Monday, February 10

 I stopped categorising birthdays many years ago so, when someone asks if I 'enjoyed my birthday' I don't know how to answer.  I am tempted to say 'It was quiet' and that's very non-commital so I can get away with it.  This year I had one card, two phone calls and an invitation to lunch, which included a gift.  And I'm very grateful that people still bother after all these years.  The thing is that very few people even know that it is my birthday, and why would they?  

I think I'll abort that train of thought ... it's not the direction I intended to go.  In fact, I just wanted to say that Jamie and Nera took us to a nice restaurant at Seaport, Nera's nephew was there, and Archie as well.  I had planned to have their Seafood Chowder but it was sold out so I had Crumbed King Prawns and we all had a good time.  Of course, I'm assuming that ... the others might have only been there from a sense of duty and couldn't wait for the day to end.  However, I enjoyed it and that's all that matters.

And, another year ticked off ... 82 and counting!

 

THE END OF THE BEGINNNG                                                                                                APRIL 12, 2024

“I’m not going to your mother’s! Last year’s disaster was enough and I don’t intend to put myself through it again.”  Therese drew herself up to her full height and crossed her arms.  It was clear that she would not be moved.

Geoffrey drew a deep breath.  It’s always like this, he thought.  It’s her way or nothing.   “We’ll talk about it later,” he murmured soothingly.  “We don’t have to decide straight away, although Mum has asked us to confirm because she’s ordering individual party packs and needs to have definite numbers.”

“I’d like to tell your mother what to do with her individual party packs but that wouldn’t be polite.  You can go on your own if you like.  I’m sure Mummy would be pleased to have her darling son all to herself.”

Geoffrey, as always, backed down and muttered, “We’ll talk about it later.”  It wouldn’t really be a disaster if he had to go on his own; he knew Angela would be there and, without Therese breathing down his neck, he could spend as much time as he liked with Mum’s new neighbour.  When he first met her, just a few weeks ago, it was like he had been hit by lightning – her blonde hair, big blue eyes and soft smoky voice made him draw breath.

“This is Angela,” he heard his mother say, as if from a distance. “She’s just moved in next door and doesn’t know anyone yet.  I’ve invited her to come to our New Year’s Eve party and she’s accepted.  You’ll be able to get to know her better then.”

Geoffrey was determined that he would be at the party and it would be nice if he could talk to Angela undisturbed, but he couldn’t imagine how he would explain it if Therese wasn’t with him.  His mother was a great believer in family loyalties and would be very suspicious if Therese opted out.  Could he convince her to feign an illness?  Maybe, but would they get away with it?  Always in the back of his mind was the thought that his mother often threatened to change her will.  If one of the family displeased her, for example, by separating from his or her spouse, they might be disinherited. 

While Geoffrey’s mind flitted between worry about his mother’s will and more lurid thoughts about the delightful Angela, Therese’s determination to avoid her mother-in-law’s party grew.  She had other plans for that one night of the year when people let their hair down and celebrated new beginnings.  She had plans for new beginnings of her own.

There was a new member of staff at the school where she worked.  He was unlike any of the other male teachers, all of whom seemed to have succumbed to middle age while still in their thirties.  She used to think it was the chalk dust which brought on premature ageing but she hadn’t seen a stick of chalk for decades.  It was probably a combination of the paralysing boredom of the daily lessons and the constant disappointment when their students failed to grasp even the simplest of concepts.

The new addition to the staff had clearly not yet thrown in the towel.  He still displayed a youthful enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment of life.  His smile lit up the staffroom and she had noticed he was oblivious to the mutterings of resentment from the ‘old guard’.  Above all, he was African: his dark skin and joie de vivre brightened her day.  Happily, he seemed to find enjoyment in her company too and she felt enervated in his company.  She couldn’t help the wicked thoughts which filled her mind.  “You’re a married woman,” she scolded herself, but always had to stifle a giggle when she thought about what might be.

Another member of staff was having a New Year’s Eve party and Therese knew that Thomas, the new man, would be there.  What occupied Therese’s mind was how could she contrive to be at that party as well, rather than the tedious excuse for a celebration which Geoffrey’s mother inflicted on her family each year.

As New Year’s Eve approached, Therese became more and more desperate.  The issue had become more than just a wish for a one-off fling with an exotic new man; this was a life and death struggle for Therese to assure herself that life was worth living, that it was not a mind-numbing round of tedious parties at Geoffrey’s mother’s, that there was excitement and sparkle and hope in the future.  Lurking in her sub-conscious was the unwelcome query: was she still attractive enough to interest someone other than boring old Geoffrey?

When she bumped into Thomas in the staffroom the next morning, Therese casually asked whether he was looking forward to New Year’s Eve.  “Oh yes,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it very much, and so is my wife.  She arrives from Nigeria this afternoon and we will be going shopping for a new dress for her.”

That evening, when the question of New Year’s Eve was raised tentatively by Geoffrey, Therese was quick to dash any of his hopes that she wouldn’t be going.  “Oh, yes,” she said. “I’ll be there.  I’m looking forward to having a chat with Angela, the new neighbour.”