30 Days Of Roth - Day 26

When I dusted this off, I had to make one significant change.

Two hundred floors simply aren't enough any more.

I must have miscounted the first time round.


The Butterflies Are Relieved

I'm falling. Hard and fast.

The glass-and-steel building blurs past me, and I'm still accelerating.

I didn't plan this when I got up this morning.

Wow, that's quite a view.

It's five minutes ago, and I'm standing on the roof's edge of a very tall building. As skyscrapers go, this is very scrapey indeed. Three hundred and one floors. The world's tallest. Roth's Spire in Cambridge, England.

What would my shrink make of this thrusting edifice?

It's 2023. I moved house today. It's been hard. The penthouse is a beautiful location, but not when the service elevator is out of service.

Three hundred floors carrying a sofa takes it out of you.

I had help, of course. Bear and iDifficult did most of the heavy lifting, and Yavin and an army of badgers shifted all the smaller boxes. Industrious lads, one and all; everyone lent a hand or paw. Even King turned up - with a dazzling new necktie for me as a housewarming present - though my favourite lion only made it as far as the lobby.

(And of course, he looked very fetching with it tied round his neck as he slipped away later.)

Behind me, an access door clanks open.

Framed in the doorway, diminutive but commanding, is Yavin. The badger casts his gaze about, adjusting his tweed cap to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun as he does so. And, seeing me, he waves briefly and wanders over, the buckles on his workman's dungarees ringing gently against the architect's ruler in his breast pocket.

Hey, I thought you'd all gone. This is true; I remember waving them all off as they started the long trudge down the stairwell. Was he there? It's not important. It's been quite a day.

Yavin produces a spotted red handkerchief and mops his brow with a nod. As he folds it away, he hops onto the edge next to me and takes a long hard look down. He huffs a breath; clearly he's impressed.

Yeah, it's a long way down. I wave expansively and look down on the hundred of years of history murmuring in the spires and colleges of the university town. The river is an irridescent ribbon from up here. Hell of a view, mind.

A quiet cough draws my gaze downwards. Meeting my glance, the badger taps his watch meaningfully. This draws me back into focus.

Good grief, am I late to meet Abbey for dinner?

Yavin see-saws a paw meaningfully and then points to the stairs.

You're right. I'd best get moving.

I move to step down from the edge and pause. A strange notion is forming in my head. It does a few orbits and feels even stranger.

I gaze down at the distant sidewalk.

Of course... I mutter, almost to myself, I could take the direct route.

Three hundred floors? Freefall? Am I insane?

Yavin is regarding me thoughtfully. Perhaps he's having the same doubt, judging my sanity for the umpteenth time in as many years. He takes a long look over the edge and then back to me. He frowns and points towards street level, raising an eyebrow and shrugging his confusion.

How will I do it? I shrug back at him. Oh, I'll think of something.

The badger tilts his head at me, and suddenly makes a splatting motion with an articulate gesture.

Oh, it'll be fine, I enthuse vaguely, I'll do what I always do - improvise!

We stare at each other as clouds gather overhead.

Twenty seconds ago, Yavin is rushing off a quick text to the emergency services as I reign in my hesitation on the edge, and spread my arms wide.

Ten seconds ago, I swan-dive with a whoop. Spinning, I see a concerned badger waving me off before he runs for the stairs.

Back in the now, I'm still falling. The wind roars in my ears, and the butterflies are frankly relieved that they're safe in my tummy.

I pass the observation platform on the hundred and sixty third floor; I'm almost halfway down.

Man, what a rush!

I didn't plan this when I got up this morning.

But sometimes, you have to seize the day.

And sometimes, after a difficult month has run its course, you have to seize it real hard.

But enough of this introspection; time is against me.

Ah well, best get moving.

I don't want to be late in any sense.

Looking about, I start to improvise.


Indigo

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