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things have been a little unsettled at home for George for a while now. Perhaps you could have a chat and see if there is anything worrying him,’ said Hilary Slater.
    ‘Are you going to punish him?’ I asked.
    She shook her head. ‘We feel that is not the right way to tackle this. Obviously, if it happens again, then we would be forced to take action. But we’re confident George now understands the seriousness of this and I’m sure there’ll be no more incidents. Will there, George?’
    He lifted his tear-stained face. ‘No,’ he whispered.
    Moments later, when we were sitting in the corridor, I said, ‘Look at me, George. What is going on?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘George,’ I repeated.
    He wiped his eyes. ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Of course you know. Why did you take the money?’
    And he started to sob. Big, wracking sobs, shuddering through his small frame.
    ‘Because you haven’t got any money,’ he wept.
    ‘I’ve got some money. I’ve got enough money,’ I said.
    He took a breath.
    ‘And I wanted to buy Cesar,’ he said. ‘I wanted to buy our dog back.’

7
    IT WAS THE day after Scott’s first appointment. And he was back for another. I hadn’t asked how he persuaded Wayne to reassign my third patient of the day, because I was fast becoming aware that Scott did not operate within the usual parameters. My mood was low after the meeting at school and the full weight of what my financial situation was doing to George was upon me. I didn’t really feel like engaging in another dance with words, but Scott was insistent that I would want to hear what he had to say so, after the treatment session, I allowed him the courtesy.
    ‘I know you’re in financial trouble,’ Scott began when I told him to go on. Yes, I would hear him out, because when you’re eighteen thousand pounds in debt, and your son is stealing from school – because even George had realized how bad things had got – you’re more willing to listen to business propositions (even though I’d had my fair share of pyramid sellers over the years. patients who tried to get me involved in selling everything from algae food supplements to water purifiers).
    ‘What I’m about to say might shock,’ Scott said.
    ‘I used to work in the NHS,’ I said. ‘I don’t shock that easily.’
    ‘I’d like to pay to spend the night with you,’ he said.
    I blinked. Then I laughed.
    ‘I thought you had something serious to discuss,’ I said. ‘Is this to do with that thing I said about prostitution on Friday? I didn’t really mean it. I’d had a lot to drink and it was just an observation—’
    ‘I’m totally serious.’
    ‘No you’re not,’ I replied, but I could see by his expression that he was.
    ‘Shit,’ I whispered.
    I’d been asked some strange things over the years. Only last week one of my regulars – a diabetic drinker with gout in both feet – inquired if perineal massage could help him maintain an erection. To which I replied I couldn’t say for sure that it wouldn’t , but I didn’t know of a person who provided such a service locally, stopping the exchange before it had a chance to go any further.
    ‘Look,’ Scott said, ‘this would benefit both of us. You refused my offer of a drink—’
    ‘Because you’re married.’
    ‘And I would like to spend some time with you – your humour, your candour, the natural way you have about you makes me want to … well, let’s say it’s refreshing.’
    He paused, waiting for my reaction.
    ‘And,’ he went on, ‘as I said earlier, I gather from what Petra said at the party that you could really do with the money. Though, obviously, Roz,’ he said, his tone suddenly turning more serious, ‘I am putting myself on the line here. So if you’re really not interested, I’d rather you just said so straight away. I don’t want to take the chance of this conversation becoming common knowledge.’
    ‘I won’t say anything about it,’ I said quietly, and he nodded.
    I