Getting The Picture (3 page)
Read Getting The Picture Online
Authors: Sarah; Salway
I wonder what they thought was interesting enough to spy on. Perhaps they were thinking what a strange species we are to wear such giant underpants.
They call us the Pilgrims around here, which feels apt. We're all in some kind of limbo station on our journey towards death. Most like me are going about it as quietly as we can, and yet this still makes us something of interest. To those boys, it seems we are of great interest.
I haven't spoken to George yet. You might wonder how that could be when we're in the same house, but we both keep to ourselves. I've seen one of your daughters though. Nell. And Robyn, the granddaughter. She's a good-looking girl. A Goth, if you know what that is. I used to rather like them coming into the newsagents, like little butterflies of doom. It seems that Angie is in France. I'm biding my time. It's not as if I don't have any to spare.
M
8.
note from george griffiths to brenda lewis
Dear Mrs. Lewis,
You may not be aware that yesterday afternoon when you were absent, Susan Reed's daughter visited, along with the family dog.
Not only did the dog bark several times, but I watched it relieve itself on the front lawn.
I have looked up the regulations for Pilgrim House and it specifically says No Pets. I would be grateful if you could bring this to the attention of all residents.
Yours sincerely,
George Griffiths
9.
email from nell baker to angie griffiths
Hey Angie,
I am at my wit's end with Dad and you've got to help me. Paris is not that far away and he's your father too. You can't keep this noninvolvement thing going forever. He's got worse, if possible. He even talks about himself in the third person. He said to me yesterday:
George Griffiths has never put up with shoddy behaviour from anyone, and he's not about to begin now
. I nearly said,
Well, Nell Baker doesn't either
, but old habits and all that. All he wants to talk about is you and your great job. You have to tell him the truth, or I will. I'm tired of biting my lip when he's so rude about Robyn. It's not easy being a single parent, or any kind of parent at all. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?
I will wait to hear when you can come over but make it soon. Please. You have responsibilities here, Angie. Whether you like it or not.
Nell
10.
note from claude bichourie to angie griffiths (left on hotel bedside table)
Chérie,
You looked so beautiful this morning I didn't have the heart to wake you. Here is a little something for you to buy something nice. I will call you when I can get away but until then, one hundred kisses everywhere. The hotel bill is paid, of course. I would like to think of you enjoying champagne in bed for breakfast. Indulge me.
Claude
11.
letter from martin morris to mo griffiths
Darling Mo,
How did you put up with him for all those years?
I still haven't passed much more than a sentence with George, but I'm already sick of his moaning and bossing and groaning and I don't know what-ing. For years after you'd gone, I'd sit alone upstairs in the studio and think of you at home. I always thought of you happy, angel, even though it would hurt. I imagined you sitting on his knee, him all tired from business-work and you sweet and warm. The two little girls running around, and everyone so cosy. It would make me sick. Physically sick. Not surprising that a drink or two was the only thing that would see me through. I'm not condoning what I did, especially when it crept up. But I looked for comfort where I could find it. And I managed to stop, didn't I? Eventually, I quit drinking, thanks to Mahad, and I made some kind of life for myself.
But the truth is, now I know him, I can't see you with this man. I don't like to upset you but I don't think he is good to his daughter, your daughter, either. The other day she came to call.
Early in the morning it was, she must have been up at the crack of dawn to be here, but apparently she was five minutes late. Five minutes, and he'd already left the reception in a sulk. Mrs. Oliver, she's one of the residents here, she was in the sitting room with me and she said he's often like that. Apparently, everything has to be perfect or he creates a scene. And then later, we watched the two of them, George and Nell, from the window. They were walking around the garden as if a black cloud were hanging over them. As if it were an effort for a father to spend time with his daughter.
She looked so tired. It was hard to see you in her. But when I tried, I found a trace of your smile. It would be good to bring it out again, for your sake, Mo.
You see I think of you daily. I think of you hourly. I have never got out of the habit and I have never wanted to. And now I will be able to tell you all about your family. How they are getting on. Even Angie in Paris. I hear he's proud of her, at least. The other residents say she's all he talks about. So I will find out when she's coming to visit and don't fret. I will make things better for you here, angel. I will look after your girls for you.
M
12.
letter from florence oliver to lizzie corn
Dear Lizzie,
I didn't mean to imply anything rude about Laurie's cooking. It's just that when we were five, we might not have thought bits of cut-up carrots and cucumber was an exciting birthday tea. But I take your point about allergies. And also how the wrong food can get children excited. There is so much to think about nowadays that we didn't have to bother with. Don't let's be cross with each other. You know I don't like it.
