Chapter 5

John woke up with a splitting headache as the sun broke through his window at 6.30. He was starting to get used to waking up in this room, though it would take him some time to get over the cockroaches. He had found another cockroach creeping around last night just after Lu had left. He was embareshed, even though he didn't think she had seen it.He got dressed and opened the door to the lounge while waiting for the kettle to boil. Empthy pizza boxes and bottles everywhere. It looked like the day after a student party, except for the missing ashtrays overspilling onto the carpet. University life. It had seemed like there was only one way, and that was up.One of the windows had been left ajar over night, so the room was freezing. John closed it and started picking up boxes and bottles. Did they recycle bottles in this household? He couldn't see any sign of it, so he just put the bottles in a cluster on the kitchen table. He took the boxes out to the bins outside and went back in to have his tea and some toast. The flat was completely quiet. John could hear the light rain on the windows. Sun mixed with rain. It was going to be a typical cold spring day.At 8.30 He could hear an alarm go off, and 10 minutes later Jill appeared from James's room, "morning". The flat was slowly coming to life. He didn't actually, besides Julia, know what anyone did for a living, but noone seemed to keep regular hours. At five to nine he heard Tony's car pull up outside, and John grapped his jacket, ran down the stairs and stopped Tony as he was getting out of the car, "We had a late night, most of them are still asleep". "We better not disturb their beautysleep then", Tony grinned and started the car.Tony started talking about last nights match, but soon realised John hadn't watched it when he asked who won, and Tony changed the subject, "I'm more of a rugby man myself". Another subject John didn't know very much about.They finished clearing out the ground floor by lunch and Tony invited John to the pub, "While we wait for the supplies". John doubted they where coming from B&Q, but he wasn't going to ask. It was non of his business, as long as Tony kept paying him everyday.The local pub was a cosy little place, but after the second pint John was getting restless. Tony didn't look like he was expecting much to happen anytime soon, so John excused himself, "I've got stuff to do tonight, do you mind if I shoot off now?". "I'll just finish this and I'll give you a lift, Tony said pointing at his third pint of Guiness. John didn't think this was a good idea, "Don't worry, I'll be fine, see you tomorrow". John left before Tony got around to insisting. He quite enjoyed the walk back to the flat.The flat was empty when he got back. He had a cup of tea and stuffed all his dirty clothes into his bag and walked back out into the chilly afternoon. The indian lady in the corner shop, where he bought washing powder, gave him directions to the nearest launderette, but advised that two roads further along there was a cheaper place, though they wheren't open at weekends. "You'll need 20p pieces, let me exchange for you", she offered. John got his change, thanked the lady and headed off to was his clothes. White would have to go in with dark, he wasn't going to waste to washes on this small bundle of clothes.It was nice and warm in the launderette, but John restrained from taking off his jeans and adding them to the wash. This was not a Levis advert and John's tan needed working on before he was to strip in public.