Old memories

Old Geoff settled back in his veranda chair and waited for his friend to arrive.  The sun was warm,  the chair was  comfortable and the sounds emanating from within the house meant that his wife was busy at her  afternoon tasks.  It was a real pleasure to be able to relax and anticipate an afternoon of reminiscences with a mate of long standing.  

They could talk about everything.  They had shared the same views on politics and religion for all their lives, and had solved  the world's economic and social problems many times over.  There was nothing major that was not grist to their mill.  It was just plain comfortable as each of them had remarked at one time or other about their ability to rectify the troubles of society, even if few others took much consideration of what they propounded .  

Geoff had fallen into a doze in his chair, and was slightly startled when the yard gate clicked and Jim wandered up the path,  taking a look at the various plants that the lady of the house carefully cultivated as her main source of relaxation, but quickened his pace when he saw Geoff sit up awake from his snooze.

How's it going? he greeted his friend.

Pretty good . What  about  you?

Not too bad,  said Jim and grunted as he sat in the other verandah chair, adding as he settled, 

So  what  have  you been doing with yourself lately , Geoff?

Not much.  We did go out to a restaurant last night. Chinese. Great food. Worth trying for  yourself.

Living it up, then, were you?  What was the name of the place?

Geoff looked a bit bemused, and scratching his head, asked  Jim ,

What's that plant called, you know, the one with the thorns, and red, like that one down there.

Rose?  suggested Jim.

Yeah,  that's it.

And Geoff turned round to shout into the house,

What was the name of that Chinese restaurant we went  to last  night?

Do you remember it, Rosie ?