#henry and i are hesitant acquaintances now but good god. i managed to entertain him SOMEHOW and keep him quiet

[turningtrrift]

Short Story

A Picture-Perfect Family

By: Romelene Calipay

That morning for the first time in his life, as he pressed through the swing door and descended the three broad step to the pavement, old Mr. Collins felt he was too old for the spring. Spring that is warm, eager, restless was there, waiting for him in the golden light, ready in front of everybody to run up, to blow in his white beard, to drag sweetly on his arm. And he couldn't meet her, he couldn't square up once more and stride off, energetic as a young man. He was tired and, although the late sun was still shining, curiously cold, with a numbed feeling all over. Quite suddenly he hadn't the energy, he hadn't the heart to stand this good humour and bright movement any longer; it confused him. He wanted to stand still, to wave it away with his stick, to say, "Be off with you!" Suddenly it was a terrible effort to greet as usual tipping his wide-awake with his stick. All the people who’s he knew, the friends, acquaintances, shopkeepers, postmen, drivers. But the glance that went with the gesture, the kindly twinkle that seemed to say, "I'm a match and more for any of you" that old Mr. Collins could not manage at all. He stumped along, lifting his knees high as if he were walking through air that had somehow grown heavy and solid like water. It had been a day like other days at the office. Nothing special had happened. Klyde hadn't come back from lunch until close on four. Where had he been? What had he been up to? He wasn't going to let his father know. Mr. Collins had happened to be in the hallway, saying goodbye to a caller, when Klyde wandered in, perfectly turned out as usual, cool, suave, smiling that peculiar little half-smile that women found so fascinating.

Ah, Klyde was too handsome, too handsome by far; that had been the trouble all along. No man had a right to such eyes, such lashes, and such lips, it was uncanny. As for his mother, his sisters, and the servants, it was not too much to say they made a young god of him. They worshipped Klyde, they forgave him everything and he had needed some forgiving ever since the time when he was thirteen and he had stolen his mother's purse, taken the money, and hidden the purse in the cook's bedroom. Mr. Collins struck sharply with his stick upon the pavement edge. But it wasn't only his family who spoiled Klyde, he reflected, it was everybody. He had only to look and to smile, and down they went before him. So perhaps it wasn't to be wondered at that he expected the office to carry on the tradition. But it couldn't be done. No business not even a successful, established, big paying concern could be played with. A man had either to put his whole heart and soul into it, or it went all to pieces before his eyes.

And then Penelope and the girls were always at him to make the whole thing over to Klyde, to retire, and to spend his time enjoying himself. Enjoying himself! Mr. Collins stopped dead under a group of ancient cabbage palms outside the Government buildings! Enjoying himself! The wind of evening shook the dark leaves to a thin airy cackle. Sitting at home, twiddling his thumbs, conscious all the while that his life's work was slipping away, dissolving, disappearing through Klyde's fine fingers, while Klyde smiled "Why will you be so unreasonable, father? There's absolutely no need for you to go to the office. It only makes it very awkward for us when people persist in saying how tired you're looking. Here's this huge house and garden. Surely you could be happy in appreciating it for a change. Or you could take up some hobby."

Marga and the baby had chimed in loftily, "All men ought to have hobbies. It makes life impossible if they haven't."

Well, well! He couldn't help a grim smile as painfully he began to climb the hill that led into Maxwell Avenue. Where would Marga and her sisters and Penelope be if he'd gone in for hobbies, he'd like to know? Hobbies couldn't pay for the town house and the seaside bungalow, and their horses, and their golf. Not that he grudged them these things. They were smart, good-looking girls, and Penelope was a remarkable woman it was natural for them to be in the swim. As a matter of fact, no other house in the town was as popular as theirs, no other family entertained so much. And how many times old Mr. Collins, pushing the cigar box across the smoking-room table, had listened to praises of his wife, his girls, of himself even.

