“And I say you hello on behalf of Araon as well. So you will be the next to call. Bye for now.”
“Bye, Jill.”
“Darling.”
“Yes Araon?”
“I think I have to contact Van der Baast as well. I will do it now. Here is the number. Van der Baast? This is Araon.”
“Hi Araon, how are you?”
“I feel terrific. Did I disturb you?”
“No, go ahead.”
“I just wanted to hear your voice and to delight you by saying me and Jill are Londoners now.”
“By the way. The other day they called me from the hospital where Jill had her ultrasound scanner. They told me that she has talked about me a lot and she gave them my contact number as the doctor she trusts in Amsterdam. They told me to advise her to have a rest as much as she can,” interrupted Van der Baast.
“That’s good news,” said Araon.
“Give Jill a kiss on the forehead on my behalf. Now I have to leave to go early to the hospital. I’ll keep in touch.”
“By, Van der Baast. Bye from Jill as well.”
“Bye to you two.”
“Hey Jill, it’s time you start pampering now. I’ll call Phil at half past four as usual. I just want to say something before we leave. I have devised a Mensa game called mental energy. We have to be bandaged and to stay one in front of the other. We have to try to move without touching one another. The winner is the one who stays longer in that position without touching his partner. Silly, isn’t it?”
“Come on Araon. It’s time to go anyway.”
Araon had to do nothing than be silent. He was aware that to be pompous was not a good idea. Not in those circumstances. Phil and Samantha had to wait a while before they could welcome their two friends in the limousine.
The following day Jill and Araon were finally alone. They had been ingenious in finding an excuse to stay on their own, determined as they were to buy stamps for a collection for Samantha and Phil. They entered the shop later on in the morning. Good morning guys,” a friendly voice welcomed them. “May I help you?”
“Actually, we are looking for British stamps for collection. They are for a special person,” said Araon.
“I’ll show you what I have. Can you see? All the latest stamps and the older ones like the Penny Black, which has a very high value now. Is there one that might interest you?” said the assistant.
“I think I’ll buy all of them,” said Araon.
“Sure. They cost in all five thousand pounds. Is it OK for you?”
“Lovely.”
“So I place them into this box just for a question of safety. You can have a look if you want.”
“Everything is fine. Here is my MasterCard.”
“Thank you, sir. It went through. Have a nice day.”
“Thank you. Goodbye.”
Jill was entranced by the surprise. “I’m sure Samantha will love them. When we were talking about our hobbies, she never mentioned stamp collecting nor did I. It’s fantastic. We have been able to find a gift for an extremely wealthy couple,” said Jill.
“We will make an impression, I’m sure,” said Araon.
“I’m happy, nothing else than happy. Now we abandon the burden of taking these precious stamps out of the strangers’ look and we devise something to do for the rest of the morning and afternoon. Phil and Samantha are coming to pick us up at half past seven like every evening,” said Jill.
“It’s as simple as that: we can carry on walking making sure that you won’t be tired enough. Remember the advice of Van der Baast. We can walk until the traffic light and then we’ll go in the right or left direction. We will stop in the first place we see where we can sit and have a rest,” said Araon.
“When the doctor told me that I have to be careful not to get tired we have to take this piece of advice with the pinch of salt. I’m used to walking about forty-five minutes per day and I’m sure the same is with you when you wander along the streets of Amsterdam on your own in the morning.”
“It’s up to you, Jill.”
“Sure Araon. Now it’s funny: I’m nosey to know what you do when you are on your own in the streets of Amsterdam,” said Jill.
“It’s easy: I walk, I walk, I walk. Sometimes I sit to take my second coffee of the day. Sometimes I watch people arguing in the street but I never interfere for the fear of being beaten. Sometimes I also tell to myself how lucky I am to have a wife like you. I am a nowhere man,” said Araon.
“I don’t believe it,” said Jill.
“Why not?”
“Just joking. You don’t realize when I am teasing you,” said Jill.
“I don’t ask you what you do because I know it by heart,” said Araon.
