“No need to follow your wicked advice. We’re fine. It’s a wonderful world. Love. Mon XXX”
“For the tenth times, do I look like I care? It’s just my Englishness that forces me to appear compassionate. Glad to hear it. What are those Xs for? See you this afternoon. Henry”
We are all in the kitchen.
“Have a safe trip to Paris. Call me when you land”. I manage to say goodbye without stopping eating my toast.
“I will, do you realize you have been having breakfast for the past 25 minutes, don’t you? Do you remember our little talk about not eating for two?”
“Hello Mrs. Marjorie Dawes, give my best to the rest of the FatFighters! You can tell me what to eat the moment you agree to carry a child for 9 months inside you and then pop it out from a tiny opening”.
“More juice?” and he smiles going towards Jason who’s sitting in his chair. “Come to daddy and give me a kiss. Bye mate, you take good care of mummy”.
“We will be fine. See you tomorrow”.
“Byeeeeeeeee” and he closes the door behind him.
We get ready and I take Jason to the park where I meet up with Emma. It’s becoming our routine; we go for a walk and try to get the best out of this mummy’s life.
We decide to have some Lebanese for lunch, not that we can choose, since it is the only restaurant in the neighborhood which would put up with two very loud 1 year olds.
I get home around three and I place Jason inside his playpen. I sit at the desk in our study. Howard left a teddy bear on his chair, right in front of mine, with a little note that reads “In case of FIRE, hug him tight. For love emergency only”.
I smile, he is crazy, let’s just hope our children get my brain and his body.
I start working, but writing a lecture on Othello is playing bizarre tricks to my feeble and very pregnant mind.
I look for different images to download from the internet so I can use them in my power point presentation but Iago refuses to let me alone.
“Mummy is retarded. This has to stop. Maybe I should go downstairs and behave like too-good-to-be-true Brie, from Desperate Housewives. Bake cookies or something.” I stop for a moment “How can they name someone after a cheese? Food… NO! Will power! Must not give in to temptation!” I sigh in frustration “Who am I kidding? Mummy can’t bake you cookies because she doesn’t even know how to use the oven. I’m useless”.
I crawl towards Jason who isn’t paying any attention to my moaning, too interested in the little book is sort of reading.
Iago: “O, beware my Lord, of Jealousy!
It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on”.
Emilia: “But jealous souls will not be answer’d so;
They are not even jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster
Begot upon itself, born onto itself”
“Bad news sweetheart, mummy’s hearing voices in her head, I fear it’s the beginning of the end. And we are also going to be late if we don’t get going. All work and no play…”.
I’m in the taxi with Jason, and his omnipresent blue bag. We are heading towards the Strand when I’m simply overwhelmed.
*Can’t do that any more. I trust him. End of story.* But Iago suggests Jason has never taken a train in his life - the fact is 11 months old seems like a minor detail at the moment. “Mummy had a great idea! I’m going to call uncle Henry and tell him I cannot go to the meeting because you’re not feeling well. We could catch the 7.11 Eurostar to Paris and make daddy a big surprise. What do you think? One giggle is yes, two giggles is no”
He giggles in reply.
“You are a sport and I love you very, very much!” I turn to the taxi driver and I say “I’ve changed my mind, could you take us to Waterloo Station Please?”
Jason is mesmerized by the train, the lights and the noises. Forgot about the tunnel, I know, hard to miss, but still. I’m so claustrophobic I could scream. I made my bed and I have to sleep in it. My mobile rings, it’s Howard, I feel guilty know.
“Ciao Tesoro”
“Italian, do you have any idea what it does to me?”
“Of course I do. I’m being naughty. How’s Paris?”
“Horrible, since you’re not here. Are you absolutely sure you cannot skip the meeting? You could still make it. Try to picture the two of us having a romantic dinner on the Bateau Mouche, Paris around us, Parisian sky with related Parisian stars above us, Parisian food even. ”
“You make me feel bad now. I’m sorry”
“What for? I had to try. It’s work, for both of us. And you are the one stuck in the most boring activity known to mankind. If you need help text me and I’ll cheer you up. If not, I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning. Ciao”.
“Ciao”
The Gare du Nord is busy as usual. I manage to get to the top of the line and into a taxi.
“Je dois aller au Hotel Ritz s’il vous plait”
“Bien sure Madame. Votre petit enfant paresse très fatigue”
“Oui, nous venons de Londres, c’était son première fois dans le train, il n’a pas dormi et maintenant je crois il va faire do-do. ”
“You’re English?”
“Not exactly but we live in London”
“Your French is really good”
“Thanks, will it take long to get there?”
“Depending on the traffic, it shouldn’t take more than half an hour”
“Perfect” I cuddle Jason in my arms and look at Paris from the window. It has been so long since my last time here. I caress his head and I whisper “you’re daddy is going to be so happy to see us. Just wait and see little angel”.
We get there a little before midnight. Jason is asleep in my arms. Knowing the guys habits they must be changing before going out. Maybe we can find a French babysitter and stick to Howard’s over-romantic plan. I love Paris by night.
I step inside the Hall. It is magnificent. The label is really reserving them a 5 stars treatment. It must be Paris air but all my fears and doubts are gone. I’m so happy I could just scream. If only I had brought a change with me. I can’t wait to see Howard. I have this silly song going on in my head:
I love Paris in the springtime
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
I love Paris, oh why oh why do I love Paris?
