Balcony Encounter

Luke had been making the most of the lockdown. He was glad he had moved in in January, as now it would have been impossible. ‘A new year and a new start’ that’s what he had promised himself, and that’s what he was getting. He sat on his sofa and surveyed his flat, finally everything was in its place. the last of the boxes had been unpacked, rather than staring at him and pleading to be dealt with. His own place. Clean, white walls with two black and white prints, one of the Eiffel Tower and one of workmen having a lunch break. Two comfortable black leather sofas, a small table with just two chairs, the computer desk sat in the corner completed his Nirvana. 

He smiled. No more sharing a bathroom, with the biggest slob on the planet and his bloody music.  No more having to deal with Tyrone’s mess,  finding plates growing their own ecosystems or mugs with congealed remnants of drinks. He shuddered when he thought of the bathroom. No more trail of soiled underwear and clothes strewn about the flat. Sammy jumped on the sofa and purred as he settled down on to Luke’s lap, and brought Luke back to his own pristine place.

He sat in just his dressing gown because he could. No conference calls today. He was getting used to working from home. He wasn’t missing the office at all. He had his computer at home, he could access any spreadsheet that needed attention. He could make his conference calls and have social meetings on Zoom and, at the same time have a decent cup of coffee rather than the awful stuff they had at the office. He could even watch a bit of porn, safely, anytime he wanted, although Luke was fairly sure Sammy gave him a disapproving look when he did. I’m saving hours on travelling and all the hassle, Luke thought to himself, as he stroked Sammy, the cat.

He flicked through a few channels, Cookery, Covid-19, Cookery, Covid-19, Cookery competition, Cookery advert, Covid-19, repeat, Cookery advert, repeat, covid-19, cooking.

 ‘How many bloody cookery programs are there?’ Sammy gave him that look that all cats give unless it is about food. Blank indifference. With an exaggerated sigh and extracating Sammy from his lap, Luke rose and opened the door onto his balcony.

The balcony ran the full length of his flat. Up until now, Luke hadn't had the opportunity to take advantage of it properly, what with the predominantly foul weather. He only opened the doors in between rain showers and gales of wind to give Sammy a change of scene. Another advantage of being on the third floor, Sammy didn’t bring in presents of mice and birds for him any more, thankfully. Perhaps it was unkind to keep a cat in the flat, but he hadn’t seemed unduly perturbed by his new surroundings.

As he stepped out onto the balcony with his coffee, Luke took in the view for the first time. Not exactly a panorama of trees, mountains, lakes and beautiful sunsets, but London had its own unique beauty.  A blend of architecture, crossing centuries, buildings with stories to tell if only they could speak, centuries-old churches cheek by jowl with modern office blocks. White marble edifices, beautifully crafted stone faces sitting proudly amongst the glass walls around them, with flashes of rooftop gardens. Normally bustling and never quiet, the city had fallen into an eery stupor. He had been out his baclony on Thursdays, clapping, whooping, cheering, banging of saucepans along with most of the other residents at eight o’clock, waving and clapping at people he didn’t know. Luke got a little emotional hearing the cacophony of support for those at the forefront of the pandemic. Each week there was always that awkward moment, when no-one wanted to be the first person to stop applauding, did it make them look less supportive? But it had been his first glimpses of his new neighbours.

Taking a deep breath, and a good gulp of his coffee, Luke rested on the beam of his balcony. Sammy came out and joined him, sticking his head through the bars.

‘Hi!’ The voice shocked Luke. ‘Hello!’ repeated the voice.

He turned to look at where the voice was coming from. Standing and waving on the balcony beside his was a woman, with a mass of flowing brown hair. The bright red lipstick and heavily shaded eyes stood out dramatically against her very pale skin. She dressed casually in leggings and a loose t-shirt. Luke felt sure, the lockdown had made her relax her standards. Luke immediately became conscious that one stiff gust of wind could reveal more than ever intended.

‘Oh… Hi!’

‘It’s too good to stay in. These flats are lovely, they catch the sun all morning. What a gorgeous day!’

‘Indeed.’

