her little concerns and fears. I was told we couldnât play Snakes and Ladders because sheâs afraid of snakes. She also raised the alarm when Lloyd brought in some kindling for the fireplace. She assumed there might be some sort of creature in the sticks. I pity her brother, Mr. Justus. Heâs a quiet man, seems afraid to open his mouth. Iâm not surprised. Every time he does, Mr. Sawchuck puts him down.
Mr. Franklin and Mr. Johnson have been friends since university, Iâve heard. They refer to themselves as Frankie and Johnny. Frankie invited us to do the same. Frankie is lanky and seems to have a low tolerance for boredom. He appears to like his drink but holds it well. I imagine heâs the life of the party once he gets going. Johnny is a small man, quiet and serious. Johnnyâs wife, Carla, I think her name is, is an attractive woman in an old-fashioned way. About five-five, I would say, and slender. She was friends with the boys in university. I suppose thatâs where Johnny met her. She has a certain jaded serenity about her.
Mr. Bole â now there is a truly charming older man. Courtly. The sort of man not often available to women of my age. Elegant in manner and appearance. Independent, intellectual. Most of the men interested in women of my age are looking to replace the wife who kowtowed to them for fifty or sixty years. They expect that any woman would leap at the chance to fix their meals, do their laundry, and clean up after them simply by virtue of being an available male. Mr. Bole is not that kind of man. Heâs been looking after himself all his life, it seems. I hear heâs going to be putting on a show with finger puppets. Tim told me he actually did War and Peace and Lady Chatterleyâs Lover . How he did the first, I do not know. How he did the latter Iâm not sure I want to.
Then there are the Nesbitts. Sheila and Keith are a handsome couple. He is tall and well built and reserved to the point of being rude. She is also tall and well built, in a different sort of way. Flaming red hair, skin as delicate as fine porcelain, emerald-green eyes. She is the sort of woman one would call voluptuous. She comes across as flirtatious, as being a bit of a coquette, although Iâm sure sheâs not aware she does. I suppose that speaks to the desires of those who put the label on her. The men, generally, seem quite taken with her. Iâve noticed Carla Johnson giving a subtle eye roll as if to say, what fools men are.
Then thereâs Mr. Simpson and Miss Miller. I think I will like them. Sheâs not particularly good-looking but she has a sassy side I find quite appealing. I wish I could have had the confidence she has when I was her age. I understand sheâs been coming here for some time and has played a significant role in solving some of the incidents that have happened. Her husband, Mr. Simpson, is a doll. He dotes on Miss Miller. I suppose some might call him henpecked. I think, with him, itâs more a matter of knowing whatâs important. Of all the men here, I think heâs the one least affected by Sheila Nesbittâs sexual aura.
The Phipps-Walkers are a nice couple. They seem to like each other, something not often seen in people who have been together for a long time. Perhaps their mutual interests hold them together. Most long-standing marriages I know are held together by lies and inertia. People are indeed strange.
Dan Thornton is one of the men most taken with Sheila Nesbitt, I would say. Not that he would flirt with her, not like Mr. Franklin. Mr. Thornton is terribly fond of himself. Iâm sure he believes that he could have her if he really wanted to. Thornton is a writer. He mentions his books every chance he gets. Is that what you call promotion? In his case, I would call it bragging. He writes local histories and such, the sort of book people admire but seldom read. I canât remember the last time I read something
Mr. Franklin and Mr. Johnson have been friends since university, Iâve heard. They refer to themselves as Frankie and Johnny. Frankie invited us to do the same. Frankie is lanky and seems to have a low tolerance for boredom. He appears to like his drink but holds it well. I imagine heâs the life of the party once he gets going. Johnny is a small man, quiet and serious. Johnnyâs wife, Carla, I think her name is, is an attractive woman in an old-fashioned way. About five-five, I would say, and slender. She was friends with the boys in university. I suppose thatâs where Johnny met her. She has a certain jaded serenity about her.
Mr. Bole â now there is a truly charming older man. Courtly. The sort of man not often available to women of my age. Elegant in manner and appearance. Independent, intellectual. Most of the men interested in women of my age are looking to replace the wife who kowtowed to them for fifty or sixty years. They expect that any woman would leap at the chance to fix their meals, do their laundry, and clean up after them simply by virtue of being an available male. Mr. Bole is not that kind of man. Heâs been looking after himself all his life, it seems. I hear heâs going to be putting on a show with finger puppets. Tim told me he actually did War and Peace and Lady Chatterleyâs Lover . How he did the first, I do not know. How he did the latter Iâm not sure I want to.
Then there are the Nesbitts. Sheila and Keith are a handsome couple. He is tall and well built and reserved to the point of being rude. She is also tall and well built, in a different sort of way. Flaming red hair, skin as delicate as fine porcelain, emerald-green eyes. She is the sort of woman one would call voluptuous. She comes across as flirtatious, as being a bit of a coquette, although Iâm sure sheâs not aware she does. I suppose that speaks to the desires of those who put the label on her. The men, generally, seem quite taken with her. Iâve noticed Carla Johnson giving a subtle eye roll as if to say, what fools men are.
Then thereâs Mr. Simpson and Miss Miller. I think I will like them. Sheâs not particularly good-looking but she has a sassy side I find quite appealing. I wish I could have had the confidence she has when I was her age. I understand sheâs been coming here for some time and has played a significant role in solving some of the incidents that have happened. Her husband, Mr. Simpson, is a doll. He dotes on Miss Miller. I suppose some might call him henpecked. I think, with him, itâs more a matter of knowing whatâs important. Of all the men here, I think heâs the one least affected by Sheila Nesbittâs sexual aura.
The Phipps-Walkers are a nice couple. They seem to like each other, something not often seen in people who have been together for a long time. Perhaps their mutual interests hold them together. Most long-standing marriages I know are held together by lies and inertia. People are indeed strange.
Dan Thornton is one of the men most taken with Sheila Nesbitt, I would say. Not that he would flirt with her, not like Mr. Franklin. Mr. Thornton is terribly fond of himself. Iâm sure he believes that he could have her if he really wanted to. Thornton is a writer. He mentions his books every chance he gets. Is that what you call promotion? In his case, I would call it bragging. He writes local histories and such, the sort of book people admire but seldom read. I canât remember the last time I read something
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