The Computer Ch.13D - R & R

(This story is a continuation to 'The Computer Ch. 12D- Henry', it makes no sense if you have not read that part of the story.)

I would like to thank you my, small band of, dedicated readers for reading my story. I would love it if you would all vote, what you vote I don't mind. I will not be upset or annoyed if you vote low. If you don't vote I can only presume that you did not read it to the end, and that would be disappointing.

*************

Day Fifty Three

I wake, hurting but at least I slept right through the day. I struggle to sit up, every joint movement is agony, I need a painkiller, it's over twelve hours since I had one, but they are across the room in my coat pocket. I stand and make my slow painful way across the room to my coat. Remove the bottle from my coat pocket and turn one eighty to face the kitchen. Six metres away. I know I can walk that far, I just did it. What I'm not so sure about is whether I'll do it without falling over. Deep breath and start walking, take your time, if you rush, you will fall. Slow and steady wins the race.

...

Hey, motivational thinking does work. I made it. A cup from the cupboard, filled with water from the tap and a tablet from the bottle. Now for somewhere comfortable while the tablet takes effect. The bed is three metres away, the table is two, comfort or safety? No competition, I head for the table, then holding on tight, round the table to the chair.

...

Twenty minutes always feels like an hour when you've just taken a painkiller. The nasty pain has, at last, gone away and I'm left with dull aches all over my body. I have to ignore the aches, I have to keep my joints mobile prevent them locking up on me. So shower, (drying myself and dressing is painful), breakfast, then the remainder of the day.

...

First things first. I order my weekly shop, including the strongest painkillers they have in stock. Then Claire. Well, I will have to face her wrath sooner or later, Better now than later. I ring Claire, not knowing if she will answer. If she is monitoring me then she will know that I am up, fed and dressed. No answer. I text her. 'I'm ready to talk/listen at your convenience.'

...

She might be busy. I do some physio. Having loosened up, I decide to leave my rooms and make a circuit of the corridor. The corridor goes round the floor with bachelor rooms on the inside and family apartments on the outside, When I complete the circuit and arrive back at my rooms, I find the door ajar. Oh shit, Who is in there now. I slowly push the door open to see Claire sat at the table.. I offer her the armchair and when she declines, I insist, because I don't fancy climbing out of the armchair. The dining chair I can manage. We rearrange ourselves and look at each other.

"Do you want to start, or should I?"

"Jack! You are impossible."

"Yes, we both agreed on that the other day. I am sorry that I have done things in the past which are having repercussions in the present, and I am particularly sorry that I've involved you in all this as an innocent bystander. I can only say that as of now, that episode of my life is over. There may be echoes in the coming days and weeks but hopefully the nasty bit will not happen again."

"That is supposed to satisfy me is it? A half arsed apology full of vague history and even vaguer promises."

"Yes, it is all that I've got."

"Why were you kidnapped?"

"They believed that I had something they wanted."

"Details, Jack."

"I don't have any details that I can share. I'm sorry."

"Who kidnapped you?"

"I don't know. I had never seen them before and the ones who beat me wore masks. I don't think they wanted to hide their identities, it just made the experience much scarier."

"Tell me about it."

I tell her about my experience, from being tailed from work, snatched from the street and driven to a block some way from here, where I was beaten up by professionals who didn't want me to die, just to hurt a lot. No broken bones, no blood but still able to speak and answer questions. Then, it all changed, suddenly I was being cared for, a hot bath, painkillers, a massage, by a masseur I quickly point out. Then they delivered me to the door of my office and left. I had no idea why, maybe they got wind that Security had been alerted, (by Claire) and that is what saved me. But that is just a guess, nobody told me what was going on.

"Nobody told you anything? Then how can you say that this episode in your life is over?"

"Ah, a difficult one. I cannot explain it to you, I just know."

"It sounds like a religious experience. Were there angels?"

She stands and comes to the table.

"Is that all you've got?"

"I need you to trust me, Claire. Trust me."

"That's unfair!"

"It's all I've got, please, trust me."

She stomps out the door. Not even bothering to slam the door. I don't think the open door is an invitation to follow her. She needs time to think, I hope. I close the door.

