Fast Fiction: Young Fool
'But what about his wife?' asked a young fool. There was no reply. The older members stared through him as if he wasn't there… Richard Mallinson’s colonial tale reveals whether, or not, the young fool really was a fool.
When it was announced that Sir Rupert Streap was coming out to take over as governor of our little island in the sun the general opinion was favourable.
'Fine fellow, orthodox, believes in basic values,' were some of the comments in the club from the older members.
'But what about his wife?' asked a young fool. There was no reply. The older members stared through him as if he wasn't there.
Before long he crept away, to be consoled by the club steward, to whom nothing was new.
'A good question,' said Bulmer after the young fool had gone - 'what in fact do we know about the lady, if she is a lady?'
'I hear that she used to be on the stage,' said Tifton, 'so she ought to know a thing or two about deportment and so on.'
'I believe that her Christian name is Cressida,' said Bracker-Crane, 'which probably means that she's not going to be entirely faithful to her Troilus.’
Everybody stared at Bracker-Crane.
'I say, old boy,' said Risley, 'that's getting a bit too intellectual for me. Let's have another drink, shall we?'
'Hear, hear,' said the others.
And so it went on, par for the course in those days.
*
Now if we go forward by about 12 months the scene will have changed.
The old gang at the club, Bulmer, Tifton, Bracker-Crane and Risley, will all have fallen victim to a tropical disease against which whisky taken in excess is no safeguard.
The club steward will have been sacked for something he will have done or not have done (as if he cared.)
And the young fool will be having the affair of his life - though he may not know it at the time - with the lovely, lonely Cressida.
