They finished hiding the mince pie boxes among the long grass of the clifftop just ten minutes before the game was due to start. Instructed by Denzil, Lucy took up a stewarding position on the edge of the playing area, just short of the coast path which wound its way through the couch grass. The sea was calm, a chilly but light breeze blowing in off the water. As they waited to begin, Jed Penrose, skirting around the perimeter, came wandering over for a chat.
‘Hey, lass,’ he said. ‘Didn’t see you in the pub last night. You coming down this eve?’
Lucy smiled. ‘I might. Depends how much energy I have left after all of this.’
‘Tis Christmas karaoke night,’ Jed said. ‘Chrissy songs only. You sing?’
‘Sing?’
‘Yeah.’
Lucy shrugged. ‘Not really.’
‘Game on. All for a laugh, ain’t it?’
‘That
