Shape of Snakes

Letter from Libby Garth-ex-wife of Jock Williams,

formerly of 21 Graham Road, Richmond-now resident

in Leicestershire-dated 1997

Windrush

Henchard Lane

Melton Mowbray

Leicestershire

June 19, 1997

M'dear,

Written in haste before I start cooking supper for the hungry horde. Would you believe Jock's moved yet another bimbo into that mansion of his! He seems to replace them every few months, yet he's hardly sex on wheels, for God's sake! How on earth does he attract them? I know he makes money from time to time but it's not as if he holds on to it for very long.

His new project, "Systel"-something to do with mobile phones-looks optimistic, but if it goes the way of the others he'll be looking for a huge injection of cash within a year or so. Word has it (the new bimbo) he has such a lousy reputation with venture capitalists he's now looking at loans secured against the house. He needs his head examined if he does because he'll end up without a roof over his head if he overreaches himself. Heh! Heh!

God, I'm a bitch! And why am I still doing this? Perhaps I'm a voyeur manque! If so, I blame you for it. You should never have encouraged me to keep tabs on him, because it is so addictive chatting up his "crumpet." It must be a "comfort thing." I feel better knowing I wasn't the only one who couldn't make a relationship work with him.

All love,

Libby

X X X

PS: Jim keeps complaining about the amount of time I spend at teachers' conferences. Did I tell you I'm now a union rep? Next stop Parliament! And this from a man who expects me to entertain his major account-holders every weekend with cordon bleu cookery! Men, eh? Who needs 'em?