Read Online Dolly's Mixture by Dorothy Scannell - Free Book Online Page A

‘They’re going to dash out in front of us.’ Edie laughed her refined and affected laugh. ‘Not having a car, Mrs S., you wouldn’t know that Alby has right of way, isn’t that so, Alby?’ ‘Definitely, dear,’ said Alby, driving straight on, a man with a set purpose.
    The grey car shot out in front of us at terrific speed. Alby spun his steering wheel and we shot right, across the main road, out of control. Brakes and people screamed as we raced in front of a car, a bus and a lorry. We mounted the pavement and I closed by eyes and thought of Chas, William and Susan, for in front of us was the enormous, plate-glass window of a car showroom. Ade put her arms round me. ‘Christ, thank you, we’ve stopped.’ Edie was chattering now in her normal voice, all refinement gone. ‘We’ve got to thank Alby for being such a wonderful driver, haven’t we?’ I was never sure about this; I thought some praise should go to the drivers we passed on our way to the car showroom. The police arrived but there was really nothing to do, for the happy travellers in the grey car were nowhere to be seen. But there were many lucky winners that first and last time I went to bingo.
    I never expected to see Edie and Alby again, for I knew Ade had nothing in common with them, but Edie became president of a local ladies’ circle and Ade felt she had to go on Edie’s first night as president, a sort of ‘thank you’ for our free transport to the bingo hall. So I went to keep Ade company. Edie did very well and it was obvious she would be a much loved president, for she really threw her heart and soul into the position. It was my flippancy and Ade’s reaction to it which spoilt a beautiful friendship between Edie and Ade.
    Edie opened the meeting with a short talk. ‘People forget that the best things in life can be had merely for the asking. Today, for instance, has been a lovely day, but how many of us have yet thought to thank God for it?’ (Certainly neither Ade nor I had, and I, for one, began to feel guilty.) ‘The best things in life are still free,’ went on an enthusiastic president, ‘and I would like to ask all you ladies a question.’ The ladies looked very interested at this point. ‘What could be lovelier on one’s table than the beautiful sight of one of God’s fragrant flowers from the hedgerows?’ ‘Something with steam rising from it?’ I whispered to Ade, stealing one of my father’s famous remarks. Ade exploded, always unable to laugh silently as I could, and as Edie and the congregation turned to stare at Ade, she whipped from her pocket an enormous white handkerchief, the largest of its kind I have ever seen, and pretended to be sneezing. The noise was like thunder. Because I had been the cause of the contretemps I thought I had better say something by way of an apology or explanation. ‘The thought of the flower the president mentioned has brought on my friend’s hay fever.’ Ade retired to the cloakroom until the ‘hay fever’ had subsided.
    A few days later I met Edie on her own. I apologised and explained what had happened. ‘It’s Benny I feel sorry for,’ remarked a sad but understanding lady. ‘He is so noble and never reproaches Ade for her robust behaviour. He certainly must have a difficult task to lie on the bed which he has chosen. Our hearts [she and Alby spoke as one] go out to the poor fellow constantly.’
    â€˜Silly old moo,’ was Ade’s retort when I told her of my apology. ‘She should have heard Benny laugh when I told him of your father’s preference for hot, steamy risings. Why do some people always judge others by the way they talk?’ I didn’t know, but I agreed with Ade that they do. ‘You want to hear Edie on the telephone, Dolly, she really goes to town then. I like to hear her spell words out, for she has