‘Such a shame we have to be stuck inside. I mean the weather is glorious isn’t it, but then again it usually is this time of year, just when the kids have gone back to school, but of course they’re not back at school this year are they, no, I feel sorry for all those parents that are having to educate at home, it must be such a strange situation for them.’

‘Yes.’                     

               ‘I should be working in the office, but at the moment I have to work at home due to the lockdown and socially distancing. But the weather is marvellous, so I’ve brought a table and chair out on to the balcony so I can work outside. I’m just giving myself a coffee break.’

               ‘Snap.’ Luke hated being socially awkward at the best of times, which was another reason he had been enjoying the isolating. It wasn’t exactly hard for him. He just didn’t know what to say even when he knew who he was talking to, let alone standing on his balcony in his dressing gown.

               ‘Darren who owned the flat moved out just before Christmas, he married his girlfriend Julia in February, on Valentine’s day, and they went for a honeymoon in Barbados. I was so jealous, Barbados must be lovely, this time of year, well any time of year really, mustn’t it. I’d love to go sometime, I’ve never been abroad really, I don’t think the Isle of Wight counts does it? The strange thing is I never knew Darren had a girlfriend, I hadn’t seen one come round to his flat, and then all of a sudden whoosh he was off. He hadn’t been there long, less than a year, no soon as he had moved in and then he was off again. You’ve not been there long have you? ‘

               'No,' he said and, realising all his answers had thus far been monosyllabic, added, 'I've been moved in since January.'

               ‘I know… They are lovely flats, so spacious, the ones the other side have a great view of the Thames, don’t they? But that means they cost a lot more, of course, I would have liked one, but I could only afford one of these. Besides I only need a one bedroom flat, I’m on my own, have been for years, and expect to be so for a while yet. Are you settling in OK?’

               ‘Yes.’

               ‘I’ve been here seven years, four months and three days. I was one of the first to move into this block, moved in almost as soon as the first one was completed. I know everybody here, Carly and Charlie live in the flat behind you, they’ve been together for three years. But I think they are looking to move on to a house, as they want to have children and they want a garden for their baby to run around in, they haven’t got one yet, but they are trying. They have been for months.  Bryan and James live in the one behind me, they’re gay, but you probably guessed that by their names, although of course they could just be two blokes sharing a flat, blokes do, don’t they? For economic reasons I mean. But they’re not, they’re gay. Bryan is a solicitor and James is a teacher, he teaches at the local comprehensive school, he’s the head of Geography. I hated Geography at school, didn’t you? Though of course, I’d never tell James that.’

Seizing the merest pause for a breath ‘Luke.’

‘Where?’

‘No. I’m Luke,’ he was about to valiantly try and explain, but he was cut off before he had a chance to. Instead of trying to stem the oncoming verbal tsunami, Luke braced himself and gripped the guard rail just a touch tighter.

‘I said It’s Bryan and James, weren’t you listening? And they are looking for somewhere a bit further out, away from the school Bryan said, because it must be awkward for James, living so close to the school, I mean he can’t get away from it wherever he goes he sees kids from the school, he can’t get any peace. Imagine it. Apparently he’s volunteered to go into school to look after the kids whose parents are key workers. That’s brave if you ask me. I wouldn’t be. I like to be safe and sound here in my flat. Oh. Well above you is Samantha, she’s a chartered accountant. She works in the city a lot, and has another place down on the coast somewhere, Deal I think. Anyway she’s moved down there whilst she’s in lockdown, I would as well if I could do. I mean, round here is lovely, but I’d much rather live on the coast. Ramsgate is lovely. She said she’s thinking of moving down there permanently as she can do most of her work from home. Above me is Tom, he’s a flight attendant, British Airways I think, Maybe Virgin.  He travels all over the world. Well, he does normally, but of course the total lockdown of flights has meant that he’s not travelling anywhere at the moment. But he’s chosen to be with his mother during the lockdown as he wants to make sure that she’s all alright seeing as he lost his dad last year and didn’t want to leave his mum on her own. He says he’s thinking of moving in with her as where she lives is closer to Heathrow which is where he’s based. He says he doesn’t really need to have his own place as he’s away so much of the time, and his Mum has a huge place just outside Windsor, so it would be like having his own place anyway. We always joked that he called her the Queen.’

