I Suppose It Was Pretty Obvious To Everyone

I know it's what she would have wanted
Florence & Mo had flown over
all the way from Ottawa anyhow
the twins are growing up so fast
and me, myself, I'm not getting any younger
'None of us are,' said Uncle Bertie
(he's always been my favourite,
well everyone's favourite really,
somehow still a cheeky schoolboy
even at fifty - behind his
earshot, Andrew calls him Bunter)

Bertie reached for a second slice of ginger cake
and poured himself another
tall sherry
Very nice to be here, he said
very nice
you know
with all the family

Now Bertie
said Florence
come on

What? he said
blank as pine
brown crumbs avalanching
down his scarf
(he always wore scarves indoors)
I just think it's nice
- he took a sip of sherry -
you know
that everyone
could be here

Florence fixed her gaze
on her Lady Grey
Mo leant forward and tinkered
with the lazy susan,
carouselling past fondant fancies,
macaroons - a single tea cake
went by six times
the twins
a study in tight-lunged anticipation

Okay
said Florence
okay
She supped her tea

I mean it's good
said Bertie

Mo sent a macaroon
scudding onto the shagpile
and you could see Florence sag

Amazing, really,
what they can do

Bertie...

He turned to the twins
I say, you two must've done Egypt
in school, eh?
Heard of Tutankhamen?

Bertie that's enough!
Florence slapped the glass coffee table
and the sugar spoon jumped
Mo began to sob

Bertie stuck his lower lip out
drained his sherry
rolled his yellowed eyes
They use a little stud gun,
he murmured,
to fix the smile

Florence glared out the window
at a cold bright day
Mo went on blubbing

As for Granny Longford -
she sat at the head of the table
and went on smiling
Of course she did