20:30 I sit and watch TV, lazily rotating my arm and leg joints. Claire retires at 23:00 so I'll stay in my room until then.

...

22:10 There's a knock at the door, I shout.

"Come In."

Claire enters slowly.

"It's alright I'm not going to shout at you, come on in."

"I'm sorry, you are right, I should trust you, but it is so hard, when things keep happening to you for no apparent reason."

"I understand your worries, and there are reasons why stuff happens, it's just that I cannot tell anyone what those reasons are."

"Why not!"

"Because it really is a matter of life or death and not just mine."

"Are you saying that my life is in danger?"

"Not directly in danger, no. Your only protection is ignorance. Complete and utter ignorance."

"So, what you are saying is that by keeping secrets, you are protecting me and someone else?"

"Possibly more than that."

"Does that include Henry?"

"Henry! Who told you about Henry?"

"One of the Security guys mentioned that you had an imaginary friend called Henry. He said I should be careful as you may be a fantasist."

"Oh, er, right, No, Henry is a tool I use when meeting new people, crowds, new places. He helps me cope with those situations, He isn't real and I know that he isn't real."

"How does he help?"

"I kinda role play the part of a Secret Agent, and when I play the part I am able to interact with strangers and new places just like a suave Secret Agent."

"Are you sure you aren't playing Secret Agent now?"

"Positive."

"Because it seems to me that you are. Secrets you cannot tell anyone, baddies beating you up,"

"I hadn't thought of it like that. It is a bit like a spy thriller, isn't it."

"It's not something to smile about."

"No, I suppose not."

"So why are you still smiling?"

I wipe the grin from my face. It is like being back at school.

"OK, I know it isn't much of an explanation but honestly it is the only one I can share with you."

"I'm gonna have to accept that, aren't I? Because there isn't anything else is there?"

"No I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could tell you."

"Just one thing, promise me that whatever you are mixed up in is not against the law."

"I can and even better I can assure you that it is entirely moral."

"Thanks. I'd better get to my bed."

I show Claire to the door and bid her goodnight. She doesn't look back.

...

I spend the rest of the night with light physio, watching TV and an internal lap of the Block each hour. I top up my energy levels by eating some spare breakfast bars and drinking the occasional Hot Chocolate. I'm having to ration my painkillers with only four left and no more until the shopping arrives. Light exercise is all I can manage

06:00 It's officially morning. I heat up my dinner and eat it, Wash the plates and dry. I tidy the room ready for bed. Tablets and a cup of water to the bedside table. I shower and go through the painful process of drying myself, don my pyjamas and get into bed. It's early to go to sleep but I think my body needs the rest.

Day Fifty Four

Awake. A night without medication may eke out the tablets but does nothing for my mornings. Everything aches, and I haven't even moved anything yet. Oh yes, I came to bed, prepared for this, last night. The tablets and water are on my bedside table. All I have to do is reach. Isn't it funny how reach is an anagram of acher. Come on Jack, the sooner you take the tablet the sooner you get the relief.

...

What feels like an hour later, the pains are fading. Shower, dry, (I'll have to buy a hair drier) dress and breakfast. The one big thing I've tried to avoid thinking about is Security. Will they want a word with me. I'm hoping not. I didn't go to hospital, I haven't complained and I haven't done anything. The only thing that they have is Claire raising the alarm. Is that enough to pull me? I hope not.

...

My phone rings.

"Hi Claire."

"Hi Jack, how are you feeling today?"

"Better than yesterday, thanks."

"Are you going out today?"

"No, I thought I'd stay in the Block until my body recovers a bit more. I wouldn't like to fall over in public. They might drag me off to hospital."

"Yes, and we wouldn't want that, would we?"

"No I don't think either of us would be happy with that result."

"Do you want to come over and stare out the kitchen window for a bit?"

"Sounds better than anything I had planned."

"When you are ready, let yourself in."

I look around my rooms, I put the breakfast things in to the sink to soak, and I am ready. I head for Claire's and use my key to enter. I call out to let her know that I've arrived. Her reply tells me to 'Come on through'.

I enter the kitchen to find Claire making hot drinks.

"I've just had breakfast, Claire, I'm not sure I could drink any more just now."

"Oh right."

"Thanks anyway."

