TEA PARTY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 48, 24 May 1940, Page 42

TEA PARTY

by

Isobel

Andrews

ND it’s such a Jong time since we met, she said. And I thought, my goodness, I’m not that old, am I? But I counted up the years, and sure enough, I was. And she said, And now I hear you write! And I said Yes, at least I try. Her nose was sharper than it used to be, and her calves had run to pasture somewhere round her ankles and she had grey hairs. It must be wonderful to be able to write, she said. I suppose it is, I said, and thanked heaven for my permanent wave. How do you manage it? I said I didn’t know. And you have a husband and a dear little boy. And still you write/ I don’t know how you do/ It must be wonderful to write. Oh yes, I said. It is. It’s wonderful. And how does your hubby like having a scribbler in the family? I said I didn’t know. I had never asked him. It was just one of these things you have to put up with like The Shape of Things to Come, or Birth Control, or the Measles. Of course some men prefer the home- loving type. Do you do all your own housework? I do all that gets done, I said. I think it’s wonderful, she said. Isn’t it wonderful? And I said, Yes, it was. And your dear little boy. Isn’t he | proud of his mother?

I said I didn’t know, but I didn’t think so, because just before I went out he had been lying on the floor, kicking the carpet, simply purple in

the face. And he told me he would cut me up in little pieces and take the remains to the Zoo if I didn’t let him have a trolley with four wheels and a brake that would work. And she said,"Oh, but wait till he gtows up. Then you'll see. Though of course some boys prefer their mothers to be inconspicuous, don’t they? They like them to be in the background. They like someone who is always there. I suppose you go out quite a lot? I suppose I do, I said.

It must be wonderful to be free, she said. Don’t you think it’s wonderful? And I said Yes, Freedom was a Wonderful Thing. My dear, she said, you sound like a Socialist! And now do tell me how you feel when the spirit moves you! And I said, The spirit? Yes, you know, when you feel you must dash into your den and shut yourself in with your thoughts and write. I don’t feel that way very often, I said, and I haven’t a den. You haven't a den? But where do you go when you're inspired? ; I never am, I said. Oh, but you’re too modest. And are all the people you write about from your very own imagination, or are they made up from people you've met? Both, I said. Oh, dear me, I had better be careful, or you'll be putting me in a book next! I don’t write books, I said. But you write alt the same, don’t you? All the same, I agreed. I do think it’s wonderful! But I don’t know how you do it. Neither do I, I said. Well, I really must go. Duty calls, you know. I’m not clever like you, so I just do the best I can for my family and always make sure they are properly fed. So nice to have seen you. Such a long time since we’ve met. It’s all been so wonderful. Yes, hasn’t it? I said. So wonderful. And I thought, my goodness, I’m not that old, am I?