Amy was deep in slumber, worn out from the hangover last night, unable to hear the constant knock.
Suddenly the knock stopped and it seemed the person who had been at the door went away, giving up on knocking the door.
No...
It wasn’t true. A moment later, the determined knock came back. This time, the visitor was not alone. A metallic click sound was faintly heard but Amy was still too unconscious to sense it.
There was another knock, this time, on her bedroom door. The man came in without waiting for Amy’s answer though.
“Wakey wakey, Amy, it’s almost noon,” boomed the intruder’s voice.
“Whaaa? Whooo the heeeell rrrrr yuuu?” cried Amy who was still unable to tell where she was now nor who the intruding man was.
“Don’t panic, darling. It’s only me, John, your baby brother,” soothed the man. He walked around the house freely and opened up every window of it, apparently in an effort to clear the stale air.
“Here, drink this,” demanded John, handing a glass of water to Amy who, by now, was unwillingly half sitting and half leaning against her pillow.
“Daaans, Jaaarnni,” said Amy, gulping down the water gratefully.
“Han on ar minit, ha dija gerin?” asked the startled voice.
“Oh, don’t worry. I didn’t break your security system. I’ve talked to the concierge downstairs. I told Tom it was an emergency. As your brother I needed to urgently get access to your flat before things got out of control. He accompanied me and let me get inside here with his master key. He looked very grumpy and sulky though.
“Dat saands riaaal Tooom tu mi. Ba de wey, wa u dooin hiiiar?”
“I’m on a mission,” said John in a somewhat changed tone.
“On a mission?” Amy suddenly sounded alert.
After putting down the water glass on her bedside table, she sat up straight. “For God’s sake, don’t tell me you have lost all your savings in those stupid bitcoins again.”
“No, don’t worry. This mission is nothing to do with my bitcoins or any other coins for that matter. For your information, my investment business is rather doing well at the moment.” John proudly announced.
“Oh well, that is a relief. Then, what is it you want to tell me so urgently by disturbing my precious Saturday morning?”
“Do you..." began John, sitting himself on the edge of the bed, "do remember my colleague whom I’ve been telling you about for ages?”
“Your colleague? You always tell me things and people. How am I supposed to know which colleague of yours you are telling me about this time?”
“I mean recently. This colleague, Jane, she is ever so nice and fun too. You would love her instantly if you are willing to meet up with her.”
“I see,” by this time Amy’s attention was slipping away and she was gradually leaning her body back to the previous lying position and into her duvet. “But why are you telling me about, er... this Jane suddenly?”
Amy’s sleepy voice turned slightly suspicious. “I am sure you haven’t mentioned to me anyone with a name of Jane before.”
“Oh... you must be fuzzy brained after a night out. How come you cannot remember the name we both know very well?”
With no answer from his sister, John playfully poked the side of his half-sleeping sister and resumed his story.
“The thing is, Amy, this Jane is now looking for a flat to share. These days, as you know, a decent flat is extremely difficult to get. What with so many people living in this already overcrowded city and a limited number of properties available. And getting a nice flatmate is even more difficult in this vast strange world…”
An indistinguishable noise came out of Amy's mouth. Her eyes were already closed. Taking his sister’s sleepy noise as a form of an agreement, John continued his talk, “And you know what? I think I have found her a perfect flatmate.”
“Da ez wan-da-fool noose…” her voice trailed off.
“Do you think so? Thanks for agreeing with me, hon! To be perfectly honest with you, I have been so worried about you. Living in this huge flat alone and no one to talk to at night. And who knows someone may intrude one day and…”
“Ar... im do…duin faain. Still doon anda…stan… why u… u ar... telin me dis? Amy faltered. Her severe hangover made her still find it hard to fully grasp what was going on around her, not to mention of what was being told.
“Nothing. Nothing is confirmed yet. But it depends on how the flatmate I’ve chosen for her thinks. I know she is nice enough to accept Jane with her both arms wide. My colleague needs a new place to live quite urgently. I don’t want her to live uncertainly anymore,” sighed John emotionally.
“Yes, you are right. She is so desperate. So, you do agree to have her as your new flatmate, don’t you? Thank God! Thank you so much, my dear sister. You are an angel. I’ll go and tell her the good news straightaway.”
“Wat goot noose?” asked the sleepy voice.
But John didn’t wait to answer her question. He quickly ran out of the room before Amy could say anything further. Whatever he meant to say, he’s gone!
Amy was already back in her cosy duvet and started snoring.
In her dream Amy met a woman of her age, sitting next to her and speaking gently. Probably this woman must be the colleague of John’s. Was her name Janet? Or Julia? Or whatever.
She does not understand why this woman is sitting next to her. Does she need her help? What was it John said this woman needed? Is she looking for a new car or getting her flat refurbished? If so, maybe I can give her some advice on furniture or something.
