1984

           ‘Wouldyoubelieve,’hesaid,‘thattillthismomentIdidn’tknowwhatcolouryoureyeswere?’ Theywerebrown,henoted,aratherlightshadeofbrown,withdarklashes. ‘Nowthatyou’veseenwhatI’mreallylike,canyoustillbeartolookatme?’ 

           ‘Yes,easily.’ 

           ‘I’mthirty-nineyearsold. I’vegotawifethatIcan’tgetridof.I’vegotvaricoseveins.I’vegotfivefalseteeth.’ 

           ‘Icouldn’tcareless,’saidthegirl. 

           Thenextmoment,itwashardtosaybywhoseact,shewasinhishisarms. Atthebeginninghehadnofeelingexceptsheerincredulity. Theyouthfulbodywasstrainedagainsthisown,themassofdarkhairwasagainsthisface,andyes! actuallyshehadturnedherfaceupandhewaskissingthewideredmouth. Shehadclaspedherarmsabouthisneck,shewascallinghimdarling,preciousone,lovedone. Hehadpulledherdownontotheground,shewasutterlyunresisting,hecoulddowhathelikedwithher. Butthetruthwasthathehadnophysicalsensation,exceptthatofmerecontact. Allhefeltwasincredulityandpride. Hewasgladthatthiswashappening,buthehadnophysicaldesire. Itwastoosoon,heryouthandprettinesshadfrightenedhim,hewastoomuchusedtolivingwithoutwomen—hedidnotknowthereason. Thegirlpickedherselfupandpulledabluebelloutofherhair. Shesatagainsthim,puttingherarmroundhiswaist. 

           ‘Nevermind,dear. There’snohurry. We’vegotthewholeafternoon. Isn’tthisasplendidhide-out? IfounditwhenIgotlostonceonacommunityhike. Ifanyonewascomingyoucouldhearthemahundredmetresaway.’