Chapter 25: questions

The pub is busy. Carmella buys me a beer and an orange juice for herself. We sit at a table near the back of the saloon.

I ask Carmella a series of questions about the Philippines.

Her replies are careful and considered. She stirs the ice in her juice.

I drink my beer. Carmella buys me another one.

She asks me about the music that I like, the kind of films I watch, where I took my last holiday.

I feel like I am being interviewed for a teen magazine.

I drink my beer. Carmella buys me another one and an orange juice for herself.

I ask her about flying to the Philippines, how long it takes, how much it costs and so on.

She is vague about the details.

I drink my beer. Carmella goes to the bar. She is gone for a long time. I look around the pub, at the drinkers and the twinkling lights of the quiz machines. A flash of white catches my eye: the bare calf of a girl as she leaves, probably going for a cigarette.

Carmella returns with the drinks. She looks thoughtful.

What’s the matter? I ask. She slides my beer over, and takes a long look at me.

Nothing, she says. I take a sip from my drink.

Will you write to me? she says, when I’ve gone.

Of course, I say, whenever there’s news. She looks into my eyes. I reach toward her, but she pulls her hand away.

We drink our drinks.