Chapter 9

‘Don't you know it's rude to keep a lady waiting young man!’ Saffron said as Toby emerged from the station at Oxford street as arranged, a guilty smirk on his face.
‘It's lucky I'm not meeting a lady then, Toby replied.
‘So where are you taking me, it better be expensive.’

This was all part of Toby's normal routine for a Saturday. Wandering around with nowhere to go. It was the walking along without a plan that Toby loved. He tried to take new streets as often as he could and getting momentarily lost was all part of it. He knew he was not alone. At any given time there were probably dozens if not hundreds of people doing exactly the same. Just wandering. Going somewhere and nowhere at the same time.
‘Somewhere cute and inexpensive like you’ he said with a smile, swerving, Saffron in hand, down a side alley to avoid the crowds, finally emerging in Dean Street.

‘So why are you working there then’ Saffron asked sinking further into the brown leather sofa which was threatening to swallow them whole.
‘I really don't know’, Toby muttered, ‘money?’
‘But you keep telling me you make shit money.’
‘Yeah I know, I do, but its not a matter of making good money, it’s the fact that I’m barely scraping by on the money I am making. I’d be shagged if I didn’t have that coming in. It’s a bit of a trap. You know how it is.
‘Yeah, but do you want to be a lawyer, money aside, is that what you see yourself doing for the rest of your life?’
‘Not really. I took Law because I couldn’t decide what else to do and I thought it would be good to have something decent to fall back on.’
‘You're a bit young to be falling back yet aren't you? Surely to fall back on something means that you have to try something else and fail first and then go back it.’
‘Yeah, I know, you're right. When I wander in there I feel like a a phoney. I’m surrounded by all of these eager beavers who are desperate to be approved of and I find myself listening to their conversations and wanting to knock myself out with my own shoe.’
‘God that’s pretty dramatic isn’t it?’
‘I’m a terribly dramatic guy. The corporate world is such a trap and I catch myself falling into it all the time. Sometimes I catch myself talking the talk, you know talking about things that are of absolutely zero importance or interest and I feel like cringing just thinking about it.’
‘So why don't you just leave. It's obvious you're not happy.’
‘I’d love to but then what. You know what London's like. It’s so bloody expensive. I find it hard enough competing as it is at the moment. ’
‘Competing?’
‘Sorry I should probably have said surviving.’
‘Yeah but you said competing didn't you.’
‘Don't worry about it’
‘No go on.’
‘It's extremely long winded and boring. Are you sure you feel like long winded and boring right now.’
‘I'm going out with you aren’t I? It must have a certain appeal.’

The Voyeur was a small smoky café halfway down Dean street and Toby often found himself slouched in it’s corner on a Saturday morning weighed down with a couple of papers and an oversized latte. If he arrived early enough he could generally get one of the prized leather sofas from which he would flick between reading and gazing out of the window and into Dean Street. There was endlessly something going on, someone of interest racing past. The Voyeur had been refurbished recently and specialised in simple gourmet food. Nine pound sandwiches, that sort of thing, but its real asset in Toby's mind was the readers corner, two sofas and a couple of arm chairs guarding a coffee table piled high with Papers and magazines. His favourite spot was the sofa which backed completely against the back wall facing into the cafe. This way he could watch the comings and goings within the cafe as well as look out of the window and further down into Dean Street. Usually there was nothing more exciting that people walking past on the way to somewhere but that was usually the most enjoyable part. Unpicking their anonymous lives. Making up character histories for each of them based purely on their superficial appearances. Dean Street tended to attract almost everyone and it wasn't usual to see a man in a suit walk past followed by a man in a dress.

