The Best Gravy
UPLIFTING SHORT STORY BY JO STYLES
With a broken relationship behind her and a drama queen at home, life was getting a little too theatrical for Kate…
“Now my ad’s on TV everybody wants to be my best friend, Mum. More people wanted autographs today.” Kate’s daughter, aged eight, flounced into the lounge where Kate stood waiting.
Kate’s own mother followed the girl. She’d just walked little Lucy home from school. There Lucy basked in a little fame. She also basked in a little attitude.
Her teacher used to report on parents’ evening, “She’s rather slow at coming forward.” Not any more, Kate considered, as Lucy turned around and flounced back towards the hall. “I have to go and pick an outfit out for school tomorrow. I have to look film-starry.”
Kate sighed as she left.
She’s turning into a proper little diva, Mum. I wish we hadn’t gone to that audition now.
Lucy had no acting training… yet. Even so, Kate had encouraged her to enter an open-casting event. They’d visited the town hall nine months ago where an advertising agency held court.
Their hunt for a star was countrywide.
In front of a table where various bigwigs sat, Lucy had acted out a scene with an invisible feline. The cat in the ad would be added using CGI.
Sydney, a Persian, liked his cat food smothered in only the best gravy. The agency made it clear if the pet food commercial did well, they would plan more, centred on his adventures.
Kate had simply nodded and smiled. We’re only here for the experience. Lucy doesn’t expect to get the part. She’s here to spread her wings and gain some confidence. Since Kate’s ex had met somebody else then disappeared abroad, she needed to spread her wings and boost her own self-esteem.
A London trip proved another good experience. Black cabs, Trafalgar Square, the London Eye: Lucy gawped at it all and showed great delight over the exhibits in the Natural History Museum, too. Kate took her job of raising Lucy very seriously, so she’d crammed in as much sightseeing as possible. Little did she know they’d do it all again when Lucy unexpectedly landed the role.
Now in her lounge, her own mother changed the subject. “How did your interview go this afternoon?”
“Not so good. That’s why I got back early. Thanks for fetching Lucy.”
You know I’d be happy to pitch in more now you’re on your own.
“No thanks. I don’t want to become overly dependent on anyone.”
She’d made that mistake before when it came to her ex.
In the middle of assuring her mother she could cope, Lucy interrupted. She strode back in carrying two dresses on hangers. “Which one?”
“That’s the dress you wore at your Aunt Marie’s wedding,” Kate pointed out. “And that’s the dress you wore for your granddad’s party. They’re far too posh for school.”
Lucy pouted. “I don’t think so. I’m famous now. I’m an actress.”
“Well, I’m directing you today and I say you need to dress for the part of an ordinary schoolgirl.”
“But I’m not ordinary. Not any more.” With that, Lucy whirled around and stomped away.
Kate frowned. I’m sure she’s getting worse.
As usual, Kate walked Lucy to school herself the next morning. As they reached the gates she pointed to some parents and children nattering in a group.
“There’s Hannah and Fran. They’re waiting for you, Luce.”
Lucy crossed her arms. Under her coat she had on a jumper, leggings and a tartan skirt. She’d worn almost the same in the advert. “I don’t sit with them in class any more.”
Kate frowned. “Why not? They’ve been your best friends since you started school.”
“I prefer to sit with Jack, Kizzy, Hari and Noah now,” Lucy said. “Jack wants me to go to his birthday party. I can go, can’t I? We should know about the second advert by then. Everybody will want to hear all about it.”
The agency promised to ring with their plans. There might well be more filming schedules to organise.
“There’s Jack and Noah now!” Lucy pointed to the other end of the road and waved.
“Jack, we’ll know about the second ad soon!” She yelled.
Jack, a little boy with dark hair, smiled. “Can I come when you film it?”
“Can I?” somebody else yelled further down the pavement.
Kate stood throttling the handle of her shoulder bag as more kids and their parents arrived. They surrounded her daughter, firing off questions as Lucy preened like a triple Oscar winner.
Yes, I expect I will be on a chat show one day. I’ll be in a big films, too. You can all watch me at the cinema.
All the parents close by frowned at Kate. She imagined their thoughts.
That’s her. She’s “The Mother”.
Her husband left. She’s out of work. I bet she’s decided to make money any way she can.
“Lucy, time to go inside. Don’t be late.” She ushered her daughter through the school gates then turned for home.
