Rebuilding Coventry (22 page)

DEREK
Has had a triumph. Naomi won him Best of Show at a United Kingdom
tortoise convention. Derek’s and Naomi’s pictures appeared in the local paper,
under the unfortunate headline, ‘Fugitive’s husband comes out of his shell’.
There is a woman, a certain Mrs Daphne Pye, who is very interested in Derek.
She thinks he is a marvellous conversationalist. Daphne is a tortoise fancier,
she can do the foxtrot and she is a non-smoker.

MARY
Has turned into a beauty, she works hard at school, she thinks about
her mother constantly.

JOHN
Is retaking his A levels. He has also turned into a beauty. EDNA
DAKIN Passed her driving test at her first attempt. She bought a left-hand
drive Vauxhall Chevette in metallic blue. It cost her two hundred and fifty
pounds. She is hardly ever to be found at home.

SLY
Is dead. He burnt to death on the M1 motorway on his way back from Gatwick.
It is believed he fell asleep at the wheel. All documents pertaining to
Coventry Dakin were destroyed in the fire.