They skip, gyrate their pelvises, stifle a laugh: they still have a little childhood left, with its scraps of hope and its effect on the future.

They wonder which of them will suggest a ride on the Tarantula first. And who will get in with them.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Stéphanie Louit, who was with me and supported me all the time I was writing this novel and all the ones before it.

Thanks to Cédric Tartiveau, who took the time to tell me about building work and the relationships between the guys on a site. Thanks to Jean-Christophe Tixier, for sharing my uncertainties and for his precious encouragement.

Thanks to Nicolas Mathieu, who provided the title for this novel in the original French, L’Été circulaire.

Thanks to Benoît Minville, who, as well as the aforementioned, kept the anger and impetus alive through heated discussions and a solid writing friendship.

Thanks to Stéfanie Delestré, who was the first to prompt me to write this novel and to see its qualities.

Thanks to Clémentine Thiébault for her reading and her trust.