Category Archives: PETE

Pete shouts over the music. ‘Band or ale?’ She’s drinking something the colour of meths. He leans over the table near her ear, ‘Band or ale?’ His nose in her blond hair. ‘O.K?’ She shakes her head, doesn’t know what … Continue reading→

The shaved head guy at the next urinal says, ‘I go out on a night and piss it all down here, I might as well chuck £40 out of the window.’ Pete can’t go. She better wait. Lyn. The bogs are … Continue reading→

He’s serving in an old dusty shop selling hats, birds in cages, glittery high heeled shoes in tall glass cases, Lyn is wearing a fur collar, browsing and asks how much a leopard costs and Pete says ‘Twenty-two thousand eight … Continue reading→

He opens his eyes. ‘You been sitting there all night?’ ‘Yeh, just sitting here.’ ‘Have I been snoring?’ ‘Yeh, I bring you here, all you want’s a cup of tea, a lie down, you’ve been snoring all night. Not what … Continue reading→

Pete legs it down Back Lane, makes the prison just as Hanley corners in the van, he jumps in and they head up Love Lane to park. Hanley, looks him over, ‘Fucking hell, do you want to go back home … Continue reading→

‘Come on what was she like then?” Hanley and Pete are in HMP Wakefield because the previous contractors made a hash of things. Cost driven corporate cowboys, Hanley calls them. ‘Would she be on for a twosome?’ What irks Pete … Continue reading→

Hanley is doing that now watch and learn son thing, kneeling all his tools around him, the job spread, ordered on the floor, the circuit diagram in his head. A head he’s going to have to start shaving soon, there’s … Continue reading→

Outside the gate he thinks how it would be quicker to nip up to her flat than back along Love Lane for his phone in Hanley’s van. Maybe she’ll be on for quick one, fuck Hofmans, fuck Hanley’s pie, fuck … Continue reading→

Laters. He decides laters. Don’t rush her, she’ll be waiting. Limps to the Hofmans. Two warm pork pies, two sausage rolls, flakey pastry. He wolfs his roll as he walks, hot fingers, hot mouth, warm stomach. Hanley will be sitting on … Continue reading→

‘Did anyone ask you to bring drugs or anything else in for them from outside?’ – ‘Have you had any conversation with any prisoner about drugs?’ – ‘Alcohol?’ – ‘Any other banned substance?’ – ‘Have you ever-‘ ‘I forgot it … Continue reading→

They have left him alone. Occasionally he hears movements on the other side of the door. Voices. Like sleeping in the afternoon. Pete thinks of his room at home, pushes all that out of his head. Hanley. Hanley will come … Continue reading→

A new shaved head comes in, lanky, sleeve rolled up over his scrawny arm putting a cup of tea down. ‘I guessed, milk two sugars.’ ‘Ta. Is my boss sti-’ ‘Hold on hold on they’re just running a few checks. … Continue reading→

The voices have changed. Pete doesn’t know if they are the same people as before, if they are louder or more lively, a new shift maybe, or if it is the sound around the voices that is different. He wonders … Continue reading→

Bastards. Bastards. Bastards. They are definitely laughing. Like they are watching a match out there. Pete tries the handle, it twists, he pulls on the door, it opens. ‘Now then now then, Peter lad, calm down.’ Hanley wipes tears from … Continue reading→

They sign out and wait to be let out. Pete wonders if everyone knows what has just happened to him, the drugs in his pocket, stupid stupid, the joke, stupid stupid. No one is saying anything, but all the shaved … Continue reading→

Pete legs it under the bridge, up Back Lane, across the road into Burgage Square, her light is on, the glass balcony door slightly open. He wipes his hands on the grass. Sniffs under his arms. ‘Fucking hell.’ He wonders … Continue reading→

‘I knew you’d turn up’ ‘Want another one?’ ‘One! You owe me more than one lad. Yorkshire Blonde. Ha ha. Pint of.’ Pete goes to the bar. Hanley has had a few already, shouts across, ‘Let you down did she? … Continue reading→

When Hanley finally goes for two more blondes and a couple of shorts, Pete checks his 6% charged phone and reads her texts. So I’ve yr number. ThankU!!!xxx Laters!xxxYes!! Listens to her messages. ‘Hi … it’s me, I know you … Continue reading→

Pete shouts over the music. ‘Band or ale?’ She’s drinking Absolut and Red Bull. He leans over the table near her ear, ‘Band or ale?’ His nose in her black hair. ‘O.K?  Twisted Wheel.’ She shakes her head, ‘You what?’ … Continue reading→

The woman says, ‘Are you the electrician?’ He can’t help an Arnie film voice, ‘Yeh, I am the electrician.’ The woman laughs. ‘Shit.’ Behind the woman he sees Lyn, ‘Hey!’ sees Lyn tilt on the balcony, yelp, her feet go … Continue reading→

He says, ‘Cold?’ ‘Mm.’ ‘Go in?’ ’N-n.’ ‘Sober yet?’ ‘Mm.’ She is totally gone in his arms, not floppy gone, safe gone. ’N-n.’ He says, ‘You can see that from everywhere, you know you’re nearly home when you see Emley … Continue reading→