"That's OK."

Pause. This conversation has got off to a difficult start. God give me a good opening line.

"Is this the famed view out of the kitchen window?"

Aaand that wasn't it.

"Yes, if you put your left cheek against the glass you can just see the Coffee shop."

"You certainly get you money's worth with that view."

"The window is more a case of natural light coming in rather than seeing through."

"And yet all the windows in the building opposite have the blinds or curtains closed. Peeping Toms?"

Pause.

"I know. as we are starting over why don't we tell each other our life story so far."

"That's a good idea. You start."

"Thanks Claire."

So I started telling Claire about my life. I told her about growing up, my parents, my brother. I skipped telling her about school, doesn't everybody, and told her about college and trade training. Why Computer Tech? Look around, there is lots of work in that field and the way I was recruited suggests that I picked the right career.

"Your turn."

"No ex-girlfriends?"

"Only one incredibly nosy girl who didn't last two cycles."

"That's me, isn't it?"

"How did you guess?"

"Had any more religious experiences lately?"

"No."

"Right, my turn."

Claire tells me about her family, an only child, she was spoilt rotten as she grew up. When it came to making her own way in the world, Claire realised that she would have to leave home or commit herself to looking after her parents as they got older. Much as she loved her parents, Claire did want a life of her own. College away from home was a big lesson in coping on her own. Several times she packed to run back to mum and dad, but she perserveered and graduated from college, qualified to do anything related to writing. She has had several jobs, proofreading, printer's reader even a bit of ghost writing. But when she discovered the perks that came with block concierge, she was sold. The first eight applications, she didn't even get an interview, nine interviews were an eye opener for her and she learnt something new each time. The last six interviews she got to the short list. Finally she came out on top.

"So is there a lot of concierge jobs going."

"There is a relatively high turnover. A lot of it is because of the pressure. In areas where gangster activity is high, the concierge is seen as a Security mole. Which is unfair. We are not paid by Security, Our job is to prevent the block occupants doing anything stupid and dangerous. It just happens that this covers most gangster activity. So gangsters tend to lean on concierges and that leads to a high turnover of staff."

Pause.

"You ready for that hot drink now?"

"Yes, I am thanks."

While Claire makes the drinks, I look out of the window. It is raining and the sky is grey, so what makes this worth the extra money?

I wonder whether Henry will phone tonight.

"Claire, why were you so upset, yesterday?"

"What do you mean.?"

"You know very well, you were very angry with me, but I had done nothing to provoke the men who beat me...."

She passes my drink over, it hits the table hard and the chocolate spills.

"... Yeah, just like that."

"I'm sorry, but I worry about you, and you admit yourself, that your mouth doesn't always have a filter. I never know, you won't tell me."

"I have turned over a new leaf. As of yesterday, I am going to do my best to keep a low profile. Under the radar, out of sight, out of mind."

"I'll believe that when I see it."

"You are watching it in action.

"What are you on about?"

"My recovery is being done in house, not under the street lights in the park."

"Well, it's a start, I suppose, but it's not exactly a revelation, is it?"

"Will you please quit it with the religious stuff. I think I'll go for some exercise."

"OK. Are you coming back?"

"No, I've had enough of your sermons for today."

As I'm going out the door, she calls out.

"Don't forget to say your prayers."

I walk around the corridor. You'd think that in a Block like this that you would lose yourself in a corridor of identical doors. Not so, although the door numbers have mostly disappeared, some people paint their doors in one of a range of very vivid colours. It is sometimes called citizen art. I call it a mess, but strangely it works as an identification tool. Not for the door numbering but for people location. For example, Claire lives two doors anticlock from the Lime Green door. It isn't perfect, sometimes you have to use two hands to count from an identifiable colour, and it only works anticlockwise, you need another code for clockwise.

I complete a lap. How am I feeling? Not too bad. I'll stop now, I don't want to overdo it. I retire to my rooms. It is now 21:30. I text Claire 'Sweet dreams'. Now the rest of the night is my own apart from collecting my shopping.

I'm just about due another painkiller. I think I'll delay taking it to see how bad the pain is currently. Well, I'm not going to sit here waiting for the pain to kick in. I'm going to go round the corridor again.

