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A Natural Combination
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59 A Natural Combination Pamela Newham From: Jessica Richards (mailto: Jessicar@bmail.com) Sent: 6 November 2008 To: Timothy Richards Subject: Divorce settlement Tim My lawyer has told me not to contact you but I want you to hear this from me. There are two things that are totally non-negotiable – Sushi and the bed. SUSHI Reason: Even though we went to TEARS together and chose her, I was the one who had the idea of getting a cat in the first place so that makes her mine. THE BED: Reason: You may have bought the bed after spending hours searching online (or so you say) but it was a birthday present so it is legally mine. Jessica ---------From : Jessica Richards (mailto: Jessicar@bmail.com) Sent: 7 November 2008 To: Timothy Richards Subject: What about the bed? 60 PAMELA NEWHAM Tim How typical! You didn’t write back agreeing – or more likely disagreeing – with what I had to say, you wrote me a poem. How is that supposed to solve anything? All it did was remind me that during the eight months we’ve been apart you have not changed despite what your/our friends say. You never take anything seriously. I know you think you do. You say you care about the environment and animal and human rights. And I know you think writing poetry is serious business. How could I forget? For five years, every time I got the milk out, I saw that fridge magnet that said: ‘Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history – Plato’. Unfortunately, what has turned out to be more vital to me is to have someone who remembers to pay for electricity and water, who does not think that putting money away for a rainy day is ‘spoiling his fun’ or that owning a house ‘will happen one day’. Come to think of it, how are you surviving without me there to take care of all those mundane things you’d rather ignore? Of course, it’s possible you’ve found someone else to run your life for you but as my friends are very cagey about what you’ve been up to – and I really don’t care – I have no idea. And while I’m talking about what was basically wrong with our relationship (I know you hate that word – tough), what’s the problem with being organised anyway? You accuse me of not being spontaneous but at least I have some order in my life. Not everyone thinks that every day has to be a marvellous bloody adventure! And you actually wanted to bring a child into this chaos. Anyway, this is all a waste of time. I am still waiting for you to give me a straight answer about the bed. If I understood the poem correctly I think you’re saying it’s fine for me to keep Sushi but you’ve said nothing about what you want to do about the bed. I need to know as I am moving to a bigger place in a couple of weeks and will finally have room for it. This is not a difficult decision. You have no room for a king-size bed now [34.201.16.34] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 12:47 GMT) 61 A NATURAL COMBINATION or probably ever. I don’t even know if you’re still camping out at your mom’s. It’s a complete waste leaving it in Mark’s warehouse even if he isn’t charging us storage. I need to know soon. By the way, I sincerely hope that you will not be at Charlie’s party on Saturday night. Charlotte is my friend (even though I’m pretty pissed off with her for still staying in contact with you) and so I have custody. You’ve got enough of your own friends. STAY AWAY Jessica ---------From : Jessica Richards (mailto: Jessicar@bmail.com) Sent: 9 November 2008 To: Timothy Richards Subject: Last night’s party Well, what was I thinking? Of course you came to the party! I walked through the front door and there you were at the bar chatting up Deanna. I know you’ve always had a thing for her so don’t bother to deny it. Not that I care. I am way past caring what you do with your life. However, it appears that you think you still have the right to interfere in mine. For example, whether Walter is my ‘boyfriend’ or...