G.B. Ralph

“What I’m trying to say,’ Charles said, holding his hands up in surrender. ‘What I’m trying to say is this: our Arthur obviously liked the look of this particular book,’ he said, gesturing to me. ‘Gabriel caught his eye, so he grabbed him off the shelf, opened him up’ – did this guy hear himself? – ‘and he must have liked what he found inside because now he’s telling people this is his favourite book.’ There was a short pause while everyone considered this thought. ‘I think we’ve strayed from the matter at hand,’ Gerry said. ‘What’s that?’ said another of the old boys who’d returned from the tees. ‘What’s everyone doing back here, anyway?’ ‘Desmond, our Arthur’s gay,’ Gladys said. ‘Arthur’s gay?’ Desmond said. ‘Happy gay, or soap-drop-in-the-shower gay?’ ‘Both, I expect. That’s his boyfriend, Gabriel,’ Charles said. ‘Handsome and clever, as we have established.’ ‘Is that right?’ Desmond said, looking at me before turning to Arthur. ‘Why didn’t you say so?’ ‘I uh – I just did.’ ‘So you have,’ he said, smiling as he clapped Arthur on the back.”
― G.B. Ralph, Over and Out