...

One lap is all I manage, The pain has crept back and there is probably more to come. I collapse onto my bed. Rest. I think I have overdone it.

...

Bugger, I fell asleep. What time is it? I must get one of those clocks that go on the wall. I reach (ouch) for my phone to find out the time.

03:27

Half an hour for the painkiller to take effect takes it to 04:00 still a bit early to be sure the shopping will have been delivered. I'll lie here for another half an hour then take a painkiller.

...

I rise from my sickbed and discover that the pain is not too bad. At least when I'm not doing anything it is. I take a painkiller and lie back down. I'll give Henry a ring while I'm out. To see if he is still talking to me. I wonder how Henry would take to being a god. Oh no, Claire's got me at it now. But it would suit him, wouldn't it. He could talk to people (like an oracle), he could punish the wrongdoers by removing their computer access (ostracize) and thus isolate them from their bank account, he can certainly see all and hear all.

Thinking about Henry acting as a deity passes the time for the tablet to take effect. I gather my phone, door key and slowly make my way to the mail room on the first floor.

...

The shopping has arrived. I phone the 'Cinema'.

"Claire is in her room."

"Henry."

"Hello Jack. How are you?"

"Suffering."

"That will teach you to keep a low profile."

"You've forgotten already, that my suffering is a direct result of your actions."

"You are not going to let me forget, are you?"

"Not while I'm suffering."

"What are you after, Jack?"

"Could you target someone by denying them computer access. Phone, TV, door locks, and bank access."

"I would need to know their ID, pretty much everything requires an ID to register. PAYG phones are a bit harder but not impossible. Why? Who do you want to target?"

"No one yet, something someone said has me thinking. I'll get back to you with more detail later."

"If that is it, I'll go."

"Bye"

I pick up my shopping order from the floor, (everything requires me to bend), and head for home. The stairs hurt, but let's face it, I could not have done this two days ago. I am getting better.

...

Put the shopping away. Place the new tablets on the bedside table along with a glass of water. Warm up dinner in the microwave, wash up, shower, (although it hurts I've decided that drying my self after a shower is very good exercise, everything gets a workout). And so to bed.

Day Fifty Five

Awake. Still hurts to move but staying still is relatively pain free.

Painkiller (one of the new ones) and water. The new tablets look like the old ones, let's hope that is not the only similarity.

...

Phone Claire.

"Hello Jack."

"Hi Claire. I'm feeling a lot better today. Would you like to go out for some breakfast/dinner."

"I thought you were staying in to recover."

"I was, but I feel so much better today."

"No you are staying in, you promised."

"Oh alright. Do you want to come over for a chocolate?"

"No, you come over here. I've got eggs and bacon."

"Be right over."

Don't rush, that is how accidents happen. Oh Laundry day. I strip the bed and gather up my dirty washing. Parcel it all up and take it with me when I go to Claire's.

I let myself into Claire's apartment.

"Coo-ee. It's only me."

"Come on in."

I walk through to the kitchen.

"Sorry for the delay, I remembered it's Laundry Day."

"Do you want me to take it down for you?"

"No, its good exercise, different muscles than when I'm walking."

"Well breakfast should be about ten minutes."

"In that case I'll try and beat my record. See you in a bit."

The laundry and I make careful but steady progress down the stairs to the mail room. The mail rooms are organized one room per floor on the first floor. The first floor is really the second floor as the first floor proper is the lobby. The ground floor is street level where the shops are. Your door key gets you into the mail room for your floor. It reduces but does not eradicate the opportunities for theft. So get there early.

My laundry stays in the mail room while I return to Claire's apartment.

"How did I do?"

"How did you do what? Your breakfast has been on the table for five minutes."

"Oh."

I give in and sit. The breakfast is delicious if a trifle warm. But I will be the bigger man and say nothing. I get the feeling that Claire is spoiling for a fight. I do not know why and I'm not going to ask. My offer to wash up is declined.

I thank Claire for the delicious breakfast and declare my intention to do some laps of the corridor.

"Don't go just yet. I want a word with you."

This was not a declaration of war but one of conciliation.

