Six Metres of Pavement

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Farzana Doctor. Six Metres of Pavement

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SIX METRES

OF PAVEMENT

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However, he was sure that once he was just out of earshot, Gallagher would lean toward the women, in that way that backstabbing neighbours do, and whisper, in not so hushed tones, the terrible history that kept him alone all those years. But when Ismail looked over his shoulder, he saw that they were not gossiping. Gallagher was back at work, raking leaves, and the women were pushing the stroller toward the house across from Ismail’s. Was it possible that he was slowly being unwritten from the history books? Was he no longer worthy of gossip?

Ismail resolved to shrug off the encounter, not wanting to become too comfortable with its civility. But as he walked the rest of the way to the Merry Pint, he replayed the conversation in his mind, reviewing each and every word. Mostly, he evaluated his own participation, assessing whether he had said the correct, normal, expected things. He chided himself for one or two stupid-sounding errors. He also pondered the older woman’s attentions, and the feeling of ease that came over him when she looked his way.

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