It was at this point, Sammy made the decision to strut back into the living area and claim his place back on the sofa. Settled down to watch whatever it was that had been left on the television. Luke wished he could follow but didn’t want to appear rude. Feeling slightly envious of his pet, Luke continued to smile as unabated and seemingly not pausing for breath she continued.

‘So anyway, it’s usually quite quiet around here. It’s very friendly of course, everybody chats to everybody. It’s a real hive of activity. I tried to set up a Whatsapp group for the flats, but strangely nobody seemed interested. I suppose everybody is able to get out and about and busy with things. Felix, he lives diagonally behind me, so you won’t see him, he doing volunteering work, helping to deliver food packages to those that are less able to get out. He’s amazingly conscientious, he just needs to hear my door open and I can hear him putting the locks on his door. Excellent social distancing. The postman is amazing too, I’ve tried to thank him, but by the time I open the door he’s already in the lift. He does it every time.

Everyone knows me round here. We’re dead friendly, ask anybody. I’m chair of the Resident’s Committee, Women’s Institute and also the Neighbourhood Watch. I’m the local council rep, I run the local Guides and I’m on the Board of Governors of the school, the one where James works, though I don’t have children of course. No, I’d need a man for that. I’ve not had a boyfriend for years, I had one once, well it was more of crush than anything. I never kissed him or anything like that, but I did follow him home from school for two years, then he left. I still see him on social media, he’s a bus driver, I sometimes catch his bus, I don’t think he recognises me now. So anyway, if you need to know anything come and ask me. I’m the font of all knowledge.’

Luke was suddenly reminded of the note left by Darren had left for him when he moved out to move in with his girlfriend, he had forgotten about the note until now. Darren’s description had been spot on. ‘You must be Beverley.’

         ‘Yes! Didn’t I say? Really, how, very silly of me! It’s normally one of the first things I say. Beverly. B E V E R L Y, no third E I don’t want to be confused with the place in Yorkshire. Not that there’s anything wrong with Yorkshire. No, Beverly, or Bev, Bevvo, Bevvy, or just B, Queen Bee, some people like to call me, but honestly call me what you like. I answer to anything.’

Luke thought to himself, she wouldn’t answer to what Darren had called her, but ‘Interfering, busy-body’ and ‘Look-out for the SS’ seemed to sum her up perfectly

‘I really.’

‘OOH! Look at the time! I can’t stand here chatting all day. I’ve got things to do, emails, to write, conference calls to plan and schedule, I have at least two conference calls a day what with work and all the other stuff. I do like to be busy, don’t you? It just makes the days just go so fast. Of course, at the moment they all seem to blend into one, don’t they? Honestly I don’t know what day of the week it is at times.’

The laugh which at first had irritated Luke was now starting to really grate. ‘Something like a cross between a hyena and a foghorn,’ he thought.

‘No seriously, of course I do.’

Luke plucked up the courage to make an excuse about having to feed the cat or something equally desperate, just to get out of ear shot. ‘I,’ he started, but his bravery was superfluous.

‘Right! Coffee break is over for me,’ she bulldozed on. ‘I’ve got a delivery due. It ‘s so difficult to get a convenient slot. I’m on the look out for anybody contravening social distancing, I’ve got a hotline number for the police. It’s a special number. I can’t give it out. Well I could, but I’d have to kill you.’ The laugh came again. ‘I’ve ordered myself some more powerful binoculars. But don’t worry, I won’t be looking into your flat with them.’ That laugh! ‘Oooh! That sounds like a knock at my door. Right I must dash! I can’t stand around looking like Romeo and Juliet with you. It’s been lovely chatting with you, Jack.’

‘It’s Luke…’ But Beverly with no third E had already disappeared into her flat. Luke mockingly staggered back into the flat, ‘I’m exhausted just listening to her, Sammy! She breathes through her ears. Jeez! I need coffee. Strong coffee. A big, strong, coffee.’

Sammy blinked back, offering no solace and most importantly no coffee.