The last routine

Rene was steering the old converted fishing smack ‘The straw hat’ into the harbour. Rob was rushing about doing the heavy sailorly work as the boat ran into calmer waters. Rene smiled as she watched his feet dancing across the wooden deck as the heavy vessel carried its way and tied up alongside the quay. The couple soon finished their tasks as they prepared the boat for another week’s lay up. Then they changed from their heavy weather sou’westers and oilskins into ‘going ashore’ clothes.

“I think we need new head gear for today,” said Rob,” It’s going to be an important occasion for us.”

After their purchase they went through the stage door of the ‘Rialto’ and off to find their dressing room.

Five minutes later the pair were dressed in matching horizontally striped seaside jackets and white trousers, brand new straw hats perched cheekily on the back of their heads.

They chassed across the stage in time to an out of tune piano, played disinterestedly by a slightly inebriated pianist thumping the keys, their canes enthusiastically tapping out a counterpoint to the rhythm of their feet.

Sarcastic slow clapping came from the important looking gentleman in the front stalls.

An hour later they were gazing up sadly at the mockery of their failed future billing at the Rialto theatre.

“Coming shortly ‘Twinkle toes’, the world famous dancing duo Rob and Rene.”