P: Hello Miss Porter. Mrs Kennard I never thought anything except that you wear a ring and your husband is not in the room.Porter.from the CAC?

Bette: ( looking confused at the change in chat from Mr Hughes),eh yes the very one

P: (clearing his throat)Mrs Kennard, may I have a word with you..alone

TBC



Tina looked at Bette and Bette gulped. Tina looked Mr Hughes in the eye.

Tina: Mr Hughes.you can speak freely with my friend here. After all thats why she is here with me.to help listen in everything so that we can discuss it later.so please go on..

Mr Hughes swallowed hard and was beginning to get flushed.

P: Mrs Kennard..we have to live up to the catholic way of life within this schooland ehyour friend hereran an exhibition thatwell lets just saymade us a laughing stock

Tina (looking at Bette with her mouth open)what you meanBette did you ridicule a kids school??????????????

Bette: ( looking at the ceiling for divine intervention),.no bano Tina..the show I ran was called Provocations.the art was .provocative and sparked a lot of public interest and disinterest..

P: thatMiss Porter..is putting it mildly..Mrs Kennard.Miss Porter is also a ..

Tina and Bette: A WHAT???????????????

P: a ( leaning forward on his chair and looking only at Tina)*****..

Tina.( holding her true feelings back)..noreally(turning to Bette)are you?????????

Bette sat in wonder. She was unsure what to say but wanted to punch Mr H right on the schnozzle.

Tina: Bette.would you mind waiting with the girls, please(Tina turned to look at Bette and gave no indication what she was thinking).

Reluctantly Bette stood up and walked out of the door. All the time Bette wanted to hit Mr H and tell him how much a ***** he was. But Bette did as Tina asked.but she was gubbed as to why she asked her to step outside. Bette sat with the girls and told them that mum wanted her to see if they were ok. A few moments later Tina appeared out of the room. Motioned for everyone to leave and they were all back in the car, with Bette driving, in no time.

There was an awkward silence until one of the girls spoke.

Lucy: mum when do we start the school and what does their uniform look like?

Tina: .Lucy sweetheart can we chat about it later.please?

Lucy..ok mummy

Silence again, until Tina spoke

Tina: Bette dont you have to go into work now? (her voice was void of feelings)

Bette: eh yesTina what happened in there? (Bette could stand it no longer. Her voice was quiet but she was annoyed at Tinas silence, after all she had asked her to go and then asked her to step outside with the girls).

Tina: BetteI dont want to talk about itplease

Bette: what not ever.you mean

Tina; Bette, please, just leave ityou have to get to work..I shall take the girls for lunch and have a chat with them.

Bette; oh greatyou talk to your girls Tina, fine

Bette drove to the CAC in complete silence and Tina looked out of the window. They arrived at the gallery, Bette stopped the engine and got out of the car. Tina looked at her with a confused look and also got out.

Tina; Bette, whats up?

Bette: Tina.you know I god you drive me mad at times.whats up.go figure.

Tina: go figure what, (Tina held her arms up in the air and looked as pissed off as Bette did)

Bette (walking back to Tina and speaking very quietly), TinaIm going to work now

Bette turned and walked away. As she did Tina called

Tina: Bette, what about the carhow do I get home?

Bette: (turning to look at Tina)go ask Mr Hughes..

TBC