So did the woman with the raffle tickets.
And what about you, young lady? she said. It’s for Anjie’s kidney machine. She’s retiring you see. Yes? She hoisted the little smile even further up her face. She would have to stop and let it go soon or the skin would surely split.
Er, look, here you are, said Arthur, and pushed a fifty pence piece at her in the hope that that would see her off.
Oh, we are in the money, aren’t we? said the woman, with a long smiling sigh. Down from London are we?
No, that’s all right, really, he said with a wave of his hand, and she started with an awful deliberation to peel off five tickets, one by one.
Oh, but you must have your tickets, insisted the woman, or you won’t be able to claim your prize. They’re very nice prizes, you know. Very suitable.
Arthur snatched the tickets, and said thank you as sharply as he could.
The woman turned to Fenny once again.
And now, what about…
No! Arthur nearly yelled. These are for her, he explained, brandishing the five new tickets.
Oh, I see! How nice!
She smiled sickeningly at both of them.
Well, I do hope you…
Yes, snapped Arthur, thank you.
The woman finally departed to the table next to theirs. Arthur turned desperately to Fenny, and was relieved to see that she was rocking with silent laughter.
He sighed and smiled.
Where were we?
You were calling me Fenny, and I was about to ask you not to.
What do you mean?
She twirled the little wooden cocktail stick in her tomato juice.
It’s why I asked if you were a friend of my brother’s. Or halfbrother really. He’s the only one who calls me Fenny, and I’m not fond of him for it.
So what’s?…
Fenchurch.
What?
Fenchurch.
Fenchurch.
She looked at him sternly.
Yes, she said, and I’m watching you like a lynx to see if you’re going to ask the same silly question that everybody asks me until I want to scream. I shall be cross and disappointed if you do. Plus I shall scream. So watch it.
She smiled, shook her hair a little forward over her face and peered at him from behind it.
Oh, he said, that’s a little unfair, isn’t it?
Yes.
Fine.
n. 枝,杆,手杖
vt. 插于,刺入,竖起<