Page 94 of Lyrebird

Laura laughs.

‘And you made her laugh,’ Alan says to Mabel.

‘What would you do without me?’ Mabel says.

Laura wipes her eyes.

Alan sits down beside her.

‘I’m so embarrassed, Alan. I can barely bring myself to look anyone in the eye.’

‘There’s no need to be embarrassed. We’ve all had nights like that.’

Laura looks at him.

‘Well, I haven’t. But Mabel has.’

Mabel gives him a slow look.

Laura laughs again.

‘Look, we’re all in this together. Some of the others …’

‘Alice,’ coughs Mabel.

‘… see this as a competition. Us versus each other. But I don’t. I’m in competition with myself. Always have been. It’s up to me to be as good as I can be.’

‘And me,’ Mabel interrupts.

‘And you, Mabel. It’s life-changing stuff. I was recognised at the pharmacy yesterday. Buying a Ped Egg. Do you know what that is?’

She shakes her head.

‘A file for calluses and dry skin on your feet.’

‘Sexy,’ Mabel says.

‘Indeed,’ Alan agrees. ‘I signed my first autograph over a discussion about a Ped Egg.’

Laura laughs.

‘I’m not getting it anywhere near as much as you and I’m struggling. You’re a target for them. Two hundred million people want to know what you’re going to do next.’ He shrugs. ‘So blow them away.’

‘Thanks. The show’s going to give me another chance.’

Alan looks at her in surprise. ‘That’s what Curtis—’

‘Asshole,’ Mabel interrupts.

‘—was here to talk about?’

She nods.

He leans forward. He drops Mabel on the table and she actually says, ‘Ow.’

‘You do know that they’d be nothing without you. Just a crap Irish entertainment show that no one’s ever heard of, if it wasn’t for you?’

Laura is shocked to hear this.