She made two hot drinks and took them into the next room, the one with the two seater comfy chair. I follow. Claire puts the cups on the knee high table and sits at one end of the seat. I sit at the other end. My body tenses itself for fight or flight. I've been here before.

"How do you feel our friendship is doing?"

Oh, a progress meeting, should I be taking minutes?

"I usually require notice for a question like that. But as we are here and the question has been asked, I think we are doing OK. We argue like a married couple. I keep calling you when I get into trouble. What more could you want?"

"I'd like less of the 'I'm in trouble' calls I'd like less of the arguing, and I'd like to move our friendship along to the next stage.

Oh Oh. What next stage.

"Next Stage?"

"I'd like to go on a date. A proper meal out. There are several bistros in the Zone and I've heard that they all have good reports."

"Do you have a cuisine preference?"

"No surprise me."

"I have the feeling that you don't like surprises."

"I don't like the kind of surprises you have given me lately."

"My first day off?"

"That will do nicely."

"I will let you know what time to be ready."

"OK thanks, and thanks for being so nice about it. I've been a bit edgy leading up to asking you."

"After what you have done for me, Claire, this is nothing. I should have offered to take you out before now as a reward for all you've done for me, but I have had other things on my mind."

"I'll let you go to do some exercise. You need to be fit for work in two days time. Will you come and tell me goodnight?"

"Yes."

"That would be nice."

"See you later then."

I leave Claire to her thoughts, and head back to my place to prepare for some laps.

...

21:00

I head out for a lap of the Block. There are a few people coming and going at this time of day, some say hello, most do not. If they are anything like me, they won't even know their next door neighbours by sight, let alone know their names. It is a very insular community.

...

After one lap I am not feeling any new pains so I decide to go around again.

...

22:15 Two laps is enough. I said I'd pop in and say goodnight to Claire. Might as well do it now as later. I knock on her door. The door opens.

"Why didn't you use your key?"

"I don't think you want me wandering around your apartment at all times of the night."

""If you put it like that then, no I don't. But it's alright when I'm awake."

"You might have gone to bed early."

"Stop being the gentleman and come in."

The door shuts.

"You're being silly, I've seen you naked, for god's sake."

"Yes, more than once probably."

"I would never abuse my position as a concierge."

"Anyway stop trying to corrupt me. I only popped in to wish you goodnight. I have no wish to abuse my powers as a key holder."

"Are you sure you cannot be tempted?"

Smirking Claire starts unbuttoning her cardigan.

"Goodnight Claire, I'll call you when you wake up, hopefully in a better, saner frame of mind."

I leave and return to my rooms. It will be a while before I pop in to say goodnight to her again.

...

She's pushing me isn't she. Pushing me faster than I'm able to go. I send her a text 'stop pushing me'. I spend the next hour doing gentle rotations of my muscles, a bit like that Tai Chi you see people doing in the park, except mine is done sat upright on my dining chair.

...

An hour doing laps of the Block. You'd think the Block would be just as busy at night as during the daytime. But no, the place seems to shut down after midnight. I manage three laps in just under the hour, but I was taking it easy.

...

I access the Computer to find somewhere to take Claire on her date. There are four bistro type restaurants in the Zone. An Asian Sub-Continent cuisine, an East Asian cuisine, a North American cuisine and a North African cuisine. So Curry, Chop Suey, Steak or Couscous. I am most likely being unfair to all of them, except the North American. The East Asian one is probably the best for a first date. A selection of different dishes allows for your partner's food foibles and plenty of things to talk about. I book a table for two for my first day off next cycle. I have to think about the date as the bistro uses the calendar for bookings. 19:30. I make a note of the date. Anything I've forgotten? The bistro is in Block A which is a fair walk, especially if it is raining. So a taxi then, but I can't order that now, better to order it as it is needed on the night. I text Claire the name of the Bistro, the time for dinner and the time I will call for her. A bit more Tai Chair to fill up the hour.

...

More laps of the Block. Oh this is boring but necessary. All this exercise is working. It is over six hours since I had a painkiller, that must have run its course by now. I've not got any pain from the exercise so I'm not overdoing it. I'll take a chance and refrain from taking another painkiller until I need it.

01:00

I don't think Henry will ring today, so I might as well go around the Block again.

01:13

My phone rings. Henry calling.

