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"If it gets folk into the shop before four o’clock, it can’t be bad," says Jiot experience with these kind of events," chi "You kno to go about it We don’t"

"When you left thewe had a quick straw poll," says Robin "And it was practically unanimous We’d like to invite you onto the action co back at the hall, to hear"

All their faces are so war at my eyes

"I can’t" I look away "I’m sorry, but I can’t There’s no need for et back to London"

"Why’s that, then?" says Jis to do," I say "Commitments You know"

"What commitments would they be?" Jim says mildly "You don’t have a job Your husband’s abroad Your flat’s empty"

This is why you shouldn’t pour out your entire sob story to people you’ve justto get ht Then I raise my head

"What does Jess think about all this?"

I look around the group, but no one replies Robin won’t quiteJie hall

"I bet she’s the only one who voted against me, isn’t she?" I try to smile, but ins Robin "But she doesn’t have to come into it--"

"She does! Of course she does! She’s the whole reason I’m here! Look, I’m sorry But I can’t cooes really well… but I can’t stay"

I can see Robin drawing breath to speak again

"I can’t" I look directly at Jim "You have to understand I can’t"

And I can see it in his eyes He does understand

"Fair enough," he says at last "It orth a try" He nods at the others as though to say "It’s over"

They aardly ood lucks and file out of the little roo flatter than ever