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"Haven't seen you for ages," said the man as he set the cup on
the counter. "Thought you'd deserted me."
"I've Bbeen busy" said Sadie.
she took the coffee andSadie carried ither coffee to a table. Linda and Steve
got up and came across to her.
"Mind if we join you?" asked Linda.
Sadie shrugged.
They sat down.
"Not out with your Mick boyfriends the night?" said Linda, taking
a t/srand of hair and twirling it round one finger.
Sadie eyed her warily. She was glad that Tommy had at last seen
the light and given her up but she knew that Linda blamed her for
it, and not Tommy.
"You needn't pretend you don't know h who we're talking about,"
said Linda.
"I've nothing to talk to you about, Linda Mullet." Sadie pushed
back her chair.
"Not so fast," said Steve, putting/out his arm to block her path.
"There's some of us round here don't like the company you keep."
"You can lump it then," snapped Sadie.
"I don't think that's a very nice attitude to take," said Steve,
with an unpleasanta nasty smile.
"And I don't like anyone telling me what to do." Excuse me."
Steve did not move his arm. He continued to stare at her, daring
her to push him. The stksxxtxs proprietor lifted the lid of his counter
