HAPPY HOUR by Jacquie Byron

 

Franny thinks she is coping perfectly well with her life. A 65 year old glamour puss, sufficient financial resources to see her out, strongly independent in thought and deed, she lives alone in her very nice house and garden in a nice neighbourhood with her two much loved dogs. She eats and drinks what she likes, when she likes, she has her favourite coffee shop just down the road, people who love her and want to care for her. But it is not such a great life really for Frances. Her husband Frank died tragically some four years earlier and it is her grief that is ruling her life, not what she sees as her effective management and acceptance of this grief. She has photos of Frank in various guises over the decades dotted around her house and talks to him regularly. A photo of him in a BBQ apron is in the kitchen, one of him looking young, virile and handsome in the bedroom. She has friends and family endlessly concerned about her whom she simply sees as very annoying pests who just won't leave her alone. On the outside she seems to be coping but is she... Her endless alcohol consumption may be telling another story.

One day a new family moves in next door. To Franny's surprise, Sallyanne Salerno and her two children - 8 year old Josh and 15 year old Dee - somehow get under her skin, and slowly work their ways into her life. Naturally it all begins to come undone at a certain point, Franny having to confront some unwanted demons emanating from her frozen in grief state. She has to learn to live again, but does she really want to. 

It really is quite a delightful and fun story to read and enjoy. The two children are excellent characters. Josh is a divine little boy, already wrestling with not being the stereotyped 8 year old, preferring Franny's gorgeous collection of old clothes, silks, shoes, feather boas to playing cricket, rugby and doing boy stuff. Dee is a teenager caught between being a little girl and a young woman, trying to be something she is not yet ready for, very drawn to the sophisticated and glamorous Franny. Sallyanne is trying to be the best mother she can, getting away from her abusive husband and working full time. No wonder the children seek refuge with Franny and the dogs. But does she want them in her life?

There is some great dialogue, Franny has a mouth on her that I am sure any 65 year old woman would be proud of. She has never had children herself so approaches the whole business of relating to children differently from any other adults in Dee and Josh's lives, with some very funny and unexpected results. I liked this a lot - it is not in any way great literature, but it is funny, light and very enjoyable.