Page 35 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“You do realize that if you become serious with Juliet, you’ll be stuck with New Bug for a lot longer than an afternoon.”
“Don’t be out overly long is all I’m saying,” said Martin.“I know how you lose track of time.”
“I’ll take as long as I take.”
And he took his sweet time.Partly, to remind Martin that Reg was doing him a favour letting Juliet stay, and therefore, he didn’t owe Martin anything, and partly, in the case of one errand in particular, on Joel’s behalf.
When Reg got back, Martin was in a better temper.Reg found him on the lawn with Juliet, sipping shandies and sitting much closer together than was strictly necessary.
“Been shopping, Reg?”said Juliet, looking at the bag Reg was carrying.
“I thought we could go to dinner at the Prince of Wales pub,” said Reg.
“Someone will have to stay behind,” said Martin.“Unless you can get Joel out of bed.”
“Why me, specifically?”said Reg.
“You’re the Joel whisperer, aren’t you?You seem to have a way with god’s difficult creatures.Remember that rancorous bitch of a cat your grandfather used to have?”Martin said to Juliet, “Reg was the only one who could touch it without getting mangled.”
“Hazel,” said Reg.
“Maybe you can coax Joel out of his room,” said Martin.
“Would you try, Reg?”said Juliet.“Please?He’s never been outside Canada before, and he’s wasting this opportunity.”
Reg went upstairs and tapped on Joel’s door.“It’s Reg.”
After a moment, he was granted leave to come in.Joel’s room was a repurposed office, which normally afforded a view of the lawn through its stained glass windows, but currently, the curtains were closed and the lights were off.Joel was in bed.
Reg drew the curtains and opened the windows.“We’re having dinner at the pub up the road.”
“Have fun.”
“The idea is for you to come with us,” said Reg.He set the shopping bag he was carrying on the bed.
“What’s that?”said Joel.
“Some clothes I’d like you to try on.Stand up, and take that top off.”
“Why?”said Joel.
“Everything I’ve ever seen you wear has been drab.Something colourful could cheer you up.Or are you colourblind, and everything looks the same to you?”
“I’m not colourblind,” said Joel.
Reg emptied the bag onto the bed.
“Those are brand new,” said Joel, looking at the cellophane-wrapped packages.
“I went shopping this afternoon.”
Reg convinced Joel to divest himself of his scrub top, but Joel insisted on keeping on the white T-shirt he wore underneath.
Reg unwrapped a sapphire blue silk shirt and handed it to Joel.
“There’s a mirror on the back of the wardrobe,” said Reg.
He watched Joel put it on, buttoning it right to the top.
