Leith and June

Leith and June were obviously together. I asked; I am very direct. But why should anyone be offended, anyway. You are obviously not gay, said Leith (pink), later. Why not? I asked.

Because you would have said. But then flattered me by saying that when she had first felt she could approach me, she'd thought I probably was.

I was on a path through woods, parallel to the beach, when she asked if it was a public walkway. I thought it was. But it went through the grounds of a High school. She taught there 35 years ago.

(I told her, I am going to get the details wrong! She asked if she could check the copy. She was an English teacher, she said. No, it is better if the piece records my impressions. If the facts are wrong, it really doesn't matter.)

My first impression was of a mature couple, who love each other and are as devoted as Angie and H. I told them about Aunt Leila and Isobel who were teachers before the war and thought to be two spinsters sharing expenses - and may yet have been no more than that, though I hope I am wrong. We talked about Beth and about her friends here in Darwin. And we talked about education and politics and about how teaching isn't what it was, either here or in the UK.

Leith and June have a boat and pick up. June is a great 4-wheel driver and Leith is the owner-skipper of their 23' yacht, which they have invited me to join them on. Leith owns it jointly with her ex-husband. They have three grown up children. I said about Beth coming out when she was married, too. For Leith it was something like 30 years ago. Her children were cool about it (if anyone calls you a poof, mum, I will beat them up )

Apparently, I am going to be marrying Leith's daughter, though she is currently serving divorce papers and involved with a cultist. She'd like me, Leith says. She needs an uncomplicated relationship with an open man. 

Like someone who lives across the world, I say.