Smut: Stories
Alan Bennett
Language: English
Pages: 152
ISBN: 1250003164
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
One of England's finest and most loved writers explores the uncomfortable and tragicomic gap between people's public appearance and their private desires in two tender and surprising stories.
In The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson, a recently bereaved widow finds interesting ways to supplement her income by performing as a patient for medical students, and renting out her spare room. Quiet, middle-class, and middle-aged, Mrs. Donaldson will soon discover that she rather enjoys role-play at the hospital, and the irregular and startling entertainment provided by her tenants.
In The Shielding of Mrs. Forbes, a disappointed middle-aged mother dotes on her only son, Graham, who believes he must shield her from the truth. As Graham's double life becomes increasingly complicated, we realize how little he understands, not only of his own desires but also those of his mother.
A master storyteller dissects a very English form of secrecy with two stories of the unexpected in otherwise apparently ordinary lives.
The initial stages of tuition had always interested him the least. True, the ignorance of the students gave him umpteen opportunities for sarcasm in which he was happy to indulge except that having begun by showing off a good deal he had got the idea (rightly) that this wasn’t a side of him Mrs Donaldson much cared for. So with his self-restraint not always reliable he sometimes, as today, chose to absent himself from these early sessions altogether, which was easier when, as on this particular
that. Mind you,’ and he looked down at the equally naked Graham, ‘I think it’s got bigger. Filled out a bit, know what I mean?’ It began to dawn on Graham that they had met before and the name suddenly came to him. ‘Gary.’ ‘Aww you remembered.’ Kevin gave his thigh a squeeze. ‘Your stag night, right?’ ‘You’re the long-distance lorry driver.’ ‘No, no. Your memory is at fault there, Toby. I’m the panel beater.’ ‘Your hands are very soft for a panel beater.’ ‘I apply a protective cream.’ It
was all coming back to Graham. ‘You’ve gone up in the world.’ ‘You think so?’ ‘This place, it’s a gated development. Last time you were just in a flat.’ ‘Nothing but the best,’ said Kevin, stroking his belly, ‘only Toby – you set too much store by material possessions.’ Not a panel beater, thought Graham. An interior decorator, maybe. ‘How’s Shirley?’ ‘Who?’ ‘Shirley,’ said Graham. ‘Your girlfriend. You fuck her on Fridays.’ ‘No such person. I couldn’t have anything to do with a girl
was all coming back to Graham. ‘You’ve gone up in the world.’ ‘You think so?’ ‘This place, it’s a gated development. Last time you were just in a flat.’ ‘Nothing but the best,’ said Kevin, stroking his belly, ‘only Toby – you set too much store by material possessions.’ Not a panel beater, thought Graham. An interior decorator, maybe. ‘How’s Shirley?’ ‘Who?’ ‘Shirley,’ said Graham. ‘Your girlfriend. You fuck her on Fridays.’ ‘No such person. I couldn’t have anything to do with a girl
1950s. Well, you’re in luck. I happen to know our community liaison officer is on the premises and you can have a little chat with him. I shan’t keep you a moment.’ And he went off down the corridor saying, ‘Blackmail! Dear oh dear.’ Heartened by his sympathetic reception and relieved at the prospect of sharing his troubles Graham resumed his seat in the reception area where he idly leafed through some of the literature scattered about the low table. Turning a page of the local bulletin he came