I blame my wife for what happened on our most recent vacation. She’s the one who decided it would be a good idea to team up with close friends and to share a deluxe bungalow at a Caribbean island resort.
When things go wrong, it’s always helpful to have someone to blame. So I blame my wife, Lisa. She sulked when I initially refused to consider holidaying with her best friend, Jenny, and Jenny’s husband, Sam.
I had nothing against Jenny or Sam, but I dreaded the thought of committing myself to spending an entire week with them at close quarters. An occasional dinner party or a picnic is one thing; sharing living quarters is quite another. I can only endure boring or irritating people for as long as common courtesy demands. After all, even the most annoying evenings must eventually end with farewell salutations and the sound of a departing vehicle.
I must admit it was a very nice bungalow. There was a central living area with a bedroom suite on either side. And – just a short stroll away – there were white sands and a sapphire sea. Having unpacked our luggage on arrival, the four of us headed straight for the water. I hate flying but – as the sea soothed my jangled nerves – I found myself relaxing and even looking forward to the week ahead. Sam and Jenny seemed happy to do their own thing. They drifted down the beach and out of earshot. Lisa and I were free to splash and frisk about and generally enjoy each other’s company. But the freedom didn’t last.
‘Did you see that?’ Lisa demanded.
‘See what?’
‘Jenny. She just ran to the bungalow. I think she was crying.’
‘None of our business’ I replied. ‘Sam seems OK.’
And this was true. Some fifty yards away, Sam was happily swimming and duck-diving with no sign that he had a care in the world.
‘Typical man’ my wife snapped. ‘You’re oblivious to everything except your own needs and comfort.’
This was unfair. I do my best to be sensitive and New Age and all that stuff, but I can’t be expected to detect a faint whiff of drama in other people’s lives. I had no chance to protest, however, because Lisa had fled the water and headed off in pursuit of the tearful Jenny.
Eventually, Sam and I kind of drifted into each other’s orbit. We horsed around a bit and passed judgement on some of the bikini-clad women in view. We also agreed that it was time to hit the bar. We needed a beer.
‘We can collect the girls on our way’ I said.
‘Not a good idea’ Sam replied. ‘Jenny and I had a bit of a spat. I think it’s best to leave her alone for a while. She always cools down eventually.’
I didn’t ask what they’d argued about. I’m not a nosy person. Moreover, I’ve been married long enough to know that women are seldom reasonable and husbands are almost never in the right!
Several beers later, Sam and I returned to the bungalow. Lisa must have been looking out for us because she emerged as soon as we set foot on the veranda. She looked angry.
‘Jenny doesn’t want to see you’ she hissed at Sam. ‘She never wants to see you or speak to you again.’
I was looking forward to a prolonged spell under a shower before taking a brief nap. I didn’t need all this childish drama.
‘For Christ’s sake’ I ventured. ‘It can’t be that bad. Let them talk it through while you and I have a siesta.’
‘How can you even think about sleep when poor Jenny’s heart is broken?’
‘They’ve had a falling out’ I said. ‘I’m sure her heart can’t be broken by a few words spoken in anger.’
‘You’ve been drinking!’ Lisa shouted. ‘You both have. I can smell it on you. Disgusting.’
So now it was my turn to argue with a disgruntled wife. I may have said that Jenny needed to get over her broken heart before I inflicted a broken neck. I may have said even worse things. Anyway, my few heated remarks were enough to reduce Lisa to tears and to ensure the bungalow door was slammed in our faces.
‘Let’s get drunk’ I suggested.
Sam agreed and we returned to the resort swimming pool and its island bar.
When night fell – having wolfed down a meal in the restaurant - we walked back to the bungalow. We may have even staggered a little. We weren’t totally shit-faced, but we were a long way from sobriety. We’d reached a stage where almost anything is amusing; a stage where everything and everyone on earth is rose-tinted and wonderful.
Silence and darkness had descended on our accommodation unit. I led the way, stumbling slightly as I searched for the light switch. Sam and I were confronted by a brightly-lit room that was empty of everything except furniture. Not a soul in sight. The door to my own room was ajar. The door to Sam’s quarters was shut. I spotted a note on an occasional table. It was in Lisa’s distinctive handwriting.
“Jenny is very upset with Sam and I’m not very happy with your
behaviour either. So I’m bunking down with her tonight. It’s no use you or Sam trying to open the door. It’s locked. We can talk tomorrow. Hopefully you’ll be sober by then.”
I showed the note to Sam. He sighed and shook his head.
‘Hopeless’ he commented. ‘I’ll deal with it tomorrow.’
