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Back The Satsuma Complex Save as PDF
Chapters (36)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. PART ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. PART TWO
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. POSTSCRIPT
  35. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  36. More from the Author

‘That’s a nice flat you’ve got,’ I continued. ‘Is it yours or do you rent it?’

‘It’s rented. It means I can up and leave anytime I want.’

‘Like Robert De Niro in Heat.’

‘I think you’ll find “in heat” only applies to dogs. De Niro is a man, an acting man.’

I laughed. ‘And when he’s not acting, he’s just a man, like me or my butcher or Harry Styles. Just a man who isn’t acting.’

We both laughed at the hilarity of our words and the joy of our tempo. Silence interrupted the flow and I decided to ask her what I really wanted to know:

‘Hey, you’ve never actually told me your name. Is that deliberate?’

‘No, you probably just never asked. I’m Emily. Pleased to meet you.’

‘Strong name,’ I replied. ‘Five-letter names have a nice clout about them. Sarah, Grace, Holly… or… err… Colin. I’m Gary by the way.’

Here goes, I thought.

‘So, Emily, I have to ask you, are you in a relationship at the moment? Just asking. I don’t mean anything by it.’

I shouldn’t have asked that question was my immediate thought. I got an instant sweat on.

‘Nothing official,’ she replied. ‘Listen, I’m really sorry for how rude I was the other day. I hope you aren’t pissed off with me?’

‘No, not at all. I’m glad you rang. Don’t forget that invite for a drink if you ever fancy it.’

‘I might just consider it. I’d better go. See you, Gary.’

‘Cheerio.’

And she was gone. I actually punched the air and barked out ‘YEEESSS!’ Emily. Of course it was Emily. It had ALWAYS been my favourite lady name. I had her number now and it was all I could do to resist phoning her straight back just to hear her voice again.

When I walked back into the living room, I was met by the sight of Lassoo sat on my chair finishing up my fish and chips from the table. He jumped down on seeing me, lost his balance halfway down and banged the table leg, spilling the last of my lager onto the table. As he performed this move, there was a knock on my door. It was Grace.

‘I forgot Lassoo,’ she announced as she walked past me.

‘Yes, I noticed,’ I replied. She beckoned Lassoo and he followed her obediently out of the door.

‘How many times have I told you not to feed him?’ was her parting remark.

I sat down at the table to reflect on my conversation with Emily. ‘Nothing official,’ she had said. Even the odious, clinging cloud of gas that Lassoo had left behind couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

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