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

He hung his head and let the drizzle make sleek black snakes of his hair.


“Can I help you?” asked a voice from behind.


Alexander turned around. “Christian!”


Alexander threw his arms around Christian and they hugged. “I thought you’d gone. I saw the lights.” He gestured at the dark building.


“Oh, I see. No. I stay till the bitter end. We should get to somewhere a bit drier, though. Fancy a coffee?”


Christian smiled. “I know a great little café just down the road a bit. Not too far. And once you’re wet, you’re wet, hey?”


The café was in fact a late night restaurant with intimate lighting, terrible piano music, and décor straight from the seventies.


“They do a nice seafood chowder here. In fact, I order it every time I come. Boring, I know.”


Alexander smiled. “How often do you come here?”


“Quite a lot. I live not far from here. That’s why I wanted London to be the last stop on my tour.”


Chapter 33