Because my love is there!
“For the tenth times, do I look like I care? It’s just my Englishness that forces me to appear compassionate. Glad to hear it. What are those Xs for? See you this afternoon. Henry”
We are all in the kitchen.
“Have a safe trip to Paris. Call me when you land”. I manage to say goodbye without stopping eating my toast.
“I will, do you realize you have been having breakfast for the past 25 minutes, don’t you? Do you remember our little talk about not eating for two?”
“Hello Mrs. Marjorie Dawes, give my best to the rest of the FatFighters! You can tell me what to eat the moment you agree to carry a child for 9 months inside you and then pop it out from a tiny opening”.
“More juice?” and he smiles going towards Jason who’s sitting in his chair. “Come to daddy and give me a kiss. Bye mate, you take good care of mummy”.
“We will be fine. See you tomorrow”.
“Byeeeeeeeee” and he closes the door behind him.
We get ready and I take Jason to the park where I meet up with Emma. It’s becoming our routine; we go for a walk and try to get the best out of this mummy’s life.
We decide to have some Lebanese for lunch, not that we can choose, since it is the only restaurant in the neighborhood which would put up with two very loud 1 year olds.
I get home around three and I place Jason inside his playpen. I sit at the desk in our study. Howard left a teddy bear on his chair, right in front of mine, with a little note that reads “In case of FIRE, hug him tight. For love emergency only”.
I smile, he is crazy, let’s just hope our children get my brain and his body.
I start working, but writing a lecture on Othello is playing bizarre tricks to my feeble and very pregnant mind.
I look for different images to download from the internet so I can use them in my power point presentation but Iago refuses to let me alone.
“Mummy is retarded. This has to stop. Maybe I should go downstairs and behave like too-good-to-be-true Brie, from Desperate Housewives. Bake cookies or something.” I stop for a moment “How can they name someone after a cheese? Food… NO! Will power! Must not give in to temptation!” I sigh in frustration “Who am I kidding? Mummy can’t bake you cookies because she doesn’t even know how to use the oven. I’m useless”.
I crawl towards Jason who isn’t paying any attention to my moaning, too interested in the little book is sort of reading.
Iago: “O, beware my Lord, of Jealousy!
It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on”.
Emilia: “But jealous souls will not be answer’d so;
They are not even jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster
Begot upon itself, born onto itself”
“Bad news sweetheart, mummy’s hearing voices in her head, I fear it’s the beginning of the end. And we are also going to be late if we don’t get going. All work and no play…”.
I’m in the taxi with Jason, and his omnipresent blue bag. We are heading towards the Strand when I’m simply overwhelmed.
*Can’t do that any more. I trust him. End of story.* But Iago suggests Jason has never taken a train in his life - the fact is 11 months old seems like a minor detail at the moment. “Mummy had a great idea! I’m going to call uncle Henry and tell him I cannot go to the meeting because you’re not feeling well. We could catch the 7.11 Eurostar to Paris and make daddy a big surprise. What do you think? One giggle is yes, two giggles is no”
He giggles in reply.
“You are a sport and I love you very, very much!” I turn to the taxi driver and I say “I’ve changed my mind, could you take us to Waterloo Station Please?”
Jason is mesmerized by the train, the lights and the noises. Forgot about the tunnel, I know, hard to miss, but still. I’m so claustrophobic I could scream. I made my bed and I have to sleep in it. My mobile rings, it’s Howard, I feel guilty know.
“Ciao Tesoro”
“Italian, do you have any idea what it does to me?”
“Of course I do. I’m being naughty. How’s Paris?”
“Horrible, since you’re not here. Are you absolutely sure you cannot skip the meeting? You could still make it. Try to picture the two of us having a romantic dinner on the Bateau Mouche, Paris around us, Parisian sky with related Parisian stars above us, Parisian food even. ”
“You make me feel bad now. I’m sorry”
“What for? I had to try. It’s work, for both of us. And you are the one stuck in the most boring activity known to mankind. If you need help text me and I’ll cheer you up. If not, I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning. Ciao”.
“Ciao”
The Gare du Nord is busy as usual. I manage to get to the top of the line and into a taxi.
“Je dois aller au Hotel Ritz s’il vous plait”
“Bien sure Madame. Votre petit enfant paresse très fatigue”
“Oui, nous venons de Londres, c’était son première fois dans le train, il n’a pas dormi et maintenant je crois il va faire do-do. ”
“You’re English?”
“Not exactly but we live in London”
“Your French is really good”
“Thanks, will it take long to get there?”
“Depending on the traffic, it shouldn’t take more than half an hour”
“Perfect” I cuddle Jason in my arms and look at Paris from the window. It has been so long since my last time here. I caress his head and I whisper “you’re daddy is going to be so happy to see us. Just wait and see little angel”.
We get there a little before midnight. Jason is asleep in my arms. Knowing the guys habits they must be changing before going out. Maybe we can find a French babysitter and stick to Howard’s over-romantic plan. I love Paris by night.
I step inside the Hall. It is magnificent. The label is really reserving them a 5 stars treatment. It must be Paris air but all my fears and doubts are gone. I’m so happy I could just scream. If only I had brought a change with me. I can’t wait to see Howard. I have this silly song going on in my head:
I love Paris in the springtime
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
I love Paris, oh why oh why do I love Paris?
Because my love is there!
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