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While Jen cursed autumn for dressing the pavements in a lethal cloak of sodden leaves and for giving her a stuffy cold, Polly praised the fall frequently each day for its stunning blaze of cool fire. She was rarely without a smile or a spring to her step and her delight and her energy were infectious. Trudging across Hampstead Heath in its October livery of russets and browns was one thing, but jogging or cycling or sitting – just living – in Vermont, in a landscape which boasted every possible hue of red, orange and yellow was something else entirely.

‘Forget Keats!’ Polly told her senior class, ‘“Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”? I hardly think so. Don’t take any notice of him – he never came to Vermont, you see. But if he had, class, how do you think he would have described it? Anyone? Don?’

‘Er, “season of pumpkin and palette of fire”?’

‘Good! Laura?’

‘“Trees clad the colour of passion; sun slumbering till spring”?’

‘Super! Kevin?’

‘“Fall: the sweep of flame that is the swansong of the maple.”’

‘Terrific! Gosh, look at it out there – come on, let’s spend the remainder of the lesson outside composing odes.’

The Bench, Hockey Pitch

19th October

Darling Max,

My class are composing odes to the fall so I thought I’d do the same but in letter form to you. I’ve told the seniors to forget Keats – do you think that very wicked? But most of them are eighteen years old, so I’m sure they can handle such an order! I won’t tell the juniors to do so as they’re far too impressionable, and I can’t instruct the freshers and sofs because I doubt they know who Keats is. I think the seniors feel liberated, relieved in some way – given carte blanche to shake off the spectre of hallowed literature, to praise nature in whatever terms they choose. They’re picking some excellent ones too.

As you know, I don’t believe in God, but I have to credit and thank some thing; whoever, whatever. As the fall has taken hold, it is as if some divine, huge power is laying their hand over the land in a slow, magical sweeping. Initially, just the fingertips of some of the leaves on a few of the trees were touched with crimson. Within a week, every tree had a flourish of copper or brass amongst the remaining green – as if a whole branchful had been given a celestial handshake. Now the maples are cloaked in incredible swathes of colours from the highest yellow to the deepest maroon; so vivid and bright that I don’t know whether to weep or wear sunglasses. No mists, no mellow fruitfulness; instead an amazing clarity, crystal-clean light and a clear breeze. This land is rich indeed, for the leaves are made of gold, of rubies, of garnets. Ho! Sorry to prattle on in such syrupy terms, but I really have fallen under the spell of this place.

The only drawback is the Rodin Syndrome. Now that I have experienced the fall in Vermont, I fear any other autumn anywhere else will surely seem second-rate and mediocre. Rather like all other sculpture once the work of Rodin is known.

God, I wish you were here. It is absolutely beautiful but it would be even better if I could share it. I mean, I go jogging with Lorna and cycling with Clinton (I’m quite fit now – you’d love my tight butt) (that’s American for firm bum) but what I crave is a long, loping walk with you.

Damn – time and paper run out on me – and my juniors are about to have the surprise of their lives: they’re about to meet Chaucer and, while they adore my dulcet tones, I’m not sure what they’ll make of my Middle English accent.

I love you, Max-i-mine. My own ‘verray parfit gentil knight’, I miss you. Write soon,

Polly.

PS. pis send more Marmite – Kate’s gone crazy for it and is using it in everything – Bogey’s food included.

‘Yeah, hello?’

‘Chip?’

‘Jen! How are you? Hey, it’s great to hear from you. I was going to call you only there’s a hockey tournament soon and suddenly the whole team have gotten aches and sprains.’

‘Hey, that’s OK, I’ve been pretty busy too.’

‘So how’s it going?’

‘Good, good – how’s Hubbardtons?’

‘Pretty much the same. I think tomorrow’ll be Mountain Day.’

‘Hey – isn’t that classified information? Wish I could be there.’

‘You don’t have some day similar, in London England?’

‘Nope. Nothing that comes close. Something called Mufti when the kids can wear their own clothes – but that’s only the last day of term.’

‘Some way off.’

‘Sure is. You know, it’s kinda weird living in someone else’s apartment. There’re these crazy women above me – one is old, Swiss and nutty as hell, the other’s an out-and-out psycho. I haven’t managed to come in without one or other noticing – so I’m either sworn at or asked the date, time and year and the whereabouts of some guy called Franz.’

‘Sounds entertaining?’

‘I guess. I think I prefer being Dorm Mother to ten girls though. So, have you met Polly Fenton?’

‘Er, Polly Fenton. No, no, I haven’t as yet.’

‘Oh?’

‘No, I’ve been real busy.’

‘Sure. She’s pretty.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I met her boyfriend and he showed me photos.’

‘She has a boyfriend?’

‘Yes. Chip?’

‘Yeah?’

‘You there?’

‘Sure.’

‘You went kinda distant.’

‘I was miles away, I was just – you know. I don’t know, I’m bushed.’

‘Sure.’

‘So what’s he like?’

‘Who?’

‘This boyfriend guy.’

‘Oh, he’s really sweet and helpful – the boiler here’s a little temperamental so he’s going to have someone come fix it. He and his brother are making dinner for me and Megan this weekend.’

‘Great.’

‘Yeah. You want to know who Megan is?’

‘I’d love to but I gotta go – I have a kid for hydrotherapy in five.’

‘Sure. I love you, Chip.’

‘Love you too, Jen.’

Hampstead

Hallowe’en

Hullo Button,

Lovely to receive your letters – two arrived this morning though you sent them a week apart. Royal Mail – 1, USA Post – 0. You wrote beautifully about the fall and I wish so much I could share it with you. Maybe another year we could take our holiday there.

London is sludgy and slippery, and strolling over the Heath becomes a maudlin trudge without you, kicking the leaves, all rosy-cheeked and alive. There have been some great films on at the Everyman but all Dominic will be coaxed to see is Die Very Hard 27 and Star Trek 43. Plebeian.

Work has been going well; some new commissions as well as potboilers from the faithful. I enclose photos and a Lottery ticket – the acquisition of both being highly traumatic so I hope you’ll be grateful.

You’ll never guess who I bumped into.

Jen Carter!

At Budgens.

You’ll be pleased to hear that Buster is living the life to which he is accustomed: her shopping consisted of little else than tinned salmon and condensed milk. I popped back to the flat and, rest assured, all is neat and tidy, with Post-it notes still in place. I thought it would be friendly to invite her over for supper, along with Megan – such an evening will provide Jen with some company, Megan with some hope, and Dominic with a choice!

I’ll report back with Technicolor detail!

Love and miss you intensely,