Tuesday’s Child Is Full of Grace. Part 8

Wee FAF. By May Vincent. Additional remarks by Graham Vincent.

How we left things last time:

Ron fared less well—his friends had no intention of letting him away unscathed but I allow their high-spirits were confined to a shoulder-high exit, albeit it accompanied by removal of his socks and shoes—they being thrown into the car after him. We laughingly requested that the driver drive around town for a bit until Ron replaced his foot-wear and then, as he sat back with a sigh, we noticed coarse twine all around his suitcase. We thought it (& probably its contents) had been tampered with—but it was merely to tie on a large sheet of hardboard, covered in cartridge paper on which some able artist (Bette was the means or having it drawn) had sketched an aeroplane up in the clouds with pilot (Ron) clearly to be seen in the cockpit, whilst a bride with flowing veil sat astride the fuselage threatening him with her bouquet as the vapour trail from the tail’plane spelt out in curly letters “Solo Days Over”—enhanced by the signatures of all the guests, family etc., who had shared our Happiest of Days.