Fast Fiction: Hibble Walks In
Perhaps it doesn't always pay to be too observant, as Richard Mallinson's story indicates.
The early evening drinkers didn't say anything when Hibble walked in.
'What's going on?' he asked, after a while.
'Nothing's going on,' said Grate.
'I've just seen your wife,' said Hibble.
'Oh, yes,' said Grate. 'What was she doing?'
'Heading towards the railway station.'
Veart joined in.
'Do you go around looking, all the time?' he asked.
'Well,' said Hibble, 'I don't exactly go around with my eyes shut, if that's what you mean. As it happens, I saw your wife an hour ago.'
'Oh, yes,' said Veart. 'What was she doing?'
'Talking to a young chap at the bus stop.'
'And I suppose you've seen my wife as well,' sneered Edson. 'But that would be difficult because she's away in Hove visiting her mother.'
Hibble grinned. 'That's what you think,' he almost said.
*
Having lurched home, Hibble couldn't find his key. He banged on the door, then threw gravel up at the bedroom window.
No lights went on. He decided to sleep in the garden shed.
'I saw your wife about an hour ago,' a man's voice said.
'Oh, yes,' said Hibble, almost asleep. 'What was she doing?'
