I’m MARK HAYSOM and what you are about to read are the opening chapters of IMAGINE, my second novel, published by Piatkus and available in paperback and Kindle editions. Saturday, 3 August 1963 1 Saturday afternoon: Crawley New Town One behind the other, the two men lead the way from the bus station with the battered leather suitcase hoisted high above their heads. They are identically dressed in long drape jackets with velvet-trimmed collars, suede shoes with thick crepe soles, drainpipe trousers and bootlace ties. One has a cigarette that bobs dangerously from the corner of his mouth; he squints as the smoke snakes into his eyes. In sashaying polka-dot circle skirts and sling-back heels, their bottle-blonde girlfriends follow on in single file. Behind them are the children, Megan and then Baxter. Christie brings up the rear, carrying the baby. And they are doing the conga. A minute ago, everything seemed […]
