Fire Eater

Luke is feeling okay. Maria has dumped him, but he’s going to hang out with the guys. The night on the town with beer and curry got replaced. Instead curry and a couple cans at the café due to Tyrone giving Roy a driving lesson. Still okay, Luke figures, even if the curry won’t be what he was looking forward to. Roy is “a korma kinda guy – mild, inoffensive,” he tells Gary. But Luke – he’s a fire eater! Of that he’s sure.

Roy serves the meal while telling them the history of curry in the British Isles. He relates a funny moment in Vanity Fair, where Becky Sharp misguidedly eats a chili to cool her mouth after a spicy curry. Well, you had to be there, he realizes as Tyrone, Luke and Gary stare uncomprehendingly at him.

He continues ladling the curry, saying he hadn’t made it quite as hot as the traditional recipe from Goa that he found had called for. Roy and Tyrone on one side of the table talk and eat, savouring the flavours. On the other side, Gary and Luke eat, and look increasingly uncomfortable. 

Their eyes water and Luke begins pulling at his shirt. But he will not admit it’s too hot for him. He likes curry that blows your shirt off, he’d told Gary.

The little moments

It’s little moments like this that I’ve looked for in Coronation Street lately. They are in short supply.

Sarah and Bethany are wearing on my last nerve, as they are on David’s. Carla and Nick cozying up to each other has been fun. But Erica’s return, and her news, will blow that fun out of the water. Sally and the wannabe Banksy is great, but so far is similar to the sofa story. Increasingly loopy Jenny Bradley is causing fights everywhere. Maria getting a punch was great, just because. The enjoyment in that makes up for Sophie being right about Jenny even while she’s still irritatingly self-righteous.