the mantelpiece - a talking point to draw attention when a conversation lagged.

They found a couple of cardboard boxes which didn't appear to be being used for anything. As she watch Helen break one of them down flat Jenny asked what it was for.

"I've sold a picture," said Helen. "Need to send it safely."

"You've sold a what?"

"Picture, you know? Created it, put it on IG and someone wanted it so..."

"Who have you sold it to?"

"Dunno but they're paying for it and..."

"You don't know who..?"

"Mum it's fine. It'a a good thing someone wants to..."

"What kind of picture is it?" asked Jenny.

Helen stared at her for a few seconds and then said, quite loudly, "It's a landscape. OK?" and walked out.

Jenny watched her go, remembering when her own mum had told her how she couldn't do right for doing wrong.