‘Okay, mate, take it easy!’ Glenn’s voice cut through his blurred vision and the closing darkness. Another voice came from his left, a female voice, young-sounding.

‘Is he OK?’ she said.

‘Of course I’m fucking OK!’ Richard snapped towards it. He couldn’t see her, all he could see was a dark red outline.

‘He’s fine, he’s absolutely fine. Just chuck me a cloth, would you, and I’ll clear this up.’

‘I can clear it up!’ Richard snapped again. He felt Glenn’s big hand on his shoulder. He tried to jerk away, to push it off, but the grip was tight. ‘I’m not totally fucking useless!’ Richard said.

‘Okay, mate, calm yourself down. There are kids an’ that in here. Let’s talk this out. My fault, I should be taking you more serious.’ Glenn’s voice was right in his ear, but when he heard it next it was directed away. ‘Love, would you mind getting us a glass of water here, please? We’re fine, love! It’s OK. Just a glass of water and we’ll be all good.’ The voice came back into his ear. ‘Okay, mate, we’re good. She looks a bit pissed off, but I’ve got used to women looking at me like that.’ Richard felt a bump on his hip where Glenn had slid into the seat beside him. ‘You feeling OK, mate? You’ve gone a bit pale is all. Take a minute.’

Richard scrunched his eyes shut. He had made a scene. That was the last thing he wanted to do. He was there for a quiet chat with an old friend. To run the day’s events past him for an opinion. He didn’t know how it had got to this point. He couldn’t control his emotions anymore. His vision cleared enough to make out details. Glenn got up to greet a young woman who was walking towards them with a large glass of water. He thanked her. She cast a filthy look over at him. When Glenn turned back the pity in his smile was far more brazen. Richard got to his feet.

‘Woah! Where are you going there, mate? I reckon you need a little sit down for a while. Just until you get your breath back.’

He was weak. At least that was how Glenn saw him. Just what he wanted to avoid. Richard had to get out of there. He stepped away and his heel caught on the table leg and he stumbled a little. He could feel his heart beat again, back thumping in his chest, but his vision was still blurry. He kept moving, lifting his head to fix on the block of light down the end of the shop that he knew to be the exit.

‘I’m not a washed-up old fool just yet,’ he muttered.

Chapter 21