An Embarrassing Farewell

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 71, 1 November 1940, Page 7

An Embarrassing Farewell

O me, "good-byes" are embarrassing affairs, and should take place wherever possible in the sanctuary of the home, . . .I remember it was when I was going to India to join a regiment. My mother decided

to come up from Cornwall to London to see me off. Quite a number of friends and relations came to the small Cornish station of Menheniot to see us off. Now, I must tell you that my mother was what is sometimes called a very well preserved womanthat is to say,’she carried her years well, and looked much younger than she was. I, on the other hand, looked my age, and

probably a little older in my uniform. The farewells were short, and as the train pulled out, we were showered with rice and flower petals. Thank goodness we had the carriage to ourselves. We both worked very hard trying to clear up the mess in the carriage before we came to the next stop. I think I was the more concerned of the two of us, more especially as about that time there had been a regular epidemic in England of elderly ladies marrying men many years younger than themselves. We were fortunate at the first stop, as the guard, who had witnessed the ricethrowing episode, came to our door, and with a kindly smile (in exchange for half-a-crown), locked us in. Station followed station, and passengers triedto get into our carriage at each stop without success. At one station, a few people made a rush for our catriage, tried the door, peeped in, and saw some

Tice and petals still on the floor. One looked at me and then at my mother, smiled, and said to his mates; "Another case of kidnZpping, Bert," and went on in search of another carriage. (Major F. H.*Lam-' pen, " Just Good-byes,"’ 2YA, October 17.)