Monday morning came and Ruth's list was considerably shorter.
"Morning Ruth," said Easter Chenkovsky.
"Good morning."
"How did you get on?"
Ruth pulled out the single folded piece of paper.
"That's good," said Easter, the improvement immediately obvious.
'I tried to be methodical and brutal as you suggested and identify what really mattered."
"Did you find it difficult?"
"I shouldn't, it's something I do every day at work. But I find it more difficult when it's personal. I think I over complicate it when it's personal."
"When did you realise that?"
"This weekend, whilst trying to get three pages down to one." Ruth smiled. For all that she hated this kind of thing she did think that it had helped her a little.
"So, what does it say?"
Ruth looked at the single sheet and wondered how much of it she should reveal to the stranger opposite.
"So Harry, what's on your list?" asked Alec as Harry walked onto the grid.
"Not a lot," was all he got.
Ruth put down her paper. She didn't have any answers but some things were clearer in her mind. And it actually had felt useful to share some of her regrets and fears. Her hopes, though, they were private.
"Thank you, Ruth," Easter said warmly. "Would you mind asking Dimitri to come in?"
"How did it go, Ruth?" asked Alec as she sat down. "Did you learn anything?"
"Easter's got a sister called Ascension and a brother called Resurrection.""
"You're joking?" Alec was aghast
"No, you think so." Ruth grinned.
"Regrets? I have a few, but then again, too few to mention, but I did what I had to do and saw it through, without exemption."
"Thank you Dimitri, but I think you'll find that's a song. Now back to your list, please."
Sorry but fluff will come anon. As will Harry's interview.