Daniel Addercouth

The sun was shining through the forest canopy, casting beams of light on the ground, as Father Terry and I searched for mushrooms. Rust-coloured leaves crunched beneath my feet, and there was a pleasant earthy smell from last night’s rain. It was as good a moment as any to ask about converting, I reckoned.  

It’s the first warm evening of the year. Caroline is putting out her rubbish when she notices him standing near the edge of the headland, observing the sky. When he turns to leave, she sees from his unsteady gait that he must be as old as her.   “I’d forgotten how many stars you can