Red lipstick, blue eyeshadow, big bling earrings, blow-dried hair, sparkling frock.
The works. That’s how Peirene turned up on Friday morning for work.
“Wow!” I exclaimed in honest admiration. “Do you have a rendez-vous tonight?”
“No, this morning.” She smiled at me.
“Oh, a breakfast date, how romantic.“ I couldn’t suppress a twinge of jealousy. After all, each morning for the last 16 years I’ve been sending off kids to school and therefore have not had much time for Champagne breakfasts. So I couldn’t resist my own internal killjoy. “You do know that it’s not your day off today and you will have to turn up to work again.”
“Don’t you worry, I will. It’s more business than romance anyway.”
“Oh, so who’s the lucky one?” I enquired, now very curious indeed.
“A film director.”
“That’s interesting,” I said. “I’m meeting a BBC film director this morning for coffee.”
“Well, that’s the man. I want to meet him too.” The Nymph replied.
For a couple of minutes I kept quiet, concentrating on the work on my screen while trying to figure out how to best handle this situation.
Two weeks ago a BBC film director contacted me. He had seen our catalogue and was intrigued by the books. He wanted to have a chat.
Eventually I lifted my head and said to the Nymph: “I would prefer you to stay here. I’m not sure I should come to a first meeting with a film diva in tow.”
“But…” She looked at me, her lower lip already quivering, “…I’ve already chosen the roles for myself. He’s interested in No 4-8 isn’t he?” I nodded. “In No 4, Next World Novella, I like to be a mermaid luring visitors across the lake into the next world. In No 5, Tomorrow Pamplona, I would like to play the lovely old lady who swims in the river. In Maybe This Time, I will take the part of the girl who is having such fun jumping around in the water. In The Brothers, I shall be a lovely frozen water fountain in the middle of the farmhouse’s snowed-in courtyard. And in The Murder of Halland I will dress up as an apparition on the glittering fjords.”
Peirene and I struck a deal. I promised to stress the nymph’s many qualities, including acting, during the meeting. But in return she had to stay in the office.
The film director and I had a good meeting. He’s looking forward to reading five Peirene books.
“And? When is he going to send my acting contract?” Peirene asked the moment I walked into the door.
“I hinted at your enthusiasm,” I reassured her. “But it’s early days, many elements first have to fall into place before the cameras start rolling.”
Peirene was not thrilled with this reply. However, to her credit, she has decided not to waste idle time and has now signed up for an evening acting class. “I’m surely improving my chances. After all there aren’t many nymphs with a qualification in acting.”
France. Now the Nymph wants to leave Cheverton Road for Amsterdam.
advantage – I don’t feel bombarded by images.
girls when they grow up, adjust their dreams to reality. Not me. I still want to become a chic lady, in fact a lady who lunches. I work hard to achieve my dream. And not anyone will do as my dining companion.