‘That’s all very well’ I replied; ‘but what about tonight? Where are you going to sleep?’
When things go wrong, it’s always helpful to have someone to blame. So I blame my wife, Lisa. She sulked when I initially refused to consider holidaying with her best friend, Jenny, and Jenny’s husband, Sam.
I had nothing against Jenny or Sam, but I dreaded the thought of committing myself to spending an entire week with them at close quarters. An occasional dinner party or a picnic is one thing; sharing living quarters is quite another. I can only endure boring or irritating people for as long as common courtesy demands. After all, even the most annoying evenings must eventually end with farewell salutations and the sound of a departing vehicle.
I must admit it was a very nice bungalow. There was a central living area with a bedroom suite on either side. And – just a short stroll away – there were white sands and a sapphire sea. Having unpacked our luggage on arrival, the four of us headed straight for the water. I hate flying but – as the sea soothed my jangled nerves – I found myself relaxing and even looking forward to the week ahead. Sam and Jenny seemed happy to do their own thing. They drifted down the beach and out of earshot. Lisa and I were free to splash and frisk about and generally enjoy each other’s company. But the freedom didn’t last.
‘Did you see that?’ Lisa demanded.
‘See what?’
‘Jenny. She just ran to the bungalow. I think she was crying.’
‘None of our business’ I replied. ‘Sam seems OK.’
And this was true. Some fifty yards away, Sam was happily swimming and duck-diving with no sign that he had a care in the world.
‘Typical man’ my wife snapped. ‘You’re oblivious to everything except your own needs and comfort.’
This was unfair. I do my best to be sensitive and New Age and all that stuff, but I can’t be expected to detect a faint whiff of drama in other people’s lives. I had no chance to protest, however, because Lisa had fled the water and headed off in pursuit of the tearful Jenny.
Eventually, Sam and I kind of drifted into each other’s orbit. We horsed around a bit and passed judgement on some of the bikini-clad women in view. We also agreed that it was time to hit the bar. We needed a beer.
‘We can collect the girls on our way’ I said.
‘Not a good idea’ Sam replied. ‘Jenny and I had a bit of a spat. I think it’s best to leave her alone for a while. She always cools down eventually.’
I didn’t ask what they’d argued about. I’m not a nosy person. Moreover, I’ve been married long enough to know that women are seldom reasonable and husbands are almost never in the right!
Several beers later, Sam and I returned to the bungalow. Lisa must have been looking out for us because she emerged as soon as we set foot on the veranda. She looked angry.
‘Jenny doesn’t want to see you’ she hissed at Sam. ‘She never wants to see you or speak to you again.’
I was looking forward to a prolonged spell under a shower before taking a brief nap. I didn’t need all this childish drama.
‘For Christ’s sake’ I ventured. ‘It can’t be that bad. Let them talk it through while you and I have a siesta.’
‘How can you even think about sleep when poor Jenny’s heart is broken?’
‘They’ve had a falling out’ I said. ‘I’m sure her heart can’t be broken by a few words spoken in anger.’
‘You’ve been drinking!’ Lisa shouted. ‘You both have. I can smell it on you. Disgusting.’
So now it was my turn to argue with a disgruntled wife. I may have said that Jenny needed to get over her broken heart before I inflicted a broken neck. I may have said even worse things. Anyway, my few heated remarks were enough to reduce Lisa to tears and to ensure the bungalow door was slammed in our faces.
‘Let’s get drunk’ I suggested.
Sam agreed and we returned to the resort swimming pool and its island bar.
When night fell – having wolfed down a meal in the restaurant - we walked back to the bungalow. We may have even staggered a little. We weren’t totally shit-faced, but we were a long way from sobriety. We’d reached a stage where almost anything is amusing; a stage where everything and everyone on earth is rose-tinted and wonderful.
Silence and darkness had descended on our accommodation unit. I led the way, stumbling slightly as I searched for the light switch. Sam and I were confronted by a brightly-lit room that was empty of everything except furniture. Not a soul in sight. The door to my own room was ajar. The door to Sam’s quarters was shut. I spotted a note on an occasional table. It was in Lisa’s distinctive handwriting.
“Jenny is very upset with Sam and I’m not very happy with your
behaviour either. So I’m bunking down with her tonight. It’s no use you or Sam trying to open the door. It’s locked. We can talk tomorrow. Hopefully you’ll be sober by then.”
I showed the note to Sam. He sighed and shook his head.
‘Hopeless’ he commented. ‘I’ll deal with it tomorrow.’
‘That’s all very well’ I replied; ‘but what about tonight? Where are you going to sleep?’