Page 20 of Little Miss Fortune

‘And then we grabbed a coffee and had a walk in the park.’

‘What did you talk about?’ That’s right, Fuko, just keep the conversation going.

‘You and your health, his trip to Japan, work.’

Me? ‘Nothing about a chapel wedding?’ I ask, and she slaps my shoulder.

‘He told me some crazy stories from uni. I told him I was arrested.’

‘The hooker costume incident,’ we say in unison and nod.

Sashka got caught with weed once but was also mistaken for a prostitute because of the Sports Society Social’s theme—thoughts and thots, where you dressed up either as a philosopher or a slag. Ironically, Sashka was taken in dressed as slutty Kant (pun intended).

‘He just feels like a solid, decent guy. There is an air of peace around him. He is a once in a lifetime kind of man.’

He is quite nice to be around... despite his murder attempt and inability to read door signs. And being my supervisor.

‘Aw, that’s so great for you, Sashka!’ She doesn’t need to know my inside thoughts.

‘We are going to go on another date next week.’

Wow, already? But I say, ‘I’ll try to feel him out on the luck front before then.’

‘Thanks, babe.’

‘Anytime, babe.’

We cheer. If Sashka can turn her luck around and find a decent guy, then all that’s needed from me is to be a good friend to her.

CHAPTER 6

Mildly defective organism. Its structural imperfection is matched only by its misfortune

I really wish London were better at commuting. Early in the morning, no one takes their protruding rucksacks off, so they keep bumping into each other and taking up so much space that at least ten more people would’ve fit in per doorway. Maybe Londoners are doing it on purpose to keep some kind of personal space.

I look at the map above me. Why are Kennington and Elephant & Castle stations in Zones 1/2, but the others on the Northern Line to the right and left of them are in Zone 1? It just seems implausible. What did Kennington and Elephant & Castle do to be in Zones 1/2? Does the Tube suddenly dip too far east? How does the fare work at those stops? Do you have to pay as if you’re exiting in Zone 1, 2, or between the two? How have I never noticed this until today?

‘Mind the gap between the train and the platform edge,’ announces a voice, opening the doors.

People and their rucksacks make it equally difficult for people to get off at their stop. The working, commuting people grumble something at the youth that don’t have any sense or decorum to step aside. After successful unloading and loading of the passengers, the doors beep a warning. On the last beep, a man squeezes in front of me, giri-giri avoiding the deadly doors by an inch like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

‘Fuko?’

Toby Lewis. Mecha lucky of him. The next train via Bank is delayed by ten minutes. Points towards small luck.

‘Morning,’ I say, putting my headphones in my pocket. If it gets too awkward, I’ll put them back in and return to my daily study of the Northern Line map.

The train starts moving; it’s only a couple of stops and then a short walk.

‘I am so sorry about the cake and the allergy.’

‘It’s okay. You didn’t know. I should have checked.’

The commuters look frustrated with us for having a conversation at this eighth hour of the day. I get them, I also hate when people talk loudly on transport when the only thing on my mind is that I’d rather be in bed right now, not listening to annoying and tactless people run their tongues over their teeth.

Toby doesn’t. He tries really hard to have a conversation over the screams of this metal beast that slowly destroys our eardrums. He says something about the hospital. I sort of laugh and nod, but I really can’t hear him.

‘They kept you overnight?’ he repeats in shock after my nodding, when the Tube slows down.