‘I guess I find it hard enough competing with my friends even without having no job and no money, Toby continued, still gazing out the window.’
‘What do you mean competing though? What's the competition?’
‘No there’s no competition, It’s my own fault really. I’ve sort of lost track of my mates lately. It really is rather protracted and boring you know!
‘Stop stalling’
‘Ok. Sorry. After Law School I went away on my gap year, but most of my mates skipped theirs and went directly into really good jobs and now they are all earning a fortune. Every time they email it's always, ‘lets go to so and so for lunch’, or ‘so and so has wonderful cocktails’ which always end up costing about ten quid a pop. I really have to watch what I spend. When I came back from New Zealand London was wallowing in the middle of a bloody recession. I couldn't find a training contract to save myself, and I was running seriously low on cash so accepted a job as a paratrooper’.
‘So brave of you’ Saffron said smiling.
‘Quiet you’ Toby said. ‘I’m trying to tell a fascinating story!
‘That would be a first.’
Toby looked at Saffron sitting comfortably in front of him. She had a wonderful way of keeping things light. Toby had the ability to get caught up in his own problems and let them bring him down, especially these work, money, friends’ problems but Saffron managed to get all of this out of him without lowering his mood.
‘Quiet you agonising wench or I’ll tell my tale to someone else.’
‘Are you sure they'd listen? I know how dull you are but I’ve decided to put up with it. Anyone else would probably run a mile. Face it sweetie. Without me you have no options.’
‘Ha! Options, I have a billion options. I'm doing you a huge favour hanging out with you. I mean look at you. Honestly. A woman of your age. Unmarried, no serious prospects. Dangerously on the shelf. No dowry to speak of. I've taken pity on you that's all.’
‘Terribly good of you, now enough of this drivel. What's all this competing stuff and what do you win?’

