Chapter #2 - Charlie

Schlepping around his local corner shop, Charlie Durrant placed a loaf of sliced white bread in his basket and added a block of cheese and some pre-packaged ham from the deli chiller.  He liked to stick to a routine these days, it was the only thing which kept him sane in this crazy world.  He sauntered past the wines and beer, wondering whether he could eke out a pack of four Carlsbergs until Friday, or go straight for the own brand vodka which was stored behind the till?  The beers won.

He asked the cashier for £30 cashback on his debit card, and placed his shopping in the tatty bag for life he's stuffed into his jeans pocket.  He was due to travel up to London to see a temp agency tomorrow and didn't want to get too drunk today, lest the alcohol seep through his pores during the interview. 

Chapter #1 - Harry

Harry Carver woke with a start - last night had been a bit of a bender and he was really suffering this morning.  He was lying supine on the sofa and still wearing last night's clothes which consisted of a pair of frayed slacks, a straining synthetic shirt and a nobbly old cardigan.  Since retiring from the civil service Harry had somewhat lost his way, at least a day in the metropolis gave him some structure in his gloomy life.  

He checked his phone, try as he might to hold back the onward march of technology, Harry was somewhat wedded to the small metal device in his hands - it kept him connected to the wider world, well, the one which took place outside this suburban Essex commuter town.  At 03:03 last night he'd received a drunken text from his close friend, Martin:

Hello mate ... how ya doing?  Bin kicked out of this venue coz I'm drunk. Fancy a swift half some time?  

It was the same old story, another sad single man clutching onto the verges of sanity and society.  Chucking his phone back on the cushion, he slowly got up and ambled to the kitchen, as ever, there was very little edible food in the house and a trip to the corner shop was sorely needed.  Harry gave his underarms a quick sniff, decided that they needed a boost and then sprayed them liberally with the can of deodorant which was lurking on the kitchen counter, he slid his besocked feet into his slip on shoes and left the house.