People watching

Paddy, Alison and Andrew:

Paddy had met Alison at University. He played rugby, she played netball. She was one of those girls who tried so hard but never really lived up to the standards of the team. They kept her on because she was “frightfully organised” and so loved helping out. Besides, she was generous and kind and dealt with all that frightfully boring admin stuff.

Paddy and Alison met one AU night. She fell for his cheeky smile and unkempt appearance immediately. Here was a man she could love, she thought. Here was a man she could change. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen.

She was so struck, she didn’t notice that he was a little more interested in her thinner, prettier team mates.

10 years on and they’re still friends – Paddy relies on Alison to introduce him to new and willing ladies while Alison revels in the attention, all the while secretly pining. Her passion has never been consummated (unless you count that time when Paddy put his hand on her leg while recounting a particularly funny story) but she dreams of it constantly. At night, when she’s at home in her little flat with Jackson the cat, she wonders what it’d be like to have his 6’3” bulk filling the place up.

Alison waits for the day when Paddy realises he loves her – it happens in Jilly Cooper so why shouldn’t it happen in real life?

Paddy never had to try that hard at life. He rolled on through school, university and his job with ease. He is always invited to dinner parties. He is always invited to house parties. He is just always invited.

Sometimes he takes Alison along with her. Not because he likes her “like that” of course, I mean after all “it’s Alison! She’s one of the lads!” but because well, why not? She do anything for him and he enjoys her friends. On a regular basis.

Andrew’s only known Paddy for a couple of years. A vague friend of a friend from cricket. It’s only recently that they’ve become better friends. Andrew is settled in life. He has a good job as an architect, a steady income, steady friends, and, until a couple of months ago, a steady girlfriend. She ran off, ran away from Andrew’s charming smile and kind disposition. Ran to someone far naughtier, far dirtier and far more likely to mess her around.

Paddy has bought Andrew along his regular Sunday pub lunch with Alison (something which Alison resents slightly, she was wearing her favourite purple top in the vain hope that today might be the day). Paddy likes the fact Andrew’s there. Partly because he has someone to watch the rugby with and partly because it takes Alison’s dreaming stares elsewhere for a little while.

Paddy’s much more interested in the two giggling women in the corner.

What do you get when you put me together with someone whose writing I’ve always admired, some food, a hangover (hers, not mine), wine (mine, not hers) and a pub full of characters?

A series of pen portraits.