‘The main problem is that I know this is all pointless. Not this conversation but the fact that I feel like I’m competing with my friends. I know it's not right and I know I shouldn’t be worried about these things but there's a big difference between what you should feel and what you do feel. Once I've paid rent, bills, travel, all that kind of stuff, I'm on a pretty tight budget. Certainly not the kind that allows for expensive lunches and ten quid cocktails. Which makes going out with my friends pretty hard.’
‘Why don't you just tell them that you'd like to see them but you can't afford to go to the kinds of places they go to. Surely if they're you friends they'd understand that.’
‘Yeah I know and you're exactly right. That's what I should have done. From the beginning. But at first, and I know it's stupid; I was a little embarrassed to say that. Things had always been equal with us before and I didn't know how to tell them that things had changed. The last time I saw them things kind of blew up.’
‘Blew up? What happened’
‘It was a standard Friday after work, the emails had been flying around during the day and I hadn't caught up with the guys for ages and had made so many excuses for not going out recently that I decided to go. As usual Guy, who's one of my oldest mates from Uni recommended a ridiculously overpriced place near Bank with magnificent views. I ended up getting a bit pissed and let out everything that had been building up. It was a hell of a performance. I called them a bunch of selfish bastards and that they couldn't give a shit about the fact that I couldn't afford places like this, how they were all up there own arses trying to be something they weren't. I ended up storming off like a bloody drama queen and I haven't really spoken to them since.
‘Oh my god’ Saffron said trying not to laugh. ‘I'd have loved to have seen it. When did this happen?’
‘About 4 months ago. The worst thing is, you know how I said to them that they have all changed how they were trying to be something they weren't. The more I think about it the more I think that I'm the one who has changed. In a way they are completely normal. Especially in this city. They did their good degrees so that they could work in the city and now they are doing that and enjoying it. Why should I hold that against them? It's certainly not their fault I don't have the money to keep up with them.’
‘Yeah that's true but then again there are a lot of people who lose sight of what's important once they start working. I don't think your industry’s anything special. Mine's exactly the same.’
‘Yeah, well what really annoys me most is that I feel like that if I were in their position or even not their position, for instance If I were planning to go out for a dinner or drink with an old friend but I knew that they weren't working or that they were earning bugger all, I’d be careful about where I organised to go. And I don't think that's asking very much. Just a little social awareness. Sorry, I'm a real joy today aren’t I’ Toby said, turning towards Saffron.
‘Don't be ridiculous. It's nice to see how you really feel. We've been seeing each other for three months and I haven't once seen you get pissed off or be miserable you happy bastard! Sometimes I get the impression your trying a little hard to be happy. I think if your feeling pissed off you should let it out.’
‘Yeah I know. I'm a hell of a guy’ Toby said smiling and leant forward, kissing Saffron.
Saffron and Toby had the corner to themselves. It was still early, just after eleven and there were just a few tables full and the odd straggler gliding past the window. This was Toby's favourite time to be here. The streets still waking. Before the mad rush which would eventually spill over into the Voyeur and surround Toby until he felt guilty sitting on his one coffee and taking up an entire sofa on his own.
‘I know it probably would have been easy to tell them that I can't afford to do what they do, that wouldn't have been a problem. But I bloody well built it all up and then finally, it was my insecurity which came out.’
‘Insecurity, what the hell does a guy like you have to feel insecure about? I don't know your friends Tobe, but I'm getting to know you and you're great. Funny, intelligent, thoughtful; a Paratrooper.. What more could a girl want.’
‘You’re very kind, and very right’ Toby said joking in his usual manner to avoid the cutting seriousness of a conversation.
‘I know these are the least important things in life to worry about and that work has bugger all to do with friendship but it’s all well and good looking at things objectively when you're in a good frame of mind. The problem is that sometimes, especially when I’m not here with you and I’m caught up in the bullshit of the city, I don't know, I always feel like I'm not making it like they are.
‘Making what exactly?’
‘Exactly! I know it's stupid. But for me the problem is that we've all been hanging out for years. School and University were great. We all had the same amount of cash. We could all afford the same sorts of things. We used to enjoy going for Indian, Vietnamese food and just enjoy the night out. In fact I still do. I love those simple nights which is about nice food, and company, not about sitting in some named restaurant wondering if you can afford the entrée'.’
‘Yeah I know that feeling.’
‘For some reason the bread and salad with a glass of water always looks so appetising in those places don't you think?
‘Always a classic choice, though personally I tend to barter them down to half a basket of bread and I generally insist on no ice which is another ridiculous expenditure.’
‘You know I do believe my humour is rubbing off on you Saff. When we met you were as straight as a pair of 501 jeans. Now you’re verging on amusing. I really don’t give myself sufficient credit do I?!’
‘Obviously not, now cut the bullshit and carry on. You were saying?’
‘Ah yes well they don't seem too keen on a Vietnamese or Chinese these days, which I suppose if fine but it doesn't give us a lot of middle ground to play with. In the end I don't think it comes down to the bloody restaurants. I think the difference is something’s changed, perhaps I've changed. In fact it's almost certainly me who has changed. And the more I feel myself wanting to push away from the city, the more they seem to be entrenched in it.

‘For starters Tobe you shouldn't be embarrassed about not having the money. I think that's ridiculous. There aren't many people around who can afford those kind of lunches and ten quid cocktails. Like I was saying the other night, most of the people I work with accept crap pay so that they can work in a cool industry. Half the people I work with bring their own lunch; drink at cheap bars. I guess the difference is that there is not the need to be seen to be achieving as there probably is in the city.?

Toby and Saffron had started with a coffee but decided to move swiftly on to wine. It was drizzeling outside which made walking the streets without an umbrella less than appealing so they had ordered a bottle of the best cheap wine the Voyeure had to offer and had decided to settle in for a while.

