Shopping trip

It was while we were looking at T-shirts that the realisation struck me.

"Er, Kate," I said, "I don't have any money on me."

She smiled. "No, I somehow didn't think you would have. So easy to leave your wallet in your other life, I imagine. Don't worry. I took a load of cash out earlier on. I'm pretty sure they won't be able to trace ATM withdrawals, but I wouldn't feel too happy using my credit card.

"So have yourself a new outfit on me." she said in a mock-indulgent, patronising way. "Remember, choose something dead plain and ordinary, something that won't stand out."

I looked at what was available. "Hmm, that shouldn't be too much of a problem."

Picking up some clothes, I asked Kate if she minded me trying the trousers on, and we headed for the changing rooms. Going behind the curtain at one end of a row of cubicles, I tried the trousers on. I then had an idea.

"Kate, could you come here a moment?" I asked.

Her face, when she looked into the cubicle to find it empty, was a picture. I knew this because I saw it from the other end of the row.

"Oh very funny," she said. "Very grown-up."

I grinned sheepishly.

"Actually, practising your quirking isn't a bad idea, at that. Tell you what - you give me those clothes. I'll pay for them, buy a few other things and then meet you in the coffee shop by the entrance. Say in about an hour?"

I nodded.

"Meanwhile, you can do a bit of travelling and see how you get on. Go on - knock yourself out."



Story begins here.