“So, I’ve been thinking, Mum,” Kate paced in her lounge half an hour later.
Her mum sat on the settee, a mug of tea cupped between her hands.
It’s obvious Lucy can’t handle fame. I’ve talked to her about her attitude, but it’s made no difference. I found out she’s dropped her old friends in favour of some… hangers-on. I’m going to tell her we’re not doing any more ads.
“But she’ll be devastated,” her mum replied.
“I know, but it’s for the best. When the agency rings, I’m going to turn all offers down. We’re walking away from Sydney the cat. This kind of thing isn’t for people like us; we’ll go back to the way we were.”
Her mum heaved a sigh. “I’m not sure anybody can go back, love. We’re not time travellers, are we?”
No we’re not, Kate thought.
“I’ll do better from now on, I will.”
This time her mother frowned. “I just wish you’d accept more help. Let me have a chat with Lucy.”
“No, Mum. I’d rather deal with this myself. Thanks anyway.”
Just after her mum left, Kate’s mobile rang.
“Hello!” The caller sounded very upbeat. “This is Jaclyn from the ad agency. We’d like to talk terms. The Sydney campaign’s a great success. I’d like to email over a new script.”
Speaking of scripts, Kate tried to rehearse one later that afternoon when she walked to collect Lucy from school.
“I hoped our little adventure down in London would teach us things about ourselves. Now, what do you think we’ve learned?”
That some people love glitter, glamour and excitement and their friendship isn’t real? No, no, she’s only little, she won’t have worked that out.
Kate came to a halt then turned half about. She didn’t want to face the parents. I should have taken her somewhere else to gain more confidence – horse riding or gymnastics maybe.
Maybe she wouldn’t have such a big head if I wasn’t such a useless mother?
She bit her lip then fished in her bag for a tissue. She wiped her eyes. Lucy, you need to concentrate on your schoolwork now and being a child. You’re going to hate me forever, aren’t you?
She heard a bell go off inside the school and children began to stream out of the building. She saw their innocent faces and wished she’d never entered the town hall. She saw little Jack striding out with his gaggle of friends.
Lucy, her cheeks flushed, smiled big and wide as she skipped along between two other pals.
“Hannah? Fran? What happened? Are you back?” As they came running up, she blinked in surprise.
“Mum, can Hannah and Fran come back with us?” said Lucy. “They asked their mums.”
“Yes, of course.”
On the way home, as they walked under the shade of the trees, Fran said, “When I get my new hamster, you can all come and see him.”
“Will you really call him George?” Hannah asked.
“That’s an old man’s name.”
“George is a prince, silly,” Fran giggled.
Oddly, all the way home Lucy didn’t say a single word about CGI Sydney or how many times the advert might appear that evening.
When they reached home, the trio ran up to Lucy’s room, and it felt like the old days, the sound of giggles and stomping thudding through the kitchen ceiling.
Kate stood at the countertop. Usually the girls would stay to eat, just sandwiches and crisps. As usual, Lucy reappeared after about an hour.
“Can we have some drinks, please?” was her request.
“See what’s in the fridge.”
As her daughter rooted about for refreshments, Kate’s brow furrowed.
“You’re all friends again, then?”
Lucy nodded, two cans of cola in hand and one stuffed under her arm.
“Hannah and Fran said some things to me.” Lucy’s brow furrowed.
They said they didn’t like me any more because I’d changed. They said what you did, Mum, that I was always bragging. I wanted to be their friend again so… I stopped.
She makes it sound so simple, Kate thought. No heartbreak, no agonising, simply swap back into your old role.
“I see. Well done you! About the ad, the agency called about a new one. I almost turned it down because I was worried about you. I told them I’d get back to them after we’d talked again.”
“Can we do it later? I’m having fun,” Lucy headed for the door.
With Lucy gone, Kate stood pondering. So, what’s this experience taught you? That Lucy has good friends. That they won’t desert her even when she’s insufferable? That sometimes she’ll listens to them more than she listens to you?
Still pondering, Kate wandered into the lounge and flicked through a few TV channels, knowing he’d be around somewhere.
Sydney the Persian finally appeared on screen. He waved one fluffy paw as, in the background, Lucy toiled to fill his dish. “I only want the best gravy!” he declared.
Kate smiled. “I think I’ve just had some of that, too. Thanks Sydney.”
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