Page 80 of Where Do We Go From Here?
After a few random turns through the streets of the old town, they unexpectedly find themselves back at the car. ‘Shall we go home for a cuppa?’ Fiona asks. ‘We have Christmas cake.’
‘Lots of Christmas cake,’ Wendy says. ‘And yes. Let’s do that. My feet are killing me.’
‘Careful. You sound like Uncle Neil there,’ Fiona comments, as she climbs into the car. ‘He’s always complaining about his feet.’
‘Well, Neil’s feet are flat as pancakes,’ Wendy explains, ‘so that’s not really his fault. You know, he wanted to join the army when he was eighteen, but he couldn’t because of his feet?’
‘God knows why anyone would want to join the army,’ Fiona comments, lip curled.
‘Well, his best friend joined up. I think that was the main reason. That and, you know… patriotism. But anyway, he was saved by his feet. Too flat for all that marching.’
Guided by the Google Maps lady, they drive through the quiet streets of Antibes, and it’s not until they’re on the open road that Fiona resumes the conversation.
‘Why don’t you see them anymore?’
The break in the conversation has been long enough that it takes Wendy a second to join the dots. ‘Oh, Neil and Sue, you mean?’
‘Yeah. Your, um, brother – remember him?’
‘Actually, I spoke to Sue a couple of days ago,’ Wendy says, wondering whether she can use this true fact to avoid the rest of the discussion. ‘But you’re right,’ she says, relenting. ‘I don’t see them much these days.’
‘Because?’
‘Ooh, that’s a bit of a long story.’
‘We have time,’ Fiona says. ‘Go for it.’
‘And not a story I’m entirely sure I want to go into with you.’
‘OK,’ Fiona says, with a sigh.
‘But sometimes people change. Let’s leave it at that.’
‘…’
‘They used to be more fun, I suppose. But perhaps we all used to be more fun. I’m sure they say the same about me.’
‘Not to me they don’t,’ Fiona says.
‘Well, good, because that would be entirely inappropriate,’ Wendy says with a laugh.
‘So they changed. That’s it?’
‘Yeah, they got serious all of a sudden. Stopped drinking. Stopped having parties. Stopped coming toourparties. It happens to a lot of people when they get older. I’m not entirely sure why, but it does.’
‘Hum,’ Fiona says markedly.
‘Hum?’
‘I don’t even know why you think that. I don’t think they’ve changed at all. And they definitely haven’tstopped drinking.’
‘They haven’t?’
‘No.’
‘And you know this, how?’
‘Look, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but they came down last weekend.’
