Footnote to the misfortune of others.

I got home from work this evening to find Mrs BW a little bit frazzled and frayed around the gills so to speak. Well I thought I would cheer her up with a rather amusing story I had heard earlier in the day. " I heard an amusing story earlier today" I started. She looked at me quizzically, for she has heard my amusing stories before. " Yes" I went on, "Apparently this chap played football on Sunday and not only did his team lose 4-3 but he missed a penalty and you'll never guess...." I stopped. I got the distinct impression that Mrs BW was not following my flow with the sort of keen attention that my amusing stories deserve. She sighed.

"Yes I know. I told it to you at lunch time!"

"Ah, um, right. So you know the bit about the bonnet then". She didn't reply.

"Are you sure it was you? " She had been slicing bread, and I didn't like the way she handled the bread knife.

"It must have been a busy day, you know lots of things to remember." I said by way of an apology, and slunk out of the kitchen.