Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990 TAG: 9007110233
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ben Beagle
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Dash it all, chaps, Denis was the only male spouse at the summit and the poor devil must have been hard put to it to put a proper face on it.
While his wife, Margaret, the British prime minister, did all of this chinning with President Bush and other males, poor Denis had to go about with Barbara Bush and other female spouses.
I rather suspect Denis' nerves went fairly early.
I can imagine the Thatchers talking in their hotel room.
"Honestly, my dear," Denis says. "I simply can't hold out on this much longer.
"The bloody truth of the matter, love, is that I quite resent being the only male among the spouses here."
"There, there, Denis, love," says Margaret, widely known for her disposition of iron. "It's just a one more day and then we shall be rid of all these people. Otherwise, I shall have to strike you about the head and shoulders.
"How was your visit to the Alamo, love?"
"It was terrible. I had half expected to see that Wayne chap there, but was told he has passed on. Quite distressing, actually.
"And tea was absolutely unbearable. You'd think these American had never heard of cucumber sandwiches. Bloody awful taste."
"Well, my dear, we shall simply have to put on our best stiff upper lips until this is past," Margaret says. "We must not be found wanting in our devotion to England, you know."
"That's frightfully easy for you to say," Denis says. "You don't have to go knocking about all over the state of Texas with all of these persons of the opposite sex.
"I tell you quite frankly that I've had the urge to tell all of them to clear off."
"But surely, love, Barbara Bush is a grand hostess. You agree to that, what?" Margaret says.
"Somewhat, I suppose," Denis says. "But just between the two of us she did get a bit tedious with that tale of hers about finding a rat in the White House swimming pool.
"Nasty business, that."
"Well, it shan't be long now, love," Margaret says. "England expects every man to do his duty, you know."
"Quite, my dear," Denis says. "Except I was wondering if you would take deep offense if I pleaded a headache and canceled out on tomorrow's sightseeing affair."
"Quite," the prime minister says. "Try that bit of rubbish and I'll see you hanging from the highest yardarm in Liverpool yard."
by CNB