Sport 32: Summer 2004
Flattery
Flattery
‘A,’ Jonathan mouths to Riki and Rio. ‘E.’ They play. ‘E flat.’
Havana again, and enough of a crowd to have Jonathan in an expansive mood.
‘Sponsored by Rex Wheels and Castors, Limited, Petone,’ he will announce, apropos of nothing at all, from behind the organ; and take a swig of his drink.
‘That tune was called “The Long and Winding Road”.’ Which it most certainly was not. A long pause. ‘Sponsored by Transit New Zealand.’
‘That was a very famous tune called “Black Market”.’ Pause. ‘Sponsored by Social Welfare.’
Yes; and from the punters, knowing, insiders' laughter. This kind of messing around between numbers, at the audience, is a subtle and effective form of flattery: it draws you in.