Anthony: That was very funny.
Me: What was very funny?
Anthony: Your kayaking lesson today, with Ming.
Me: OMG were you watching? How embarrassing.
Anthony: Quite.
Me: The capsize?
Anthony: Is that what you call it?
Me: Yes, well another fear faced and conquered.
Anthony: You made it look so easy, Jules.
Me: Sarcasm just slides off your tongue doesn’t it, Ants.
Anthony: I’ve been busy perfecting the art.
Me: Did you see Ming do it too?
Anthony: His movements were much more fluid.
Me: But did you see when he accidentally fell in for the second time?
Anthony: Yes but I was mainly concentrating on your laughter.
Me: Oh?
Anthony: That was a beautiful thing to see – spectacular.
Me: Well, thanks, I think.
Anthony: It’s a long time since I’ve heard that guffaw of yours – so raucous.
Me: Is that a good or a bad thing?
Anthony: It’s a great thing. You should do it more often.
Me: I can’t just conjure it up.
Ants: Yes you can. Remember the time you tried to get me to do aerobics with you to that Jane Fonda video?
Me (smiling): Oh yeah, you were so awkward.
Anthony: You thought it might stop the Parkinson’s in its tracks.
Me: Stupid idea and it didn’t work. Hey, but remember that time I fell in the duck pond? That’s what it felt like today.
Anthony: How could I forget?
Me: You were so unsympathetic.
Anthony: The look of shock on your face … priceless.
Me: The good old days.
Anthony: The good-to-remember old days.
Me: I’m going for my motor-bike licence next week.
Anthony: I know and I am trembling at the thought.
Me: You’re trembling! What do you think I’m doing?
Anthony: Quaking?
Me: Not sure why I took on these two new challenges simultaneously. I must be mad!
Anthony: My thoughts exactly, and Ming’s too I’ve noticed. And both of your instructors’.
Me: Common sense isn’t my forte.
Anthony: Neither is coordination. I heard what Ming said while you were driving to the river, by the way.
Me: He didn’t mean it, Ants. And, by the way, my coordination is improving!
Anthony: Yes he did and he’s right. I wasn’t exactly father of the century. I should have talked to him more, or listened.
Me: He just wishes he knew you when you were well. Some of the stories I tell about you, from before his time, he finds almost unbelievable.
Anthony: I liked what he said about me still being around through him.
Me: Yeah, it’s pretty disconcerting – his voice, mannerisms, gait, laugh; he’s like a clone of you!
Anthony: Is that a good or a bad thing?
Me: It’s a great thing! I just wish he remembered how you were before you got so ill.
Anthony: There are worse things. Anyway you’re doing a great job of giving him amazing memories for when you die.
Me: What? Don’t be so morbid!
Anthony: Like the vision of you capsizing in your kayak today. Unforgettable.
Me: Shut up.
Anthony: Just a thought.
Me: Argh!
jmgoyder 