Cleopatra and Frankenstein

by Coco Mellors

“Do you remember when we were coming back from France, there was that couple in front of us at the airport?” Frank opened one eye and peered at her. “From our honeymoon? Did we know them?” “No. They were just this regular couple with two little kids, a baby and a toddler. They were going through security, trying to dismantle the pram and get their shoes off and remove the computer, all that shit, you know, and the baby was crying and the little girl was having a temper tantrum, screaming to be picked up.” Frank shook his head. “I don’t remember that.” “Well, in the middle of all that chaos, the wife looked at the husband, they caught each other’s eyes over the heads of the bawling kids, and they started laughing.” “Why?” asked Frank. “Because it was such a nightmare, you know? They had to laugh.” Cleo thought about this for a moment. “Actually, that’s the point. They didn’t have to. My parents would have been screaming at each other.” “My dad wouldn’t have been there to be screamed at.” Cleo nodded. “Exactly,” she said. “But these two, they were in it together. They were laughing.”