"You're a picture-perfect family, Sir, an ideal family. It's like something one reads about or sees on the stage."

"That's all right, my boy," old Mr. Collins would reply. "Try one of those; I think you'll like them. And if you care to smoke in the garden, you'll find the girls on the lawn, I dare say."

That was why the girls had never married, so people said. They could have married anybody. But they had too good a time at home. They were too happy together, the girls and Penelope. Hmm, hmm! Well, well.

By this time he had walked the length of fashionable Maxwell Avenue, he had reached the corner house, their house. The carriage gates were pushed back, there were fresh marks of wheels on the drive. And then he faced the big white-painted house, with its wide-open windows, its tulle curtains floating outwards, its blue jars of hyacinths on the broad sills. On either side of the carriage porch their hydrangeas famous in the town were coming into flower, the pinkish, bluish masses of flower lay like light among the spreading leaves. And somehow, it seemed to Mr. Collins that the house and the flowers, and even the fresh marks on the drive, were saying, "There is young life here. There are girls…"

The hall, as always, was dusky with wraps, parasols, gloves, piled on the oak chests. From the music room sounded the piano, quick, loud and impatient. Through the drawing-room door that was ajar voices floated.

"And were there ices?" came from Penelope. Then the creak of her rocker.

"Ices!" cried Myrtle. "My dear mother, you never saw such ices. Only two kinds. And one a common little strawberry shop ice, in a sopping wet frill."

"The food altogether was too appalling." came from Dylan.

"Still, it's rather early for ices." said Penelope easily.

"But why, if one has them at all" began Myrtle.

"Oh, quite, darling" low-voice of Penelope.

Suddenly the music-room door opened and Marga dashed out. She started, she nearly screamed, at the sight of old Mr. Collins.

"Gracious father! What a fright you gave me! Have you just come home? Why isn't Luke here to help you off with your coat?"

Her cheeks were deep, vivid shade of red from playing, her eyes glittered, the hair fell over her forehead. And she breathed as though she had come running through the dark and was frightened. Old Mr. Collins stared at his youngest daughter. He felt he had never seen her before. So that was Marga, was it? But she seemed to have forgotten her father, it was not for him that she was waiting there. Now she put the tip of her crumpled handkerchief between her teeth and tugged at it angrily. The telephone rang. Marga gave a cry like a sob and dashed past him. The door of the telephone room slammed, and at the same moment Penelope called, "Is that you, father?"

"You're tired again," said Penelope, and she stopped the rocker and offered her warm plum like cheek. Bright-haired Myrtle pecked his beard, Dylan's lips brushed his ear.

"Did you walk back, father?" asked Penelope.

"Yes, I walked home," said Mr. Collins, and he sank into one of the immense drawing-room chairs.

"But why didn't you take a cab?" said Myrtle. "There are hundred of cabs about at that time."

"My dear Myrtle," cried Dylan, "if father prefers to tire himself out, I really don't see what business of ours it is to interfere."

"Children, children?" lured Penelope. But Dylan wouldn't be stopped. "No, mother, you spoil father, and it's not right. You ought to be stricter with him. He's very naughty." She laughed her hard, bright laugh and patted her hair in a mirror. Strange! When she was a little girl she had such a soft, hesitating voice; she had even stuttered, and now, whatever she said even if it was only "Jam, please, father"--it rang out as though she were on the stage.

"Did Klyde leave the office before you, dear?" asked Penelope, beginning to rock again.

"I'm not sure," said Mr Collins. "I'm not sure. I didn't see him after four o'clock."

"He said…" began Penelope. But at that moment Myrtle, who was twitching over the leaves of some paper or other, ran to her mother and sank down beside her chair.

"There, you see," she cried. "That's what I mean, mom. Yellow, with a touch of silver. Don't you agree?"