We could have used with your Laurie's food yesterday when Susan Reed's family came to visit. Although it's nice to have some life about the place, the two grandsons are a bit wild. They made straight for Martin, the new man. They asked him if it was true he used to have photographs in magazines. He went a bit quiet, but then he said that was right. I had no idea. What if he was famous, or something, like the one who married Princess Margaret when she had that teeny waist? And now I come to look at him again, he does have a distinguished air about him.
He wouldn't show them the photographs he'd taken although he went off to his room and came back with his camera. He spent a long time with them showing how it all worked. He even let them take some pictures themselves, although he told me secretly that there was no film in it. It wasn't one of those modern cameras like your Laurie's. I can't imagine you on a computer, Lizzie. You are so much with-it nowadays.
They pretended to take a photograph of me. I put my hand up to my hair and said, âDo I look beautiful?'
âNo,' the young one replied, all serious and polite. âYou are too creased.'
âSay good-bye now,' Susan Reed's daughter told them then. âTime to go to the park.' I think she thought I'd be upset but I wasn't, because you'll never guess what happened afterward when it was only me, Martin, and George Griffiths left in the sitting room. George was going on about noise and how they'd creased his
Daily Telegraph
when they sat in it by accident, but Martin ignored him and leaned across to me. âI think you look beautiful,' he said.
I went all peculiar. Even George Griffiths shut up for a moment. Don't you worry, I'm not going to get silly again like I did with that man who came around selling roses at the Blackpool B&B, but I can't remember the last time anyone said I looked beautiful. Or even looked at me.
Anyway, listen to me. There's no fool like an old fool. When I come to you, let's plan our next trip away. I was wondering about Swanage. Helen Elliott said she once went there with her husband. They stayed in a hotel facing the beach and when they came back from a walk, the chambermaid was asleep in their bed. Apart from that, Helen said it was very restorative and you get chocolates put on your pillow every night. It would be worth going just for that. There are some good mini breaks advertised in our local paper so I will look out for some bargains. It'll do me good to get away from here for a bit.
Yours aye,
Florence
P.S. What a pity young Brian has caught your cold. I've always found a slurp of whisky in tomato soup is a great cure. I suppose Laurie will think Brian is too young for whisky although it would make him sleep, which might take a weight off her shoulders. And it's full of healthy things. I remember my Graham telling the Colonel's wife that once when she'd asked if he hadn't had enough. He was furious with her, but of course he couldn't show it. Not until we got home, anyway. Still nothing unnatural about nature's goodness, so Laurie might not mind that. Wishing you all well.
13.
answer phone message from george griffiths to angie griffiths
Dear Angela,
This is your father, George Griffiths, here, talking to your answer phone from England. It's four thirty-five on Tuesday afternoon, Angie. I was thinking it might be more convenient for you to give me your work number. I have called your home several times already and I cannot always get to the phone to receive your calls here. Sadly, I do not trust anyone to pass on the messages you have no doubt left.
I am ringing about Nell. She misses you. I am concerned about her and also about young Robyn. She seems to be running wild to me, and for all her virtues, we can hardly say Nell is a disciplinarian. I try to help but I think Robyn needs a woman's sense. It's at times like this we miss your mother.
So, Angie, it's four thirty-eight now and I would be grateful to hear from you. I know you are busy, of course, but this is your father. George Griffiths. Can you call him back? Call your father, I mean. Me. Good-bye.
14.
email from nell baker to angie griffiths
I suppose I should thank you for the flowers, Angie, but honestly, how bloody tactless of you to send them to work. Now everyone thinks I've got some secret admirer. Even the work experience girl said âhow nice' as if it was all a bit of a joke, and the security guard keeps winking at me. What on earth has Dad been telling you? Why don't you just pick up the phone and speak to him like a normal daughter instead of sending him all those postcards? Well, I guess I know the answer to that one. Dad's not exactly a normal father, is he? But Angie, whatever happened between you and Mum must be over by now. I can't always pick up your pieces.
Your card that came with the flowers was the limit. I do not need to remember to breathe, thank you very much. Do you never think? What I need is some help with Dad, not expensive flowers or stupid advice. When can I tell him you are coming?
15.
letter from george griffiths to brenda lewis
Dear Mrs. Lewis,
Further to the unpleasant incident in the sitting room last night, I have drafted a timetable for watching television which I feel might create a more appropriate viewing pattern for us all.
Although I appreciate that the fairer sex outweighs my own at Pilgrim House, I still do not see why we should be subjected to numerous repeats of so-called celebrities pretending to dance. The fact that the only other male resident does not apparently mind this rubbish does not, I believe, come into the equation.
You will see I have divided the grid by the number of viewing hours in a day, and the number of residents. I have checked the radio times and worked out the average length of programs, and although it may be that we sometimes have to miss the start or end of certain shows, this seems to be a small price to pay for fairness.
