beside You - iggy pop

Ms Simone rang last night about ten and we talked until almost one.

Her "unavoidable family situation" had resolved itself fairly early and She had Her feet up. She told me, about an hour into the call, that She wished i was there with Her. then excused Herself to make a coffee.

In Her absence, something scratched against the phone and a familiar-ish whisper said, "don't even think about you coming to live here, ok?"

i considered bringing this up with Ms Simone, but decided to wait and see what happened.

She shoo-ed me off to bed, telling me She'd text late morning when She'd decided where we were meeting.

i was up by nine; shaved and showered by ten. it was eleven-thirty when my phone finally signalled that i'd received a text from Her.

i was there first. i remained inside though, this time. the last time we'd used this starbucks', we'd been spotted by some of my colleagues and i wasn't in a hurry to relive the experience.

Ms Simone arrived just after one-twenty, making heads turn - as usual! women's - and males' - eyes followed Her as She cut through the bar like a machete.

we had a quick coffee and moved onto Her shopping. this week, She was mostly looking at hats. they looked a bit weddingy, but i didn't let my curiosity spoil a lovely afternoon.

Ms Simone had mentioned earlier - while we were in starbucks', that we'd be having a meal later, so i walked behind Her, carrying Her purchases and kept my mind focused on that as a goal.

it was well after four when Ms Simone led me into a small café in a side-street hemmed in by huge victorian buildings. they towered into the sky, blotting out the afternoon almost completely.

inside, it felt warm, cosy. an amalgam of restauranty smells hit me at the same time; fish, garlic, beer, wine, something like cheese. a waiter approached silently and, behind him, an arm was waving.

Ms Simone pointed at the waving arm and we followed the waiter through the tables to Stella and tam.

i seated Ms Simone and She ordered wine for Herself, a pint of murphy's for me. the Ladies chatted, tam and i sat in silence.

Rose and harold appeared beside the table like a victorian special effect. tam and got to our feet as harold helped his Mistress sit down.

the waiter returned with menus for the Ladies and mistress Rose ordered a red wine. Ms Simone, at length, picked something italian-sounding and, for me, a vegetarian risotto. i didn't catch what mistress Rose or Stella ordered.

They chatted until their meals arrived. a minute or two later, ours did too. suddenly, with the steam rolling up into my face, i realised how hungry i actually was. Ms Simone tried Hers, took a sip of wine and told me to start mine.

the Ladies chatted while me, tam and harold ate in silence. this continued until it was time to go. outside, we males were allowed to shake hands, but still not to talk.

Ms Simone drove back to Hers, singing along to the CD already in the player. i half recognised the voice, but not the songs. when i asked Her, She looked at me and told me he had an immediately recognisable voice - and that i should try to work it out for myself.

at Hers, She opened the front door and i followed Her in. in the living room, tutu watched us from a large cushion where i usually sat.

she muttered something about the time, stretched and padded to the kitchen. i took Ms Simone's coat and headed back out into the hall. tutu stood by her bowl, clearing her throat.

"you better feed her," called Ms Simone.

"yeah." added the cat. "you'd better."

in the kitchen, i filled and put on the kettle before i went to the fridge.

"just when you've got the time." the cat whispered, its voice edged with violence.

with tutu fed, i was free to focus on my owner and i brought Her a coffee. we sat in silence for a while, until it was time for Ms Simone to go to bed.

the cat came through, gave us a dirty look and demanded to be let out. i looked to Ms Simone, who ignored tutu's threats. the cat, sensing that its wishes weren't going to be met, came over to me and sat beside me, pushing against me slightly. just enough to show who she felt was boss.

i collected my duvet from the bottom of the stairs and got under it. tutu climbed on top of it and leaned back, licking her back legs. i took out my phone to write this and she growled the word "careful", before falling asleep.