Welcome back

Rachel arrives at the party

later than everyone else.

The circle goes quiet

as she approaches;

Angelo pretends to be very interested

in adding wood to the fire.

She stops a metre from the pier,

looking up towards Manx

sitting alone on the grass.

Patrick stands and walks towards Rachel

offering her the joint.

She looks down at it

for what seems like forever,

then turns and walks away

up the hill to Manx.

He offers her a beer.

She takes a long sip,

then holds the bottle up to the fire circle

as if choosing her preferred drug

and friend.

‘Hey, Angelo,’ Rachel calls,

‘show us your best dive.’

Like the rest of us,

she knows Angelo is a poor swimmer.

Angelo hesitates for a minute

not sure whether to accept the dare.

Then he jumps up and runs across the sand,

taking his shirt off as he goes

almost stumbling in his haste.

Rachel looks across to me

and waves.