“Between Morocco and the Gambia. The scenes I’m in are all desert.” He watches me mix the dough for scones. “So we’re in the north of Mauritania. It’s pretty spectacular, sand dunes and bare red cliffs. And you should see some of the houses, they’re made of stones and I mean stones, just like dry-stone walls but red and pink. But – and that’s a big but – summers get so hot, you could cook eggs in the fresh air. Can you imagine sitting around in all the fur clothing in that heat?”
The way he goes on to tell me about Mauritania, about the river and the coast, the long dry warm days in December and freezing nights, the people and their culture…it’s clear he is so much more than an actor. He actually takes an interest and finds out about the country.
“It sounds like you love the place.” I turn my back on him to slide a tray into the oven. And to hide my face because I’mjealous. So jealous of the time he spends, the things that attract his attention and hold his interest. What a fascinating life he has.
“Bill and the others are going to miss you when you go.” But what I really mean is me. I am going to miss him.
“I’ll miss them too. So, if we can give them a couple more afternoon teas before the end of the year, that would be good.
Yes. I can give them tea three times a week. It’s the least I can do before I have to go back to my little life in London.
“We’ll have almost four weeks,” I say trying not to make it about me and him.
He understands and comes to stand next to me at the counter and watches me mix boiled eggs, mayonnaise and a little mustard.
“Almost four weeks isn’t bad. We can have a lot of fun in almost four weeks.”
We can, as long as nothing else goes wrong at The Glyn.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Monday 3rd December, The Glyn, Afternoon.
The trouble because Bill and the Squad can’t stop talking about the tea parties.
The Squad. That’s what they’ve decided the call themselves. They did briefly consider theMagnificent Sevenbecause there are seven of them. Vanessa and Shirley vetoed this because it was a gun-toting seven. Philomena who has a romantic heart suggestedFriendsbut Gethin found it too generic. In the end they settled on the Squad afterThe Mod Squada TV series from the 1970s.
It somehow brought them together in a common cause.
The first cause is Bill insisting that he was entitled to have his visits in the common area not in his room. The Glyn, he argues, has no authority to ban anyone from visiting him.
“What happened to drinking ale without upsetting the barman?” I ask when on the Monday, he leads me out of his room and to the games lounge.
“That was when it was just your word against Mrs Jenkins. Now Jack and the Squad are behind us. If we all stand together, Cynthia can’t single me out.”
It works.
From Monday, we all go back to the games lounge.. Even better, Jack is invited to join us there. Cynthia tries to object that he’s too weak to walk all the way. It’s true because the games lounge is down at the other end of the building. Raff, wonderful strong Raff steps in and promises to carry Jack.
“And you’re not going to get in trouble with Cynthia?” I ask him that night when we’re lying in my bed, playing with his long hair.
“Not worth her while. I’m going in three weeks. Cynthia isn’t going to waste her time on a battle with someone who’s already given his notice.”
Cynthia might not but Mrs Jenkins and her trolley have other ideas.
And that’s a whole other battle. The Squad refuse to accept Mrs Jenkins’ usual stale chocolate bourbons and dishrag-tea. Bill donates the large box of PG Tips I got him, and Shirley donates an elegant teapot, a family heirloom. Now, every afternoon, they make their own tea in the Games Lounge.
Two days later, walking into The Glyn with a shopping bag full of supplies when suddenly a trolley is pushed in front of me blocking my way.
“It’s all you,” Mrs Jenkins snarls at me. “Nasty interfering slag-face, keep causing trouble.”
The out and out aggression is so surprising, it makes me stammer.
“Please excuse me.” I try to step around her trolley but she grabs my sleeve in her fist.
“I know your game. You’re pushing to take my job.”
“I’m not taking away anything from you. Please let me pass.”
