Sitting at the banquet table, Theresa struggles to swallow a mouthful of food, her eyes welling-up with tears.
The German to her right winks at the Frenchman to her left, then the German says, "I hope that everything is alright, Theresa. Is the food not to your liking?"
The Frenchman stifles a snigger as he eagerly shovels large quantities of delikat essen into his mouth, grinning conspiratorially at his German counterpart.
Theresa's fork gently clatters on the edge of her plate and she looks behind her, past the serving staff and into the glittering halls of the corridors outside, vainly searching for a friendly, sympathetic, English face, but there is none.
The Greeks and Italians eat sullenly, staring down at their plates. The Spanish are nowhere to be seen.
The Frenchman reaches for a decanter, ignoring the Polish waiter.
Theresa puts her cutlery down and her hands on the table before her.
"I need help. Do you understand? I need help."
The Frenchman snorts a little, then composes himself.
"More wine, Theresa?"
"No thank you, I've just realised that I'm missing my favourite TV quiz programme; Deal or No Deal"
ReplyDeleteGood one. I wish I'd thought of that.
DeleteI thought it was going to be one of those mystery puzzles, like the one where the answer is he hanged himself by standing on a block of dry ice.
ReplyDeleteOr Agatha Christie.
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ReplyDeleteNow I am wondering again...
DeleteCarry on like this and they will do us all plenty of favours and themselves none. Bring on the next dinner.
ReplyDeleteIt's a parable for Brexit.
ReplyDeleteI think it may be less a parable, more an account.
DeleteLoved it!
ReplyDeleteHow is the holiday going?
ReplyDeleteWhose?
DeleteYours thought you were away
DeleteKeep up John !!!! XXXX
DeleteOk duh !
DeleteThat was last weekend. It went quite well, thank you. Lots of wind, lots of rain - all under the shelter of a 16th century thatched-roof cottage in Dorsetshire. I watched two crap DVDs - one was Pride and Prejudice, and the other was an even worse one based on an almost forgotten story by Thomas Hardy, starring a very camp Simon Callow as a five foot tall, moustachioed and unconvincing villain army captain. Electric (eel) performance.
DeleteHow's the condensation ?
DeleteFunny you should mention that. The well-appointed cottage had a filter extractor over the cooker which I meaningfully turned on when I boiled potatoes. It did not go unnoticed.
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