I can see that I had been manipulated from the start, but what choice did I have when it was my wife doing the manipulating?
It had all started when we were driving alongside Streatham Common, on the way back from Beryl’s sister’s place. Although it was early evening, there were already some working girls about. I hoped that the wife wouldn’t notice them, but she had. I saw her neck whip around as we passed one. I was just waiting for her to pass a derisory remark.
‘Gosh, did you see that one?’
‘What, sorry love, I was concentrating on my driving’ I lied.
‘She was really pretty.”
‘What?’I thought I’d misheard.
‘That last one, she was so pretty, a bit thin though. Didn’t we have any sandwiches left?’
‘Yes, there’s a few left and a spot of tea if you’re thirsty.’
‘Not for me, for her.’
‘She’s working luv, you can’t just drive up to her and offer her a sandwich.’
I was wrong, Beryl had a new mission, I had to do a U turn and head back to the common. As I stopped at the kerb, the prostitute jumped into the car. She looked startled when she saw Beryl in the rear seat. After an awkward moment, they started chatting together like old friends.
‘I know you mean well Beryl, but Isabella’s losing money when you’re keeping her chatting’ I interrupted’
‘I’m sorry luv, how much do you earn in an hour?’ Beryl enquired.
‘Isabella looked at me, not sure exactly how much Beryl required as an answer.
‘Bill, give the girl £20, and we can carry on our talking.’
When our hour was up, Isabella politely left the car.
‘What a lovely girl’ Beryl said.
As I drove the rest of the journey home, Beryl seemed to be in deep thought. We visited her sister more often after that, and always took extra sandwiches, cake and a choice of tea or coffee for Isabella on our route home.
When Isabella told us that she was to be evicted from her home, Beryl invited her to live with us, and always made sure that she had a good meal before she went out to work. After six months, Isabella announced she was pregnant. Beryl was delighted and she insisted that Isabella swop bedrooms with us, so she could have the bigger room, in order to accommodate a cot beside the bed.
Beryl had found the family she always dreamed she would have. She proudly told everyone she knew that she was going to be a grandmother. She was just so happy I couldn’t burst her bubble.
Isabella gave up prostitution to look after her child. I had to keep working for a few more years than I’d planned.
Yes, I certainly had been manipulated but just seeing the smile on that young boy’s face as I come through the door, takes away any feelings of resentment.
