‘Yes, but we don’t even know whether Caroline isn’t in love after all, so I think that we have to try it just one more time, and if it doesn’t work then, I promise I’ll give up!’

Mr Beck sighs. ‘Man, are you stubborn. I think all these near-dates with actors and vets mean the odds are totally against it, but – suit yourself. What’s the plan?’

‘I don’t have one yet,’ I admit somewhat sheepishly. ‘That’s why I asked you – because you’re such a strategist.’

Mr Beck grins and stretches out in front of me. ‘Yes, that I am. I will give it some thought.’

•

There’s not much going on in the workshop today. Daniel and Caroline are at their separate tables, quietly tightening and planing some pieces of wood. Boring. And besides, I get the feeling that the atmosphere between the two of them is no longer crackling with tension, but just plain tense. Caroline has not looked Daniel in the eye once today – while he, on the other hand, keeps stealing glances at her when he thinks she’s not watching. Very odd. Maybe Beck is right, and we should abandon our plan before we’ve really seen it through.

Daniel clears his throat. ‘Say, Caroline,’ he says, as he comes out from behind his table and walks over to her. Ah! Finally things are getting going here!

‘Yes?’

‘Uh, do you have any rosin handy? I can’t find any here.’

Argh! What kind of talk is that? Rosin? Not that I have any idea what that is, but I’m pretty sure that it’s not a code word for ‘I love you; may I please kiss you?’

‘Yes, I have some; here you go.’

Clunk! A small translucent brown block falls out of the little box that Caroline has just handed to Daniel without really looking his way. Now both the box and the block are on the floor. Caroline kneels down to pick them up. Daniel leans over too. For a brief moment, the two of them are really close, almost face to face. Come on, Daniel! Do something! is what I would love to shout. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to think it out loud to the best of my ability. And sure enough, the telepathy between dachshund and man works. Daniel reaches for Caroline’s hand and holds it.

‘Caroline, is something wrong?’

Caroline gives him a quick glance, then looks back down at the floor.

‘No, why?’ she mutters.

‘You’re avoiding me.’

‘No I’m not; you’re just imagining it.’

‘Is it because of what happened the other day?’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Come on, let’s at least talk about it. Is it because I kissed you?’

‘No, well, I…’

Daniel sighs. ‘I knew it. I knew that it was a mistake.’

Daniel lets go of Caroline’s hand and sits down on the floor next to her. The two of them don’t say anything at first, then Daniel pokes her in the side.