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

The publisher’s office was modern and minimalist. The floors were white tiles. The walls were another shade of white. Palms with luxuriant foliage stood in white pots. New age music, pipes accompanied by the wind, played unobtrusively in the background. He approached the dark girl sitting at the white reception desk.


“Lucky you’re not white or I mightn’t have found you,” he said before instantly wanting to take a pair of scissors and cut his tongue out.


The receptionist, not Aboriginal, probably African, looked suitably unimpressed, but nevertheless asked him politely, “Can I help you, sir?”


He swallowed. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean…I mean, I didn’t…”


He could feel his hands balling themselves into fists.


Alexander shook his head once. “Yes, I’m sorry, you may. I’m here to see Mr Lionel Taylor. I’m Alexander Monroe.”


Her face lightened up a little. “Certainly, Mr Monroe. He’s expecting you. Just through here.”


Chapter 24