The Sweet Passing of Time, стр. 1

The Sweet Passing of Time

Smashwords Edition

Follow onInstagram: jasoncosnett

“The One”

‘Is that all you’re going to have? A cup of tea?’

‘I’m fine, dad.’

‘Yes, but it’s just a cup of tea. Aren’t youhungry?’

‘I’m fine, dad. Honest, I am. A cup of tea is all I want rightnow.’

‘But that’s not going to fill you up, is it? What was the pointof coming here if all you’re going to have is a cup of tea? Seems abit pointless really.’

‘Maybe later, dad.’

The oldman mumbled under his breath and glanced down at his own half emptycup. ‘Well, I’m starting to get a bit peckish at any rate. Wouldn’tmind ordering something from the specials.’ He looked up to thewindow where they were sitting. He thought he could hear the wavesrolling onto the shore one after the other and squinted through thepanes of glass. ‘But I’m only going to order something if you eatas well. I’ve noticed you’ve been getting a bit skinny as of late,and I bet you’ve been skipping meals again, haven’t you? Too muchfun with that new man of yours, I bet.’

‘He’s not that new, dad. We’ve been together six months. Andno, I haven’t been skipping meals either.’

‘Six months! Has it been that long? In my day, you’d have beenmarried off in three. Your mother and I- well, we were engagedafter a week of courting. You don’t see that kind of thing happennowadays.’

‘No dad, you don’t.’

‘Six months,’ he said again and shook his head. ‘Tch, tch.Can’t believe it. It was only the other day you were telling meyou’d met this new man, I swear.’

Shesmiled. ‘I didn’t want to make a fuss of it. I felt like I wasstill getting over the divorce with Graham, and you had enough onyour plate, what with mum…’ her voice trailed.

‘It’s all right,’ he said, and leaned over to pat her on theback of the hand. ‘We’ve all had a lot on as of late, haven’t we?So when do I get to meet this mystery man of yours…Simon, isn’tit?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’ She shrugged. ‘Oh, I don’t know. Maybe ina few weeks. He works in the army you see so it’s hard to find thetime when we can both come visit you. But you will get to meet him.I promise.’

He took asmall sip from his cup. ‘I do remember you saying he works in thearmy- you’ve banged on about it enough times. I’m not senile youknow.’

‘No dad, I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to come out thatway.’

‘I might be old, but I’ve still got a full set up here.’ Foremphasis, he tapped the side of his head with his forefinger andfurrowed his brow. ‘I’ve seen what they say on the tellie about usold folk living in the past with just their fading memories to getby on, but it’s not like that at all. Change the milkman for justone day and let me have a chat with him for half an hour- this timenext year I’ll still remember his name, how naughty his kids havebeen and whatever else we happened to talk about.’

‘I know, dad.’

‘So do you like him? This new man you’re seeing? You’ve beenwith him long enough.’

Shethought for a moment. ‘We’re still taking it slow, dad. It’s hardto get back into the dating game with someone new after you’ve beenmarried for twenty-odd years you know. But yes, I do likehim.’

‘Well as long as you’re happy, that’s the main thing.’ Helooked back outside; he thought he could see a group of youngchildren frolicking about where the cove met one of the piers. Itseemed blustery outside and the waves left a trail of froth everytime they cascaded onto the shore. ‘We used to come here all thetime, your mum and me,’ he said. ‘See where those kiddies are? Weused to throw pebbles into the sea right there. And that was backbefore we were even courting. Eleven or twelve I think wewere.’

‘I know, dad.’

‘Even then I knew your mum was the one for me. I mean, ofcourse I didn’t know what true love was back then- nobody does whenyou’re eleven or twelve- but there was definitely something betweenus. And we had the war to thank for that. None of you lot would behere if it wasn’t for old Jerry, you know.

‘Back in the day, this place was nothing but sand dunes, exceptfor the old pier that was built back when your grandparents werekids.’ He raised his arms slowly and waved his hands back and forthto illustrate. ‘Mind you, got to hand it to whoever it was whodecided to build a restaurant here though. Don’t think I’ve everbeen here when it hasn’t been full of people.’ His voice trailed.‘Great location…great location. So many memories.’

‘I might bring Jack and Gemma next time I come, dad,’ said thewoman.

‘What? To have a meal here?’

‘If you like. All three of us.’

‘Eh? What do you want to do that for? They’ll only sit at thetable and mess around with those bloody phone things all the youngones have nowadays.’ He nodded his head back to the window. ‘Theywon’t appreciate the view and walking along the cove, that I cantell you right now. Don’t think they’ve been down there since theywere kids actually, have they?’

‘It’s just a generation thing, dad. They just like doing theirown…stuff.’

‘Pah! Rubbish. No excuse for ignorance.’ He shook his head. ‘Ibet they don’t even know that your mother and I used to walk overthose pebbles down there.’ He leaned back in his chair and raisedhis arms again. ‘And we used to come here for a nice meal back whenyou were a tot. Of course, the décor’s changed over the years, andthey’ve probably had a dozen owners since then, but you can’t getaway from the fact that this is probably the best view in the wholeof Jersey. You can’t argue with that, can you?’

‘No dad, you can’t.’

‘Menu hasn’t changed too much either. Pity the price keepsgoing up.’ He tapped the saucer and smiled to himself. ‘Tea’s a bitrotten nowadays though. Probably all those chemicals they chuck