The World According to Bertie - Alexander Hanchett Smith [94]
Irene was an enigma to him. He admired her, and there was a bit of him that loved her – just – but he could not understand her contempt for others and her desire to be something that she was not. Stuart was a reasonable person, who saw the good and the bad in others without reference to where they stood politically. He would read any newspaper he found lying about in the office and find something of interest in it. And if he did not agree with what was written, he would nonetheless reflect on the arguments put forward and weigh them up. Irene did not do that. There was one newspaper she read, and one alone, and she would barely look at anything else. On occasion, Stuart came back from the office with another paper, and this would trigger a firm response from Irene.
‘Stuart, I don’t think it’s wise to bring the Daily Telegraph into the house,’ she said. ‘Just think for a moment. What if Bertie read it? You know how he picks things up and reads them.’
Stuart had shrugged. ‘He’s got to learn what the world’s like sooner or later,’ he said. He wondered if he should add: ‘He’s got to learn that there are Conservatives . . .’ but a look from Irene discouraged him.
‘That, if I may say so,’ she said, ‘is utterly and completely irresponsible. Do you want his mind to be poisoned? It’ll be the Daily Mail next. Or the Sun. For heaven’s sake, Stuart! And what if somebody saw you carrying that paper? What would they think?’
That argument had not gone any further, for Stuart had capitulated, as he always seemed to do, and had agreed that inappropriate newspapers would not be brought into the house in the future. But, as they set off on their walk that Saturday morning, he thought about it, and wondered why he had not defended freedom of thought.
‘Where are we going?’ asked Bertie, as Stuart and Irene jointly manipulated Ulysses’ baby buggy down the common stair to the front door.
‘Valvona & Crolla,’ replied Irene. ‘It’ll be a nice walk.’ Bertie was pleased to hear this. He liked the delicatessen, with its high shelves of Italian produce. For the most part, they bought olive oil there, and sun-dried tomatoes, and packets of pasta. But there were other delights there too, such as Panforte di Siena, and Bertie, with all his soul, loved Panforte di Siena.
62. Bertie Contemplates the woes of the World
They walked around Drummond Place, the four of them – Irene, Stuart, Bertie and Ulysses, who did not walk, of course, but was pushed in his new MobileBaby baby buggy, of which Bertie was inordinately proud. Their car might be old, but their baby buggy, at least, was brand new. In fact, as they rounded the corner into London Street, Bertie saw their car, parked on the other side of the road.
‘There’s our car!’ he exclaimed. ‘Look, Daddy. There it is.’
‘So I see, Bertie,’ said Stuart. ‘That’s where Mummy must have parked it.’
Irene reacted sharply. ‘I beg your pardon. You parked it there, Stuart. I very rarely park in this street.’
Stuart looked down at the pavement. He was sure that he had not parked the car there, but he understood that there was no point in arguing about it. Irene seemed to win any argument that they had, particularly in relation to their car, often by the simple technique of staring at Stuart until he became silent. It was a powerful method of overcoming opposition, and Stuart had come across one or two politicians who used it to great effect. These were generally the same ones who refused to answer any questions, usually by giving a response which bore no relation to the actual question which was asked. In fact, when he came to think of it, Irene would make a good politician – but for which party? Would Jack McConnell have her in the Labour Party, he wondered, or would she simply stare at him until he became uncomfortable? Irene would not join the Conservatives, and they, quite understandably, would not want her. Which left the