Upside Down Inside Out by Monica McInerney

corner of the cafe was decorated in a completely different style. One corner was tropical, like a Hawaiian bar. The next was a stark and stylish black and white. The third was like a 1970s lounge room, all funky sofas and lampshades. The fourth was straight off the Casablanca film set, all whirring overhead fans and a big piano, currently silent.
    As the receptionist found a table for them, Lainey spoke to Eva in a low tone. ‘My friend made his money running one of those Irish theme pubs, then sold out of that to start this. He’s about to open another one in Carlton, on the other side of town. Can you work out what it’s actually called?’
    Eva stared at the logo. It was the number four over the number four, like a mathematical equation. ‘Four out of four?’
    ‘It is a bit obscure, isn’t it? It’s actually Four Quarters, do you see?’
    ‘No, not really. What does it mean?’
    ‘This city is completely football mad - Australian Rules, you know it?’
    Eva nodded.
    ‘Each game has four quarters, so he picked up the idea and called it after that. His designers change the look of the four quarters every few months, to keep people interested. The last lot were great - a space-age area, a French cafe, a florist’s shop and a 1950s milk bar. People give him suggestions too, for what they’d like to see. It’s like a grownup version of the lands at the top of the Faraway Tree, don’t you reckon?’
    Eva nodded. It was a very simple idea that could have looked very odd. But it obviously worked each quarter was jammed with people.
    ‘He even serves different sorts of food in each quarter,’ Lainey said. ‘It’s really taken off. Especially at night-time. People start in one corner and work their way around.’
    They were shown to a table in the Hawaiian section. Eva sat back while Lainey went to the bar. She felt half drunk already. Jetlag was actually quite pleasant, she decided. As though nothing around you was real.
    Lainey came back with the drinks. ‘Cosmopolitans, just the thing for us international gals.
     
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    Now, shall I quickly bring you up to date with my boyfriend sagas, just to set the scene?’ Eva smiled. These were exactly the sort of conversations she’d been looking forward to. That other stuff, the photo, all that had happened ten years ago, it was in the past. She’d leave it there, she decided, where it belonged. She nodded. ‘Yes, please. Every one of them.’ ‘Well, you know about Peter, from two years ago. Short but very sweet. Him, not the relationship. But no zing, so we broke up. Then I had a long-distance fling with a fellow from the Sydney office. But then I was promoted and he wasn’t, so that ruined that. I’ve had a few dates since, and dear old Adam downstairs is eager and hopeful, but as you can see, I’m actually single at the moment. Have been for a year now. Criminal, isn’t it?’ ‘What’s wrong with the men in this city? Are they blind?’ ‘Oh, I’ve had the offers,’ Lainey said. ‘But I don’t want quantity, I want quality. I’m too old to waste time dilly-dallying around, trying new ones on for size and finding out too late they don’t fit properly. I’m waiting for the real one now, I’ve decided. Mr Gorgeous. The one that makes me weak at the knees. Makes my heart skip a beat. Makes my stomach swirl —’ ‘You’re not waiting for Mr Gorgeous. You’re waiting for Mr Cholera.’ Lainey laughed and held up her drink. ‘Exactly.
    To Mr Cholera! Now, what about you and a nice holiday romance? That’s what you need, isn’t it? What about I ask Greg to the dinner party and you can see what you think of him?’ ‘Who is Greg? And what dinner party?’ ‘Didn’t I tell you? I’m having a dinner party the night before I go to Brisbane so some of my friends can meet you. I just hope Greg will be able to make it at this short notice.’ ‘Lainey, slow down. Who is Greg?’ ‘The guy that owns this cafe. He’s mad about anything to do