Page 54 of The Silent Appeal

What?

5:02 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Title of your latest Excel file: “Make IBS Your Friend.” If irritable bowel syndrome can be a mate, so can misgivings.

5:03 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

That’s an NHS campaign I wrote copy for! The email is sent now and we’re in the lap of the gods. She probably won’t even reply.

To: Kevin MacDonald

Cc: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

From: Isabel Beck

Date: January 29, 2025

Subject: Re: Blast from the past

OMG Hiya Kevin!

I couldn’t believe it when I saw your name pop up in my inbox, and couldn’t believe it (only more so) when it was for a part in a play! YES PLEASE! Can you tell I’m doing a happy dance around my ophthalmoscope? I’ll be there Monday and will learn my lines straight away. How lovely of SJ to think of me!

It’s weird because I was only just sitting here between patients, thinking how I didn’t have a proper hobby these days as everything I start seems to fizzle out sooner or later. And there you were, offering me a chance to join Fairways again. It was meant to be!

To cut a long story short, I left nursing and now work at Specsavers just outside Fowey. That means I can catch the same bus I used to get, which is handy because I can hop on the 10:44 after rehearsals. Is everyone I remember still involved? Joyce, Denise, John, Marianne? I believe a friend of mine, Fran Elroy-Jones, joined a few years ago. Is she still there? I knew her vaguely from a charity she and I were both involved with. It will be lovely to see her again!

Don’t worry about spending group funds on a script for me, I’ve ordered a copy online already so I can start learning the part as soon as it arrives!

They say the past is “water under the bridge,” and that’s supposed to mean that time is always marching on and nothing stays the same. But the bridge stays the same, doesn’t it? I suppose the important thing is to know what is the water and what is the bridge.

See you Monday! Love Issy xxx

To: Isabel Beck

From: Kevin MacDonald

Cc: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

Date: January 29, 2025

Subject: Re: Blast from the past

Splendid news! Happy dancing all round.

Thank you for buying your own script, although to learn your lines you’ll need to know which part I’m talking about: Gerda Cristow. She’s a doctor’s wife.

We’ve got several new members in this play and yes, Fran is still here. She’s playing Lady Angkatell and is already knocking us dead with her characterization. She and Gerda share several scenes, so it’ll be a good idea to learn lines together if that’s doable.

Looking forward to working with you again, and see you Monday! Cheers, Kevin

Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on January 29, 2025:

11:23 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Ta-da! We are fully cast.

11:26 p.m. Kevin wrote: