by David Hockey
Chapter 20 Sally
There was a letter from Sally on the mat when Bob arrived home. In it she told him she had sold her house and would be moving to a retirement home at the end of the month. “When could you come to get the car?” she asked.
He called her after supper. “Would next weekend be all right Sally?”
“Yes, lovely. How long can you stay?”
“I can’t come until Saturday and I’ll have to return on Sunday. We’re very busy right now. I’ll stay longer next time, I promise.”
“Good. I suppose you’ll come by train and bus?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll expect you when you arrive. It’s a long journey.”
“I know. When Mom and I used to visit I liked looking out of the window of the train and seeing the back gardens of all the houses and the city’s outskirts so that part won’t seem too long. I won’t mind.”
“I’ll have some supper ready when you come. ‘Bye Bob.”
“’Bye Sally.”
He thought about her and about owning a car as he ate his meal. He’d park it in his driveway and leave the van on the road or next to the workshop. ‘I hope Sally has the manual to tell me how to look after it. I’ll have to arrange insurance for the car. I’ll talk to the agent about it tomorrow.’
After his usual Saturday morning dusting and clothes-washing Bob found his insurance agent’s number and called him, explaining that his aunt was giving him her car and he would like to insure it.
“We can do that for you Mr. Barns. What is the car?”
“It’s a Vauxhall.”
“What year?”
“What do you mean?”
“What year was it made?”
“I don’t know,” said Bob
“Do you know the model number?”
“No. I really don’t know much about it.”
“Well we can’t insure it without more details Mr. Barns. Can you call me when you collect it and I’ll arrange it for you then.”
“I’m collecting it next Sunday.”
“Oh. Then can you have your aunt phone us?”
“I’ll ask her to do that, thanks.”
He phoned Sally and asked her if she could call his agent and giver him the details.
“What kind of details Bob?”
“The age of the car, it’s model number and probably some other things.”
“I don’t know all those things Bob. Like you, I don’t know much about the car. I’ll phone David and ask him to phone you.”
“Oh, thanks Sally.”
Ten minutes later David called.
“Sally has told me you want to insure the car Bob. I can arrange that for you. I can use our agent or yours and it’ll be done by the time you get here.”
“I’d like to pick it up next Sunday. Are you open on Sundays?”
“Oh yes, Sunday’s a busy day for us. Now, who would you like to insure with?”
“Use my agent please David. I’ve already spoken to him about it. Here’s his number.”
“Okay I’ll phone him. He’ll phone you if he needs anything we can’t provide. Oh, we’ve checked the car and put it in Sally’s garage. It’s all ready to go. The ownership transfer has been completed and it’s in the car with the manual. Just sign it where it’s marked.”
“Thanks David.”
“Safe travel Bob.”
After coffee Bob dug a few carrots, picked a couple of handfuls of peas and pulled enough rhubarb to make a dessert that would last a week. He stewed it with some chopped-up crystallised ginger and a little sugar then stored it in the refrigerator. He didn’t normally eat dessert but ginger-rhubarb mix was something he couldn’t resist.
He walked to the village store and bought the groceries after lunch. At the check-out counter he asked if they kept any Thai sauces. “No,” they said. “You’re the first to ask for that kind of thing. I’ll start a list. We’ll stock it once three people ask for it. ‘That might take a long time,’ he thought, as he left the shop. After putting his food away he had a mug of tea, a nap and a bath, then went to the Crown.
It was the last night of the Spring Show and the bar was full when he arrived. He collected his pint and joined Joe, Jack and Rose at the table. Joe told him that Jane was at the show and wouldn’t join them that night so they ordered and ate their meals, hardly saying anything until the noise dropped when the crowd left for the show. Then Joe told them he and Jack would be dismantling the show scenery Sunday afternoon and asked if Bob could help. He replied, “Yes.” Rose asked him how the sales for April had been.
“I don’t know Rose. I only know what you, Jenny and Leo have sold. I expect we’ll have cheques this week then I’ll know.”
“It might take a week or two before the toys begin to move Bob. If you remember I didn’t sell any of yours the first month I had them. We were both a little upset about that.”
“Yes I remember. You sold the first one to a visitor who’s grandson was interested in trains.”
“Yes that’s right,” she said.
The first thing he did after breakfast on Sunday was write the cheques for the April purchases so he could mail them that afternoon. Then he rummaged through his stack of woodworking magazines, removing any that had toy designs. He took these to the lounge and skimmed through them while drinking his coffee.
He ended up with a list of twenty or so toys they could make, everything from fire engines or milk wagons to toy houses and the furniture for them. There were many patterns for jigsaw puzzles, some with just a few large pieces meant to be used by young children and others with many small ones. There was even a design for a carousel but that looked very complicated and he guessed it would have to sell for fifty pounds or more to cover the costs. He listed them in order of easiest-to-make, folded the magazines to the page where the article was and put them in a box to take to Ken. ‘He’ll have to chose what to make.’
After lunch he put all the wood that was left in the shed in the workshop then took down the struts and shelves. He brushed the walls to remove the dust and swept the floor. Now it was an empty store room, able to hold many plastic boxes or filled log-boxes. He’d fill the shed first and use his spare bedroom only when the shed was full.
There were four new helpers working with them on the stage that afternoon, newcomers to the village. It didn’t take them long to dismantled the scenery, take down the lighting system and unfasten the stage curtains. They shook the curtains and put them in their big storage boxes then moved, with everything else, to the biggest meeting room. They would stay there until they would be taken to the new Centre.
During his supper of broiled fish he remembered he hadn’t told his children about the holiday he’d be taking in August when he called them last. ‘I’d better tell them tonight in case they’re planning to visit me then.’ He called at nine, but no, they weren’t coming his way. Sam and Lilly were camping again that summer. “We’re going to Wales Dad. Bess insists we climb Snowdon. We’ll go the easy way and it’s not hard, so you’re not to worry about us.” Regina told Bob that they’d booked a two week holiday in Paris. “We’re going by Eurostar. Bernard’s very happy about that. It was his idea. Several of his friends have travelled that way already and say it’s fun.”
Bob also told them that his toys were being sold in over a hundred shops. “And if they sell the toys we’re making I’ll be very rich,” he added. Both were pleased but didn’t seem especially interested. Their interest would pick up if he made as much as Ken predicted he guessed. Before getting into bed he put a spare shirt and some underpants in a small bag. He’d add his pyjamas and toilet bag when he got up for he expected he’d have to stay in a bed-and-breakfast Monday night.
When he arrived at the shop in the morning Craig helped him load a hundred of each set into the van. He used the office map and the retailers’ business cards to set his route.
“I’ll be back when I’ve delivered all these Ken. But I can’t deliver to twen
ty shops and talk to the owners in one day so I’ll probably be back Tuesday afternoon. Will there be another hundred of each then?”
“By first-thing Wednesday, yes, if we don’t run out of dowels for the trains. I’ll drive to Big End tonight and buy some more if we’re short and I’ll ask Craig to work overtime with me on Tuesday, if needed.”
“Good, I told Lori to tell the Bournemouth shops I’d deliver on Wednesday. We won’t be so rushed in the future.”
By six o’clock Bob had delivered to fourteen shops. He was tired but happy to have seen and talked to so many interested owners. Three of them told Bob that they had talked to friends who had already received the toys and Bob learned that two of these had sold toys the same day they were put in the window. Bob looked forward to telling Ken that.
He had been looking out for B & Bs during his last hour and drove back to one he had noted that was near the village pub. The owner had room for him and told him what she usually served for breakfast. Bob asked if she gave a discount if he only had cereal and tea. “I’m not used to eating a full breakfast,” he explained. “I’ll take two pounds off your bill then,” she said. “Will that be all right?”
“Yes thank you,” and told himself he should always ask for a discount in future.
He returned from Southampton Tuesday lunchtime, stopping at Twinner to see Leo.
“Hello Leo. How are you today?”
“Hello Bob. I’m well and glad to see you. I’ll be needing more toys soon.”
“Oh I wish I’d known. I’ve just delivered the last set I had.”
“No problem, I’ll be all right for a few more days. I’ll call when I’m ready for more.”
“Good. Like to have lunch with me Leo?”
“Well, thanks’ Bob, but not today. My wife’s in Southampton, shopping, so I have to stay here. Maybe another day.”
“All right. ‘Bye Leo.”
“‘Bye Bob.”
‘That’s two owners I have to take to lunch, Jenny and Leo,’ he told himself as he drove off. ‘And I should also take Rose. All three have helped me and it would be nice to thank them this way. I wonder if I can arrange a ‘thank-you’ lunch for all of them together, with Ken, too. A chance for him to know them better.’
He had lunch at home then went to the workshop. Ken brought him up-to-date. “We’ll have a hundred of each ready for you by the time we finish today. We had enough dowels. Lori had ordered more wood; it’ll be here first thing tomorrow.”
“How can I help?”
“Box the trains and load the van when done.”
The phone rang twice that afternoon and Lori took notes on the computer as she talked on the phone. When Bob saw her doing that he was quite impressed and said so at the end of the day.
“That’s why I like to work in a place like this. I enjoy the variety and the chance to work on the computer. Here, look at this,” and she pointed to a form on the screen that listed the shops that had phoned to request sets. There were seven of them.
“I can print this list for you anytime you need it.”
“Are any of them urgent? I mean, do any of them want the sets this week?”
“No. They all say they will need them within two weeks. I think all of them know they have to give a few days notice before you can deliver.”
“Good. Well, this is excellent Lori. Has Ken seen all this?”
“Yes, we set it up together.”
“I see. Do you have lists of the toys we’ve made?”
“Yes,” and she pressed some keys and that list appeared, “and the ones you’ve taken, though I don’t know where you’ve taken them.”
“Ah yes. I’ll give you the receipts. Please keep them in case there’s any mix-up.”
“Yes I will. I’ll open a file for each of our retailers and I’ll also put the details on a spreadsheet. That’ll give us a total for any one of them any time we want it.”
“That would help me plan deliveries and know what are the best locations for us too. Thanks Lori.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ken and Bob stayed after the others had left and caught up on what had been happening. Bob was first and told Ken about the retailers who’d sold toys the day they put them in the window.
“That’s a very good sign,” said Ken.
“Isn’t it,” replied Bob. “Oh, I’ll be collecting Sally’s Vauxhall at the weekend and I’ll park the van here after then.”
“That’s okay, we’ll store toys in it. That way we’ll only have to take them to your shed when the van’s full.”
“You have the keys for the shed and the van?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll soon need a second van Ken, and another driver. We’re already getting orders for more sets from the retailers I’ve already supplied.”
“I know, Lori told me.”
“Have any cheques for April sales come?”
“We had the first this morning, £52,50. A Southampton shop sold two villages, a farm and a train set.”
“It’s a good start, isn’t it Ken?”
“Yes it is but I was pretty sure we’d be all right weeks ago, when I first started. I knew we could speed production. All we had to do is sell what we produced and you’re doing that.”
“Yes. Oh Ken, I want to take Rose, Jenny and Leo to lunch to thank them for all the help they’ve given us. You should come too.”
“I’d like that. When?”
“I’ll find out and let you know.”
“Any week day and most weekends are good for me.”
"Okay. Another thing, I’ve a few ideas about what new toys we might make. The magazines are in the van and I’ll get them.” He returned with the magazines and the list he’d made.
“Here are some suggestions Ken. Take a look and let me know what you think.”
“You could make all of the ones on the list if you had to?”
“Oh yes. None of them are very hard. But it’s whether you and the shop could make them easily and quickly. I don’t think we should charge any more than we do now for any new toys.”
“Well that depends on whether I can design a suitable production line. It’s too early to start making different kinds of toys though. We should fill our stock rooms before we diversify.”
“Yes, I know, but can I tell those who ask me about it that we’ll be making different toys in the future?”
“Yes, for sure, but don’t say when.”
As Bob drove the van into his driveway he noticed a large trailer parked in the station’s parking lot. The edge of the rectangular stone patch had been disturbed and he could see that a trench had been dug around it. ‘That must be for the footings,’ he guessed. He walked over to inspect the site and a man emerged from the trailer. “Can I help you?” he asked.
“Hello. My name’s Bob Barns. I live in that house,” and Bob pointed to it. “I’m interested in what you are doing. I guess this trench is for the foundation.”
“That’s right. We’ll be pouring the concrete tomorrow.”
“Then you’ll have to wait until it’s dry, I guess. I’ve just done the same when building a shed.”
“Yep. They’ll brick next Monday.”
“How long will the whole job take?”
“To finish the entire building?”
“Yes.”
“Probably four weeks. Depends on the weather until we get the roof on then I’ll know for sure when we’ll finish. We have our own electricians and plumbers.”
“So if everything goes to plan it’ll be finished before the end of June?”
“Well that’s what we’re planning. I’m one of the managers. Name’s Sam Loring.”
“Pleased to meet you. You don’t mind me looking around from time to time?”
“No. Just tell anyone I said you could. But be careful, I don’t want any accidents.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
‘By the end of June, that’s what Jane hoped,’ Bob thought, as he walked back to his
house. ‘I’ll give her a call after supper and tell her the site manager has the same date in mind.’
“Yes, I know, Bob. I talked to Mr. Loring this morning. We’ll probably have the opening ceremony in July. The committee will meet next week to decide on a date. If we open in July they’ll probably want a Fall Show. But I don’t think we should, there isn’t enough time to rehearse and build the scenery. I’m going to argue against it.”
“And it’s time you had a rest Jane.”
“You’re right. If they do want one I’m going to tell them that they must find someone else to run it.”
“Good for you.”
Delivering to Bournemouth went quicker than Bob expected. The retailers who had called because they needed to renew their stock greeted him then simply showed him where to place the new sets. They gave him a receipt and simply waved goodbye when he left. Most of them were too busy to chat. He noticed that the shops he delivered to were mostly the bigger ones or were on the town’s main street. He didn’t visit Tina but thought about her as he drove through the town’s centre.
He finished his deliveries by noon and stopped for lunch at a road-side pub. As he was eating he wondered where he should go on his next run, he’d visited all the retailers who had given him cards. Then he remembered the membership list he’d collected at the Gift and Toy conference. There must have been two hundred members listed there. He’d visit all he hadn’t already been to.
On the way home he stopped at the bank and deposited Ken’s and his cheques. He didn’t see Mr. Longman but the teller in the business counter immediately recognised him.
Once home he searched for the membership list and found it under a book on the side table next to his seat in the lounge. He sat down and was marking the ones he’d not visited when he noticed they were listed alphabetically. That reminded him that Lori had also listed the retailers he’d seen alphabetically. So instead of continuing to mark his list he decided to ask Lori to print a separate one for him.
At the workshop he walked over to Ken who was working on one of the band saws and waved to everyone on the way. “The place is humming Ken. It looks great!”
“Huh, we don’t just sit around when you’re away Bob. How was your morning?”
“Fine. I’ve seen all the retailers I have cards for but there’s another hundred or so on the association’s membership list. Can Lori type a list for me so she has a copy on the computer?”
“Of course. As soon as she’s finished cutting the barns. I’ll tell her to see you. You’ll be in the office, I suppose.”
“Yes, checking and up-dating the maps.”
“What area does the association cover?”
“Our half of Hampshire, all of Dorset and the southern part of Wiltshire, approximately. That’s what I was told.”
“That’s quite big. Can you manage all that?”
“I think so. I’ll do as many as I can in the next few days and let you know what happens. Just make sure there are enough toys for me!”
“Don’t worry about that. We’re making seven hundred a week. You’ll be okay unless a tool breaks. Oh, the new wood was delivered this morning. It cost £489.”
Five minutes later Lori walked into the office. Bob gave her the membership list. “Can you make a list of the shops I haven’t yet visited Lori? This is the membership list of the Toy and Gift association.”
“Of course.”
“Then can you make a master spreadsheet with columns so we can add the date I last visited each retailer?”
“All right.”
“Thanks Lori.”
Bob entered the shop and continued the work Lori was doing, making farm sets with Jose. Twenty minutes later Lori gave him the list of retailers he should visit and he returned to the office to check the map. He decided to go north the next day, into Wiltshire. He pushed red pins in the places he planned to visit, thought about the route and numbered the shops in the order he should visit them on the list.
As he was loading the van Ken came out and gave him a hand.
“I’ll see thirty new retailers the rest of this week Ken. I’ll do as many as I can tomorrow, come back and fill the van tomorrow night and do the rest on Friday.”
“Do you think most will try them?”
“I think so. Once I tell them what other’s are doing they’re quite keen.”
“Good. Oh, two more cheques came this morning. Another £212.”
“Where do you keep them Ken?”
“I take them home with me. It’s time we bought a safe.”
“I guess so. That’ll take care of the £212, I suppose.”
“Yes. It probably will.”
Bob was back at the shop by five o’clock Thursday. Only Ken was there and they loaded the van together.
“What happened today Ken?”
“There were three requests for more sets. Lori put them on a list for you. And Pat installed the fluorescent lights.”
“I noticed that it looked brighter when I came in. What did that cost?”
“Don’t know yet. He’ll send a bill later. And another cheque arrived, for £128.”
“From a Southampton shop?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder when we’ll start getting some from the Bournemouth area. I’d have thought that there’d be just as many visitors there.”
“It could be people about to cruise back to the States that are buying them in Southampton. I wonder if we could market to them directly somehow.”
“We could have a brochure and have it delivered to the ship before it arrives.”
“I think that’d be a bit complicated to arrange Bob.”
Sam Loring was standing by the patch of concrete when Bob parked his van so he walked over to talk to him.
“It can’t be solid enough to work on yet can it Sam?”
“Not quite, although this stuff sets quicker than the concrete people normally use. But it’ll be ready on Monday. Our brickers will be here then.”
“How much would they get done in a day?”
“They won’t be finished, I can tell you that!”
Friday was a long day. Bob took side roads trying to avoid the traffic jams but there were very many cars: probably people having a Spring holiday. He didn’t get back to the workshop until after six. There was no one there. He would have preferred to drive home but he had to park at the shop because he needed his drive to park the Vauxhall. He was too tired to make supper so he ate at the Crown.
He caught the early morning bus to Big End, walked to the station and dozed most of the two hour trip to Waterloo. He had two hours before his next train left so he took the underground to Kings Cross and wandered around, looking for a place to eat. He passed several inviting pubs but hoped to find a Thai restaurant. He asked a couple of passer-byes if they knew of one but all they suggested was Indian. So that was where he ate, filling his plate from a buffet that had probably begun life a week ago. His next train took him to Grantham and, after a short wait, he caught one to Boston. Finally a taxi took him to Sally’s. He arrived just in time to join her for afternoon tea.
“I’ve scones and raspberry jam again Bob. I told Rita to buy extra and if you didn’t arrive in time for tea I was going to butter them and give them to you tomorrow for your drive home. I’ll make you some cucumber sandwiches instead. It’ll probably be the last time I make them.”
“You could make them in the retirement home Sally.”
“I suppose so but all I’ll have in my room is a microwave and a sink. I don’t know why they give you a microwave, they provide all the meals.”
“What if you wanted to make tea or coffee for yourself?”
“Ah, that’s it. I could use it to boil a mug of water. Have you bought one then?”
“No, not yet.”
“You can have mine if you come May 31st. That’s the day I move out, a Friday. The auction’s the next day.”
“Are they selling your things here, from the house?”
&
nbsp; “Yes. It’s the easiest way. So if you want anything now’s the time to say so. I’m not keeping much, just the photographs, three or four books and some pictures.”
“I don’t know what to say Sally. You have some very nice things but I just can’t go around and take them.”
“Course you can Bob. It’ll all be gone to someone else in a month’s time. Come, lets take a look,” and she eased herself out of the chair and reached for Bob’s hand. “You’ll have to help me; I don’t want to fall. Let’s start upstairs while I have the energy.”
It took a while to climb the stairs. Bob carried the oxygen bottle and held her under her arm. Once upstairs Sally led him to her old bedroom. “There are one or two nice pictures here Bob. Would you like them?”
“I would but I’ve nowhere to hang them.”
“Sit with me on the bed for a little while Bob. I’d like a short rest. There, that’s better. Now, tell me about Maria. Is there anything new to tell me about her?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
“I thought that you rather liked her.”
“I do, but we haven’t met since I last talked to you.”
“Do you write to her?”
“Only about the Lake District tour she’s conducting. I’m taking it.”
“Oh. I rather thought that you and she might be seeing more of each other by now.”
“No. That might happen in the future or it might not. I don’t know what she thinks about me. Nor do I know if I’m still attracted to her.”
“The reason I asked is because if you two lived together in the future, or if you did that with another woman, you’d probably move to a different house. Most women would want a more modern home than the one you have now.”
“Yes you’re probably right. I hadn’t thought about it. But I don’t want to leave my house. It’s the family home.”
“It was the family home Bob and will always be so. But if you start a new relationship you might also want to move to a different place. So, I’d say, if you like those pictures, take them. You may have lots of room for them in the future.”
“Oh Sally. I’ll take them, as a gift from you. Thanks but I’m not thinking of moving to a different house!”
“Okay. Now what else. The furniture is good quality but probably not your taste.”
“Er, yes, that’s right.”
“And the lamps or the ornaments?”
“No Sally.”
“Okay. Let’s go and look at the other rooms.”
They slowly checked each room in the house and Bob ended up with six pictures, a nice wooden sculpture of a bird, not one he’d made and given to her, she was keeping that one, two intricately carved book ends and a set of fish knives and forks.
“I know not many people use these today Sally but I’d like to. They’re lovely.”
“Yes. They came from my Mum’s Mum, your great grandmother. I think they were one of her wedding presents. Now I must have a short nap and then I want you to take me to a new restaurant for supper, one I’ve just heard about.”
“All right. I’ll go for a walk while you are resting. How long do you want?”
“An hour would be fine. Take the key and lock up when you leave.”
Bob walked around the small village of Wyberton, keeping away from the road running through it as best he could, admiring the flowers in the well-kept gardens. He returned just over an hour later and tip-toed past the living room where Sally was still sleeping and carried his bag to his bedroom. He looked out of the window; there were groups of dead flowers next to the rocks at the side of the pond and the grass badly needed cutting. It was a sad to think about what was happening. He washed then sat in the lounge and waited until Sally woke.
“Oh, hello Bob. Is it late? I must have slept longer than an hour.”
“Just a bit Sally.”
“Well, I’ll wash then we can go and eat.”
“Do you want me to help?”
“No thanks Bob.”
“Then I’ll get the car ready.”
It started as soon as he turned the key and would be a joy to drive home.
The restaurant was run by a French couple. They had taken an old run-down mansion and installed chandeliers, tapestries, floral wallpaper and had polished the woodwork and the floors. Three candles, set around a bowl of roses, lit each table and a pianist was playing softly from an alcove in the corner. Bob was impressed and somewhat intimidated. The maître d' and a waiter helped Sally into her seat and placed the oxygen bottle where it was not noticeable. She had refused to take her wheelchair and used a walking stick and lent on Bob’s arm when moving about.
They began with asparagus Dijonnaise, which Bob ate with pieces of a largish hot roll. He finished the rest of the roll with a creamed mushroom and onion soup; Sally chose a garden salad with vinaigrette dressing. Both were tempted by the tenderloin medallions but Bob settled for breast of duck in a balsamic cherry sauce, refusing the fish choices this time. Sally ordered a poached sole fillet. They ordered wine by the glass, letting the waiter select the most suitable. A crème caramel for Sally, a tiramisu for Bob and coffee completed the meal. Sally refused to let Bob pay.
“It’s my turn Bob. You can pay next time. It was a nice meal, wasn’t it?”
“Yes it was. We’ll have to come back here.”
Over breakfast the next day Sally told Bob that she was glad to be moving to a nursing home. “Things are becoming quite difficult for me. It is hard to prepare a meal and cooking, the little I do, is exhausting.”
“What is it like, the place you’re going to?”
“It is comfortable and people I know who have had friends or relatives stay there say the staff is very helpful. When I was a nurse I often went there to see clients and I always thought it would be a good place for me when the time came. You’ll be able to see for yourself when you visit.”
“It will be a while before I can come back Sally. Maybe a month or more. I’m so busy delivering toys. We might have to hire another man to help me. And customers have asked for different kinds of toys so I’ll probably have to make a few and Ken will have to see if we can make them in the workshop.”
“I understand. Come when you can then.”
She stood, leaning against the side of the front door as Bob drove away and lifted her arm and waved back when he put his arm out the window to wave goodbye.
He followed the same route home that he used when he drove to see Sally in the van. Driving through the bigger towns took the most of the time for the arteries were relatively quiet. He drove just above the speed limit, slightly slower than most of the other drivers. When he got home he found that there was plenty of room in his driveway for the car, something that he had worried about. He carried the pictures and the other items from Sally indoors then collected his overnight bag. He added his used clothes to the others that were already in the washing machine and turned it on. He made salmon sandwiches for supper, thinking it was a lot different from the one he had eaten last night. Afterwards he sat in his armchair, put his feet on the coffee table in the lounge and supped a glass of port while he thought about where he’d go tomorrow.