Another Letter To Stan in Cape Town

My Dear Stanley,

This may come as quite a surprise for you as I have not seen or written to you in over 30 years. Mind you, I have tried to make contact several times through Mr Wyer junior in Cape Town but then I heard through Roger Graham that he'd met with a nasty accident.

Sarves Somana gave me your box number, so here we are again in contact. I do love that, don't you? I do remember you saying often “Where's babbling Brooke?” and I used to get upset a bit but then after several years it didn't matter at all. As you may know, my husband passed away almost 30 years ago, he died of a tumor in his left earlobe which was malignant for some 12 months. He was such a fine gentleman and I did love him dearly.

Since then I've often thought of you, and between you and me I often dream about you and me getting into the haystack together just to talk about old times. We did have such a wonderful time in Romatex with all the goings-on, it was almost like the theatre. Those magic moments will always be in my memory.

This is really hard of me to ask you but would it be possible for me to come and stay with you over a long weekend in early January next year? I guarantee I would not be a nuisance and I will keep out of your way. And if you want me to I will pose for you either as portrait painting or I can strip off to do a full nude. I really don't mind. I recall you did not like my makeup and I've heard your comments once or twice “Did she put her makeup on with a trowel?” That was a bit unkind but again, I got over that also.

Another thing I remember so well is watching you trim your beard when you thought nobody was looking, you had that small mirror balanced in your left hand and stood with your back to the door but we could see you through the other door leading out to the corridor. 'We' being Pete Smith and myself. Isn't it crazy the memories one keeps?

I do really hope you will put me up over sometime in January as we have so much to talk about and you can show me around Hout Bay. Do you mind?

Your ever attentive secretary, Edna.