Tony: the Rushtons' "dislike"

[set in the early 1950s – Rushton and his wife Pamela, recently married, are living with Rushton’s parents]

Christmas Day was pleasant enough in those days, particularly with the novelty of shared presents, which were still sometimes addressed, rather self-consciously, to “the happy couple”.  Yet as the festive mood faded, and energy with it, there came the annual ritual which Rushton and his new wife dreaded more than most events in the year – the arrival of his sister Elaine, her husband Jolyon and their three girls.  They would subsequently invite the Rushton household back to their own home for a post-Christmas party.

It was not that Rushton felt the slightest animosity towards them.  On the contrary, he and Jolyon often joked together, and played at mimicry and making up absurd characters and stories.  Christmas, however, seemed to impose on Rushton’s brother-in-law the necessity of making his mark as a society host, of entertaining in a self-conscious, indeed self-reverential, manner.  As for Elaine, her natural effusiveness craved for some kind of outlet, which Christmas, of all times of the year, provided in abundance, and the three girls were more than willing accomplices in her efforts.

Pamela looked gloomy.  Rushton guessed why.  “Managed to get yourself a headache yet?” he quipped.  “I suppose I’ll have to go and face them alone.”

“That’s not really fair”, she replied, with a slight pout of her mouth.  “You’ve often ended up with a bad head yourself.”

She was wearing the light blue polka dot dress he had given her for Christmas.  Did it suit her?  He could not decide.

“Alright, I’ll come down with you,” she smiled.

They descended the stairs to his parents’ living room, just as a loud crash at the front door announced the opening of festivities.  The arrival of Elaine was an event in itself, setting Christmas cards swaying and flapping on the mantelpiece as she flowed in with her large contingent of long-haired, snuffling Pekinese dogs. 

“Hello!”  “Hello!”  Behind Elaine, affable and agreeable, Jolyon trotted nonchalantly, his wide mouth smiling broadly, as he flicked the ash from a prodigiously large cigar.

“You found the champagne?  Good!  Good!” he purred, fingering the lapels of his brand new jacket.  “You must come back for afters, and, of course, the world premiere!”

It was only to be expected.  Being a professional film cameraman himself, he was never averse to turning the lens upon his own family’s exploits, and what better time than Christmas to act as master of ceremonies and expert commentator upon his extensive home movies?  Yet this would only be the centrepiece of proceedings.  Beforehand, the three girls would entertain the Rushtons with charades.

It was the films which were most deeply engraved upon Rushton’s memory.  The projector would be set up in the lounge, the chairs arranged beneath it, a large white screen at the front.  Jolyon, with some kind of controller which he caressed lovingly in his hand, would introduce the latest holiday footage, a barrage of smiling faces and holiday skies.  Pamela would sit, red-faced, smiling, stifling her yawns, whilst Rushton, nursing a Pekinese on his lap, would make suitable responses as required.

"Now Rome", Jolyon frowned, "was a bore!"

"Of course!" Rushton smiled ironically,  "the ruins, the paintings ...."

"The traffic!" Jolyon simpered.  "Couldn't hear myself speak!"

This, Rushton reflected, would have made a change.