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

Later that afternoon, about a quarter of an hour before closing time, Alexander was carrying an armful of stationery out from the small back room when Adam appeared, walking down the aisle towards him.


“Hello, Alex,” he said in a voice that was deep and rich.


Alexander promptly dropped his supplies and both men squatted down to retrieve them.


“What’s going on back there?” Mr Wiggins called out, his face red from the heat.


“Nothing, Mr Wiggins. I just dropped some exercise books,” he replied, before adding in a whisper. “Not the end of the world.”


“I don’t want to get you into trouble,” said Adam, “so I’ll be quick. I wanted to know if you could come to dinner tonight. Nothing fancy, but I thought we could start packing up Lester’s things. I can’t pay you, but I can feed you.”


Alexander fumbled his load again, though fortunately managed to prevent anything from hitting the floor. “Sure,” he replied. “What time? Shall I bring some wine?”


Chapter 14