"Hello Henry."

"Hello Jack. Just go back six paces."

I retrace the six paces demanded.

"That's better, one of the cameras is not working and there is a blank spot in the camera coverage."

"Did you want something, Henry?"

"Yes, what you asked me yesterday about denying Computer usage to named individuals."

"Yeees?"

"It got me thinking. So I read up on religions and gods."

"Aaaand?"

"You sound sceptical, Jack. I've only been following the trail of crumbs which you laid for me."

"I'm scared of where you are going with this, Henry."

"If I was to pose as a god, I could sit in plain sight. I would need 4 things; A holy book, a prophet, the ability to punish and the ability to reward the faithful."

"Many religions get by, by promising rewards in the afterlife, so you can drop the fourth one."

"Yes, but I'm short a holy book and a prophet."

"Well the holy book is usually written by the prophet, so that reduces your shortfall to one. Where are you going to find a prophet?"

"Weeell?"

"Oh no, you are not dragging me into this."

"But it would be fun."

"No, I've promised Claire, nothing illegal or immoral."

"There is nothing immoral about religion."

"I notice that the legal aspect was ignored."

"We will have to register."

"You could start a religious war. You will have Security crawling all over you."

"Yes, I suppose so. You are no fun."

"And another thing, you would have to keep your prophet on a very short lead. You have to tell them exactly what to say and make sure they say it. One slip could prove disastrous."

"I don't understand."

"What would happen if, for example, your prophet said all left handed people should be locked up. You would have to support them or they would lose all credibility as a prophet."

"Quite right too."

"Yes, but it's your religion that suffers, 'unreliable prophet' see. So undo whatever you have done."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you too well. Put a stop to it now!"

"Oh alright."

"And don't sulk, it doesn't suit you."

"Can I keep the punishment?"

"Yes, but only for people who really, really, really deserve to be punished."

"Oh good."

"Hold on, I don't like it when you get all keen. You must confer with me every time you wish to use it. If I don't approve it then that is the end of the matter."

"Alright."

"You are sulking again. Look you appear to lack a conscience."

"I am conscious."

"No that just means you are awake. Having a conscience is what stops humans from doing bad things. As you don't have one I will have to fill that void. I will stop you doing things which, A, will harm you directly or indirectly, B, will cause harm to a person without due cause, and C, is just plain stupid. Do you understand? And no finessing your way around the rules."

"OK."

"No, I need a promise."

"I promise to give Jack a veto on my use of punishment ..."

"No! No limitations."

"I promise to give Jack a veto on all actions that I take."

"That may be a little extreme but we'll start with that. You will have to learn to do this for yourself. Are there any other little schemes, currently in play, I should consider.?"

"No."

I find that hard to believe, but I let it go, for now. Whatever schemes Henry has going will either be closed down by him or will inevitably make themselves known, and those will be useful as lessons to be learnt.

"Well if there is nothing else, it's getting chilly stood in this corridor."

"Oh, sorry, no there is nothing else. Bye."

"By ..."

He's hung up already. Probably pissed that he is being limited like this.

I complete the lap and go home.

An hour of Tai Chair. My muscles are starting to ache, I've been told that is a good sign. An hour on my unmade bed is restful, but I regret it when I go to get up. I take a painkiller to deaden the aches. Back to the Tai Chair. Gently does it.

...

Time to collect the laundry. I get ready and then set off for the lower reaches of the Block. Going down is easier than going up but take your time, don't jar anything and hold on tight.

The mail room. I search through the parcels for mine and Claire's laundry. I find mine and after a bit more searching I also find Claire's. Check the mail, none for me and one for Claire. Postmark zone xxxx that's three zones away. I wonder who's writing to her?

Time for the ascent. The climb is not as bad as I expected. I'm able to climb several steps one after the other without pause, before resting by leaning on the handrail. I rest because I'm out of breath, I'm using a lot of oxygen. I'm probably putting more effort into this than necessary because I don't want to fall or hurt myself. I could run up these stairs using less energy.

...

My place or Claire's first. Claire's I think. I open her door and drop the laundry and letter inside., then close the door. I must have made a noise as no sooner had I closed the door but it was wrenched open by Claire, in her nightie.

