£

Franc and Mark had been put out to pasture by Kid Euro who (they grumbled) wasn’t such a hot shot. They’d never reconciled to retirement. “I miss the travel,” Mark moaned constantly; he’d once had a yen for Asia. Franc was bored too. He spent his time romancing the ladies, whom Mark dismissed as “silly old gits.” Lira, Peseta, and Drachma were always partying. Word was they’d squandered everything and might have to go back to work. “How come Sterling never had to retire?” Mark asked bitterly. Old £ was still kicking, and clearly would be well past one sixty-five.