Sounds Like Radio Episode 20
Gerry saw now that Miriam was a very unhappy girl.
Cesca had shared the information about nights on the drama studio bed and the mean flatmates.
“Don’t you wish, sometimes,” Gerry asked Cesca one morning in the small studio, “that you could wave a magic wand and give someone better luck?”
“You’re thinking of Miriam?” Cesca said.
They had left Miriam in the office, diligently filing purchase orders.
“Yes,” Gerry said. “She’s not had it good – family, home . . .”
“Work, too, though I am trying my best to knock her into shape gently.
“Did you know that Kevin’s wife offered Miriam a room at their house yesterday?” She smiled.
“If I were Monica I’d value the company, frankly.”
“That’s great! I hope her mood improves soon. She feels guilty for deceiving you, too, I know.
“She should have a dozen great friends at her age, a social life, a fun flat to live in. She’s nineteen.”
Gerry shook her head.
“At that age you need connections.”
“You need those at any age,” Cesca said.
“It’s not healthy for her.”
They both looked up when Miriam passed the window to the corridor, her head down.
“Talking of healthy . . .” Cesca said. “Those snacks!”
Gerry had seen it, too – the purple foil flash of the large chocolate bar in Miriam’s hand.
“I guess she needs the sugar,” Cesca said.
The doorbell rang – it rang in every studio that wasn’t in live broadcast or record mode.
“Ah, that’ll be the features people,” Cesca said.
“Gerry, could you nip upstairs and welcome them? I really have to clean this crackly fader.
“There’ll be a producer up there who we’ve had before – Rachel – and a contributor called Theo Fraser.”
“Will do. Is this the chocolate feature for Radio Four?” Gerry was pulling open the studio door.
“Yes, it is.”
“There’s a coincidence. More chocolate.”
“There’s an interviewer coming in separately so it may be her at the door instead. Her name is Brenda Walsh.”
It was a simple interview and Cesca had given the job to Gerry.