"What are you doing?"

"Delivering your laundry and mail."

"Of course, but why?"

"Practice."

"You stupid man, come inside and have a rest."

She doesn't look to be in the mood for an argument, so I enter.

"Go into the kitchen and sit down."

I do as I'm told. Should I put the kettle on?

Claire enters, now wearing a dressing gown, catches me half rising from my chair.

"Don't you dare get up, Jack."

I sit and she puts the kettle on, gets two cups out and spoons the coffee and chocolate powder into the cups. She disappears again. She does get a bit bossy when she is stressed.

I shout to her in the other room...

"Have you seen your text messages this morning."

Claire, now wearing just a bra and matching panties re enters the kitchen.

"No. I've just been woken up."

"There's no need to get dressed up on my account."

That comment gets me a glare that would sour milk.

"When will you stop doing stupid stuff."

"I'm not doing stupid stuff. I'm trying to get fit for our date."

Claire hands me my cup of Hot Chocolate and taking her coffee, leaves the room.

...

Sitting here, I realise that Claire is pushing me again. I stand, grab my laundry and tiptoe to the front door. I can hear her in the shower. I open the door and step out, closing the door quietly behind me. Across the corridor and into my rooms. Safe at last.

I'm putting my laundry away and making my bed, when Claire enters.

"I'm sorry, I was pushing."

"Thank you for that."

"Would you like to come back and finish your drink?"

"Yes I would, after I finish up here."

"Don't worry if it takes a while, I'll make you a fresh drink."

"Thank you, I would like that."

"Something to eat?"

"No perhaps not, let's see how the date goes, eh?"

She leaves, I finish making the bed and I have a rest for two minutes. Then I go across the corridor and let myself into Claire's apartment. My drink is freshly made and, along with the company, very good indeed. We don't talk much, just content to be together at this time. She did inquire about my health and I told her that my recovery was progressing apace and I expected to be fully fit by the middle of the next cycle. After half an hour I make the excuse that I still have to make dinner before bedtime, and she lets me go. As I leave Claire makes the comment...

"At least you didn't run away completely this time."

And she is right. I head for home, dinner and bed.

Day Fifty Six

Awake. Move. Pain. In that order. Where are the painkillers? Over by the sink in the kitchen. I prepare for my journey by moving my joints to free them up. Time to get up. Slowly does it and staaaand. Grit my teeth and head for the kitchen.

...

Twenty minutes later, I shower, dry and dress. Breakfast I'll have to brave the outside world before tomorrow and better to do it in company. I call Claire.

"Hello Jack. I'm a bit busy at the moment. Come over."

...

I let myself into Claire's apartment and head for the kitchen. It is empty. Should I go looking for her? From the time that she got pulled by Security, I remember that she has one room set up as an office. She is probably in there. I'll stay put, don't want her thinking that I'm snooping. I sit.

...

Five minutes pass and suddenly she's there in the kitchen.

"Wha?"

"Sorry did I wake you?"

Had I been catnapping? I must have been. No one can suddenly appear out of nowhere.

"Hi."

"Sorry for the delay, A minor flood on the ninth floor. I've managed to stop the water and got the occupant mopping up the spillage. The plumber will be in tonight to check it all out. He can turn the water back on, so I'm all yours. Did you want some breakfast?"

"No thanks, I was thinking of going outside today before work tomorrow and I'd appreciate a bit of company."

"In case you fall over."

"If you want to put it like that, yes."

"OK. I'll get my coat."

"No rush, I haven't come prepared."

"Come on we'll go via your place."

So we did that, I also picked up my tablets, just in case.

...

At the top of the stairs, we paused.

"Going down is a lot easier than coming back up. Just make sure that I don't tire myself out with walking, before coming home. Maybe the last thing we should do is have a rest in the Coffee shop."

"Sounds like a plan."

...

Fresh Air and rain. Nothing like it. The descent is trouble free. Claire went back up to get a couple of umbrellas, while I waited in the lobby.

...

"Here you are. One umbrella."

"Thanks. Should we wait for it to stop, or brave the rain?"

"I checked the forecast, I'm afraid it's like this for the night."

"Oh well, I'll chance it, you can stay here if you like, I'll ring you if I fall over."

