A Walk At Midnight

The following paragraph opens one of Michael’s new short stories, A Walk At Midnight, which was short-listed for the H. E. Bates Short Story competition in 2012.

‘As if in a beauty pageant, they passed by, some in perfect shape with the unmistakable posture of youth, others weary and thankful for the belt around their middle. And as the carousel kept turning, the suitcases and holdalls kept spilling onto its capable back. Leila stood apart, happy to observe the gentle use of elbows by those crowding the conveyor. As always, when she waited at reclaim, she found herself trying to match pieces of luggage to the claimants. That giant canvas ruck-sack belonged to the strapping guy in the vest and cargoes. Definitely.  And the brown leather grip to the woman in the grey business suit and the perfect make-up. She would keep on match-making in this way until the frenzy had died down. Leila was in no hurry. But when she moved forward, she knew before he did, that the middle-aged stranger to her right would offer to heft her suitcase as it trundled by. He made a brave attempt to make it look effortless. To her left, the beefy guy in the vest and cargoes was lifting off a cream duffel bag. As Leila marched confidently through the Nothing To Declare towards the exit, her middle-aged knight watched her sleek departing rear with a gaze he used only when travelling alone’.