A Young Man's Passage (36 page)

Last night I had to listen to her purring over the phone. They’re born-again parents. Barely able to go to the shops without her, they scurry round the aisles buying any old nonsense, the quicker to return to Puppy and her demands.

‘She’s become interested in books!’ my mother announced. ‘It started in the lounge, when she noticed the bookcase. Then last night we heard a noise in the kitchen. Puppy had found the cookery books on the shelf. Suddenly there was a loud crash. She’d dislodged a huge Delia Smith! How clever, she’s only small . . . Oh yes, books is the latest thing with her . . .’

Their delight in the kitten, together with my mother’s admiration of Shane Richie and their newly discovered ability to live in the moment, however mundane, tells me they are getting older. Just as children are born with big eyes and Walt Disney proportions, the better to inspire the protective instinct of all who gaze upon them, so it is with the elderly. I can see them still as young adults, vibrant and as lusty as the 1950s would allow. When they became parents, the sudden responsibility, the sacrifice, the endless round of hair washing, feeding, nappies, baths, homework, the diplomacy required for the difficulties of adolescence, the letting go, the worry that never ends, the need to dole out their unconditional love in equal portions, their satisfaction in a job well done, their eventual return to their own lives. Now they are carefree and happy. They can snooze, guilt-free, in front of the television. Still together, despite or because of all that life has made them deal with. Perhaps part of the recipe is their ability to regard each other with a dispassionate, critical eye.

‘Your mother can’t walk as fast these days.’

‘I sometimes think your father’s losing the plot . . .’

I’m so glad I got the kitten, Puppy, for them. Diverted by her charming personality, they seem young again, and joyful.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Epub ISBN: 9781448116584

Version 1.0

www.randomhouse.co.uk

11

Copyright © 2005 Julian Clary

Julian Clary has asserted his moral right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

This edition published 2006 by Ebury Press

First published 2005 by Ebury Press, an imprint of Random House,

20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA

Random House Australia (Pty) Limited

20 Alfred Street, Milsons Point, Sydney, New South Wales 2061, Australia

Random House New Zealand Limited

18 Poland Road, Glenfield, Auckland 10, New Zealand

Random House (Pty) Limited

Isle of Houghton, Corner of Boundary Road and Carse O’Gowrie,

Houghton 2198, South Africa

Random House Publishers India Private Limited

301 World Trade Tower, Hotel Intercontinental Grand Complex,

Barakhamba Lane, New Delhi 110 001, India

The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009

www.randomhouse.co.uk

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9780091908720