Five Go Glamping Read Free

the world without having anyone to actually share them with. As I was wondering what kind of meals I could cook for a cat, Connor sent a text with an apology, saying he ‘might’ be around later. I muttered ‘tosser’ under my breath, but not as quietly as I thought and an old lady in front of me turned round, glared at me and tutted. ‘Well he is,’ I said.
    A year or so ago, Connor absolutely fitted in with my Five Year Plan perfectly. He was successful, focused, with big plans for his business, and knew exactly what he wanted. But now, Connor was so busy he barely had time to see me. Part of me wondered if he wasn’t committed to me, let alone the plan, but he would always reassure me that he was doing this for us and our future.
    But today I was troubled by it all. Now I had seen my future as a mad cat lady and with Doris retiring, and the realisation I had already been working there for fifteen years, I was frightened that if I didn’t do something drastic, I’d spend the next thirty years at that same desk. I was worried my five year plan wasn’t working.

Chapter Two
    Steph arrived as I was ordering at the bar. She had persuaded me to come out after I called her on the way home. She said I simply had to come and I was not allowed to waste perfectly good beer garden weather.
    ‘Steph, do you think I am going to be a mad cat lady?’
    Her eyes darted around as she looked for a table out in the beer garden. All I wanted her to say was ‘No, this will never ever happen to you. Ever. And I will do all in my power to prevent it.’ But she didn’t. She was too focused on bagging us a seat, probably motivated by her need to escape the pain of her ridiculously high shoes. Steph always looked effortlessly glamorous. She had wavy long blonde hair and although it wasn’t natural, she never ever had roots. She was the only person I knew to have highlights which actually looked natural.
    My hair had always been a challenge until the invention of Frizz Ease. Remarkably, even though I’d stood all the way home from town on a packed, sweaty number 50 bus, it was holding up okay today. It was stifling on that bloody bus, but I couldn’t take my coat off as there wasn’t enough room. I’d thought about it, but there were women and children around and there may have been flailing arms as I tried to escape the coat.
    Steph shrugged ‘I don’t know.’ She was so focused on her mission. ‘Do you like cats? Is this something to do with your plan? Quick! Table!’
    Steph swiped up the bottle of wine and two glasses from the bar and made a dash for the doors, shouting behind her ‘Get another glass for Sinead.’
    As we settled ourselves at the table I continued my cat lady chat. ‘I mean, cats are okay. I do like them. But I don’t want loads or anything. And I do want to come out on Saturday nights but I have to save. ‘I took a long drink of the chilled white wine. It was still really hot outside, even at seven o’clock. I took my shoes off and felt the grass under my feet.
    ‘How many cats do you need to be a mad cat lady then?’ Steph pushed her sunglasses on to the top of her head, more attentive now she’d grabbed us a table.
    ‘Four.’ I said this confidently, now knowing it to be fact.
    ‘Get three then. Or maybe only two. Why are you getting a cat, again? Does Connor like cats?’
    ‘I don’t know, actually,’ I said realising it was strange that after a couple of years together I didn’t know if he liked cats or not. I worried that it should be something I absolutely knew. ‘I don’t really want a cat at all but I’m worried that I will end up like Doris if I don’t leave my stupid job. Where’s Sinead?’ Sinead was great at giving thoughtful advice and words of wisdom, whereas Steph was more practical – apart from when it came to heel height.
    ‘Doing some of her hippy bollocks, she’s having her chakras cleared with Tibetan bowls or Himalayan bells or something,’ Steph rolled her