I fought with M over a silver Waterman pen. He claimed that it was his, but I argued that it could only be mine since it was a corporate gift from Sun Microsystems.

IH, who was cradling a baby, watched us arguing. I glanced over and wondered if the child in her arms was her son and M the father.

IH later referred to M as ‘grandpa’. I assumed that this was just a courtesy title.