huff.
‘Sorry,’ said Regan, feeling pressured.
‘Hiya,’ said Malcolm from the bread stall as he strolled past.
‘Malcolm – which do you think?’ asked Regan. ‘I’ve got to choose a stall location.’
‘It doesn’t have to be permanent,’ said Bernice, sounding like she was losing patience.
‘There’s space down by me,’ said Malcolm, nodding towards Ditchling Road.
Something caught Bernice’s eye. ‘Hey!’ she broke into a run. ‘Stop him!’
Regan turned to watch Bernice chase after someone in a hoodie. She grabbed hold of his hood, bringing him to an abrupt, if somewhat sweary, halt. A lot of shouting ensued and a passing police officer ran over and took charge of the situation. As the youth straightened his clothing whilst shouting about being assaulted by Bernice, Regan recognised him.
‘You!’ she shouted as she hurtled towards him. ‘You attacked Kevin!’
The teenager used the police officer as a shield. ‘I don’t know no Kevin, you mentalist.’
‘Hey. Calm down,’ said the police officer, as Regan made a grab for the youth. ‘One thing at a time.’ He guided Regan to stand a safe distance away.
‘He took a speaker from that stall there,’ said Bernice.
‘She assaulted me!’ shouted the youth, pointing at Bernice.
Yeah, and I want to do the same, thought Regan. ‘And he attacked a homeless man a few weeks ago,’ she said, anger rippling through her.
‘Oh, him,’ said the youth, with a sneer.
It was all she could do not to slap his smug face. ‘See, he’s admitted it.’
‘No, I ain’t. You can’t prove nothing.’
Regan lurched forward. ‘Regan,’ came Malcolm’s soft voice.
She took a step back and tried to remember her mindfulness techniques. She focused on her breathing and soon felt calmer despite the sneering looks the youth was giving her.
‘Maybe leave them to it.’ Malcolm tapped her arm and beckoned her away.
Bernice was studying Regan closely. She probably hadn’t responded in the best way, but she hated the injustice. Kevin was missing again, and all because of the likes of this scumbag. Regan looked at Malcolm and nodded. She knew he was right. Reluctantly, she followed him.
‘I don’t suppose you want a coffee?’ he said.
‘Actually, I could do with one.’
‘Come on then.’
Malcolm bought the coffees from the café in the Open Market and they went back to his stall where he thanked the person who’d been covering for him.
They sipped their drinks in silence for a bit. ‘Bernice is pretty feisty,’ said Regan, impressed with how she’d gone after the youth, and even more so when she’d hung on to him despite his colourful language.
‘Good old Boadicea. She’s a bit fierce but the market is her number one priority, and she’s all right, when you get to know her.’
Regan figured that might take a while. ‘How long have you been here?’
Malcolm sucked air in through his teeth. ‘Seven … no … eight years in August. There’s not a lot I don’t know. So just ask. Okay?’
‘Thanks, that’s kind.’
‘Which stall are you going for?’ asked Malcolm. ‘Up here or down on the dark side?’ His voice had a touch of Darth Vader about it.
She felt like she’d found a friend in Malcolm, and as she didn’t know the first thing about running a market stall he seemed like the sort of person she needed to stay close to.
‘I think the pitch here will suit me just fine.’ They pretended to clink their coffees in celebration.
Regan was disappointed that Charlie wasn’t at Mantra on Saturday morning. She watched the door like a puppy at a rescue shelter and, when he didn’t appear, she fired off another text to him before putting her phone away and joining the group. She got out a mat for Charlie, just in case, and Cressy started the session. But despite her best efforts, she couldn’t relax. Her mind was all over the place. She fancied Charlie, that was a given, but he was also such a good sounding board. He listened to her, helped her order her thoughts – he showed an interest in her. She felt she could tell him anything, even without censoring it first. She wanted to talk to him about Kevin and the youth because it was rattling around her head most evenings – she blamed the lack of a TV.
She’d never clicked with someone the way she had with Charlie. She realised now how much she’d been looking forward to seeing him. And despite the fact they would have only been lying in silence next to each other on yoga mats, she missed him. She let out a sigh. Wendy let