Yours sincerely,
George Griffiths
16.
letter from florence oliver to lizzie corn
Dear Lizzie,
Sit yourself down. I have news. Bit of excitement all around, I can tell you.
Lady F (the one who gets the bus every Friday) asked Susan Reed how she knew about Martin's photographs being in the magazines. Well, Susan's sister, remember her, the one with the teeth and even more grandchildren than Susan, well, her sister has a home help and she told her, the home help told Susan's sister, that she'd been packing up for someone who was coming here. Of course, Susan asked, âwhat's he like?' because she knew it must have been Martin. Well, you'll never guess but he's a pornographer. Yes, that's right. We knew he was a photographer but not what sort. Apparently he's got two whole boxes of photographs of nude women that he's lugged here with him.
Fancy someone like that saying I was beautiful. I know I should mind, but I don't. Is that very bad of me?
Helen Elliott says we should complain but she's only saying that because she thinks it's what Lady F wants to hear and so far, Lady F is giving him the benefit of the doubt. But the funny thing is that the home help said they weren't bad photographs. Not like the nasty muck they have today. She said the women were very tastefully arranged and besides, most were in black-and-white, which we all agreed makes things better.
And here is something else interesting. He also has a box of envelopes which are addressed and sealed but not sent. It makes you think, doesn't it? Helen says that men never write letters so maybe he's a little turned and Lady F thinks they are just empty envelopes, but the home help said she knows they had something in them, the home help does, because she felt them. She didn't take one, though. No, home helps have to be honest about other people's property.
Anyway, Lizzie dear, it's shaken us up a bit. He doesn't look much like a pornographer, though. Not that I'd know, of course. At least he hasn't palled up with that George Griffiths. You'll never believe it but George's latest thing is to go on and on about me stealing his things. Well, of course I do, Lizzie, but so would you under the circumstances. He makes everyone's life here a misery.
And this comes with many good wishes to you and your family. I was sorry to hear about Brian needing spectacles. Has Laurie thought about getting some made the next time Brian goes to see his father in Ireland? Graham and I got some lovely cut-glass tumblers there when we were on holiday once. Even Graham used to admit that the Irish are very good with glass and you know how fussy he could be. Maybe Ireland would be a nice place for our next trip, although the sea can get awful rough. I am sorry Laurie has heard bad things about Swanage, and beach parties all night might not exactly be what we're after. I'm not sure I agree with her that teenagers seem to spoil things these days because of course they are only having a bit of fun. Perhaps we could go and join them, Lizzie. What do you think?
Yours aye,
Flo
17.
letter from martin morris to mo griffiths
Dear Mo,
I shouldn't have done it. I'm not daft. Of course I know I shouldn't have done it, but it was only going to be the once.
George was downstairs. I was on my way down myself to make a cup of tea when I heard him in the hallway, making some pronouncement about these pictures they have up on the walls in here. You know the sort. One is a box full of different knots, another is a whole lot of clay pipes with dates underneath. They're supposed to stimulate us although it just makes me think we're in the museum too. They'll be pinning us up soon.
Martin Morris 2008
. I could hear Helen Elliott trying to get a word in edgeways but George wouldn't let her.
I hesitated at the landing just to catch my breath. But then I noticed I was leaning up against George's door and before I knew it, I'd opened it and was taking a look inside.
His room is much bigger than mine but I was told when I came that I had the smallest room in the house. It suits me just fine. And if mine is empty like a monk's cell, his is just as tidy. Everything in order, shipshape and Bristol-fashion. Remember you saying that once and me laughing at you? I wonder now if it was because that's how you had to be around him. You were always such a messy thing when you were with me. I was just thinking I couldn't see you in this room when I spotted your photograph on the bookcase.
Talk about a moth to a flame. I couldn't let that go, could I? So I took a few steps inside but then I heard the door shut behind me so I knew I was done in. What could I say if he caught me inside?
Still, I picked up your photograph. You were on some beach. Your hair, your glorious black hair, was tied up in a scarf but you were laughing. And I looked at your hands and they weren't clenched but they were wide open as if you were about to catch a ball or something. Perhaps it was one of the children you were playing with? George was standing behind you and he was smiling too. But not at the camera. At you.
I put it back quickly. I had been going to take it but it felt wrong now that George was in the shot too. I was hungry for something, though. Suddenly it seemed you were everywhere in the room now, and I needed to have a bit of you. I put my hand out and took the first thing I touched. It was a packet of seeds. I popped them in my pocket and left. My heart was thumping but when I got outside, I could hear George still droning on and on downstairs.
But then I heard a noise and when I looked around, the door to the room opposite was just shutting. Annabel Armstrong. If it had to be anyone it was a good thing it was her. Her mind's going so no one would believe her word over mine. I rushed back to my room, my heart beating, and then I sat on my bed and looked at the seeds. Cornflowers.
