ACCURSED | Page 7

ones Helen again?” “The tall one with the plait. You gave her a lift home once. She wasnt wearing it then.” “I guess Im off her radar.” “I wish that was true. She asks about you a lot. Ive had to tell her youre seeing someone to shut her up.” While Shirley liked Helen she considered her far too old for her son at 24 and too flirty by far. “Maybe I should pop by tomorrow to pick you up,” Grey teased. “Theres no need. I might be home before you get up.” “Thats quite possible.” Grey finished off every morsel from his plate and walked to the sink and rinsed his plate and cutlery. “Would you like a dessert?” Shirley asked. “Im absolutely stuffed,” Grey said, patting his stomach. “That was a big bag of chips I had up there and the portions you dispense are a lot bigger than what Im going to have to get used to.” “You know you shouldnt eat…” “Before a bath,” Grey said, finishing the oft repeated sentence for her. “Most old wives tales have some truth about them but that one doesnt hold water for me. Thank you, that was delicious. Im looking forward to tomorrows dinner already.” “Which we should be able to eat together at a decent time.” Grey nodded and walked through to the living room and sat in his usual seat. He looked at the cover of the book his father was reading, something about economics, and as talking about what he was reading would be a conversational dead end he said, “After the meal once the ladies and Fred are back home Id like it if the three of us could go out for a drink.” He had always got on well with his Uncle Frank, a far more relaxed man than his father, and in his brothers company Abner loosened up a little. Abner put his book down and said, “I imagine Frank would be keen. Lets see what the time is first. Were going to be eating at 7:30.” Shirley came through and sat on the sofa and said to Abner, “Were going to have fish a little more often this week.” “He can, but Ill stick with my meat. Its steak night tomorrow.” “What about crab? You like that,” Grey suggested. “Not as much as steak. You cant be fussy in the army, son. You have to eat what they give you, every morsel in case the next meal is a long time coming.” “It was my suggestion,” Shirley said. “If you cook him fish every night he wont be bothered about going to the restaurant, will he?” Abner said, his specious argument flooring Shirley who gave up. “Im not a fussy eater – I pretty much lick the plate clean every night, fish or not. Steaks good, Mom, stick with that.” “You can have what you want as long as its not imposed on me,” Abner said. “Anyway, Im off to bed. Good night.” They both bade him good night and after he left them Shirley said, “I forgot I promised him steak. Maybe Thursday?” “Thats fine,” Grey said, not bothered in the slightest apart from feeling a sliver of anger at seeing her upset. “Okay. Good night, son,” she said, kissing his cheek as she headed for bed less than a minute after Abner. Grey closed his eyes and felt guilty at his thoughts. All of the other men he had talked to about serving over the years, including some bizarre conversations conducted stark bollock naked on Monday as it became closer to reality for them, had all stressed how much they would miss their family and home. He did not feel the same.

Coach Stone recognised his former student from a distance, used to seeing his charges from afar as he had them run umpteen laps until he was satisfied and cross country marathons on occasion, sending them to a friends farm where they had to see his friend to confirm they had gone the distance before making their way back. Grey walked across leisurely, smiling at him as Coach Stone ran on the spot, indicating to him that he should be running to him and Grey decided he might as well, sprinting across to him.

“Youve lost a bit of speed there, Grey,” Coach Stone said, looking back to the track where three teenage girls were running laps. “I put that down to these pants, Coach. I knew Id find you here.” “I can rustle you up a kit if you want to get out there.” “Better not, else Ill have no excuses to fall back on. Ive still been training, but mostly weight training and…” “Youve filled out, bulked up too much for a long distance runner. Youre built more like