Faith In Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

much older.  Twenty-one?  Twenty-two?  And that other one, the one I saw in the first place, the one I took the card to last Sunday, she's at least my age.  I don't know about her girlfriend of course, the one she bought the cake and champagne for, because I haven't seen her yet, I would guess she'd be the same age, or there might be a bit of a difference like there is between me and Don.  But then again, she did give that other one such a look and she was much younger.  Might only like younger girls after all.  Or it might vary, as the mood takes her. 
     
    Perhaps I can find out one of these days.
     
    Faith quickly moves away from the window and takes up her usual position behind the glass-fronted counter. 
     
    A customer enters the shop.
     
    "Hallo, Mrs. Robinson," says Faith, breaking into a smile.  "What can I get for you today, dear?  A nice sliced white?  Or soda bread to make a change?"
     
     
    Thursday, February 17 
     
    I don't know what to do with myself today.  I'm sure I've got a lot to catch up on, but, I don't know, I can't be doing with any of it somehow.  It's not even time for a new magazine.  Have to wait another week for that.  I hate the middle of the month.  No new magazine, no pay cheque, nothing special going on.  My day off and all I can think to do is go to the launderette.  What a life! 
     
    Sometimes I wish I could have Saturday's off like other people, then I wouldn't have to be on my own like this every week.  Pearl's better off in that way, though of course she works Saturday's too now sometimes.  She's doing it out of choice though, not like me, unsocial hours for no extra pay.  Thanks so much, Mr. Owen, you old skinflint! 
     
    I know, I'll go up the launderette and when I get back I can watch one of those black and white films on BBC Two, they're usually a lot more interesting than the ones they make now.  I could buy myself a bar of chocolate and put my feet up.  After all, there's no law that says my day off has to be productive, is there?  I could just relax for once, have a break. 
     
    How did people bear it before TV?  It's hard to imagine.  They must have had some focus to their leisure hours.  Perhaps in Victorian times they all stood around the upright while someone banged out a medley of favourites, and perhaps in earlier times it was the harpsichord.  Probably in the future it will be multimedia computers with built-in televisions and stereos, and, in the furthest future we'll all have microchips in our heads and we'll see and hear anything but what's really happening right in front of us.  And probably be all the happier for that!
     
    Anyway, off I go to do the boring laundry and buy myself a nice little chocky bar for my afternoon's viewing pleasure. 
     
     

= CHAPTER 3 =
     
     
     
    Saturday, February 19
     
    Sometimes, Pearl, I feel like if something absolutely totally amazingly different doesn't happen soon, I'm going to go out of my mind!  Do you ever feel like that?" 
     
    "You are just tired, Faith.  I expect you need a tonic.  Then you'll be fine.  You wouldn't really change anything, would you?"
     
    "Oh, I don't know.  Sometimes..."
     
     
    Sunday, February 20
     
    It is Sunday brunch time.  Don pushes his empty plate away and rests his hairy forearms on the table.  He is deeply engrossed in a newspaper, almost as if hypnotised.  Faith is spreading marmalade onto toast.  Carol is nowhere to be seen. 
     
    Suddenly, still staring deep into the newspaper, Don makes a surprising remark.  "You wouldn't believe Phil's wife was one of those, would you."
     
    "One of what – those ?  No!  Not Eva!  I can't believe that!  I thought she had a man now.  What d'you mean though, was ?"
     
    "I wouldn't know now, would I?"  (Don seems to regret his remark.  He looks up and almost catches Faith's eager gaze.  He looks down again.)
     
    "Well, you see her ex twice a month.  What does he say?"
     
    "My brother ?  I can't