Bodie's eyes are the colour of denim, and he's looking at me, waiting for news.

The verdict's fallen, I tell him, and the news isn't good.

"You did..."

"Get a second opinion? Yeah." I say.

"And there's really..."

"Nothing they can do. They said that the damage was just too much to repair. Have to accept it."

I try to not to get too emotional about it, but it's not easy.

Bodie grins.

"Never mind."

"Never mind?" I say. "Is that all you can say? After all this time?"

"Doyle," he says. "It was just a pair of bloody jeans."

-- THE END --

June 2005