I'll plant them in the spring. And I'll think of you when I do so. You laughing. I didn't see too much of that. We should have laughed more. All the things they robbed us of.
M
18.
note from george griffiths to florence oliver
Dear Mrs. Oliver,
I know you have been in my room. When I came back on Thursday, I could distinctly smell your cologne and a picture had been knocked over. I have informed the authorities.
George Griffiths
19.
letter from brenda lewis to nell baker
Dear Nell,
Thank you for your letter. I am sorry that your father has made claims about other residents to you, and I would indeed appreciate the opportunity for the two of us to work out a way of coming to an amicable solution. However, I am glad that you have managed to dissuade him from any unnecessary instigation of police proceedings.
Please be assured that discretion is a given because, as you know, we put the well-being of our residents above all else. I shall look forward to seeing you on Thursday 26, at 2 p.m., while your father is away from Pilgrim House at his weekly chiropodist appointment.
In the meantime, can I reassure you that no one goes into his room apart from my staff. I appreciate that you do not make any direct accusations of theft, but you will understand that every time your father has brought this matter up, we have carried out thorough checks and nothing of any substance has been missing.
Yours sincerely,
Brenda Lewis
20.
letter from mrs. fishwick, burton comprehensive school to nell baker Dear Ms. Baker,
I have tried several times to call you so I would be grateful if you could ring to make an appointment to discuss Robyn's progress at school. Her teachers have expressed a number of concerns, and it feels that now would be a good time to talk about the best way she can cope as she thinks about a university education. I have checked our school records and we do not have the details for Robyn's father on file. I would be grateful if you could forward these to us if at all possible. We often find that it helps to have both parents present.
I look forward to meeting with you, but in the meantime please do call with any immediate concerns you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Bette Fishwick
21.
email from nell baker to angie griffiths
Angie,
Why do you never answer your phone? Now I've got problems with Robyn. Apparently her teachers reckon she's not âapplying herself to her full abilities.' Well, hello, who is? We've had to sign a contract with the school that she would work harder. Can you believe it? And it seems Dad's been upsetting the other residents. Again.
Knock, knock, this is your family calling. Dad needs you.
Nell
22.
letter from claude bichourie to angie griffiths
Chérie,
They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, so may this necklace decorate your neck where I would like to kiss you this weekend. Do not be cross with me for going away. You know I have to spend time with my family.
You are so beautiful, Angela. I did not mean harm by saying you are looking more womanly than usual. It suits you. When you are by my side, I am the proudest man in Paris. I wish we could shout our love from the rooftops, but in the meantime, my diamonds will have to glitter for me.
Claude
23.
note left on kitchen table from nell to robyn baker
ROBYN,
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
1. TIDY YOUR ROOM.
2. FINISH YOUR ENGLISH ESSAY.
3. GO AND VISIT YOUR GRANDFATHER.
IF I COME BACK FROM WORK AND YOU ARE
STILL
IN BED, I WILL BAN YOU FROM USING THE COMPUTER, TAKE AWAY YOUR MOBILE PHONE AND STOP YOUR CLOTHES ALLOWANCE FOR A MONTH. I MEAN IT. REMEMBER THAT CONTRACT WE MADE WITH THE SCHOOL. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
24.
answer phone message from antoine dupert to angie griffiths
Angela,
This is Antoine. However many times I might say I enjoyed our photographic session, it will never be enough. You are more than a natural model, you are a muse. I can't wait to show you the photographs. They are beautiful. You are beautiful, but the photographs have taken on a life of their own. It's as if the connection between you and me has created something uniquely new, something special, living, breathing. I think they might be the best piece of work I have done. Please come again. Even if nothing else happens between you and me, and how can I not hope for more of that, we owe it to the world to take more photographs together.
Ring me.
25.
note from robyn baker
scribbled on bottom of note 22.
ROBYN
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
4. TIDY YOUR ROOM.
5. FINISH YOUR ENGLISH ESSAY.
6. GO AND VISIT YOUR GRANDFATHER.
IF I COME BACK FROM WORK AND YOU ARE STILL IN BED, I WILL BAN YOU FROM USING THE COMPUTER, TAKE AWAY YOUR MOBILE PHONE AND STOP YOUR CLOTHES ALLOWANCE FOR A MONTH. I MEAN IT. REMEMBER THAT CONTRACT WE MADE WITH THE SCHOOL. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
Chill, Mum. It's the weekend. I'll go and see Granddad later. Promise.
Hey, did you know that if you hang over the bed and look at the mirror upside down you see your face as it's going to be in fifty years' time? If you're lucky, and the wind changes, they'll abduct me into the Pilgrims.