A Conspiracy of Friends by Alexander McCall Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t see it,” she said. “I’m not sure if I understand what you’re driving at.”
    “Well, let me explain,” said Frances. “You know Peggy Warden. Do you remember her son, Ronald? He’s more or less exactly your age. Well, Peggy told me that Ronald brought home this very nice girl whom he’d met at university in Exeter. Peggy said that she really was charming, and of course her hopes, as Ronald’s mother, were raised. But she said nothing, and off they went. Then Ronald brought her home again a few weeks later and Peggy had the chance to speak to him privately. She said that she asked him about this girl and he said that they were just good friends. So she said that this could change and she told him how much she liked her. But apparently he just shook his head and said that he couldn’t possibly make a romance out of it precisely because they were friends. Peggy said to me that he then said, ‘You don’t sleep with your friends.’ Those were his exact words. So you see what I mean?”
    Again, Caroline shrugged. “Just because Ronald says—”
    Her mother interrupted her. “The point is, Caroline, that men and women can’t be friends. We have to keep up these … these psychological barriers between us because if we don’t then we’re never going to get men to agree to marriage—or even partnership, if you will. That’s why there are so many people living on their own. That’s why so many women find it difficult to get a man these days.”
    Caroline looked out of the window again. “Is it very difficult? Are there all that many women looking for men they’re not going to be able to find?”
    “Yes, there are. Thousands in this country alone. Millions. And it’s their own fault, much of the time. They’ve let men get what they want without giving anything in return. Men—our friends? We think they are but let me tell you, dear, they most definitely aren’t!”
    Caroline closed her eyes briefly; she found that it helped to closeher eyes when talking to her mother, or indeed when participating in any argument. The closing of the eyes somehow equalised things. And while her eyes were closed, she thought: Of course men and women can be friends—it was ridiculous to assert otherwise. Of course they could. There were so many examples of such friendships, and she told her mother so, forcefully, and with a conviction that perhaps matched that shown by her mother.
    But Frances was not convinced. “Give me an instance,” she said provocatively. “If you’re so sure about that—give me an instance.”

11. He’s My Friend
    F RANCES HAD CHANGED the focus of the conversation, as she often did. She had started talking about the difficulty of moving from a relationship of friendship to something more. Now the topic seemed to have broadened to that of friendship between the sexes—and its apparent impossibility. Caroline was sure that her mother was wrong about both: she saw no reason why a friend should not become a lover, just as she saw no reason why a man and a woman should not have a firm and uncomplicated friendship.
    It was tempting simply to agree with her mother. Parents can be so wrong, Caroline thought—about virtually everything—and it was therefore best just to steer clear of matters of disagreement and concentrate instead on keeping relations uncontroversial and consequently affable.
    She gave in to the temptation. “No, you’re right,” she said quietly. “I don’t suppose that …”
    She did not finish. “You’re being evasive, Caroline,” said Frances. “Don’t think I can’t tell.”
    Caroline sighed. “I’m not. All I’m saying is … Well, what I mean is, why argue?”
    Frances laughed. This discussion was taking place in the kitchen, where the two of them were seated at the kitchen table, shelling peas.
    “Why argue?” Her mother’s voice rose perceptibly. “I was not aware that we were arguing. I was under the impression that we were having a