from The Story Begins Chapter 1I must have been three or four years old and was set to receive a spanking in retribution for some mischief that I had just committed. I was crying my heart out and father, no doubt to mollify me, said “Do you think I enjoy spanking you? I don’t like having to do it.” On hearing this I turned around, and between sobs, said “You don’t like it, I don’t like it either, why do we have to do it?” Father, no doubt impressed by my impeccable logic, started to laugh and my first corporal punishment was postponed sine die
from The Refuge Chapter 7It was an eerie yet exciting feeling to see these big fellows with their big guns in holsters dangling from their hips bringing a bowl of soup in a generally kind sort of way. I remember asking myself why these green waiters (unlike the white ones) were carrying guns. Eventually, I formed the opinion that the guns were used to shoot the customers who tried to run away without paying the bill!
from Hadrian's Error ("cherchez la femme") Chapter 22I had forgotten that in affaires de coeur the mind has no role to play. People may well say that love is a many splendoured thing, but love also has an often overlooked effect: it makes the stupid witty and the witty stupid.
from Arrival In The United Kingdom Chapter 29The rooms were medium sized and contained one bed with a bedside table and lamp, a wardrobe, a writing table and one chair. Only one chair in the room? I interpreted this as a warning that no one was allowed visitors in the room. And, as if to increase the anguish, the building next door was the nurses' quarters! I laughed to myself: they did not need to worry. The Mess and its lodgers were ruled with an iron hand by Miss Marshall, a typical, postmenopausal spinster devoid of any sense of humour.
|
HOME