SEVENTEEN
VARIOUS LOCATIONS, THE UNITED KINGDOM, OCTOBER 2021 AD
The editor of one of England’s leading morning newspapers sat smouldering, incandescent with pent-up anger. A bigwig in Whitehall had just ended a reproving call—a sharp smack on the wrist for gross incompetence. What a nerve to have attributed that term to his distinguished editorial career and to imply the compromising of his mooted honour in the New Year’s list. This mess had occurred because he couldn’t trust that imbecile Backhouse. Inexplicably, he’d employed him despite his better judgement, and he was paying the price.
Only three days have I taken off from work, to keep my grandson happy with a promised visit to the famous Goose Fair in Nottingham.
He had to admit, the fair was a riot of colour and excitement, boa