‘that's true but that's another thing I can't stand about the bloody industry. Everybody being seen to be achieving, wanting to be seen to be happy. It's always like ‘hello timmy how are things today?, ‘splendid thanks Jeff, couldn't be better?, when you know what they really want to say is, ‘oh piss off you old prick, I can barely keep my eyes open because I was here until four o'clock this morning getting your bloody note finished?’
‘nice accent’
‘thanks. I can do a wonderful Osteridge too. It must be wonderfull going out with a comic genius’
‘it certainly is something’
‘Oh to be so brilliant and yet so misunderstood’ Toby continued.
‘don't worry. I think Van Gogh suffered the same kind of deranged and miserable existence.
‘yeah I think we have a lot in common really, though I do of course have two ears, and his French was probably mildly better than mine but apart from that we're virtually identical.’
‘the crap that come out of your mouth sometimes.’
‘No need to thank me now.’
‘Enough! Saffron said laughing and leaning forward to pass Toby his wine glass. ‘Is it just me or are these wine glasses getting bigger and bigger. This ones the size of a small balloon. Look, it's nearly the same size as my head’ she said holding it next to her face and laughing.
‘I know, they're fiendishly trendy. Now I know what an Umpaloompa must feel like drinking a glass of plonk!’
‘an umpa what?’
‘an Umpaloompa, you know from the wizard of oz. Never mind’

The Voyeur, which they had had practically to themselves when they had arrived was starting to fill up for lunch. Toby and Saffron were falling deeper and deeper in the Dark leather sofas which had been moulded to shape after years of such treatment. Piles of Newspapers were splayed all over the coffee table, supplements spilling onto the floor and for a while the two of them just lay there, wine glasses nestled on their chests, letting the silence fill the air, each lost in their own thoughts and just as likely thinking of absolutely nothing.
‘God I could stay here all day’ Saffron said leaning in to Toby who lifted his arm and let Saffron rest her head against his chest.’
‘yeah me too. And by the looks of things outside it may be the best thing. It had started teaming with rain outside and a few mad people were racing past. The occasional stunned mullet raced through the bar's door, dripping all over the place, with the crazed and bedraggled look of someone who has returned home to a surprise birthday party, and having arrived, not entirely sure what to do next.
‘hey isn't that that famous guy of that program’, Toby said pointing with a brief head nod towards the opposite end of the Bar.’
‘which famous guy from which program?’ Saffron said.
‘Shit, I don't know, my problem is that I can rarely remember the name of the program and never remember the name of the person.’
‘you really tell a wonderful story, you know that. It's the little detail I love’, Saffron said smiling.
‘Damn you woman. Your job is to laugh not to mock! Be gone with you.’
‘no, I sat down first’
‘such a child’ Toby said.