“Araon. This morning when I went to weigh myself the scale broke down. Last month I was still wearing size eight clothes and look at me now,” said Jill.
“You are gorgeous Jill,” said Araon and he picked her up.
“You are crazy. People are watching us,” said Jill.
“And so? The last time I did it was ten years ago when we went out of the church after our wedding ceremony. I had to wait a lot before getting this pleasure. But now I listen to your wishes. I would go for a lemon crushed ice drink. What about you?” said Araon.
“The same with me. Sure you won’t take your second cup of coffee?”
“I’ll do it at home. Now I want to relax with something different. Come in. The waitress has already noticed us.”
“Good morning,” she said. You can come and sit here on the sofa. What would you like to have?”
“Two lemon crushed ice drinks,” said Araon.
The waitress came immediately with the drinks and Araon gave her a twenty-pound note. “Keep the change,” he said.
“Thank you. Just let me bring the receipt to you,” She said trembling.
Jill and Araon seemed never to be tired of talking each other.
“Here is the receipt. Have a nice day,” the waitress interrupted them.
“You know, Jill, there is a sort of mystery in the way we and Samantha and Phil met each other. Sometimes I think that this had already been planned by Phil who must have heard of me accidentally and then he decided to track me. It’s all so perfect, so ecstatic.”
“I think you are tired Araon. Why should Phil have heard of you? We are still commoners.”
“You are right, Jill. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by my new responsibilities. But I’m overcoming this stage. Oh! The phone is ringing. “Hello?” Nobody answered. “They have hung up. Let me see: it’s Van der Baast. I’ll call him back. This is Araon. Did you call me?”
“Sorry Araon. It was a mistake. Sorry again: I am in a rush. I have an operation right now. Bye Araon,” said the doctor.
“It was a mistake. Jill. Anyway, what we were talking about?” said Araon.
“About our wedding pictures. I want to show them to Samantha. I’m proud of my gown trimmed with lace.”
“OK we were talking about marriages. My memory is not so bad. I would suggest you that we should go back to Mayfair. We have not to be tired so that we will enjoy to the most our evening.”
“OK Araon. Every wish of yours is a command,” said Jill.
They went out of the bar to catch the first double decker to drive them back home. They were so happy!
When Samantha and Phil arrived, Jill and Araon were already on the pavement outside their Mayfair flat. “Hi guys.,” started Phil with his usual gorgeous smile. “It seems an eternity since we have seen each other. Come into the limousine; the driver is waiting for us,” he carried on.
“Nice weather, isn’t it?” said Araon with a drab expression.
Jill got into the car after him and she immediately showed the pack of the present to Samantha and Phil. “This is a present for you,” she said to Samantha and Phil. “Just open it now.”
“It’s wonderful Jill. British stamps for a collection. We haven’t any of them, is it true Phil?” said Samantha,
joyful.
“Yes, it’s true. I have never been a stamp collector in my life and now it’s time I start learning how to use them. I see even the Penny Black. It’s an item for privileged people as far as I know. Thank you, Jill, thank you Araon. You couldn’t have had a better idea.”
“It’s a pleasure to us,” said Araon enthusiastically.
“Now we have to decide where to go. The driver won’t start the car until he has a clear destination in mind. I give you the burden to choose our place to stay in.” said Phil to his friends.
“I would like to go to Piccadilly. It’s wonderful by night,” said Jill.
“I agree with you,” said Samantha.
“So I feel free to bring you to the Criterion Theatre. There is a performance of The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. What do you think of it?” said Phil.
“It sounds wonderful,” said Araon followed by the other two women.
“Would you like something to drink Jill and Araon? We have a special beer which is non-alcoholic and calorie free,” said Phil.
“We will have a try,” said Araon.
“Jill feel free to wear the slippers. It takes a time before we arrive at Piccadilly.”
“Thank you. I like to stay the way I am,” said Jill.
“So now we do a bit of Mensa: what is a black room with walls marred by blood, people screaming and policemen outside throwing teargas bombs?” said Phil
“It’s the red box,” said Samantha immediately.
