A couple entered one of our local parks last Sunday. Their five year old son drifted in behind them. The man and women were walking about five feet apart. The woman was white faced and very angry. The man was smiling and conciliatory. I just had the feeling he had done something wrong. Both parents were carrying a mobile phone.
Their son addressed them as `Mum’ and `Dad’ respectively. I presumed, therefore, that he was their son. Both parents were able to smile and talk pleasantly with their son. They just had some unfinished business with each other.
I was only in their orbit for about ten seconds - and did not see them again for some time. In fact the next time I saw them was around sixty minutes later when they left the park hand in hand. The woman’s face was glowing and relaxed. The five year was still skipping. All was well in the world.
I was standing by my car and chanced to hear the following snippet as the mother relayed a telephone conversation to her husband:
`She has reached 89% on the paper!’
`Please tell her well done!’
`You are never going to believe this, but she has turned the oven on too so our meal will be ready as soon as we get back.’
`That’s wonderful, I am so pleased, but - what was the answer to number 37?’
`What was the answer to number thirty seven?’
(Pause.)
`She says that I was right.’
`I am sorry, I will never doubt you again.’
Question 37:
A window in a girl’s bedroom measures 1 m by 1.5 m. If she wants her new curtains to have an extra 300cms in length, how much curtain material does she have to buy?
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