So what do you want to do’ Saffron said, this time refusing to be drawn deeper into Toby's banter.
‘Apart from Paratrooping?’
‘I know It would be hard to walk away from’ Saffron said smiling , running her hand along Toby’s arm.’
‘I've had a few ideas, but it's bloody hard to change in London.’
‘Ignore the practicalities for a second, what would you like to do.’
‘I'd love to write’ Toby said raising his glass to his mouth out of self consciousness. ‘That's the other problem’ he said continuing. ‘Ask anyone what they would rather do and about a billion of them would probably say, I'd love to be a travel writer’
‘Bugger everyone else Toby, I think that's fantastic.’
‘Yeah, but I've never been published and my only real experience at home is a bit of tinkering. A few semi completed short stories, observational columns, lighter side stuff you know. The problem is how the hell can I survive or even earn anything with that kind of writers resume'. Everyone else will have been up to bloody Oxbridge or something and will now be doing Tremendously at the Beeb.’
‘Listen Toby, I know this is a hang over from working in your bloody law firm, but you really need to put the money side of things aside for a second. Ignoring the money, and presuming just for a second that you could survive, would you want to try to be a writer full time.’
‘I could think of nothing better. I love writing you know, it's like if I’m completely stressed out, or something like that, I begin writing and it all slips away. I completely calm down. I can get pretty stressed you know.’
‘Yeah I’m starting to notice that behind this comic genius side of yours.’
‘All my secrets are coming out eh. The thing I love about writing is that it's actually creating something. The city sometimes seems so pointless to me. Don't get me wrong, I’m not some bloody hippy burning cash and saying corporations are evil. It just doesn't make a great deal of sense to me that kind of lifestyle. I heard this radio programme the other day, about a Buddhist village, where they are having real problems getting people to do manual labour because everyone wants to sit behind an office desk. The Buddhist monk they interviewed was talking about how, before, people in his village were really happy, they didn't need anything more than they had, how they think today if they get more things they'll be happier.. but that they wont?. I think he had a point you know.’
‘How so. Don't worry I don't disagree with you I’m interested to hear what you think.’
‘Well I guess this has been the real catalyst actually. When I was in New Zealand it was so refreshing. Getting away from the city. All I had to worry about was a few hours work a week, eating, drinking, enjoying life. No complications.
‘I never knew you went to New Zealand. I'd love to go there. Actually I've got an Aunty who married a New Zealander and emigrated in the seventies. I think they live in the South Island. I've only seen programmes on it but it looks incredible.
‘Yeah it really is.’
‘So what were you doing.’
‘When I finished my Law Degree my parents told me that I should get away for a year or so. They were hippies when they were younger and said it would do me a world of good. I thought they were right and I didn’t fancy the idea of going straight into work. I actually felt a little smug heading off, while my friends went straight into their city jobs. I thought they were taking the Safffe route and that they'd get trapped and regret not going away for the rest of their lives.’
‘hippy parents? That's great, do you have any photos?’
‘yeah I do actually, I’ve got a couple of great ones when they were on the hippy trail through Marrakesh in the late sixties. They look like a couple of waifs sitting under a tree in their tie die shirts. It's great actually. I'll show you them next time you come round.’
‘That would be great’
‘ So I headed off but I had never actually planned to go to New Zealand. I had thought I might go there fore a bit but Australia had been where I was planning to end up. I stopped off in Thailand for a couple of weeks, expecting some kind of mystical experience, see a little enlightenment but I made the mistake of going down to Ko Pang Yan.’
‘That’s where they hold the full moon party isn't it?’
‘yeah, I’m telling you, never go there. It was like being at home but with palm trees. I'd heard rumours about the English travelling abroad but this was a bloody disgrace. You should have seen these guys. Pissing in the water, eating bangers and mash in Thai restaurants. I'm telling you I lasted about four days and headed back up the coast to Bangkok and moved my flight forward. The place was horrible. Bangkok was quite cool but again, I felt like I was coming to see something unique but at the same time there were a billion others doing the same thing, all with the same guide book.’
‘Yeah it's getting harder and harder to feel like you're discovering something these days. ’ Saffron said, interrupting the conversation to order another bottle of wine.
‘I tell you madam you'll make me squiffy!’ Toby said again using his best imitation of the queen.
‘Maybe I’m trying to make you squiffy. Jesus who say's squiffy these days.’
‘I’m sure the Queen does. ‘I say Charles one must take care lest one becomes squiffy you know, tripping backwards over a squealing corgi’ that kind of thing.
‘You've obviously given this some thought.’
‘Oh I’m a great royalist. I have flag and everything. ‘Cheers’ Toby said lifting his glass aloft. ‘To the next best thing to good conversation’.
‘and to your future best seller!’ Saffron said hoisting her glass accordingly. ‘and keeping me in the mannor in which I've grown accustomed.’
‘ha!’ Toby said knowing that he was falling in love.
‘what?’ Saffron said
‘What, what?’ Toby retorted
‘you were staring at me.’
‘Sorry. Nothing bad Toby said leaning in and kissing Saffron.