“No, it would be too cosy,” answered Phil.
“So what is it?” asked Samantha
“It’s the examination of our conscience. Have you got another riddle Araon?” said Phil.
“Well, what is a fair lady playing with a big box with lettuce and garbage in it?” said Araon.
“It’s our thirsty for knowledge,” said Jill.
“Exactly. How could you guess so quickly?” said Araon.
“I cannot believe it. Did you take pre-agreement about riddles before we met up?” said Phil in disbelief.
“ No. We can swear it,” said Araon.
“It means you are a very get on well couple. You are following the same sleeps, ideas, unconscious mechanism,” said Phil.
“Now let’s stop with Mensa. We have a lot of time to play with riddles,” said Samantha.
“Yes indeed. Just to be nosey: what were you doing this morning?” said Araon.
“We have been all the morning at home. We had some rest in the garden room where we have been lazing about all the time. We did really miss you. The phone rang different times and I was anxious to get a call from you. Unfortunately, or otherwise, it was a matter of business appointment for the time being. Phil is very busy at work and he is aware that he has to involve you Araon, as well for the sake of complicity. But I adored laying on the mat doing nothing. The radio was on but the songs on air were too suffocating in my opinion. I was so lazy that I didn’t go pampering myself before half-morning. The room was untidy and so was the bathroom. After all, Jane was on holiday. I’m looking forward to having her at home. After all that I can confirm I have thought of you all the time. We had no great intimacy with Phil. We are getting older, what do you think?” said Samantha all at once.
“As far as we are concerned we went out shopping. The result are these likeable British stamps. I’m glad you have appreciated them. We have walked a lot and this is good for my health. I was thinking of an excuse to miss some lessons of knitting. My teacher has to be informed that I cannot attend any lesson before Christmas. After all, she is concerned only with money and we have all paid in advance for the course. Van der Baast warned me to be careful not to be too tired. My Araon is always so sweet with me. We are a happy quartet from what I see,” said Jill”
“My head aches now. Samantha why did you lie about our lack of intimacy? It reminds me of the way I used to lie to my dad when I was saying I would have liked to be an astronaut when I was lazy with my studies. Unfortunately spacemen are not next of kin. I remember when I insulted my dad: you know dad, our planet is seventy per cent occupied by water. What does your mind mean with this? He didn’t realize I was calling him an idiot in my own way. Anyway, everything ended well. I would be a big businessman without my dad’s support. Oh! I see we are in Piccadilly. It’s time to get out of the car. We can have an eyeful of beautiful women here Araon,” said Phi.
“Idiot!” Was the immediate reaction of Samantha.
“I was joking sweetheart. You must be more confident now that I have married you,” said Phil.
“Shall we go straight to the Criterion?” said Araon to avoid a quarrel between his two friends.
“Yes, we are here for this reason. Love, give me your hand,” said Phil and Samantha held him tight.
Yes it was a nice quartet willing to spend their time after their thirst for knowledge. And that was what the Mousetrap was like.
CHAPTER SIXTY
“Fostering adoption. Disgusting wall soiled with blood. Ahh.” Jill woke up in the middle of the night and so did Araon.
“What’s wrong Jill? You frightened me. Why were you screaming?”
“I had a nightmare, but now it’s gone.”
“We are at Holland Park House; there are Phil and Samantha for all our needs.”
“You are enough for me Araon. I feel so stupid. Araon speak to me honestly: do you think I have a marred soul?”
“What? I believe you are as white as a dove.”
“The same thing with you Araon. So why do I have to dream of dirty things? It’s not the first time. I always dream of a wall dirty with blood.”
“It’s your awful ambition, Jill. You would like to be more generous with people and you see that Phil and Samantha beat us. Luckily enough they have accepted a gift from us. Probably they realized that our income is growing. What does worry you so much?”
“Nothing, Araon. I told you I feel so stupid.”
“Do you want to phone Sylvanus and have a chat with him?”
“No. We made arrangements that he would phone me next time after lunch.”
