Alexander Monroe lives in Grasspatch, a town so small, the founders couldn’t even be bothered thinking up a proper name for it. He works at the newsagency/post office, where his duties include ordering newspapers and magazines, printing Lotto tickets, and delivering the mail. One morning he has to deliver a parcel to the mysterious Mr Christian O’Neill, who lives in an oddly-shaped mansion on the outskirts of town. Not much is known about Mr O’Neill, although there is certainly an abundance of rumours -- a faded rock star, a media-shy actor. Alexander can’t wait to find out the answers for himself. Rather than being odd, Christian turns out to be the most interesting person Alexander has ever met. In fact, he asks to come back, and with each consecutive visit, he learns more and more about Christian, and about the power of the mind and the wonders visualisation can bring. But even as Alexander learns how to get what he thinks he wants, he loses Christian. Is it too late to find him again? And if he does, will what they had still be there?

Cool Blue

“Hello?” he said before his gaze found the neatly wrapped box in Alexander’s hands. “Ah, it’s arrived.”


He reached out in readiness to receive his delivery.


”It’s quite heavy,” Alexander said. “I could bring it inside for you.”


Christian smiled and shook his head as his hands made contact with the parcel. “No thanks. I can manage.” He took the parcel from Alexander.


Christian bent down and placed the package on the floor just inside the door. As he did so Alexander peered into the dimly lit space behind. It was difficult to see anything apart from the fact the man obviously liked his indoor plants. The shadows were full of palm fronds and large leaves.


“Where do I sign?” Christian asked, and for the first time Alexander noticed a slight accent.


Alexander handed him the clipboard. “At the bottom near the X.”


He watched as the man scrawled his signature across the bottom of the page, noticing he was left-handed.


Chapter 3