One Among the sleepless, a novel written and performed for podcast by Mike Bennett. This novel is intended for an adult

audience. Episode 12 Chapter 10 12.

Chapter 10

Sally sat behind the counter of Stevenson's books and watched the world go by outside.

It was a sunny day though rather cool. However this didn't stop everyone who was able to from putting on as little as possible in the way of clothing.

She'd noticed on innumerable occasions how English people,

as soon as the sun so much has poked its head around the edge of a cloud after mid-April,

immediately donned t-shirts, shorts, summerfrocks and the obligatory pair of sunglasses.

Perhaps it was a determination to throw off the winter wardrobe that dominated their appearance

for so much of the year.

Perhaps it was a desperate need to bear white flesh in public in the unlikely hope that it might tan to a more desirable

red by tea time. Or maybe it was just a need to feel the sun after the long gray months of winter. Whatever it was, they were at

it today. Despite the chilly wind people were out and about wearing next to nothing. She smiled wistfully. She herself had wrapped up in

woolly tights, plaid skirt and a sweater. There was a fan heater on the floor behind the counter

and she had it switched on.

As far as she was concerned,

it was a cold day in spring

and the bikini season was still a long way away.

Have you done the delivery Sally?

She turned.

Leonard Stevenson had emerged from the stockroom

and was looking at her with an air of expectancy.

...