#greg matthews

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World Cup Tour Diaries - Eps 5: The MCG

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The Cattery (Short Story Extract)

Nigel and Katie Prince had no idea how a strange woman came to be in their kitchen. It was mid-November, an evening so dark all the stars were hidden away. The wind screamed and dead leaves ran across the driveway. None of the pre-winter weather had been allowed to reach inside, however. The kitchen was dimly lit by one of Katie’s Yankee candles which she had put on the sideboard to be rid of the smell of her cooking. She couldn’t have opened a window, of course, as the cold would’ve kidnapped the warmth. But now the room smelt strongly of elderflowers with an undercurrent of curry sauce. She stood in her dressing gown leaning against the counter, one hand resting on it as she tapped a finger against the marble surface. Nigel sat at the table, still dressed in his suit, his hands clasped in front of him. The woman, the stranger, sat opposite him sipping the tea that she’d been given (no milk, no sugar) and had an air that suggested she was about to deliver some dire news.           ‘I heard you were in the plumbing business,’ she had said to Nigel after he’d got out of his Audi. Her accent struck him at once. It was one he heard very little around here: Geordie or something similar. She’d been on the doorstep talking to Katie as he pulled up. At first, her flapping rain coat and leather boots reminded him of his Aunt Yvonne and he felt a brief sense of unease. But as she turned round to face his headlights, he saw the blond hair and the strange, round face. She introduced herself as Jane, from down the road. Not his aunt at all but a woman who lived on his street yet he’d never met before.           ‘I am in the business,’ he said after clearing his throat. ‘But I’m only the accountant, I’m afraid. Not the actual plumber.           Over the woman’s shoulder, Nigel saw his wife eye-rolling.           Jane looked disappointed. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m afraid I rather wasted your time.’           ‘No, not all,’ he said. ‘I could get someone from the office to look at the job if you want.’ He didn’t quite know why he was being so generous. After all, the stress levels were still high from his day at the office and he was in the right mood to run someone over as he drove home, looking forward to an evening down the Crown and Greyhound with a pint of Guinness. The arrival of Jane had ruined everything. He will now have to spend his Friday night trying to contact someone at the office to see if they can fill out a last-minute quote on Monday morning. And this wasn’t even in his job description! Perhaps it was because she was a rather attractive girl had called for him to be more forgiving. She was far too young for him, no doubt, but still… that blonde hair, pretty blue eyes and hourglass figure made her one to look at. Katie had a slim figure, once, but middle-age had piled on the pounds and now she resembled a brick.           The young woman smiled. ‘That would be kind.’           ‘May I ask what it’s for?’ He shivered, wanting to get to be over and to get inside. It was freezing out here and the cold bit him.           ‘The job?’ She raised her eyebrows in an expression of polite surprise. ‘Well, it’s not so much what it’s for but who.’

© Greg Matthews