"Give it to me, love," said Penelope. She fumbled for her tortoise-shell spectacles and put them on, gave the page a little dab with her plump small fingers, and pursed up her lips. "Very sweet!" she lured, she looked at Myrtle over her spectacles. "But I shouldn't have the train."

"Not the train!" wailed Myrtle randomly. "But the train's the whole point."

"Here, mother, let me decide." Dylan snatched the paper playfully from Penelope. "I agree with mother" she cried softly. "The train overweights it."

Old Mr. Collins forgotten, sank into the broad lap of his chair, and, dozing, heard them as though he dreamed. There was no doubt about it, he was tired out, he had lost his hold. Even Penelope and the girls were too much for him tonight. But all his drowsing brain could think of was too rich for him. And somewhere at the back of everything he was watching a little withered ancient man climbing up endless flights of stairs. Who was he?

"I shouldn’t dress tonight," he muttered. "What do you say, father?"

"What?" Old Mr. Collins woke with a start and stared across at them. "I shouldn’t dress tonight," he repeated.

"But, father, we've got Lesley coming, and Henry Fontabella, and Mrs. Tessa Montes."

"It will look so very out of the picture."

"Don't you feel well, dear?"

"You needn't make any effort. What is Arvin for?"

"But if you're really not up to it," Penelope wavered.

"Okay, Fine!" Old Mr Collins got up and went to join that little old climbing fellow just as far as his dressing-room.

There, young Arvin was waiting for him. Carefully, as though everything depended on it, he was tucking a towel round the hot-water can. Young Arvin had been a favourite of his ever since as a little red-faced boy he had come into the house to look after the fires. Old Mr. Collins lowered himself into the cane lounge by the window, stretched out his legs, and made his little evening joke, "Dress him up, Arvin!" And Arvin, breathing intensely and frowning, bent forward to take the pin out of his tie.

It was pleasant by the open window, a fine mild evening. They were cutting the grass on the tennis court below, he heard the soft sound of the mower. Soon the girls would begin their tennis parties again. And at the thought he seemed to hear Dylan's voice ring out, "Good for you, partner. Oh, well-played. Very nice, indeed." Then Penelope calling from the veranda, "Where is Klyde?" And Myrtle, "He's certainly not here, mother." And Penelope's vague, "He said.."

Old Mr Collins sighed, got up, and putting one hand under his beard, he took the comb from young Arvin, and carefully combed the white beard over. Arvin gave him a folded handkerchief, his watch and seals, and spectacle case.

"That will do help." The door shut, he sank back, he was alone.

And now that little ancient fellow was climbing down endless flights that led to a glittering, gay dining room. What legs he had! They were like a spider's thin, withered.

"You're such a picture-perfect family, Sir, an ideal family."

But if that were true, why didn't Penelope or the girls stop him? Why was he all alone, climbing up and down? Where was Klyde? Ah, it was no good expecting anything from Klyde. He went down the little old spider, and then, to his horror, old Mr Collins saw him slip past the dining room and make for the porch, the dark drive, the carriage gates, the office. Stop him, stop him, somebody!

Old Mr. Collins started up. It was dark in his dressing-room; the window shone pale. How long had he been asleep? He listened, and through the big, airy, darkened house there floated far-away voices, far away sounds. Perhaps, he thought vaguely, he had been asleep for a long time. He'd been forgotten. What had all this to do with him, this house and Penelope, the girls and Klyde. What did he know about them? They were strangers to him. Life had passed him by. Penelope was not his wife. His wife!

A dark porch, half hidden by a passion vine that drooped sorrowful, mournful, as though it understood. Small, warm arms were round his neck. A face, little and pale, lifted to his, and a voice breathed, "Goodbye, my treasure."

Which of them had spoken? Why had they said goodbye? There had been some terrible mistake. She was his wife, that little pale girl, and all the rest of his life had been a dream. Then the door opened, and young Arvin, standing in the light, put his hands by his side and shouted like a young soldier, "Dinner is on the table, sir!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," said old Mr. Collins.