STALKER

Chapter 93 -30th April

I arrived smoothly back in my hallway. It was probably the most uneventful and straightforward jump I've ever made. It took all of 15 minutes. I slipped off my muddy boots and walked into the kitchen, carrying the plastic shopping bag. I needed a coffee.

Once it was made I wandered around, gulping down mouthfuls, trying not to burn off the roof of my mouth. It didn't taste right but I kept on drinking anyway.

Standing at the lounge room door I sneered at the TV, another news report about the Coronation. I am so over all the crap. Hip Hip Hurrah, God save the King. It's only a few days away and I can't turn on my TV without some new bit of gossip or scandal. Apparently, nothing is happening in the rest of the world, it's on pause. If one more news presenter tries to come up with a new angle on Charles I'm going to blow up the TV.

I headed for the greenhouse collecting my shopping bag along the way.

The lush, earthy smell of the greenhouse instantly soothed my senses. All the plants are thriving and looking beautiful. I told them so, they trembled, plants love being praised. Then I was ready to start on my latest commission. I put on my apron and gardening gloves and placed three large pots on my workbench. The pots contained well-established roses that I had pruned back hard to the rootstock. Tipping out the contents of the plastic bag I carefully examine the 6 rose cuttings I stole from the front yard of a house on the outskirts of Keswick, Cumbria back in 1946. Why you might ask because it's a commission order I got a couple of days ago and I decided to go the extra mile for the client.

I started carefully slicing the cuttings, coating the freshly cut edges with honey, and wedging them in the T slits I made in the rootstock. I have three weeks for the grafts to take and for the plant to fill out with new shoots, if I can get it to flower that would be even better. They are going to need my constant attention but I think I can make the deadline. It's a long story I'll tell you later. That done I shook off my apron and gloves and headed back to the house. I was desperate for a decent coffee, the last one was pitiful.

What I needed was a large cappuccino from my favourite barista...and a double shot espresso just to get me from the counter to the front door of the café.  I'm not sure what is up with me but I find I want to shake things up a little in my life, from coffee to my appearance.  I'm not sure what's gotten into me since I came back from Venice but I've done a few things that might be considered out of character. Whatever the reason, I'm making changes, big and small.

For one thing, to my mother's absolute horror I dyed my hair black, no more Morrison blonde locks. I  sent her a photo of me sitting in the hairdresser's chair with the new look and she sent back several illegible texts making it clear she didn't approve. My hair which I hadn't cut in over a year was almost to my shoulders, most of it is now gone. Short on the sides and back, with a wavy long mop on top that falls over my forehead. It goes surprisingly well with my light blue eyes.    I'm a different man, a badass.

I had my ears pierced as well. The first thing Mum said was "Everyone is going to think you're gay." Do you know how hard it was to keep a straight face when she came out with that? I couldn't bring myself to tell her that ship had sailed. I think I got the idea from Giacomo who wears small gold loops.

The last tweak to my life is that I'll be going back to work at the club for one night a week, Ladies' Night.  Not for the money just the kicks.  My boss Max is thrilled and he hopes my teaming up with Richie will make LN an even bigger hit. I think the odds of getting laid soon have improved greatly. The dry spell is about to end. Just that thought puts a swagger in my walk. So all in all things are looking up.

I changed out of my 1940s outfit and into jeans, boots and a semi-clean singlet I found on the floor of my bedroom. I grabbed my cigarettes, shades and headed out the door with a pleasant buzz from a productive morning.