Chapter 21Michael shined his best black leather shoes until they gleamed, then he put on a clean white cotton shirt and his smartest suit and slicked back his hair. When his mother saw the way he had smartened himself up, she said hello then, it seemed like somebody was going out on a date.
He grinned at her as he put on his coat, and then he said goodbye and went out. There was a full moon and the breeze felt pleasantly cool on his skin. He walked at a brisk pace and arrived at the Clock Tower just before nine-thirty.
There was no sign of Louise, so he buried his hands in his pockets and paced up and down as he waited. Young couples went past all done up in their best clothes, and the smell of fried food wafted down from the chip shop a few doors up.
Michael hadn't been to a dance sinc
