Spitting Feathers. Kelly Harte

your sleeve?’

      He smiled. ‘Sure, and don’t worry—I won’t lose it.’

      So I wrote my mobile number on his jacket sleeve, and in doing so had to rest my other hand on his to gain some purchase. And I got a strange tingle in my fingers as a direct result. I think he might have been aware of the effect this bodily contact was having on me because he grinned when I went red and snatched my hand away from his. Then he got up and spoke as if nothing had happened.

      ‘It’s a pity we’re fully booked for lunch, or I’d ask you to stay and sample the menu. We don’t have any pies on today, but I think you’d enjoy it just the same.’

      ‘Another time, maybe,’ I said with a forced smile, still a bit shaky as I got up from the table. I wasn’t remotely disappointed. I probably wouldn’t have stayed if there had been a free table, because I just wanted to get out of there now and get some air.

      I made a few calls when I got back to the flat, and left my parents till last. I’d already called five or six friends, three of whom had been on the photography course with me. In their case I tried not to sound too smug, especially when I learnt they were still out of work, but on the whole I think they were encouraged. If Tao Tandy could do it then surely they could as well…