There's a lot of it going around

'There's a lot of it going around' I say

to a policeman who is in my flat

telling me the ginger girl upstairs

has been threatened by an ex-boyfriend.

'I know her. She's nice. I tell the policeman,

'She used to work in the bakery but all the shops on that road

are closed down now. That's awful. I'll pop up and say hello.'

I offer the policeman a drink.

When I bring it through he's made himself comfy.

'I think I'm coming down with something' he tells me,

rubbing his eyes, putting his head in his hands.

'There's a lot of it going around' I tell him

and the two of us sit there. After a complete silence

he shrugs. 'Hopefully it'll just go away.'

.