Diary Drabble: Coat

Michael’s got a new coat. That’s why it takes Veronica so long to recognise him, standing making animated gestures with his arms at the end of the bar.

At first, she thinks he’s upset about something. Veronica’s worked here in The Tower pub for two years and knows him well enough to know his movements. But she’s happy to be wrong. Because then Michael is throwing his head back and laughing, loud and hearty, and like Veronica has never heard before.

There is a man stood beside him that Veroni...