As they walked down the corridor, Dermot said, ‘You know, I might get The Iliad out of the library and read it again. I want to know more about Hector; he’s the missing hero in Andromaque, isn’t he? He’s already dead at the start of the play, but his heroic presence infiltrates everything - the unseen husband. Pyrrhus is nothing by comparison, he just can’t compete for Andromaque’s affections. She’d rather be unhappy with the memory of true love, than happy with a real, breathing love.’

‘The library copy’s missing. I ended up buying my own. I’ll lend it to you if you want,’ offered Shona generously, trying not to think of her own unseen husband, and the memory of true love. ‘It’s the Penguin Classic version,’ she added.

The Balti Ballads Play Brick Lane

wHEN OMAR REACHED the gig venue in Brick Lane, he was suitably impressed. ‘This place is fantastic!’ he said in awe to Sharif and Stevo, looking at the high ceilings and the raised stage of the warehouse. ‘How did we get a gig like this?’

‘Through contacts,’ said Sharif wisely. ‘I’ve been busy while you’ve been pissing about at uni with pretty buildings and plain girls.’

‘Through fucking stupidity,’ contradicted Stevo, who was noisily setting up his drum kit. ‘We’re doing this gig for free again, thanks to your brother’s negotiation skills; they’re taking five quid on the door, of which we get fuck all. Business brain of the century, our Sharif.’

‘Have I told you what a wanker of a banker you’ve become since you’ve started that business degree at South Bank?’ replied Sharif cheerfully, unoffended. ‘Besides, we’re not doing it for free - we get free drinks and we get five per cent of the bar.’

Slightly mollified, Stevo said, ‘Well, you better give it all to me. I’m owed for the set-up costs of our website.’

’We’ve got a website?’ Omar asked.

‘It’ll go live next month,’ Sharif explained. ‘You were away, so Stevo, Micky and I sorted out all the content. Just gig dates and photos and shit.’

Micky, who was in his final year of school, slouched in looking shattered. ‘Football practice,’ he said grimly. ‘Focking Tariq almost broke my foot with a dodgy tackle from behind. He’ll be a focking liability in the inter-school play-offs next week.’