Sitting alone in the lounge, I sip coffee. I don’t want company. I don’t want to talk, and so, I sit….
Beyond the room, there is the ringing of a phone and then the sound of Michael’s voice, although I can’t pick out his words. A couple of minutes later there is a rap on the door, and without waiting for my reply, he enters.
“What?” I don’t try to welcome him.
Regarding me unsmilingly, he says, “I’ve had a call from the Centre. I need to go over there for a few hours. One of the staff has called in sick and they can’t get a replacement for her just now. I need to go handle things.”
I shrug. “Fine.”
He stares at me. “I don’t know what your f*****g problem is now, James, but whatever it is, you might think about re-joining the human race sometime…. And while I’m out….” He jabs a finger
