A dystopian story about a couple trying to hide their child’s incredibly advanced intellectual abilities. The bizarre story of a bird trapped behind the fireplace of a newly-wed couple. A sort of magical story in which another couple take part in a festival in the countryside with a maypole, a priestess and dancing around a fire. The husband’s awkward reaction when his wife’s friend wins at backgammon. A collection of short stories that, each time, leaves you imagining the possible end of the story. A Britishness that hangs in the air, the city and the countryside, the seasons and their celebrations. Disturbing and cosy at the same time.
“The room is sunny, curtains and windows open. Ria isn’t there. He wanders through to the living room and opens the balcony door. He goes into the kitchen. There’s something stinking in a jar lying sideways on a tray some kind of mouldy plant-experiment – but it looks purposeful, so he leaves it. Maybe she’s starting a cannabis farm. He puts the kettle on and goes through the cupboards. Green fucking tea leaves in a tin. Chamomile and honey. What look like dried jasmine flowers in another. After a search he finds some normal tea.”
Contents
The Clinic / My Brother is Back / Oh Whistle and / Beltane / The Bird / On Margate Sands / The Crèche / Lurve / Lammas / Samhain / What’s for You Won’t Go by You / Backgammon