Page 39 of Rhymes with Metaphor
Reg put his hand on Joel’s shoulder, pushing him gently back into a reclining position.“Now, now.”He repositioned the ball and reluctantly removed his hand from Joel’s shoulder.
“It’s dirty,” said Joel.
Reg panicked for a minute, then realized Joel had meant the ball.He took the ball to the edge of the pool, dipped it into the water, swirled it around, and brought it back, still dripping, and placed it on Joel’s belly.
“Happy?”said Reg.
Water seeped into Joel’s silk shirt, and Reg could see Joel was wearing a T-shirt underneath.Reg looked away quickly and resumed his seat.
The bell rang five times in the next hour, but it no longer rolled off, and by the end of the hour, the ringing had stopped.
For dinner, Bethan brought out smoked salmon on paper-thin slices of buttered bread, Mediterranean salad, and homemade crème brûlée with sugared violet petals scatted on top.Martin and Juliet came out of the pool exclaiming how good it looked.
“He’s fallen asleep,” said Juliet, checking on Joel.“Good job, Reg.”
“I’m not asleep,” said Joel, without opening his eyes.“I’m resting.”
“Still good job, Reg,” said Juliet.“You got him to relax at last.The colour’s coming back into your cheeks, Joel.Come and eat something.”
As they were eating, Juliet said, “Is that a tennis court back there?”
“Yes,” said Martin.“But I don’t recommend we play doubles.”
“Why not?”
“Because Reg would thrash us.He was a bit of a phenom in his youth.”
“Still in my youth, thanks,” said Reg, sipping his wine.
“He went to university on an athletic scholarship,” said Martin.“Almost turned pro.”
“Why didn’t you?”said Juliet.
“Verse called,” said Reg, “and I answered.”
“You know who else went to Reg’s university—and whodidturn pro?”said Martin.“Flip Hillier.Have you heard of him, Juliet?”
“Yes,” said Juliet.“Did you know him, Reg?”
“We played a few times.Alas, we dedicated ourselves in different directions.He chose the path to peak athleticism and I, the road to peak lyricism.”
“Were you friends, Reg?”said Juliet.
“I wouldn’t call it that,” said Reg.“We knew each other.”Reg became suddenly aware that Joel was studying him, and Reg realized then that Joel knew.
Flip was a secret Reg had kept for six years.He hadn’t even told Martin.And after knowing Reg for less than two months, and without Reg saying a single word, Joel had figured it out.
The question was, would he tell Juliet and Martin?He didn’t seem the gossipy type, but Reg didn’t really know him.And he was afraid to tell Joel not to say anything, because that would remove any doubt in Joel’s mind that there was something to tell.
“Reg never once introduced us,” said Martin.“For which I will never forgive him.”
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That evening, at Reg’ssuggestion, they went out to seeHot Duck Summerat the cinema.
“It’s a puerile comedy, Juliet,” said Martin.“Are you sure you don’t want to seeA Life in Smokeinstead?”
“Martin avoids lowbrow humour whenever possible,” said Reg.“Lest it influence him to write something the common man might be able to comprehend.”