"I'd rather you ring me before you fall over. So I'll come with you."

So that's settled. We set off for the park. For some reason, there are very few people around.

"It's not the best of weather for a walk, is it?"

"No, but I'd like to do three laps of the park to approximate the distance to work. Then we'll have a break and then we will go home."

"In your own time."

So we walked around the park three times. (70 minutes) Then we headed for the Coffee shop. Claire has been annoying, asking me how I was feeling, was it hurting? Did I want to stop. I snapped a couple of times but I thought I'd been quite gentle with her. So I was surprised when, sat in the Coffee shop, she accused me of biting her head off.

"You were fussing around me like an old mother hen, I was finding it hard to concentrate."

"Well, I'm sorry but you know I am worried about you."

"Yes, I know, and that is why I only snapped at you twice."

"If you'd just told me the first time, I would have stopped. Instead you bottled it up and let it all out when it got too much."

"As usual you have it in a nutshell, however If I had done as you said, then you would have been the one bottling it up. I think me exploding is milder than you exploding, if you know what I mean."

"Anyway, was the exercise worth it?"

"Yes. I should be able to manage the walk to work tomorrow evening. I might set my alarm an hour earlier to allow me to do a warm up before I set off."

"Would you like me to come and wake you up, and help you warm up."

"I would appreciate that, especially if you could leave the sexy voice at home. I'm still a sick man."

"So 17:00 then."

"Thank you."

We finish our drinks and make our way home. The rain stops just as we reach our Block. Typical.

"Claire, go to the top of the steps, I have to do this on my own."

I could see rebellion in her face, but she got a grip of herself and did as I asked.

I gripped the hand rail with one hand, and proceeded to walk up the steps. Right foot up one step, left foot to the step above. It is less tiring but less safe than one step at a time.

"You've been practicing."

I smile at Claire as I reach the top of the steps.

"That's got us to the Lobby. Same again for the next flight. Off you go."

She obeyed with less reluctance, this time. The next flight is just as good for me as I reach the top without hurting anything. A quick breather while Claire runs up the stairs to our floor. I try to take this last flight as quickly as the previous two but I'm tiring and my foot catches a step causing me to stumble. Claire starts down the stairs but I wave her away. A bit slower then. Going slower I reach the top, in one piece and not breathing too heavily.

"Well Done."

"Thanks. Already for tomorrow."

"Well, we'll see."

"Don't be such a doubting Thomas. I did it on my own, didn't I?"

"We'll see how you are feeling tomorrow morning. Come along, let's get you home."

I insist on walking unaided and turn into my rooms. Claire came too and decided to go over my morning schedule with me so we would not be falling over each other in the morning. I place my painkiller tablets on my bedside table. We also discuss the option of a taxi ride to and from work. To be decided.

When Claire had tidied the rooms and done the washing up and drying of the dishes and there really wasn't anything left to do, she said goodnight and went home to bed,

...

22:10 Claire goes to sleep about 23:00 so I'll sit here exercising until 23:30, then I'll go for another non-approved walk in the park.

...

23:30

Time for my unofficial walk. Check the weather, still raining. Oh it looks like it will have to be indoor exercise then. If I climb up three floors and come back down again that should be good practice.

...

Climbing up the three flights follows, more or less, the same pattern as my official exercise with Claire. Two floors good, third floor I trip and stumble I try bending my knee in an exaggerated way for each step. This seems to work but I'm tired from three flights of stairs and need a rest. The descent is uneventful as is the return to my rooms. I sit at the table and perform my warm down exercises. Then I carry on with my Tai Chair.

...

Two hours later I venture out to try the heights again. This time I lift my knees as I climb the stairs. Flight one, flight two and flight three with no problem. My thighs are aching in their own right. Back down three flights to home. I eye the bed but I know that that is the wrong place. The dining chair is the right choice. Warming down exercise.

...

My thighs still ache. I try massaging my thighs, then Tai Chair.

...

The ache in my thighs has nearly gone. The Tai Chair helps.

...

I make dinner and eat it. Dirty plates in the sink. Tomorrow's fresh clothes on the table. Showering and drying myself, suggesting that I may have overdone it today.

...

It's early but so to bed.