Ollie narrows his eyes ever so slightly, but I know his willingness to flex his views will far outweigh what he feels about Sam’s sarcastic tone.
‘Come on, do you even need to ask?’
‘I do,’ Sam says. ‘Can’t say I’ve ever spotted any queer undertones in that story.’
‘Probably because you’ve only watched the film.’ Ollie reaches for his wine, observing it in the candlelight, before taking a sip.
‘No, I’ve read the book,’ Sam answers. ‘I’ve read all of Dickens’s work.’
‘All of it?’ Ollie cocks an eyebrow. ‘You don’t strike me as someone who reads classics.’
The adding of classics comes a little too slowly.
‘So, go on, tell me. What undertones are there?’
Ollie swallows his food and leans back in his chair. ‘Marley and Scrooge, of course.’
Sam laughs, and I quickly glance at Ollie, seeing the reaction I expected. Shock.
‘What’s funny about that?’ Ollie asks.
‘There is no way Scrooge is gay.’
‘I’d beg to differ.’
‘Clearly, if you’re writing something on it,’ Sam replies. ‘Although, I’d be tempted to say that whatever you’re writing is a waste of time. There is no romance there between those two.’
Ollie shakes his head, looking at Alec like he can’t believe what has just come out of Sam’s mouth. Alec sips from his wine, looking intrigued by the discussion.
‘Have you read the book? Because if you have, it’s clear what Dickens is trying to say.’
‘Is it?’
Ollie gives the table an incredulous look. ‘The grief Scrooge feels around his death? The fact Marley comes back from the dead to see him? How happy he is when he sees his friend again? Those are all powerful reactions from someone who supposedly just worked with the guy.’
Sam scoffs, making me wish for the ground to swallow me up. Ollie never gets challenged like this. I’m excited to see what happens next.
‘Scrooge was a swine,’ Sam says. ‘He felt nothing. The whole point of the story is to make himfeelsomething. He didn’t care about anything but money. He didn’t have time for love. Besides, there’s mention of a female love interest in his past.’
‘The time is the context, though,’ Ollie insists. ‘He couldn’t exactly be open like we are, could he? Marley was more than just his business partner.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it’s obvious.’
‘Is that all you’re using to support your argument?’ Sam asks. ‘Pretty short thesis.’
‘I wouldn’t expect you to understand.’
It was a low blow, even for Ollie, but Sam unscrews the wine. ‘More wine?’
‘Yes, please,’ I said.
‘What do you do for work, Sam?’ Alec asks.
My mouth opens, suddenly panicked.
Not the coffee shop. Please don’t say the coffee shop.
