Sounds Like Radio Episode 26
Kevin was a reserved man. Cesca had never heard him express much emotion, except when frustrated with a piece of equipment or a rookie producer.
This encounter between them was extraordinary.
He stared with glassy eyes at the machine.
“There’s no milk.”
Cesca lifted the four-pint container in her hand.
“Plenty,” she said.
“Well, that’s one good thing,” he said. “Milk. A senior engineer with no useful hearing, but we have lots of milk.”
He left quickly, running down the stairs and out of Cesca’s hearing.
In the office a few minutes later, her hand hovered over the phone until finally she picked it up and tapped out Kevin and Monica’s home number.
Monica picked up and Cesca explained that Kevin seemed out of sorts.
“Is he sick again?” Monica said. “The stomach bug was all done with.”
Cesca hesitated.
“Not that kind of sick.”
Monica was silent for a moment.
“If you’re calling about Kevin’s state of mind, Cesca, then he must be in trouble. I’m on my way.”
Cesca put down the phone. What would it be to have someone who loved you like that, warts and DIY obsessions and all?
How must it feel to be encircled like that in tolerance and affection?
Did Kevin have a single clue what he had back at home in Monica?
Cesca hoped so.
Monica arrived half an hour later. Cesca was in the control room of the main drama studio, copying scenes on to a disc.
Kevin was in the studio itself. He often buried himself in there when stressed.
Monica heaved open the control room door.
“Mind if I go in?” she asked.
“Go ahead,” Cesca said.
Monica stepped into the studio.
Cesca put her hand on the microphone fader, half open on the sound desk.
She knew she ought to slide it shut but she cared about both Kevin and Monica.
What she sensed in Monica was loneliness; perhaps she could help.
Cesca could just hear them but she could not see them in the dead area behind a row of screens.
“It’s OK, love,” Monica said. “We’ll find a way through this one together.”
“I know I’ve been ridiculous,” he said. “I can see myself being illogical, even destructive, but I can’t stop.”
“Destructive?” Monica said.
He said nothing. Kevin was not a demonstrative person. When someone at the studio had a personal problem he had a tendency to pat them on the back and flee.
But Cesca could hear the silent appeal he was making to Monica.
“No, never destructive,” Monica said.
“You can’t destroy what we have and you can’t change what I know is great about you, Kev. You care so much.”
“But all the unnecessary detail I get lost in.”
“Somebody has to be interested in the detail.”
Cesca shook her head at the wonder of this woman, so infinitely kind. But Kevin was lovable – Cesca could see that.
“You know I love you,” Kevin said.
Monica laughed a soft, sweet laugh.
“I know.”
“I want you to be happy. It’s all I want.”
“Apart from making radio programmes and podcasts for the rest of your days.”
He chuckled.
“That, too. I am going to try to put things in perspective.”
“That’s a lot, darling, coming from you. Are you done for the day?”
He was moving away from the dead area now. His footsteps crossed the stereo picture.
“I ought to finish the edit on the Dylan Thomas reading. There’s only . . .” He stopped as Monica approached him.
Cesca could see them both, just in her vision on the other side of the studio.
“No. I am done for the day. Dylan Thomas is not going anywhere.”
Half a minute later Kevin put his head round the control room door.
He didn’t turn a hair when he saw Cesca at the desk and the fader open.
“I’m going to take leave,” he said. “What’s today? Friday?
“I’m on leave next week. Three days maybe.”
“Right. OK.” Cesca was flabbergasted. Getting Kevin to take his leave was nigh-on impossible.
“I’ll jiggle the bookings.”
“That Gerry – she seems competent,” he said. “Use her more.”