say, ‘Actually Dorothy, I’m not really hungry. I think I’ll pass on dinner if you don’t mind. I might just go for a walk to stretch my legs after that long bus ride today. I’ll see you later.’
Her heart was pounding as she reached for her jacket, but she made the fatal mistake of making eye contact with her travelling companion.
‘Don’t be ridiculous Juliet,’ Dorothy said with weary disdain, ‘you can’t just go wandering off on your own. Anyway, Ireland is a very expensive country. If we don’t eat here and avail of the special offer, we will probably be ripped off in some fancy spot up the street.’
Reluctantly, Juliet placed her jacket on the bed. ‘I’m sure you’re right Dorothy.’
‘Well then, let’s go down now. And remember, we must stock up at all the included meals, take anything portable, so that we can have snacks in the evenings, when meals are not included. That way we can eat in the room and we won’t overspend,’ she said emphatically.
As they took their seats in the empty dining room, a waiter approached with the wine list. ‘Good evening ladies. Can I get you a drink while you browse the menu?’
‘Em yes pl…’ said Juliet.
‘No thank you, just a jug of water please, not mineral water now, tap water is fine,’ Dorothy dismissed the young man peremptorily.
‘You didn't want a drink did you? It’s probably plonk sold at Grand Reserve prices anyway. Better stick with the water. Oh look, they do a starter platter for two, let’s order that.’
Juliet looked at the menu. The starter platter was all shellfish, which she didn't like, but well since she wasn’t hungry anyway, what the …
The dinner progressed with the two women eating in silence, the only interjections coming from Dorothy who criticised the hotel, the staff, the bus, Conor, generally finding fault with just about everything. This latest stream of complaints grated on Juliet even more than usual. Fortunately, no one else could hear them, so at least she was spared that embarrassment.
While Dorothy rattled on, Juliet recalled one of her friends from church telling her a story about how Dorothy had managed to wangle a free holiday by way of compensation for the litany of complaints she had lodged with one particular tour operator. Juliet wished she had to nerve to stand up to Dorothy and be allowed to do her own thing, but the prospect of confronting her speaking her mind was just too daunting. She knew that at the first sign of conflict she would dissolve into floods of tears.
En route to the room after their dreary dinner, Juliet gave herself a pep talk. Come on Juliet, you’re a grown woman and she is not in charge. Just be assertive . As Dorothy was putting the key in the door – Juliet was never allowed to take the key in case she lost it – she heard herself say, ‘I’m just going downstairs for a little while Dorothy, I need some fresh air.’ Before Dorothy could object, she took off down the corridor, all the while fighting the urge to giggle at her audacity. I don’t know what’s got into you, she said to herself delightedly. Deciding to make the most of her temporary freedom, she headed to the hotel bar and ordered a glass of wine. Glancing across the bar, she spotted Conor sipping a coffee, frowning slightly as he concentrated on a newspaper crossword. She didn’t know whether she should interrupt him or not. Maybe he was trying to unwind; on the other hand, she didn’t want to appear rude.
‘Hi Conor, I won’t disturb you but I just wanted to say how much I’m enjoying your commentary on the coach. It’s really interesting, all the history and everything. I don’t know how you manage to remember it all.’
Conor looked up from his paper, ‘Ah Juliet! No Dorothy with you I see?’
Conor had seen women caught up in this type arrangement many times before. As ever, he was mystified as to why a nice woman like Juliet would be friends with such an old battle-axe as that
Her heart was pounding as she reached for her jacket, but she made the fatal mistake of making eye contact with her travelling companion.
‘Don’t be ridiculous Juliet,’ Dorothy said with weary disdain, ‘you can’t just go wandering off on your own. Anyway, Ireland is a very expensive country. If we don’t eat here and avail of the special offer, we will probably be ripped off in some fancy spot up the street.’
Reluctantly, Juliet placed her jacket on the bed. ‘I’m sure you’re right Dorothy.’
‘Well then, let’s go down now. And remember, we must stock up at all the included meals, take anything portable, so that we can have snacks in the evenings, when meals are not included. That way we can eat in the room and we won’t overspend,’ she said emphatically.
As they took their seats in the empty dining room, a waiter approached with the wine list. ‘Good evening ladies. Can I get you a drink while you browse the menu?’
‘Em yes pl…’ said Juliet.
‘No thank you, just a jug of water please, not mineral water now, tap water is fine,’ Dorothy dismissed the young man peremptorily.
‘You didn't want a drink did you? It’s probably plonk sold at Grand Reserve prices anyway. Better stick with the water. Oh look, they do a starter platter for two, let’s order that.’
Juliet looked at the menu. The starter platter was all shellfish, which she didn't like, but well since she wasn’t hungry anyway, what the …
The dinner progressed with the two women eating in silence, the only interjections coming from Dorothy who criticised the hotel, the staff, the bus, Conor, generally finding fault with just about everything. This latest stream of complaints grated on Juliet even more than usual. Fortunately, no one else could hear them, so at least she was spared that embarrassment.
While Dorothy rattled on, Juliet recalled one of her friends from church telling her a story about how Dorothy had managed to wangle a free holiday by way of compensation for the litany of complaints she had lodged with one particular tour operator. Juliet wished she had to nerve to stand up to Dorothy and be allowed to do her own thing, but the prospect of confronting her speaking her mind was just too daunting. She knew that at the first sign of conflict she would dissolve into floods of tears.
En route to the room after their dreary dinner, Juliet gave herself a pep talk. Come on Juliet, you’re a grown woman and she is not in charge. Just be assertive . As Dorothy was putting the key in the door – Juliet was never allowed to take the key in case she lost it – she heard herself say, ‘I’m just going downstairs for a little while Dorothy, I need some fresh air.’ Before Dorothy could object, she took off down the corridor, all the while fighting the urge to giggle at her audacity. I don’t know what’s got into you, she said to herself delightedly. Deciding to make the most of her temporary freedom, she headed to the hotel bar and ordered a glass of wine. Glancing across the bar, she spotted Conor sipping a coffee, frowning slightly as he concentrated on a newspaper crossword. She didn’t know whether she should interrupt him or not. Maybe he was trying to unwind; on the other hand, she didn’t want to appear rude.
‘Hi Conor, I won’t disturb you but I just wanted to say how much I’m enjoying your commentary on the coach. It’s really interesting, all the history and everything. I don’t know how you manage to remember it all.’
Conor looked up from his paper, ‘Ah Juliet! No Dorothy with you I see?’
Conor had seen women caught up in this type arrangement many times before. As ever, he was mystified as to why a nice woman like Juliet would be friends with such an old battle-axe as that
Similar Books