“So try to get some sleep. By the way: do you fancy a drink?”
“No thanks. I never drink in the night.”
“I’ll go to take a glass of water. I really need it.” said Araon going towards the fridge.
“But this is gin,” said Jill.
“No, it’s water. The bottle of gin is empty. You should know now that Phil gives us only non-alcoholic drinks. Why don’t you try to sleep?”
“I need to wash my feet. Actually, I need you wash them for me,” said Jill.
“What a funny whim! You will be happy in a while. Let me finish my drink first. Here I am. So why do you have this desire?”
“It’s something that reminds me of the Catholic Church. I think the Pope washes the feet of the priests at a certain moment before Easter. I’m not sure. The point is, that I would like to forget my Presbyterian faith to become Catholic. Actually, we also have to feel weird to be Presbyterian in a Calvinistic country. And do you know why I want to change religion? Because Samantha and Phil inspired me. And then the Bible on the bedside table. It’s as simple as that.”
“I am happy, Jill. Recently my mind has been crossed by the same desire as yours. We can go in the Catholic Church in Kensington High Street, confess our sins and tell the father that we want to convert ourselves in the Catholic faith. You know, Phil told me yesterday night that when he signed the document the last time, I put my elbow into his arm and the last signature came up different from the other ones. So we have to go to the meeting place at ten am tomorrow in a frame of time we can go the church nearby and confess our best intentions to the priest. Samantha will be there as well.”
“You have convinced me Araon. Now I try to fall asleep. I want the eye sockets and bags under the eyes a memory of your past. Give me a kiss first.”
“Sure, Jill. Goodnight.”
The following day they were out of bed at six am, earlier than anticipated
. “Here is your coffee with milk and the croissants Jill,” said Araon getting breakfast in bed to Jill.
“Later,” she said.
“I’ll phone Araon to tell him we won’t be late at the appointment. We need power to be ready to face the businessman for the issue of the signature. He will understand the other desire of us as well. Actually, he will be more than happy to see that we want to embrace the Catholic faith. He is a staunch Catholic as Samantha,” said Araon.
“So sweetheart, I’ll be ready in a while,” said Jill with a vigorous tone of voice. She was shining, awfully bright and sorrow for her position in the same time. She went in the main hall of the house together with Araon where Phil and Samantha were already ready to go to the limousine which was waiting outside.
“Jill are you aware of my and Araon’s commitment of the day?” said Phil all flamboyant.
“Of course I know everything. And there is more: me and Araon have decided to convert ourselves to the Catholic faith. We know there is a Catholic church at the end of Kensington High Street. We are willing to go there to talk to the priest about our decision. He won’t say no to our request, I’m sure. Me and Samantha will wait for you outside the church while you are busy with your signatures with the businessman.”
“That’s fantastic. I’m happy that God wants you to embrace the Catholic faith. Never such a gorgeous news delighted me like that one. We won’t make you wait long. It’s not my prerogative to waste time in candies. Just a riddle of the day: what does gigantic mean?” said Phil.
“I mean, it’s the sense of victory we savour sometimes,” said Araon.
“Good. You nearly got the point. It’s exactly upside down our sense of majesty. Anyway, it’s nothing meaningful,” said Phil.
“You are gorgeous in pink, Jill,” said Samantha just to divert the conversation towards something more relaxing.
They arrived quickly at High Street Kensington and Samantha and Jill departed from Phil and Araon as arranged previously. To sign in front of a businessman was as dreadful as hearing the noise of thunder. But it was a couple of minutes which finished with a mutual, genial goodbye.
Jill and Araon were ready to go to church. The priest made a satisfactory speech to the couple to point out the most important traits of the Catholic religion. The two were asked to think twice before swearing to God their new faith. But Jill and Araon did it fast. They were looking forward to becoming Catholic. The priest made them confess their sins as the doctrine wanted and then asked them to say some prayers for the forgiveness from God. The biggest reminding from the priest was to never miss the Mass on Sunday. So Jill and Araon joined the two friends outside the church as radiant as ever.
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