Page 111 of The Silent Appeal

She asked which coffee I like and I said I didn’t know because coffee shops are too expensive when I have a jar of coffee at home that’s £3.89 from Lidl. She said she’d get me her favorite: iced caramel macchiato made with almond milk and extra espresso. She got the Primo size, too, which isn’t even the smallest. It cost £5.30!

First of all we chatted about the play. I told her I was asked personally by Kevin to rejoin the group to play Gerda. He asked her to be assistant director because Sarah-Jane is busy with her work and they haven’t got a babysitter since Carol joined Mendhams. She was anxious at first, just like I was! There are so many parallels between us and how we came to be back at Fairways!

I asked her about what it’s like to produce shows for cruise ships and whether the props have to be Velcro-ed to the set to stop them sliding across the stage when the ship lurches. She said no, but it’s hard work and she spent years getting in with the big cruise companies. She mentioned her business partner, Trina, but when I asked what she’s doing now, Nicky-Rose clammed up and changed the subject. Between you and me, journal, I think something happened between them and she doesn’t want to say. I wonder what it was? I suppose you’d tell her that was “yesterday” and that only “today” matters. I’ll tell her that next time we meet for coffee.

TODAY

Maybe it’s that huge glass of coffee, but I’ve reached a new page in the journal and there are more things to write. I suppose it’s still “today” so that’s fine.

She gave me some more advice about acting (my eyes should always be searching for the eyes of Gerda’s husband, John, whenever I step onstage because she’s so devoted to him) and asked if Emma has made the sculptures of me yet (I don’t think so). I mentioned that Emma didn’t want me to sit for her and Nicky-Rose scowled and said, “Hmmm, we’ll see.”

I asked what she thought of Fran. She said she’s one of those actors who’s outstandingly good, yet it’s effortless. You never get the impression she’s stretching herself or working too hard, which means she finds challenges elsewhere in life. I mentioned how Fran will make you think she’s your friend then turn on you, and how I know she won’t be friends with Amelia for long, because she ghosted ME within six months (a couple of years ago). I only hope that doesn’t happen before play week as I’d hate The Hollow to be affected.

When we’d finished our iced caramel almond milk double-shot macchiatos I said thank you for meeting me, and she said, “Let’s do it again, and in the meantime if there’s anything going on in the group I should know about, just text. It can be a them-and-us attitude among a cast, but the directors should know the tea.”

Gasp! She wants to meet again!

Today, dear journal, is a VERY good day!

Messages posted to Chez MacDonald WhatsApp group on February 21, 2025:

9:12 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Who’s been dialing an international number? Countless times.

9:15 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Not guilty.

9:16 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

The family phone bill is up by £277.83 this month.

9:16 a.m. Kevin wrote:

What?! It’s supposed to be capped!

9:17 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Unless you call an international mobile when it seems all caps are off.

9:20 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Harley, mate, did you call the entrepreneur who came to the school? I know you found him inspiring, but he shouldn’t have given you his number, and if he did, you shouldn’t have called him at all, let alone repeatedly.

9:23 a.m. Harley wrote:

Wasn’t me.

9:24 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Did you call one of your online gaming “friends”? You never know where in the world they are. Or how old they are.

9:24 a.m. Harley wrote:

NO

9:25 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote: