Table for Five

by Izzy Bromley

I brace myself for all the questions that are bound

But she doesnt owe them anything

I am a person beyond the job I used to have. There is more to me than that, even if I am only now starting to appreciate it.

If shes so concerned about their reactions maybe she should reflect on the credibikity and value of her relationships

Time for Beds is out in the wild.

YAYYYYYYY!!!

‘How much stock do we have?’ I ask slightly frantically.

Oh boy is this her new business venture?!?! Jlif so this could be so good for her

I have a vision of me, Bob Hoskins, former client, presenting her with one of those giant cheques they give to lottery winners.

I bet abbie can resonate w upholding this 'image'

‘How many zeros?’ I ask. ‘Six!’ replies Bob. ‘No. Seriously?’

Ohhhh...i thought this was strictly recreational

I’m over a month into unemployment and by now I should probably

But shes lowkey not technically unemployed anymore...this is freelance

Is there an issue with your interview technique? I think you can get training for that. You should look into it. Anyway. I’ll try again later.’

Damnn let the girl breathe...this is likely where her perfectionism and insecurity stems from.

Maybe going on a couple of dates might help me get over this inconvenient Spencer infatuation.

I get that feeling but she needs ro heal

I’m on borrowed time.’

Empathizing in chronic illness

lemon and elderflower cake

I LOVEEEEE LEMON

It’s frustrating that I can’t get hold of him and I make a mental note to ask for his phone number.

Oh nooo i like him i hope hes ok

Liz is on it. She comes racing across with a packet of silver candles and a box of matches and starts placing the little silver holders in a neat pattern around the top of the cake. By the time Ethel is sitting down the cake is aglow with a warm yellow light.

This is so cute that they are all so involved in each others' lives. It reminds me of only murders in the building with the blend of ages of the characters and how they get along so well.

I know it sounds corny, but making a difference to something that matters is just more fulfilling than selling things to people who don’t know they want them.

Makes perfect, altruistic sense

I’m thirty-one, single, with no job and apparently no friends except a bunch of oddballs and misfits that I met at a table designed for sad or lonely people.

Makes me feel better about being 'behind'

‘Try that instead.’

Intersecting her passions here!

catastrophically so. What do I have to lose? I rattle off a bubbly cover letter, attach my CV and send it off.

Literally what i do everyday

‘Wait ’til I tell people that my daughter’s been on Breakfast with Charlie.’

I feel like she is slightly patronizing

chortle

agog

But now I worry that just me on my own isn’t enough. I know that Spencer was never interested in my job and the trappings it brought, but we hadn’t got far enough into our relationship

Ughhh the identity you construct when you are in a relationship is so difficult to dismantle

‘TikTok is that video app, right?’ he asks. I nod.

Ugh blending the older generation w the new i love

They’re putting someone on to a stretcher. I think it’s Ethel.’

NOOOOO

For God’s sake, Abbie, I think. This is not about you.

She is so hard on herself by goodness...i truly think i like this book because i resinate w her inner critique and sabateur

They’re running tests. They’re going to keep her in overnight for observation.’

Oh thank goodness

It’s strange because people like us probably don’t look lonely from the outside, and yet there we all are.

dreamed of and yet something is still missing.

...yet unfulfilled. Like money cant buy you happiness.

one I feel I know the least well.

Well bc hes been MIA

Plus, I thought my mates would come north to visit.’

They are alike more than they know...comraderie

octogenarian.’

‘They make me feel very humble,’

Same w the unemployment

She probably won’t notice but I’m wearing it just in case.

Is she actually going to die...?! I need a minute

‘We were close before, in our own way, but you have brought something quite unique with you. There’s a new sense of purpose which we lacked before. I, for one, am very grateful. And I feel it from the others too. Dawn has her sewing now. With careful steering she could turn that into a career for herself and move away from the infernal cleaning.’

People Are brought int o each others' lves for a reason...and tgat sese of friendship and belonging is emphasized here (and i hope abbie is able to recognize her impact, despite her feelings of being a poor friend whilst being taken over by her career)

It’s Spencer!

Knew it!!!

You can’t nip out for a pint of milk or a drink.’

Literally my lake house

terns!

red herring

‘I think I was trying to convince myself. I thought I’d get used

I think abbie can relate to this prohection of happiness, despite not truly being fulfilled

happy with everything?’

Nice save

She winks at me and I see that her spirit is back.

Ethel has truly warmed up throughout this book...the character developments and paralleling of lives and mindsets of these characters truly emphasize that life experiences dont discrinate; tgere are no limiting factors

‘Everyday, workwear, “out out” and vintage. I wanted to do a whole seventies section but it’s almost impossible to pick that stuff up in charity shops these days so that part is more retro-inspired than actual retro.’

This is so her niche

cajoling

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DAMN IT WHY IS IT OVER?!?