Pat, a lady who is on the edge of 90 years old, was seated in front of me at Christmas Mass this morning. As a youngster of 75 I keep an eye on her and run little errands on her behalf.
As we waited for Mass to begin she turned around and whispered to me: "Ian! Will you tell the ladies at the back that Marina is away and she has not left sweets as usual as her son has them and his car broke down in Cambridge so she is stuck there.."
"Who is Marina?" I asked.
"Never mind that," was her reply, "they will understand."
I made a few notes, checked the message with her, and went off to tell the ladies.After a few glitches of the "Who is Marina?" variety, they interpreted this mystery and seemed satisfied.
I returned to my seat and told Pat that I had completed my mission.
A few minutes later, one of the ladies "from the back" walked towards the front of the church and tapped me on the shoulder.
"Did you give Pat the message?"
"What message?" I asked with a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach...
"You men! You never listen!" was her rejoinder (she's 84).
She then proceeded to give Pat the message she had sent through me!
As the priest arrived and moved towards the sacristy to prepare himself, he gave a puzzled glance at two elderly ladies and one old man holding on to each other and giggling helplessly!
A very Happy and confused Christmas to you all!
I do hope we are not alone...