‘Well one day, Jennie and her boyfriend came to my home,’ Mr Coombes told Tom. `We had a terrible row and after that, I came out here for a walk – it was a day just like this. I thought about what to do. Then I went back to the house and had another row!’
`Really?’ asked his brother Tom.
`Yes. I threw Jennie’s boyfriend out the house and smashed things about.’
`What did Mrs Coombes do?’
`Well, she ran up the stairs and locked herself in the bedroom.’
`And?’
`Well, I just told her. Now you know what I am like when I’m angry. And I never had to say one word more again.’
`And you have been happy ever after, eh?’
Mr Coombes thought for a second. `Yes,’ he said. ‘It has been better. If it hadn’t been for that afternoon…I’d be walking the roads right now. There’s nothing like putting your foot down. Now we’re alright and the business is doing well.’
`Good,’ said Tom. ‘I’m glad.’
They walked on together. But then Tom stopped. `What a lot of strange fungi there are here!’ he said, looking at the ground.
Mr Coombes looked down too. `I think they must be for some wise purpose,’ he said.
And that was the only thanks that the Purple Pileus ever got for waking up this absurd little man and changing his life forever.
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