Countdown: Seventh and last day

My final daily excerpt comes from the shortest story in the book, with the enigmatic title of “Tobago – Having Lost The Boy”. This one is pure fantasy but I have very fond memories of the beach described in the narrative and there are a few lines taken from the lyrics of one of my songs called “The Raging Broom”. Tobago is a funny little island, a bit dusty and arid, but the sea surrounding it is bewitchingly beautiful, although the weather can turn suddenly savage.

“That night she had a house-servant drive her out on the small road that ran behind the beach.

He was there, with his tent set up for the night and he sat in his chair playing a rather out-of-tune guitar and singing softly to himself in a flat voice.

She wound down the window and listened.

“Where are the hills I so long to see
Where are the deer, I hope running free
Where are the friends so dear to me
Maybe it's time to go
Up and on with the show”

She suddenly felt very sad and she wondered at the ache inside her. He continued on:

“Night seems it's closing in
Hope grows incredibly thin”

She rolled up the window and touched her driver on the shoulder to move on. She was embarrassed and puzzled at her own emotion and to find she had teared up.”