Who'd Be A Woman?

Rachel comes back on her own, with a big bunch of Women's Tongue (shak shak).

Those are not Seaside Beans, says Gaius.

They'll have to do, says Rachel. We stopped looking.

Where is he? asks Julia.

Resolving some issues, says Rachel. And the surf's up. Warm winds are blowing.

Issues? says Griff, suspicious.

Mother issues, says Rachel. Would you believe it? I probably shouldn't say.

So he's going surfing, says Gaius. What about his surfboard? He left it propped up against the rum shack.

So he did. They all turn their heads, to see Surfing-With-Whales and his surfboard, disappearing.

Best get going, says Julia. Everyone ready? Do we want to stop by Andromeda Gardens? Sharon might  be worried about Rachel.

NO! says Gaius. I mean, no. I don't wish to risk a second encounter with the spirit of Iris Bannochie.

Golly, says Julia. You saw her? What did she look like?

It was more what she sounded like, says Gaius. A buzzer.

Oh, says Rachel That could have been a hummingbird.

A hummingbird would hardly tell me I reminded her of her late husband, says Gaius.

Which one? asks Julia.

Harry Bayley, says Gaius. Apparently he was a keen astronomer.

He would have been, says Julia. There's a Harry Bayley Observatory in Bridgetown.

Yes! says Rachel. Open to the public every Friday evening.

Have you visited? asks Julia.

No, says Rachel. But I hear it's quite good. It's the only observatory in the Caribbean.

They are now getting into the Mini.

Rachel first. Her green dress is mended with clear fishing line, so she has to be careful.

She knows this from when she sat down on the beach track with Surfing-With-Whales.

She had sat on an irritating thread end, and Surfing-with-Whales had been obliged to do something about it.

This had only contributed to his issues. Never mind. He was coming to see her on the weekend, in Bridgetown. She would comfort him then. Such a nice young man really.....

In yet? says Griff.

Yes, says Rachel. You next.

But it doesn't feel quite the same.

Julia drives. Gaius examines his yellow bunch of shak shak.

The stuffed Barbados racer is in the boot, undemanding of anyone's attention.

They pass the Andromeda Gardens.

A hummingbird, humming idly near the entrance, spots them and follows.

Hummmmmmmzz. I'll just see where they're going......

The Mini pulls up outside Hunte's.

I'll drop these off, says Gaius. Along with the pink fluffy slippers.

Here they are, says Rachel wriggling strategically to get them off without moving her bottom across the fishing line mend or disturbing her turban.

I know. Who'd be a woman?

Gaius goes in.

Shak shak! says Anthony. I asked for Seaside Beans. Never mind. It was just a ruse anyway. Did Rachel make use of the slippers?

I believe so, says Gaius.

Here are her sandals, says Anthony. They were safe in the wardrobe. By the way, there's a humming bird behind your right shoulder.