Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Through the open sliding doors I could see Andrew in the kitchen,<br />
pouring himself a soft drink. Wally, Eva’s father, joined him in there. He’s<br />
about sixty and lives with her — he’s a quiet old guy with a wicked sense<br />
of humour and a very thick Dutch accent. The two men greeted each other<br />
warmly, as they usually do.<br />
Eva and I joined them in the kitchen, snacking as we traded the latest<br />
trivialities. Wally cracked a few of his dry one-liners in his usual jovial<br />
manner, and when the laughter died down Andrew piped up and offered a<br />
story of his own.<br />
‘You wouldn’t believe what Kelly reckons she saw on the way over<br />
here.’<br />
‘What did you see, Kelly?’ Wally asked, looking at me with<br />
humorous interest.<br />
Before I could answer, Andrew blurted out: ‘A UFO!’ And he then<br />
told them the details, making spooky ‘woooo’ noises, and gesturing for<br />
maximum effect.<br />
Everyone laughed and poked fun at me, and I couldn’t help smiling. I<br />
had to admit that it did sound funny.<br />
With eyebrows raised in amusement, Wally asked coyly, ‘Don’t tell<br />
me you’ve been seeing “Little Green Men”, Kelly?’<br />
That’s when I cracked up laughing. I could handle the ribbing from<br />
Wally — it didn’t seem as serious when he took the mickey out of me.<br />
I sniffed at them in mock offence: ‘All right, I’m an idiot then; go<br />
ahead and laugh at me, I don’t care. You can laugh all you want!’<br />
When all the hilarity died down, Andrew stuffed a few more crackers<br />
in his mouth and headed for the door. He was going to spend the evening<br />
with his buddies in town, and he’d be back to pick me up later on.<br />
As Andrew was leaving, some of Sarah’s teenage friends came<br />
through the door. After Eva showed them to the back patio, which was lit<br />
with multicoloured party lights, she and I exchanged knowing glances. It<br />
was time for us to leave too.<br />
Eva and I went to play bingo. We often did this when I went over —<br />
Eva’s a total bingo addict and she wasn’t going to miss out on it for<br />
anything, so we left the house to Sarah and her friends. We were away for<br />
four hours, which is a lot of bingo to play. Although not as seasoned as Eva<br />
— a true bingo professional — I never missed a call and we stayed until<br />
closing time, which was 10.30 pm.
Change language