You left it in the lift, he said. May I sit down?
His voice was soft. Cultivated. What could I say? The tables were all pretty full so I nodded. He began to eat. Id always thought he picked at his food. But as I watched, I noticed that he selected small pieces, speared them and moved them carefully to his mouth.
Have you been there?
Been where? I was totally dazed. From dropping my book and banging my head and everything.
Australia, New Zealand.
I stared at him and thought again of what Mark had said about me reminding him of someone. An Australian? Maybe an ex-girlfriend or wife?
Not such a strange question, he said. Youre old enough to have travelled there. And Katherine Mansfield, Janet frame, are most likely in the book.
His smile crinkled up his eyes.
No, I havent and yes, they are, I said.
Thats how it started. He asked me a question, nodded when I spoke1 and then asked another. I was off, talking about reading, books and all that stuff I love.
Days later Malcolm passed our table with his tray and spontaneously I said a seat was free. Mark stared at me and I felt a rush of heat to my cheeks.
After that, Malcolm often sat with us and he and I discussed a lot of things. We spoke a little about ourselves too. I told him how Mom had brought me up on her own at the start of the Hippie Era. He said he had married during that time but porced a few
years later. Mark asked me how come Malcolm and I always had so much to talk about.
Hes easy to talk to. And he reads a lot.
You two got so much to say, I dont get a chance to open my mouth all lunch-time.
You do. You shove food in.
One lunchtime Malcom asked me if Id like to go to a reading with him.
Um. Dont know.
Amelia Turner. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize last year.
I wanted very much to go. But although I no longer thought Malcolm quite so weird2, I wasnt sure if I wanted to go out in his company.
Afterwards, Ill cook us curry3. Do you like it?