Fast Fiction

Tom was thrilled about the golfing holiday, but Sally had other plans

Just think,’ said Tom. ‘In a few hours, we’ll be in Bali with Jan and Peter. Good thing Pete entered that competition at the golf club. Never thought we’d actually win the trip. Can’t wait!’

Sally didn’t agree. They were Tom’s friends, not hers. Their idea of a holiday was to play as much golf as possible. She preferred lazing by a pool.

Tom packed another pair of golf shoes, then snapped his bag shut.

‘Right. I’m ready. Time to check the paperwork. Have you got your passport?’

‘Of course.’ She pulled it from her bag and waved it.

‘Better let me look after it,’ He took it and put it into his pocket.

The taxi arrived soon after. They collected Jan and Peter on the way to the airport. By the time they got there, Sally had heard enough about birdies and eagles to stock an aviary.

They made their way to the check-in desk, still talking about golf, but when Tom gave the woman their passports, she took one look and shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, sir. This one’s out of date. It expired a year ago.’

Tom snatched the passport and thrust it at Sally. ‘This is your old passport. Where’s the new one?’

‘Oh dear,’ she said. ‘Didn’t you check it?’

‘Why would I do that? It’s your passport.’ He turned back to the woman. ‘Isn’t there something we can do?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ she said.

‘Great.’ Tom turned to Jan and Peter. ‘You go on ahead. We’ll have to go home and fetch Sally’s passport. We’ll catch a later flight.’ He asked the woman when the next flight was.

‘Let me check.’ She pressed some keys. ‘I can get you on a flight on Wednesday.’

‘But we’ve got a round of golf tomorrow morning,’ he said.

Peter joined in. ‘It won’t be the same without you.’

Tom dropped his head, a sad expression on his face.

‘Don’t worry about me, dear,’ said Sally. ‘I’m happy to stay at home. I’ve been meaning to visit my sister for ages.’

‘I can’t let you do that,’ he said. ‘You’re my wife.’

‘I don’t mind,’ she told him. ‘Honest, I don’t.’

As Tom’s eyes glazed over. Sally knew he was imagining his swing and seeing the ball soar down the fairway. After a few seconds, he turned to her. ‘Are you sure you’re OK about this?’

‘Quite sure,’ said Sally.

‘Like I said, I can go and stay with my sister.’

The woman at the desk hurried them up. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but I need to know if you’re flying today or not.’

Tom nodded, then turned to Sally. ‘I’ll call you when we get there.’

‘Best call my mobile, in case I’m at Liz’s,’ she added.

As Tom checked in, he was already chatting to his friends about golf.

Once they’d gone, Sally made a phone call.

‘Mike, darling, it’s me. It worked! I’ll meet you in the departure lounge in an hour.’

Tom had arranged for Mike to give Sally golf lessons, but she had zero talent. After six lessons, they realised they’d fallen for each other and started an affair.

Sally fished her current passport out of her purse. She smiled, imagining the beach holiday she was about to embark on with the man she loved. One thing she knew for certain, they wouldn’t be playing golf.

Their idea of a holiday was playing golf, she preferred the pool