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

“How old do you think I am? Be honest. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings.”


Alexander sighed. Answers to such questions never ended well, despite assurances from the questioner. “Forty.”


Lorenzo pulled a face. “You think I look forty? Really?”


Alexander could tell from Lorenzo’s tone that he wasn’t going to be allowed to get away with being polite. “All right, I think you look about fifty-two.”


Lorenzo nodded. “Is that your final guess?”


Lorenzo grinned. “I’m a hundred and five in two weeks.”


Alexander snickered. “Now you really are bullshitting me.”


“On my word,” said Lorenzo, raising a hand. “I’ve been on this plane for almost a hundred and five years. It’s not easy, though.”


Alexander made himself comfortable on the couch. “Nothing is.”


Chapter 31