Open Features: A D-I-Y Marriage - Part 2
The way to the top for Cyril Snaps is barred becuase he is not married. Is he prepared to do something about that?
Brian Lockett continues his intriguing story.
As he commuted homewards that evening Cyril’s face did not bear the self-assured look which had so impressed him earlier that day. He was cross. And it showed.
The board had been friendly, but …
“What exactly do they want from me, Arthur?” he asked afterwards in the privacy of his own office. “What’s this about you and me having a personal, private conversation?”
Arthur shuffled uncomfortably in the chair opposite.
“I didn’t think they’d take it so far, Cyril. Really, I thought I’d won them round … ”
“Stop waffling. Cut to the chase.”
Stenson put his hands together as if in prayer as he spoke slowly and hesitantly.
“What worries them, Cyril, is - er - your, well, you see, you’re not married, are you?”
“You know I’m not. What has that got to do with anything?”
“Nothing at all, I quite agree, but for some reason they seem to think it counts against you. They are all married men and they think you might not fit in. Your ability is not in question at all, but they’re traditionalists and believe that … Well, dammit, Cyril, I’m not defending their point of view. They’re totally out of touch with modern society.”
“Would they change their view if I got married, do you think?”
Stenson looked at him carefully. The chief accountant was speaking slowly in a neutral tone, giving nothing away.
“I’m almost certain they would, but - you’re not secretly engaged, are you? I had no idea … ”
Cyril waved him to silence.
“Give me a month,” he said. “I’ll get back to you. Now I have one or two things I have to do this evening at home, so I’ll be on my way, if you don’t mind.”
And he gathered up his briefcase and raincoat and made for the door.
