“And this woman is the mother of his youngest child?”
“Yes.”
“What’s her name, actually?”
“Do you really need to know that?”
“Saying her name makes you feel uncomfortable, perhaps?”
“Not really. Cat.”
“Is that short for something?”
“Malcolm!”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. There was quite a lot in there. I’m struggling to know where to start. Where do you want to start? How are you feeling?”
“Bereft mostly. A bit exhilarated. How are you feeling?” She knew she wasn’t supposed to ask that, but she was aware that Malcolm had been through a lot in the previous twenty minutes.
“Concerned.”
“Really?”
“It’s not my position to judge. As you know. Actually, scrap that last remark. Strike it from the record. And the concerned bit.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to ask you a question and I don’t want you to think it’s judgmental.”
“I have wiped my memory clean.”
“I’m just concerned about the part you might have played in ending this man’s relationship. And also you bringing a child into the world with no father.”
“I thought we’d scrapped ‘concerned.’ ”
“Oh. Yes. Anyway. How do you feel about that?”
“Malcolm, this is hopeless.”
“What have I said now?”
“I’m really not worried about the morality of it all.”
“I can see that.”
“So can’t we talk about what I am worried about?”
“If we must. What are you worried about?”
“I want to throw everything in and move to America. Tomorrow. Sell the house and go.”
“Has he asked you?”
“No.”
“Well, then. I think we’re better off talking about how to make the best of a bad job here.”
“ ‘The best of a bad job’?”
“I know you think I’m a square, or whatever you call it. But I don’t see how we can call it a, a
“Which is where, exactly?”
“America. I mean, it’s not Cloud Cuckoo Land for Americans. But it is for you.”
“Why?”
“Because you live here.”
“And that’s it. So there isn’t really any possibility of change, then, is there?”
“’Course there is. That’s why you’re here.”
“But not much.”
“Not with the way house prices have gone recently, anyway. I don’t know what you paid for yours, but you won’t get it back in the current climate. Even rentals aren’t very good. I’ve got a friend who’s been trying to rent her house for next summer. Never had any trouble before, until now.”
Annie had always heard the town speaking through Malcolm, ever since her first session, but now she heard the voice of the country she had grown up in: she heard teachers and parents and teaching colleagues and friends. This was how England spoke, and she couldn’t listen to her anymore.
She stood up, walked over to Malcolm, kissed him on the top of his head.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m all better now.” And she left.
Duncan
Member
Posts: 1019 Gentlemen, so. I have it. I’ve had it for a couple of days, in fact, but after the debacle of Naked (mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa), I have allowed it to stew for a couple of days before committing myself. But there’s no putting it off. To quote another critic, writing in another time and another place, but about a similar artistic disaster: “What is this shit?” We have a song about the pleasures of reading in the afternoon sunshine. We have a song about homegrown green beans. We have a cover of the Don Williams “classic” “You’re My Best Friend.” We have a major tragedy.
BetterthanBob
Member
Posts: 789 Thank God. I thought I was going crazy. I got home from work, downloaded the album, transferred it onto my iPod and shut myself away for the night in my study—told the Boss that she couldn’t come in before ten p.m. I was out by 8:45! Couldn’t take it anymore! Ran screaming to the pub! I spent most of the night trying to think of a more disappointing “comeback”: drew a blank. There’s nothing I would willingly play for a second time. Oh, Tucker, Where Art Thou?
Julietlover
Member
Posts: 881 This album should be called Happiness Is Poison. Who gives a toss if Tucker Crowe has found inner peace? Talk about “be careful what you wish for.” I have thought about a new Tucker Crowe album just about every day for twenty years, and now I wish he’d stayed a recluse. I heard it got turned down by every major label in America. Do you think he cares that he’s let himself and everyone else down? It doesn’t sound like it. Won’t get fooled again. RIP Tucker Crowe.
MrMozza7
Newbie
Posts: 2 Hahahahahahahahaha. I told you he was overrated. Now go and listen to everything MORRISSEY has ever sung, you muppets.
Uptown Girl
Junior Member
Posts: 1 Hi, everyone! First-time caller, or whatever you are on the Internet! My husband and I recently came across the album So Where Was I? by Tucker Crow and we both absolutely love it! We found another one called Juliet but it’s a bit gloomy for our liking! Can you recommend any others of his we might enjoy?
BetterthanBob
Member
Posts: 790 Dear God.
