Coda Josh Grant

I don't know if Felix was weird, or not. He was pretty quiet. I had work to do and I just got on with it. I gave him plenty of stuff to do. Ben came down unexpectedly for lunch, not sure why, we don't usually have lunch together, but it wasn't something I questioned. I left at normal time. Felix was still working. He had a few questions before I left. I asked him if he was okay. He said he was. “You sure.” “Yeah, I’m sure,” he said. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Yeah,” he said.

I woke early because I always wake early, essentially. Ben was asleep on his back with his mouth slightly open. Felix looked so contented lying with his hands tucked under his cheek on the pillow. I stood momentarily and gazed at the two of them. What had we done, I wondered? I pulled on a pair of Ben’s track pants and one of his t-shirts, holding it to my face to sniff ‘Ben in’ as I always do, before I slipped it on and headed out to the kitchen. Butch was asleep in his bed, he got straight up and wriggled towards me. “Hey Butch buddy.” He leapt about in his morning hello. Uninhibited joy, essentially, in being alive. I scratched his ears. I scratched his chin. I scratched his butt. I stood on the tiled floor in the kitchen with bare feet as the coffee machine whirred. I stood at the back door and gazed out at the day, sipping my coffee, as I breathed in the fresh morning air. Butch sat next to me like Yoda and stared out at the day too. It was a lovely morning. I thought about last n...

I was meeting up with Ben after work, we’d decided to go out to Donatos and eat Italian before heading home. You know, eat some gnocchi drink some red wine, before staggering merrily drunk up Bourke Street. Good plan. It was Friday night, watch Netflix fall asleep in each other’s arms on the couch. I headed downstairs, I was going to meet Ben in the courtyard. I wanted to get out of the office and get some fresh air until he was ready, I’d been in since 7.30am and I didn’t want anyone to ask me any more work questions. The courtyard is a lovely place to sit off to one side and catch up on my journal writing. Watch the world walk by, mostly Gertrude’s staff, and think and/or just phase out and stare at the wide expanse of silver grey paving. Jill Klapp headed towards me with a clack, clack, clack of her high heels, as she headed home. “Josh, Josh, how are you?” she said. Big smile. “Jill, how long has it been?” “Since that awful place,” said Jill. All of us ex-employees can never stop t...

Amanda was at my door early. “Oh,” I croaked. “Good morning.” I sounded like Bea Arthur. “Good morning, darling,” said Amanda. “I was in the neighbourhood.” “In the neighbourhood?” I turned and walked back down the hallway. “How are you?” “Yes, well thanks,” I said. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes.” “Don’t you boys own any clothes? I turned to face her in the lounge room. I had on a black hoodie and black jocks. “I thought you were a delivery guy…” “You’d answer the door to the delivery guy in your undies?’ “Some of them are good sorts.” “Oh darling,” said Amanda. “I’m afraid that you are only half joking.” “You’d be surprised…” I left her in the lounge room and headed up the hallway. “I’m sure I would.” I went to my room to get track pants. “So, darling,” said Amanda. “You have anything you want to tell me?” My black track pants were on the floor. “The whole idea that your mother knows best is just a myth…” I pulled them on. “Oh darling, be serious.” I came back down the hallway tow...

I had lunch with Nick, somewhere local to me, because Nick likes to be sporty, riding, or jogging. At least, he arrives in sports clothes, claiming to have ridden, or jogged, the sweat, or the bike aren’t always obvious. I got there first and got a seat outside. I was looking at the menu when Nick arrived. “Hi Dohl, fancy some fresh air, did we?” “What?” I replied. I was a little confused. “We often sit outside.” “Er!” Nick grimaced. He wasn’t sitting down straight away. “Have your ordered coffee? Should I order coffee? Do you want coffee? What a stupid question, look who I am talking too? I’ll order coffee.” He was dressed head to toe in black, a tight tshirt and active wear pants. It was either the outfit he wanted me to notice. Or, had he lost weight? Did he think his gym work was showing? Perhaps he had a new haircut, I laughed to myself at that thought. “I’ve ordered coffee,” I said. “You just need to order for yourself.” “Oh, just lovely…” “What are you talking about?” I said. “S...