eyes off them, now that I had adjusted to the light. Celia wore her hair in a curly pageboy, perfectly executed with tortoiseshell side clips. Her friend had the same hairstyle, and they both wore hats with matching clutch bags, and bright red lipstick which made Celia look about twenty-five.
People were jostling past us, and there was an awkwardness in the air. It had something to do with the way Celia’s friend was eyeing me with a fixed smile, as though I were a specimen she hadn’t come across before, and something to do with the way Celia and I had left things between us so many years before.
‘How’s … your family?’
Celia, who had been standing by the kerb, dodged a passing bicycle and grabbed me by the elbow. ‘Oh … gosh, they’re fine. Hey, look – it’s so good to see you—’ She beamed suddenly over my shoulder, and I became aware that two young men had joined us: they were clearly with Celia and her friend.
‘Simon, Henry, this is my old friend Joy.’
Both men shook my hand courteously, and one kissed it and did a little bow. ‘And is the lovely Joy accompanying us tonight?’
I coloured and looked down at the pavement uncomfortably. Before I could think what to do, Celia said, ‘Oh, that’s a smashing idea. Hey, Joy, what are you up to tonight?’
‘Well … nothing … I—’
‘How do you fancy coming to a party?’
‘Well, I …’ It all seemed so easy for them, making arrangements at the drop of a hat. I couldn’t just go to a party. What would I say to Gracie? What would I wear? How on earthwould I get there and back? ‘I don’t think so … I’d better not, look—’
‘I’m sure we could find a nice young man to take you,’ said Henry or Simon, winking. ‘Bertie’s not seeing anyone, is he, Dee? He’s got a car.’
‘Or Maurice! Yes …’ Dee started to giggle. ‘Oh, dear … Maurice! Just imagine! Oh, yes, Celia: Maurice!’
I felt like a ping-pong ball being batted to and fro. I couldn’t imagine for a moment that these people would want to make fun of me, but there was something in their manner that made me wary. I drew my cardigan closely around me.
‘Look, it’s very kind, Celia. But I really don’t think—’
‘I’ve got it! James! You always did like James, didn’t you? And he’d be crazy about you if he could see you now!’ She was all teeth beneath her crimson lipstick. So pleased was she with her decision that she actually clapped her hands together decisively. ‘Right! That’s it. James and Joy. It’ll have to be next Saturday. Let’s not stand on the pavement any more. Who’s for tea at The Queen’s?’
I made my excuses – said I had to meet Mo at the bus station. But Celia wouldn’t let me go without an assurance that I would come to Buckleigh House at seven thirty on Saturday evening.
I walked to the bus station with wings on my heels, but also with a sly foreboding.
Celia came to the dress shop on Wednesday afternoon to take me off for tea. Gracie looked up from her machine in astonishment , and when she turned her eyes on me they were full of curiosity and fear. I wished Celia hadn’t turned up like this. She couldn’t have forgotten that I wasn’t supposed to play with her in the past. Or did she think it was all water under the bridge, now that we were grown up? Evidently so, for she beamed at Gracie, and even let slip the bombshell of Saturday night’splans. To my shame, I hoped Celia wouldn’t notice Gracie’s old pinny with its mismatching buttons and the blackberry stain that wouldn’t wash out. I hoped she wouldn’t see the thick fawn stockings rolled down to the knees for comfort. I wished Gracie would look less awestruck at Celia’s clothes, and I hoped and prayed that she wouldn’t open her mouth and breathe a single, burry Gloucestershire word.
‘You don’t mind if I take Joy out now for some buns, do you, Miss Burrows? I know a lovely little place in Painswick.’
‘Oh … well … no –
People were jostling past us, and there was an awkwardness in the air. It had something to do with the way Celia’s friend was eyeing me with a fixed smile, as though I were a specimen she hadn’t come across before, and something to do with the way Celia and I had left things between us so many years before.
‘How’s … your family?’
Celia, who had been standing by the kerb, dodged a passing bicycle and grabbed me by the elbow. ‘Oh … gosh, they’re fine. Hey, look – it’s so good to see you—’ She beamed suddenly over my shoulder, and I became aware that two young men had joined us: they were clearly with Celia and her friend.
‘Simon, Henry, this is my old friend Joy.’
Both men shook my hand courteously, and one kissed it and did a little bow. ‘And is the lovely Joy accompanying us tonight?’
I coloured and looked down at the pavement uncomfortably. Before I could think what to do, Celia said, ‘Oh, that’s a smashing idea. Hey, Joy, what are you up to tonight?’
‘Well … nothing … I—’
‘How do you fancy coming to a party?’
‘Well, I …’ It all seemed so easy for them, making arrangements at the drop of a hat. I couldn’t just go to a party. What would I say to Gracie? What would I wear? How on earthwould I get there and back? ‘I don’t think so … I’d better not, look—’
‘I’m sure we could find a nice young man to take you,’ said Henry or Simon, winking. ‘Bertie’s not seeing anyone, is he, Dee? He’s got a car.’
‘Or Maurice! Yes …’ Dee started to giggle. ‘Oh, dear … Maurice! Just imagine! Oh, yes, Celia: Maurice!’
I felt like a ping-pong ball being batted to and fro. I couldn’t imagine for a moment that these people would want to make fun of me, but there was something in their manner that made me wary. I drew my cardigan closely around me.
‘Look, it’s very kind, Celia. But I really don’t think—’
‘I’ve got it! James! You always did like James, didn’t you? And he’d be crazy about you if he could see you now!’ She was all teeth beneath her crimson lipstick. So pleased was she with her decision that she actually clapped her hands together decisively. ‘Right! That’s it. James and Joy. It’ll have to be next Saturday. Let’s not stand on the pavement any more. Who’s for tea at The Queen’s?’
I made my excuses – said I had to meet Mo at the bus station. But Celia wouldn’t let me go without an assurance that I would come to Buckleigh House at seven thirty on Saturday evening.
I walked to the bus station with wings on my heels, but also with a sly foreboding.
Celia came to the dress shop on Wednesday afternoon to take me off for tea. Gracie looked up from her machine in astonishment , and when she turned her eyes on me they were full of curiosity and fear. I wished Celia hadn’t turned up like this. She couldn’t have forgotten that I wasn’t supposed to play with her in the past. Or did she think it was all water under the bridge, now that we were grown up? Evidently so, for she beamed at Gracie, and even let slip the bombshell of Saturday night’splans. To my shame, I hoped Celia wouldn’t notice Gracie’s old pinny with its mismatching buttons and the blackberry stain that wouldn’t wash out. I hoped she wouldn’t see the thick fawn stockings rolled down to the knees for comfort. I wished Gracie would look less awestruck at Celia’s clothes, and I hoped and prayed that she wouldn’t open her mouth and breathe a single, burry Gloucestershire word.
‘You don’t mind if I take Joy out now for some buns, do you, Miss Burrows? I know a lovely little place in Painswick.’
‘Oh … well … no –
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