Making a start

Armstrong couldn't seem to stop fiddling with his mug of tea, apparently wondering where to start.

Eventually he sighed, and said "you must have all noticed all the FOR SALE signs on the High Street, I suppose?"

Around the table, the women nodded - though it was the kind of non-committal gesture that usually means "please continue; we'll do the interrupting, thank you very much."

Armstrong reached into his pocket for a packet of cigarettes, noted the expressions looking at him, and thought better of the idea quickly.

"So," he continued. "As I was saying, businesses were either going to the wall or struggling - and all because of that bloody supermarket!" He spat the words out, oblivious to the disapproving tuts all around him.

"The whole High Street was dying on its arse, and there was nothing we could do. So when Hewson came up with his plan, it was like we all had no choice."

He looked up into the eyes of Alice and Margret.

"I mean, you do see that, don't you? No choice at all."



Part Three begins here.