Chapter Eight
Rose sits staring at her watch that says 9 pm. She takes her mobile phone out of her handbag and calls Richard, getting his voicemail for the umpteenth time. She had already visited his flat and found nobody home. She tries one more time “Hi, Richard. I’ve called you 20 times, where are you? It’s 9 o’clock. I’m still in the pub. Call me when you get this message. I’ll wait another half an hour then I’m going home.”
Three assorted youths, one black, Winston, one white Steve and one Asian Ali approach her and sit down. Winston is first to speak “You alright sister? You don’t look too happy.” Ali adds, “What’s happened? Your boyfriend stood you up?” Before she can answer Steve offers to buy her a drink. Rose declines and explains, “It’s OK. My boyfriend will be here soon.” “Yo
