Kenneth
by Chris Cottom
[this is the fifth in the five part series–
read Good and Faithful Servent from the beginning, here]
Rose had great plans for her daughter’s wedding. The only problem was the groom.
There wasn’t one.
From time to time Binkie would bring some man or other down from London for Sunday lunch. ‘This is my friend Eric,’ she’d say, or ‘I’d like to introduce my colleague Maurice.’
The Erics and Maurices were invariably polite and good-humoured, indulging Edwin when he’d quiz them about the London churches where he assumed they worshipped regularly.
‘All these friends but never a boyfriend,’ Rose told her sister on one of their weekly Monday evening telephone chats. ‘I think she’s frightened of tying the knot.’
‘Maybe she wants to be a career girl.’
‘Oh I do hope not.’
‘Excuse me!’ Jessie said. ‘You’re forgetting I had a career. Until I got married.’
‘And she’s already twenty-six.’
‘That’s hardly old! Compared to me. Or even you.’
‘I think they’re decoys, nice young men to throw us off the scent. I hope she isn’t involved with someone unsuitable.’
‘You mean someone married, do you?’
‘Well, yes I suppose that is what I mean.’
‘Why don’t you ask her?
‘Don’t be silly. I couldn’t do that. I don’t want to interfere.’
~
Binkie rang to say she’d like to come home for the weekend. ‘And I’d like to bring someone,’ she said. ‘Someone special.’
‘And does your someone special have a name?’ Rose said.
‘Kenneth. He’s called Kenneth.’
Rose arranged to meet Binkie and Kenneth at the station on Saturday morning. She went straight to the study to tell Edwin.
‘It’s the first time she’s brought a man to stay. It must be serious. I’ll get the blue counterpane out for him. Pink won’t be suitable for a man.’
She planned the Sunday roast and made a plum cake and some brandysnaps. She decided to wear the black and green dress she’d made, the one with the lace bodice and scallop skirt.
~
Rose got to the railway station early so she parked the car and waited on the platform. As the train puffed in, Binkie was leaning out of the window, waving. Rose opened the carriage door and Binkie bustled out with her case. Behind her stood a handsome young man, fair-haired and clean-shaven, holding a boxy wicker case. He smiled at Rose as he handed it down to Binkie. Rose was about to ask her daughter if she thought they were going for a picnic when the porter started slamming doors.
Binkie put the wicker case on the platform with her other one and bent to unfasten its lid.
As the guard blew his whistle Rose realised that the young man had sat down again and was looking out at them through the grubby window.
‘But … what about your friend?’ she said, as the porter shut the door.
The train pulled away and Binkie straightened up, clutching a little silky-haired cocker spaniel puppy.
‘Mummy,’ she said. ‘I’d like you to meet Kenneth.’
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