Winnie & Michael in Sydney
“Looks like we’re a bit early,” Michael Stanley observed as they came into the dining room of the hotel in Sydney.
“Perhaps we could just order a drink,” Winnie Peeg answered.
“I’m ready for a meal, that little sandwich didn’t satisfy me for long.”
“Well then we shall order dinner, they will take pity on us…we’re old.”
“Is your room satisfactory?”
“It’s very nice, tea kettle and all for morning.”
“Is there a kettle, I didn’t notice?”
“Oh yes and a selection of teas, I’m sure you have one as well.”
“I may pop ‘round for a cup of tea with you in the morning, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, Michael. Have you plans for tonight?”
“Well now that depends on you, I have access to some tickets for A Streetcar Named Desire with Cate Blanchett if you’d be interested, my soon to be publisher has left them at the ticket office for me.”
“Oh I would dearly love to see the play.”
“I would love to take you,” he leaned on the table, “you look very nice, Winnie.”
“Oh, well thank you,” she went a bit flustered touching her hair, adjusting her belt. She’d worn her hair down after getting a cut and shampoo after she left the office yesterday.
He chuckled a little, “you know, Winnie I often wonder that you and I, two world weary souls would meet in Australia of all places. I never thought I’d end up here.”
Winnie smiled, “and neither did I, some little cottage somewhere with a garden I thought would be my final move but I never thought Australia until my sister moved here. I quite like Sydney it’s very alive and moving.”
“Ah yes, like most large cities I suppose, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo. We’ve seen them all haven’t we?”
“We have indeed, funny our paths never crossed before now.”
“They almost did once we were actually at the same affair in London, I’d just come back from South Africa and you from Rhodesia, it was a dinner given in honor of the Governor of then Rhodesia.”
“Oh really, yes I do recall that dinner…that was after Billy was killed and I’d come home. I can’t imagine I was up for formal dinners at that time.”
“My wife was still in London and she was with me as I recall, there was some to-do that night.”
“Oh yes I remember some member of the Governor’s staff became ill, I don’t recall his name but I do remember leaving the table to assist him, something to do with prawns I believe it was. I never came back to the table.”
“And then there was that summit meeting in Paris, I’m sure you were there.” Winnie tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I was, yes…Winnie…you were the tall red haired woman in the black dress, oh…you had everyone’s head turning that night. I remember you.” He rested his chin on his hand looking at her. “Amazing.”
“But we never spoke, never even exchanged a glance.” She smiled.
“No…we moved in different circles. How strange that I didn’t seek you out…but of course there was Marie.”
“You were married at the time and already had a mistress.”
“Would you have been my mistress?”
“I shouldn’t think so most of my relationships were platonic.”
“Most?’ he grinned.
“Well,” she tilted her head and sipped her drink.
