"So, where are we going this
year?" said Mum. "Another year has gone round and we have to decide
what to do. Any ideas where you'd like to go?"
"I have
thought about this. A lot." offered Tracy.
"And what
places did you think of?" asked Dad.
"Well, there
are all the places in Europe - Spain, Italy, Greece."
"Spanish
islands too," interrupted Jimmy.
"And there's
America," Tracy continued, ignoring Jimmy's comments. "I'd really
love to go to Las Vegas. To see it for myself as I've heard so much about it.
Caesar's Palace where all the Big Stars go."
"Ibiza is a
good place for the sun," Jimmy went on as though Tracy had not ignored
him. "Majorca too. Or Menorca, even."
"Wasting time
in the sun when we could go and actually look around these places and
everything they have to offer. After we have spent so much time and money
getting there. It seems silly to just lie in the sun getting burnt."
"Don't be so negative,
Harry," Pauline chastised her husband.
"I'm not
being negative, Pauline. It's true. It is so stupid to just sit in the sun. We
could all get skin cancer."
"Live
dangerously. That's what I say," Tracy threw in.
"That's easy
to say when you're so young...," continued Harry in his wisdom.
"There you go
again, Dad. Meaning I know nothing. I do know things."
"I didn't
mean that. When you get a little older you will be more careful."
Tracy stood up
looking very indignant saying: "I'm going out."
"Tracy, don't
you want to go anywhere on holiday this year?" Pauline said. "If you
leave now, we may decide where we are going without asking your opinion."
Tracy sat down, a gloomy look all over her face.
Pauline went on:
"Can't we agree on something, just for once? This is supposed to be a family
decision about where we are going for our holiday. And all we do is argue.
Jimmy, you've been very quiet. What do you think?"
"I told you,
the Spanish islands sound nice. I'd like to go somewhere like that. Lots to do.
All those beaches."
"Two weeks
playing in the sand. How boring," Tracy added helpfully. "Showing
your age again, Jimmy. Twelve. Going on twelve. Typical kid."
"You're
horrible, Tracy. You think you're so smart at 15. I hate you."
"We're no
closer to deciding where we are going," cautioned Mum.
Pragmatically
Harry advised: "If we don't cool down we won't be going anywhere. It'll be
too late to book anything."
"School
holidays are always a problem," reminded Pauline. "We have to choose
sometime in July or August."
"It annoys me
the way holiday companies bump up the prices in the Summer Holidays. Greed
that's what it is. Pure and simply greed. And I'm not really sure we have the
time to go anywhere. There are so many projects we need to get started,"
threatened Harry.
"What? Go
nowhere?" bleated the children together. They were nearly in shock.
"That got
your attention, didn't it? So, where are we going? We have got to make a
decision. Come on. Lets have your ideas. So far we have July or August and
Europe or America. It's a start."
"I want to go
to Menorca," confirmed Jimmy.
"Las Vegas," Tracy said.
"Pauline?"
"Oh, anywhere
you like."
"OK. Since
nobody can make a decision around here. I'll do it. It's Margate. Again."
"Margate?"
all three whimpered in concert.
After a little focused
thought that this threat forced, the Internet holiday web page eventually
displayed the island of Cyprus.
"It's amazing
how breaking the circle of indecision can effect results," Harry later
told Pauline.
Louis Brothnias 2005, Rev 2 2007 (May)