After the Break. Penny Smith

can’t it be this cosy at night?’ She groaned.

      ‘Because someone would have to keep it going–and make sure we weren’t all burned to a crisp by a stray faggot,’ said Denise Trench.

      ‘Are you talking about me?’ asked Alex Neil.

      Katie shook her head and went to stick her toes on a piece of warm slate. ‘Shall we get this sorted, then?’ she asked. She looked around. ‘I’m only being bossy because…because, as you all know, I am bossy. Does anyone actually want to do this task?’

      Four people nodded.

      ‘Remind me. Whose team are you all on?’

      Paul and Crystal were Team A.

      Peter and Tanya were Team B.

      ‘In which case, we need one more of each. Who can we bludgeon into this? Denise? You fancy it?’

      ‘No. I’ll do the washing-up.’

      There was a slight groan. Denise was the kind of washer-upper who merely moved the dirt around. A dog would have licked the plates cleaner.

      ‘Flynn?’

      ‘I’ll do dog feeding and dog-poo shovelling afterwards. Those lovely ickle doggies are so bliss,’ said the astrologer to the stars.

      ‘Dave? You’d be great,’ Katie said sarcastically.