Deadlines

Joseph Townsend never planned to live a life of domestic bliss with anyone, let alone a spoiled and vain young man some thirteen years his junior, but there he is, happily domiciled with Michael Mosse in what was once a Victorian Stationmaster’s house. However, the domestic waters suffer disturbance when it becomes clear that Michael has something on his mind.

The modern day Station Master and Michael’s Top, Joseph, is keen to know what it is. His attractive partner has a convoluted way of thinking, which usually doesn’t bode well either for himself or the people around him.

Michael finally confesses to having problems with a deadline at work. He’s been set a design project that he’s less than happy about. He feels he ought to have been given a more prestigious job by his boss, Tom, Joseph’s brother. He wants Joseph to intervene on his behalf.

Joseph refuses and issues a warning. Michael is to set aside resentment and meet the deadline properly or find himself in trouble, not only at work but at home.

An unexpected visitor to the kitchen of the Station house, a wild red fox, claims Michael’s attention and serves to distract him further from the task in hand. Joseph isn’t pleased. To begin with he isn’t an admirer of foxes.

As things turn out the fox sets Michael towards the meeting of another long overdue deadline.