‘So you were saying about Bangkok?’
‘Yeah well I got out of there as quickly as possible and flew to Sydney.’
‘How was that’
‘It's a beautiful city, and the people are really friendly, it’s great, you walk into a grocer or a shop and the people are like ‘ah g-day mate god eets hot out there too day struth!’
‘Is that supposed to be an Australian accent?’ Saffron said laughing.
‘sort of...brilliant isn't it’ Toby said smiling. ‘it's a bit odd at first, you tend to sort of look back over your shoulder and thing, shit is this guy talking to me?’ But after a while that changes and it's a really nice thing.’
‘So what went wrong in Sydney?’
‘Nothing really. I checked into a backpacker on George Street, which is one of the main streets in the city, a bit like Tottenham Court Road I suppose. This was the same kind of thing to Thailand. There were a bunch of pommes who had practically taken over the hostel and they were all very cool and all very cliquey and I don't know, I felt that I'm from a big city and Sydney was another big city, and if I was just living with other Brits what was the point.’
‘You're right there.’
‘Anyway one day I was looking on the job sites and it had a section for New Zealand. I decided to have a bit of a browse out of curiosity and I saw a job being advertised for a bar manger in a hostel in a tiny town called Franz Joseph. I didn't have a clue where that was but I decided to flick them off an email and see what happened.

He'd heard rumours about what his countrymen could be like abroad. But in Thailand it was worse than he had imagined. Hundreds of Brits taking over the place. Talking loudly, more interested in the next bottle of Singha than any particular cultural experience. They had all come for the full moon party. Toby couldn't believe it when he had arrived. He had been amazed by the bars and restaurants with their pirated movies and plazma screens. How all the menus were in English, one Thai restaurant even offered bangers and mash. After a week of this he had headed to Sydney where he was supposed to spend the year. He moved into a backpackers on Queen Street but found it was the same old story. More brits taking over the place. And anyway, Sydney was too big for him. London with a beach, and sunshine. Anyway, he was never that big a fan of the beach. He tended to burn. He preferred country side. New Zealand had been somewhere he thought he should visit but had never given much thought to. He knew it was only a 2 hour plane ride from Sydney. One day when he was surfing the jobs section he spotted a position in a backpackers on the west coast of New Zealand. Franz Joseph. He didn't have a clue what the west coast was like. He had heard of a few of the main cities. Auckland, Wellington. Can possibly show this information in a conversation between toby and Saffron.





When I got back to London there was a bloody recession. I ended up dossing at a mate's house and running seriously low on cash. I went to a couple of recruitment agents but they all told me the same thing; that the market was very flat and that a year ago they could have found me a training contract in a second but now the firms weren’t really recruiting. Then one of them said they had a role as a paralegal if your interested, the pay's not brilliant but it's a step on the ladder.’
‘god those guys will say anything to sell a job won't they.’
‘yeah I know. Paralegaling is certainly a step on a ladder but not the right sort of ladder. And the paralegal ladder only has one wrung. Is it a wrung?’
‘I think it's a wrung. If it's not a wrung then it's most certainly a step.’
‘Wrung sounds better doesn't it’
‘So long as it's right. Shall we ask the waiter?’
‘Nah, I’m sure it's wrung, and if it's not then it bloody well should be.’
‘So go on.’
‘Right, well after three months behind the sofa and no job I decided to take the job.
‘Behind the sofa? What the hell do you mean by that? Sounds like a fantasy film.’
‘ah this is a little invention of mind. I was sleeping in the living room and of course this attracted all the privacy of a see through dress. The living room was between the hall which led to the rooms and the front door, and the kitchen which meant that in the mornings or at night, whenever anyone wanted to go to the kitchen, they had to stomp past me. Zero privacy. Very difficult to live like that. People like privacy I think.’
‘Yep they sure do.’
‘Good you're obviously a very intelligent girl if you agree with me.’
Toby attracted the waiter's attention and swiftly ordered two more giant wine glasses.
‘These bloody things really are enormous. Lucky I'm not a hobbit, I'd barely be able to pick the thing up?’
‘Shush, now tell me about this behind the sofa thing.’
‘Oh yeah. I should patent this idea. I found that if I pulled the sofa out from the wall about a foot and a half, there was enough room for me to crawl in behind at night time and when people stomped past they couldn’t see me directly and I couldn't see them.’
‘Genius’ Saffron said grinning. ‘if you didn't love Paratrooping so much you could give up and take this invention on the road.’
‘ I know, but Paratrooping is in my blood you see. My father was a paratrooper, his father's father was a paratrooper. And I hope that one day, weather permitting that I'll have a little paratrooper of my own?’ Toby looked at Saffron earnestly and wiped an imaginary tear away from his eye which made her laugh again.’
‘God the endless drivel. Why must I put up with this crap!’


