Page 101 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
Fay gets out her notebook and lists many things – return train fares from Manchester to London, London to Paris, travel cards, snacks… It is a very long list. She finally gets to the end and says, ‘So, with everything all told we will each owe Monica four hundred and ninety pounds and eighty-seven pence. Of course, we will need to add on anything else we put on her card between nowand getting home.’
I am shocked. This is much more money than I realise. Where will I find this? I am not holding onto much hope Janine will give us our money back. In fact, I think she will not have this anymore. Perhaps Monica will let me pay her back a little every week?
‘There’s no rush.’ Monica smiles and Ruby nudges her in the ribs.
‘I will give you a cheque, if that is OK, Monica?’ Fay says.
‘As long as you don’t want cash.’ Bonnie grins.
‘Bonnie’s husband doesn’t let her deal with cash. Not after what happened,’ Cath adds.
‘Oh, don’t remind me.’ Bonnie throw her hands into air and they start to giggle.
‘Come on, spill the beans.’ Ruby’s eyes twinkle.
‘I still don’t feel it was my fault.’
Cath laughs loudly, and it is what Fay would call an infectious laugh as it makes us laugh too.
‘Well, how was I supposed to know Clyde had sold his car and put the money in a plain brown envelope? He didn’t tell me.’
I see Ruby turn to Monica, her eyebrows high. She say,Clyde?in silent way and she and Monica snort with laughing. I am not sure what is funny.
‘I put my letters on top of the plain brown envelope and naturally I posted them all at the earliest opportunity – not realising this envelope contained cash. Oh dear, Clyde didn’t think it was funny. He had to wait four hours by the postbox until it was emptied and even then, he had to goto the post office with the postie to sign declarations and whatnots before they allowed him to have the money back. I mean, I can laugh now, but at the time it wasn’t at all funny.’
Fay asks how much money was in envelope.
‘Oh, I think it was about eight thousand pounds.’
‘Oh my God, Bonnie.’ Ruby makes big hands in air. ‘You posted eight thousand pounds of Clyde’s cash in an unmarked envelope in a letter box? What’re you like?’
‘Well, at least he got it back. I never got my engagement ring back.’
‘You posted that too?’ Monica shakes her head as she giggles.
‘Oh, not deliberately. It was a few years before, when we were on holiday. The ring was a bit loose, and it must have happened when I pushed a postcard into the gap of this yellow postbox. I didn’t realise until later in the day. The ring must have come off in there. It cost a fortune to replace.’
I touch my ring. It is very tight. I will have to get it cut off when I go to work.
Asha also puts her hand to her big engagement ring. She looks very tired. Perhaps she did not sleep well? She goes towards the bathroom.
‘I can’t believe you and your hubby are called Bonnie and Clyde.’ Ruby makes a big laugh and I think I will ask Fay to explain later.
Cath sings a song about Bonnie and Clyde I have not heard before.
‘Oh, now that is deliberate,’ Bonnie say. ‘I hated myname. I mean, who wants to be called Betty for goodness’ sake? So, a friend suggested I became Bonnie when Clyde and I got together. We’ve made lots of friends on our holidays over the years as soon as we introduce ourselves. Turns out to be a marvellous way to break the ice…’
From the corner of my eye, I see Asha at the bathroom door. She waves for me to come over. I take a deep breath. Now is right time.
When I am inside, she closes the door.
‘Ingrida, I am sorry about yesterday.’
I do not say anything and shrug.
‘I was a bit in shock. I had not expected to be… well, expecting.’
When I say nothing, she continues.
