the phone doesn’t ring

the answer machine says “Hello this is the answer machine, leave a message after the beep” There is a moment of silence. Then a known but nearly forgotten voice from the past says “Hello, it’s Alice. I’m back. I can’t explain how. I have only a few minutes to leave a message.” (There is a brief pause.) “ We need to meet so that I can explain. We absolutely must meet, It is what I most want to do at this time. She laughs. I have thought about what I wanted to say constantly whilst I was away, these past few years.” (More silence as she collected her thoughts) “ How are you ? Do you still laugh in the same way? do you still have a library ? Do you live in the same house ? Do you still live with S? Sorry these seem to be stupid questions. But anyway its hard to speak into an answer machine, hard to be coherent when your voice may be being recorded. We must meet its important.” ( Yet more silence, enough to remember the science fictional surrealism of last time) “So Monday the 25th at 1500, at Marylebone Station.” (slight pause. Hangs up). It’s Friday when they arrive back parking the GTI in the drive in the warmth of the evening. He shrugs on hearing the message, she’ll call again if she wants to. On Monday whilst Alice is at the station he is receiving a vaccination…