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be offended if you dont take it.” Grey took the money reluctantly and halved it with Dick as he drove off, with Dick making innuendos about how hed got the money for „services rendered. Grey knew Bob wouldnt take the money and broke his own rule this once. He could get a stash of butts with that to tide him over for a month or two. Bob had left the office by the time they arrived back (he only spent a couple of hours a day there and they often were too late back to see him on the evening) and Grey unloaded the pickup for the last time. Hed feel nostalgic about this– this small moment would become a big moment later, he could feel it as he finished his last minutes at work. With Bob gone Dick wasnt sure what he was supposed to do Wednesday but he didnt mention it to Grey (hed just have to get the bus in and see what Bob had lined up) who surveyed the yard, the three sheds and the small office. “Itll still be here when you get back,” Dick said, reading his thoughts. Grey smiled and said, “Come on, Ill drop you off. Its getting late and you dont have a liein tomorrow.”

After taking Dick home Grey did not arrive back home until quarter to eight. While Grey lived in a better locale than Dick, who lived in a rough part of town, Dicks mother and stepfathers house was considerably bigger than the Grey family home. Grey parked outside the small terraced house, which was just a little off the centre of town; close enough to walk to the town while far enough away that their nights were quiet. „My odds are better than most – he imagined if hed made that slip-up to his parents, who would have responded very differently to Dick. One thing he could be sure of was that even if he drank 20 gallons of whisky hed still never mention that topic to them.

Grey kicked his boots off at the door and announced his presence. His mother came to the hall to greet him and said, “Ill put your dinner in now. Its going to take 50 minutes so I can rustle you up a snack first while you have a bath.”

“Its all right. Ive got some chips in my room. Ill eat them while I wait for the bath to fill.” “Was it your last day?” “Yep. We finished a bit later than we anticipated but we got the job done and she was

overjoyed. You dont need to make me breakfast in the morning. Im sleeping in,” Grey grinned.

“I might still prepare you something. Id better get started,” Shirley said, turning round and heading for the kitchen as Grey went upstairs. He was a grown man now but she still waited on him hand and foot, doting on her only child. Even if he hadnt been doomed to go to war she would have been the same as at least James accepted her ministrations gratefully, even if he would have preferred to look after himself, while her husband Abner demanded to be waited on yet rarely showed appreciation. She walked through the lounge to access the kitchen and passed Abner who sat on the couch reading– she didnt expect him to break away from his book to greet James but she wished he could have at least shouted a greeting. “It was his last day,” she said.

“He said it would be,” Abner said, considering her news old hat.

“He said it might be. Mrs Saunders was pleased. Shes a very particular woman. Hes done well there.” “I thought you didnt know her?” Abner said, never once making eye contact with his wife. “Hilary knows her sister. And James has said that shes a perfectionist.” “Shes the customer, shes entitled to be.” Shirley sighed and left him to it and turned the oven on. This once she didnt want to bite her tongue and she stood in the doorway and said, “James didnt criticise her.” Abner looked up and said, “What are you going on about?” “Never mind,” Shirley said, unsure herself what she was twittering on about. She only had 13 days left with her son, 12 really as today was practically over, and she was working for 7 of them. She got on well with her boss at the department store and considered asking for some leave. Normally she only worked two mornings a week and one Saturday a month (the limited hours had been what persuaded Abner to let her take the job in the first place four years ago) but one of the poor girls in another department had been bereaved, in the damned war, and she had ended up taking