‘Hi Toby’
‘Paul, hi, how's it going. I didn't know you worked around here.’
‘Yeah, we just moved. How are things, hi I’m Paul, Paul said extending a small graspy handshake in the direction of Saffron.’
‘Hi, Saffron, nice to meet you.’
‘So what's been happening Toby, haven't seen you for a while.’ Paul was fidgeting his hands nervously and had tears streaming from his eyes which Saffron tried her hardest to ignore.
‘Yeah, I don't know, not to much Paul, you know how it is, are they new frames?’
‘Kind of new I guess.’
‘Everything all right Paul’ Toby said looking at the tears streaming down Toby's cheek.’
‘Yeah don't worry about that, I get bad hay fever and there's nothing I can do about it.’ Paul stood staring over his shoulder for a few seconds not saying anything and Saffron looked at Toby as if to say wrap it up.
‘So how's everything going Paul’ Toby said unsure of what else to say. How's your brother?’
At this Paul seemed to visibly flinch. ‘He's alright Toby’ Paul said gazing in the direction of the door as if he expected someone to arrive any moment. ‘Well sort of alright. He broke up with Lisa.’
‘Shit that's a shame, they seemed so happy.’
‘Yeah, they did and now he's living with his accounts manager.’
‘Oh well, I suppose that's a good thing, moving on and all that. What's she like.’
‘That's the thing Toby, she's a he.’
‘Eh?’
‘That's right. His name’s Robert.’
‘Bloody hell Paul that must have come as a bit of a shock. How's Lisa coping’
‘She's ok now, apparently she’s happy he didn't run off with another woman or something. Anyway my coffee's ready. Good to see you Toby. Let's catch up some time soon. Nice to meet you Sarah.’
‘Oh my god? Saffron said laughing. ‘That guy was incredible. He seems completely mad. I never knew you had such colourful friends.’
‘He's quite a nice guy really. He is a little bit odd but once you get past the running eyes and realise he's not bored when he's looking over your shoulder he's not bad company. He used to ask me out for the odd drink after class and I found it easier to say yes than make up an excuse.’
‘And you know his family?’
‘Yeah one night we went for a curry with his brother and his then wife. They were all quite nice people. The problem is Paul?s a little bit bitter about his brother. He's not much older and he part owns a coffee distribution company which has become very successful. Ever heard of Cafe Genovetti?’
‘Yeah, that's his?’
‘Yep and he's making a fortune. Paul is a little resentful.’
‘You boys and your competitiveness’
‘Yeah I know but Paul works in banking but not in the right kind of banking which means he doesn't make a hell of a lot of money.
‘But he should be pleased for his brother don't you think.’
‘Absolutely, but there's more to it. Much more now. His brother coming out is huge.’
‘What's the big deal.’
‘I've always suspected Paul was gay. I've never seen him with girls or show any real interest and the last time I saw him we were out and got a bit pissed and he finally confessed to me that he is gay and said he was planning to come out and tell his parents. From the sounds of things his big brother beat him to it.’
‘Oh my god!’
‘Oh my god indeed. And his parents are pretty conservative and now that their eldest son is shacked up with Robert from accounts it's highly unlikely Paul will hit them with the double whammy.’
‘Shit so what do you think he'll do.’
‘I guess he'll have to carry on pretending.’
‘Bloody hell. That’s terrible. The poor guy. Not to be insensitive but what's the time.’
‘Quarter past nine. We'd better get moving I suppose.’