People in my books: Greg

Greg was a man’s man.  He liked boats, engines, tractors, fishing nets, wet and oily things.  He was serious, but brilliant at telling a joke.  He was hard-working but enjoyed a couple of drinks with his friends.  He was honest, but open to ideas for making a quick buck.  The cold didn’t bother him and he had spent many an hour working on a car engine in some frozen Sussex garage in the depths of an English winter.  Likewise the heat didn’t bother him and he was totally at home under the South Pacific sun at the hottest time of the day.  He didn’t burn, he enjoyed working up a thirst. Mosquitoes droning around his head at night didn’t bother him.  It would never have occurred to him to be afraid of a snake … or a dog … or a shark.

Tall, strong and good-looking, he had had plenty of girl friends.  But when Melanie announced she was pregnant, he married her with no hesitation, the way one did in those days.  He accepted his lot reasonably graciously, barely noticed the advancing pregnancy except when he wanted to have sex with his wife, and was most certainly no where near the hospital at the time of the birth.

Baby matters were no concern of his, but he was proud of his little son and, asked if he loved him would have said yes, of course.  Or perhaps he’d have felt awkward and said that he didn’t go in for all that lovey-dovey stuff.  It was way too late in the day when he realized just how much he loved Melanie and the child. Way too late.

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