Billygean.co.uk

Saturday, September 30, 2006

What happens the weekend before the student loans go in

"Okay, what have we got?" I say to Mike. We're standing outside the Co-Op. We're both so broke. But we do need to eat, and the Co-Op does prevent us going out for meals we are not supposed to.

"Right, I have ten pounds, ten pounds," Mike says, counting. "So twenty."

I open my purse. "Okay, I five, five, ten. And one pound and ... six pence," I say, emptying it into his hands.

"That shouldn't be too bad, forty one pounds and six pence; dinner for tonight and a week's shopping."

"Ooh, I have found another pound," I say. "For the trolley."

We make our way around the supermarket. I manage to resist buying fudge although I do buy some smarties ice creams due to post-Rome ice cream cravings. We have a small tiff in the fizzy drink aisle because Mike does not feel coke is essential. I however know that coke is essential to my wellbeing but alas we return with none.

We reach the checkout and Mike begins loading it whilst I go in search of last minute bread. I come back with a miniature loaf which is so cute and looked lonely on the shelf. Mike rolls his eyes.

I survey the shopping. "What do you think it will come to?"

"I hope not over forty," he says. I bite my lip. It looks like there's an awful lot of shopping there. Chicken, sauces, naan breads, peppers. I watch it anxiously as it goes through the checkout, wishing there was a subtitle window.

"I'm going," I say. "I refuse to be present if we have to put items back on the shelf."

Mike kisses my forehead. "You are not going anywhere. Besides, it'll be fine."

He packs the last of the food away as the lady at the checkout opens her mouth.

"That'll be forty one pounds and six pence," she says. My mouth drops open.

"You added that up!" I say.

"I DID NOT!"

"I am very, very scared by you."

by billygean.co.uk at 12:30 PM |