Double Take

Allegra and I enjoyed a 70th birthday lunch with my maiden aunt at Sheekey’s off St Martin’s Lane, opposite the stage door of the Noel Coward theatre.
After dessert Allegra made for the ladies room, unexpectedly reappearing almost instantaneously in the passageway right outside the window behind Aunt Thelma’s head. I was flabbergasted to see her approach a handsome young man kissing him profusely.
As my mind wrestled with what to say Allegra returned nonchalantly to the table unaware - panic over ‘twas her alter ego, Patricia Hodge, in the passageway outside, hugging her son before a performance of Calendar Girls.