Then quite suddenly they both seemed to lose interest in their work and they quit. Maybe, they thought they were giving too much value for money. They stopped rushing round in circles, looked at each other, nodded, regarded Bogle without interest and then put their shining materials away. They stood over Bogle, smiling at him, with two grubby hands held out for payment.
“You’d better pay ’em,” I said weakly. “Or they might start all over again.”
Hastily he dug out a few coins which he threw at the kids. While they were chasing the money, he got painfully to his feet and inspected a long tear in his trousers.
“Don’t worry about that, Samuel,” Myra said. “It was time you got yourself a new suit anyway.”
Bogle gave her a blank look. Then he limped painfully across the verandah, into the Square and collected his other shoe. He put it on and regarded his feet with a sour eye. Before, his shoes certainly had looked dusty. Now they looked ready for the ash can.
“I hope you’re all satisfied,” he said, in a low, strangled voice.
“Just look at those kids,” Myra said, wiping her eyes. “They’re as happy as larks.”
“Yeah,” Bogle said, creeping back slowly on to the verandah. “As happy as larks.”
Myra heaved a contented sigh. “Well, I enjoyed that,” she said. “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. You ought to be pleased you made those kids happy, Samuel. You’re quite a nice piece of cheese after all.”
She waved to the two kids who were standing watching with bright eyes and then she turned to go back into the lounge.