Page 22 of Glow

“I don’t mind.”

“Surely a young man like you has many demands.”

Prin picked a leaf off a tree. It was positively dull next to Colin’s couture.

“Not really,” Prin said. “You probably think me quite sad.”

Colin stared at him. “Are you sad?”

Prin still had to get used to Colin’s directness. He had never met anyone quite like him.

“Not as such. I guess I expected things to be a little different.”

“When did you come to Brighton?”

Prin ran the leaf over his fingers.

“About a year ago. Pleasure Seekers were desperate for IT staff and I fitted the bill.”

“What about friends?”

Prin shrugged. “I guess that will come in time. I…I needed to be by myself for a while.”

“Even so. We all need company from time to time.”

“I bet you get a lot where your apartment is,” Prin replied, eager to divert the focus from his pathetic life. “I’ve seen plenty of people chatting in the gardens when I’ve visited.”

Colin was silent for a second.

Prin turned to see him shaking.

“Colin. Are you all right? Come.”

Prin led him to a bench and they sat down.

“Whatever’s the matter?” Prin asked. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you.”

Colin waved him away. “I’m a silly old sod. Don’t pay me any heed.”

“Please tell me.”

The older man sighed and lifted his head. “I’m not part of the in crowd, I’m afraid.”

“What do you mean?”

“None of those people even give me the time of day.”

Prin was gobsmacked. “Colin. I’m so sorry. Why are they behaving like that?”

“Why do you think? They don’t like my type in their perfect little world.”

He took hold of Colin’s hand. “That is totally unacceptable.”

Colin shrugged. “It is what it is. I’m too long in the tooth for another fight. I’ll leave that to you young ones.”

Prin vowed he would do something to help Colin. He would not stand by and let him be bullied like this.

“I spoke to the guy from HR today,” Prin said.