Read George's Grand Tour for Free Online Page A

there every weekend, and we didn’t spend hours on the phone, or on the internet, or emailing each other or I don’t know what else. With young people today, the further away they are, the more they’re on your back all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. But sometimes … George, it’s your turn.’
    George looked distractedly at his hand, before continuing in the same vein.
    â€˜Yes, yes, the telephone. Argh! They’re all glued to their telephones, like you wouldn’t believe! It was bad enough before, even if a phone came in handy now and again. But now with all these mobile phones—’
    â€˜And it gets worse,’ Charles cut in. ‘Wait’til you hear this.My grandson from Parthenay, right, he comes to stay with us in the holidays. And he’s only reading his emails, that’s right, his internet emails on his mobile phone!’ To underline the absurdity of the thing he banged his fist on the table emphatically and leaned back in his chair. ‘I mean, I’ve seen that kind of thing on telly, but I just thought no, that’s for people who are in the know, who work in telecoms, or maybe even a couple of the big CEOs, but no! My grandson! A butcher in Parthenay!’
    George shook his head. ‘If even butchers need computers all over the place, what is the world coming to! Right, where were we? Wait, Ginette, what are you doing?’
    â€˜Going out,’ announced Ginette proudly.
    â€˜Already?’ exclaimed Charles. ‘With all of your cards?’
    â€˜Yep, and without a joker!’
    â€˜My, my … And there I was with nothing. Have a look at that hand, not even a face card, totally useless. We take more points without the joker as well, I think …’
    â€˜No, no more points, just your admiration, gentlemen … So minus twenty for yours truly and two hundred points each for you two.’
    â€˜Well, this is off to a good start … Right, who’s dealing?’
    â€˜The idiot who asks who’s dealing,’ guffawed Charles, a regular at the belote table.
    As George dealt out the cards, Ginette cautiously picked up the conversation.
    â€˜But what you say about mobile phones, George … Well, I’ve got one and—’
    George ceased dealing and stopped her there.
    â€˜Me too, Ginette, me too, but I don’t use it !’
    â€˜Well, actually you do use it, George,’ Charles pointed out. ‘You’re diverting all of your calls.’
    â€˜Yes, but that’s different.’
    â€˜George is using his phone to make everyone think he’s taking it easy in Chanteloup, when actually he’s doing the Tour de France,’ Charles explained with a wry smile.
    â€˜But that’s just so they don’t get worried !’
    â€˜And you can do that with mobile phones, can you?’ asked Ginette, impressed.
    â€˜You certainly can!’ Charles answered proudly. ‘I’m the one who set it all up, give it a try if you like.’
    â€˜Alright Charles,’ interrupted George, who had suddenly sobered up. ‘Are you playing cards or giving a lecture on technology? It would be great if we could start playing before sunrise.’
    â€˜All I’m trying to say,’ Ginette began again, ‘is that I have a mobile and I think it’s great.’
    â€˜There you go!’ exclaimed George. ‘Like I said, women can’t get away from their phones.’
    â€˜Not at all, and I can prove it: I have a contract that allows me one hour of calls a month. A month !’
    â€˜Psssh, that’s already too much.’
    â€˜Well I think it gives you more freedom, in a way. I get out and about a lot more now I have my mobile.’
    â€˜Oh right,’ laughed Charles, ‘because you were living like a nun before?’
    â€˜No, I just think mobiles bring people closer.’
    â€˜Closer?’ said George. ‘The reason I