Time off

He was stood with the crowd looking at the window display. The animated movements of the toys and the twinkling bulbs had drawn them like a magnet. All that colour and sparkle with snow scenes, reindeers, camels and palm trees.

After a few minutes of looking he decided to go home. The office party would be in full swing and with the booze flowing they wouldn't miss his presence.

He turned to move away when he spotted Tom from Purchasing, he waved but Tom didn't wave back. He pushed his way out of the crowd and headed for the bus stop.

His bus wasn't due for another thirty minutes so he decided to walk, it would only take about half an hour anyway.

He was tired, cold and depressed when he reached his turning. The bus had passed him fifteen minutes earlier.

In sight of his front door he suddenly stopped, he spun round staring wildly up and down the street, Tom, it was Tom, but three weeks ago he'd gone to Tom's funeral and afterwards… bunked off work…