It's
Japanese of course, but what can you do? They all are nowadays, and anyway, so
is my organ, but that hardly detracts. The main thing is, it looks as if it cost
a bomb. It's all in the design. Anything black, and you're made. To me, though,
that's almost the best thing. If you want someone to know they're appreciated,
it's no good giving them something that looks as if it just cost a few bob.
It's got to look special. Because that's what I want Mandy to know - that she's
special, and Larry thinks the world of her.
So what do
you think? Will a girl like Mandy be able to ignore a present like this? Of
course she won't. In one fell blow, the old kid is going to know who her
friends are, once and for all.
Mind you, it
went to my head a bit, handing over the money and getting such a thrill because
of it. I didn't want to put my purse away after. I was a fool to myself really,
going around just looking for something else to spend my money on. They can see
you coming then. Anyway, all I did was stop to have a listen of the canaries -
about fifty of them - singing their little hearts out on the pet stall, and the
next thing knew, I was opening my purse again. What you could sincerely call
an impulse buy. The man said I should have two, to keep each other company. But
I knew what he was up to, and besides, I'll be there, won't I - better than
another bird any day. Mind you, I hadn't quite banked on the rest - the cage
and the feed and the mirror etcetera. On top of all that, another blooming bird
would have been almost incidental.
Still you've
got to treat yourself now and then, and we're all home now. He - Joey - is on
the organ next to the woodland animals, getting used to his new surroundings.
Only trouble is, he doesn't seem too keen on singing at the moment.
But that's
just by the by. The important thing is that right this very minute, sitting on
Mandy's kitchen table is one small - or not so small- item that's going to
change everything. And if I could have one wish now, it would be to see her
face when the old kid gets home.
Then again, when does anything ever turn out the way you
think it will? The answer, in Larry Mann's experience, is never. Yet as the
person who knows her best in this house, I really should have suspected it.
Never expect the obvious from Mandy.
There was
something odd just in the way she came in this evening, something very unlike
the Mandy we've got used to by now. It was there in the way she let the front
door slam behind her and then came up the stairs with a racket you'd never
think was her. It was as if she was letting on that she was home and didn't
care who knew it. And you'll be telling me I'm daft now, but just for those few
seconds I found myself thinking that if this was a normal night, and there was
nothing waiting for her on the kitchen table, I wouldn't be seeing hide nor hair
of her this evening either.
The funny
thing is, though, right at the very top, she stopped, hesitated as if she was
listening. It was as if she had sensed for herself that something was up. Then
I could almost hear her shrug, open up her kitchen door, and walk in.
I was in my
kitchen at the time, and I can honestly say that for the next three or four
minutes I don't suppose I moved a muscle. I stood there with a dishcloth in my
hand, straining for the slightest sound from downstairs - such as a squeak, or
a squeal even. But that was just it. I didn't hear a thing, not even a whisper.
In the end I couldn't bear it any more, and I knew I had to do something,
anything, to take the stress out of the waiting.
Thankfully I
had just the thing for occasions like this, and the only silly part was that I
hadn't thought of it five minutes ago. I hurried into the lounge and lifted
Joey out of the way. A touch of the switch and that wonderful organ of mine
shivers into life. Lights glow and there comes the low hum that tells you it's
awake and ready to go. The question now is what to play for her, but even
that's
Japanese of course, but what can you do? They all are nowadays, and anyway, so
is my organ, but that hardly detracts. The main thing is, it looks as if it cost
a bomb. It's all in the design. Anything black, and you're made. To me, though,
that's almost the best thing. If you want someone to know they're appreciated,
it's no good giving them something that looks as if it just cost a few bob.
It's got to look special. Because that's what I want Mandy to know - that she's
special, and Larry thinks the world of her.
So what do
you think? Will a girl like Mandy be able to ignore a present like this? Of
course she won't. In one fell blow, the old kid is going to know who her
friends are, once and for all.
Mind you, it
went to my head a bit, handing over the money and getting such a thrill because
of it. I didn't want to put my purse away after. I was a fool to myself really,
going around just looking for something else to spend my money on. They can see
you coming then. Anyway, all I did was stop to have a listen of the canaries -
about fifty of them - singing their little hearts out on the pet stall, and the
next thing knew, I was opening my purse again. What you could sincerely call
an impulse buy. The man said I should have two, to keep each other company. But
I knew what he was up to, and besides, I'll be there, won't I - better than
another bird any day. Mind you, I hadn't quite banked on the rest - the cage
and the feed and the mirror etcetera. On top of all that, another blooming bird
would have been almost incidental.
Still you've
got to treat yourself now and then, and we're all home now. He - Joey - is on
the organ next to the woodland animals, getting used to his new surroundings.
Only trouble is, he doesn't seem too keen on singing at the moment.
But that's
just by the by. The important thing is that right this very minute, sitting on
Mandy's kitchen table is one small - or not so small- item that's going to
change everything. And if I could have one wish now, it would be to see her
face when the old kid gets home.
Then again, when does anything ever turn out the way you
think it will? The answer, in Larry Mann's experience, is never. Yet as the
person who knows her best in this house, I really should have suspected it.
Never expect the obvious from Mandy.
There was
something odd just in the way she came in this evening, something very unlike
the Mandy we've got used to by now. It was there in the way she let the front
door slam behind her and then came up the stairs with a racket you'd never
think was her. It was as if she was letting on that she was home and didn't
care who knew it. And you'll be telling me I'm daft now, but just for those few
seconds I found myself thinking that if this was a normal night, and there was
nothing waiting for her on the kitchen table, I wouldn't be seeing hide nor hair
of her this evening either.
The funny
thing is, though, right at the very top, she stopped, hesitated as if she was
listening. It was as if she had sensed for herself that something was up. Then
I could almost hear her shrug, open up her kitchen door, and walk in.
I was in my
kitchen at the time, and I can honestly say that for the next three or four
minutes I don't suppose I moved a muscle. I stood there with a dishcloth in my
hand, straining for the slightest sound from downstairs - such as a squeak, or
a squeal even. But that was just it. I didn't hear a thing, not even a whisper.
In the end I couldn't bear it any more, and I knew I had to do something,
anything, to take the stress out of the waiting.
Thankfully I
had just the thing for occasions like this, and the only silly part was that I
hadn't thought of it five minutes ago. I hurried into the lounge and lifted
Joey out of the way. A touch of the switch and that wonderful organ of mine
shivers into life. Lights glow and there comes the low hum that tells you it's
awake and ready to go. The question now is what to play for her, but even
that's
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