Chapter 3

“Since my early twenties. Don’t know what attracted me to the job really.”

The uniform, I thought. “Yes…well I’m sure it’s a good career with plenty of opportunities for advancement.”

“I guess so, but I’ve gotten myself in a bit of a rut lately.”

I wanted to ask more questions, but I didn’t want to pry. So I moved the conversation onto less personal topics. The level of tea was getting ever lower in his glass, and I was trying to think of more things to say. Then a white Council van pulled up, and two jovial individuals in greasy overalls alighted from the front.

“Ah, so this is the hole, then,” the first workman, obviously a bear of very little brain, observed.

I winked at Liam, who gave out a chuckle.

The first oaf scratched his head and muttered something semi-technical to his colleague.

“We’ve got one of ’em in the back,” workman number two said.