‘Urgh...’
Ale unzipped his high-vis jacket with a sharp tug and closed his eyes, cracking his neck again. He rolled up the loose end of his trolley strap, placed it into his tray at the trolley hut and took from the latter his Com and his clock-in card. He picked up the Company Com and pressed B to clock out.
‘3006,’ he said to the receiver, and it beeped to indicate it was ready for his card, which he swiped through the Com slot and then pocketed. The second beep was for reports. ‘Hi, Gat,’ said Ale in his most normal-sounding voice. ‘Just to say there was a pothole that’s not been filled properly on the road next to the recycling bins. I’ve stuck a cone over it. Just to let you know.’
He cut the Com and replaced it, then closed the shed door and locked it. He gave the keys back to Lime, who was ill-advisedly pushing two lines of shallows. ‘That’s you off, is it? Take care,’ boomed Lime, nodding.
‘You too. See you later,’ said Ale, and he walked past van parking and towards the skip wall, where there was a gap for pedestrians. He pulled out his Com the second he’d turned the corner and walked past the back yard, where store staff were busy unloading a delivery truck.
‘Darling?’ said his mother once he’d called.
‘Mm,’ replied Ale.
‘How was the day?’
Ale sighed. ‘It was fine.’
‘You’re sounding low!’
‘Mm.’
‘What’s happened? Are you with someone right now?’
Ale didn’t respond as he passed a mare walking her dog. Then he said, ‘Just walking past someone.’
‘Ah, OK. So how did it go then? Were you doing trolleys?’
‘What else would I be doing?’ said Ale impatiently.
‘Well, sometimes they put you on the checkouts.’
‘Well, not today.’
‘Oh, give a smile! You’re sounding low! Are you tired?’
‘Of course I’m tired!’
‘It’s good exercise though, eh? It’ll help you in losing weight.’
‘I’m not losing weight just now,’ said Ale wearily. There was a long pause with which he was totally comfortable as his mother spoke loudly to one of his brothers, probably Air, in the background. He walked with the Com held up to his ear for a full minute, waiting for his mother to speak.
‘Well, your father and I have nothing to say about how things are going on here. We’re just sitting together lazily, doing absolutely nothing.’
‘What were you saying just now?’
‘Oh, just arguing with your brother about nothing. He’s now back in his room again, playing fantasy games.’
‘Well, I’ve got nothing new either,’ said Ale. ‘I’m just...’ He sighed. ‘Fed up.’
‘Yes, you’re sounding a bit down, and Ale, this is because of the food that you are eating.’
‘Oh, enough about the food,’ said Ale. ‘It’s got nothing to do with the food. I feel the same even when I’m eating healthy.’
‘How do you know? You’ve never tried!’
‘Are you dumb? I had a diet for two months that summer!’
‘But you weren’t doing it properly.’
‘That’s bullshit, I was completely off bread and sugar! And I still felt tired!’
‘I’m not so sure.’
‘Well, I am.’
‘Anyway, I’m not going to waste my breath telling you to look after yourself. My days of looking after you are over. I’ve done my part. If you want to treat your body like a bin –’
‘Oh, just be quiet.’
There was another long pause.
‘Hey, Ale. Give a smile.’
‘Urgh.’
‘Are you working tomorrow?’
‘Yes! And I’ve got to go in an hour earlier too because my stupid manager isn’t doing his bloody job!’
‘What did he not do?’
‘He hasn’t put up the rota yet,’ grunted Ale. ‘Again.’
‘Can’t you just call him?’
‘No, Mam.’
‘But why not? Isn’t it his job to tell you when you’re supposed to be working?’
‘Yes, but I’m not going to call him.’
‘But why not?’
‘Because I don’t want to!’
‘Oh, I can’t understand it when you act like this. It’s so simple just to give him a call! How about you message him?’
‘I’ll see.’
‘Well. Just make sure you do. You don’t want to go in late.’
‘Yes, I know.’ Ale sighed as his hooves crunched against the gravel pathing the rise to his groundflat.
‘Are you back home now?’
‘Yes, speak later,’ said Ale, twisting to reach his keys. ‘I’ll phone after at some point.’
‘OK, darling, love you. Bye.’
‘Bye.’
Ale tried the top lock, his neck tingling with anticipation. It was locked, and he relaxed. Farl wasn’t back yet, which meant Ale could use the kitchen if he was quick enough. He opened the groundflat, then stuck his keys back into the bottom lock and locked the door. He threw off his underzipper, then picked it up and hung it on the peg by the cupboard door. The dull Company furnishing that occupied their living room was nonetheless comfortable, and Ale sank into his puffy chair beside the window, kicking up his hind hooves onto the low table in the middle of the carpet and sighing again.
How empty, he thought. How empty does it get.