Sheep in the Road

Sheep in the road
A recent ‘friend’, who upon reflection may not deserve that
title, just up and fizzed away in front of us, and something
just needs to be put on record before this saga fades away
into oblivion. I’m usually quite easy going but this event
and its unsatisfactory conclusion keeps gnawing away and
so here it is.
Over a number of years Ann and I got quite friendly with
one of her work colleagues, G: a bit stocky looking; hair
that never seemed to grow or show the signs of a barber;
all year round he always seemed to be wearing a check
shirt and corduroy trousers; he was always slightly sweaty
with a damp handshake; he walked a lot; lived alone;
spoke in disjointed toffiness, ‘Ruthers, play some chess,
what’; was a bit sulky at times, but had a good sense of
humour and was good company despite himself. In all the
years we knew him we never got past his front door. He
was always interested in our gripes and chit-chat about this
or that but he told us hardly anything about himself. For
instance, we didn’t know his age, his birthday, his politics,
the things that got him down, his other relationships …
and this not for the want of asking … he was a mystery
which perversely he seemed to enjoy. Perhaps he thought
it cool to be so enigmatic but it was a strange situation
to have someone whom we thought of as a good friend
who was so reluctant to give up anything in a conversation.
However, during these five or six years his guard did slip
and a few things did come to light.
Well, things that just don’t quite add up … we know he had
been a border at Cheltenham College (for gentlemen)
although his parents lived in Cheltenham, we know he went
to Durham University where he did music, but he ended up
working in finance? He told us he had a girlfriend who
lived in California and on a 2-3 day visit by this girlfriend
he introduced us to a very beautiful American blonde but,
we wondered, how on earth such a relationship worked?
… with him here in England and her in California.
One of our social events of the week was to go as a team
to a quiz night at a local pub with an assorted group of
acquaintances where G, AW and Ann and I were the
permanent nucleus. Odd evenings this group met at one
another’s houses (never G’s) to socialise. One particular
evening was set aside for the male team members to eat
cheese whilst the women went off to some sale in a pub.
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