Island Paradise

Wilson removed his medal from its box and examined it closely. 

'All your suggestions are excellent,' I said, 'but rather more costly than I'd hoped. What do you think of a holiday on the Isle of Wight?'

'The Isle of Wight?' he asked, 'I've never heard of it — is it abroad?'

'Oh, pretty much,' I replied, trying to sound casual rather than evasive. 'We'd get there by boat, they mostly speak English and we could take the car. It's a lot like Jersey…'

I waited anxiously for his response, but he seemed engrossed by his medal.

Polly arrived with a mug of coffee for him, and he asked her whether she'd ever heard of the Isle of Wight.

'Oh yes,' she said, 'it's lovely there!'

'Okay then,' he decided, 'The Isle of Wight it is!'

I turned to leave, but he called me back.

'New Dad, this medal seems to smell of, well... chocolate.'

'Oh yes,' I replied, 'it's not solid gold, it's chocolate on the inside. I wouldn't leave it lying in the sun.'

'I shall keep it in the fridge,' he said, 'when I'm not actually wearing it.'