WASN’T it you who used to work behind the bar at the Frog and Lettuce?” Susan Tallboys looked up. She’d been fastening the buttons of her overcoat, suppressing her dislike of its worn fabric and its m

THE bell above the door jingled as Freya screwed the top on a big glass jar. “Be right with you!” she called, efficiently using the wooden steps to reach the top shelf and stow the aniseed twists wher

KARLA sat on the sofa, changing the channels on TV and finding absolutely nothing she wanted to watch. How many evenings had she spent like this, stuck in on her own, dining on instant noodles and tak

KERRY stood behind the counter gazing out across the store. She was plucking nervously at the name tag on the pocket of her blouse. The blocky lettering on the cream and gold badge suddenly seemed too

I WOKE up after a vivid dream of Eleanor. I’d had quite a few recently. Eleanor was my half-sister. She was older than me – the daughter of Dad’s first wife, Dorrie. My mum only found out he had a fir

Welcome to the Charles Jessop Theatre.” Lysette nervously eyed the group of drama students gathered in the foyer. She didn’t feel ready to lead her first guided tour. She’d only been at the theatre a