Chloe Hadjimatheou

Miss Bowen lets Sanjay walk her home and when they get to her place, he says she lets him kiss her goodbye. Then, one afternoon, she tells him she's having a fireworks party in a couple of days. Would he like to come round? He thinks it might just be him she's inviting.

When the evening comes, he changes his mind and he stands her up.

When the evening comes, he changes his mind and he stands her up.

For ages afterwards, he feels he's chickened out of something that could have been important for him. And then, years later, when he hears on the grapevine that Gareth's been badly damaged by his experience, he looks back and wonders whether this was a sliding doors moment. That if he'd gone to her house that night, he could have ended up somewhere like Gareth.

For ages afterwards, he feels he's chickened out of something that could have been important for him. And then, years later, when he hears on the grapevine that Gareth's been badly damaged by his experience, he looks back and wonders whether this was a sliding doors moment. That if he'd gone to her house that night, he could have ended up somewhere like Gareth.

After that missed fireworks party, he stops walking her home. And the meetings in the cafe, they stop soon after that too.

After that missed fireworks party, he stops walking her home. And the meetings in the cafe, they stop soon after that too.

What was the rumour?

What was the rumour?

OK, have you got your recorder?

OK, have you got your recorder?

Gareth's been waiting with bated breath to hear what Sanjay's story is. What he's hoping is that Sanjay can corroborate the fact that he went into Miss Bowen's house. But Sanjay doesn't remember Gareth being with them when he walked her home. None of it matches in the way Gareth's hoping, and he's really upset about it.

Gareth's been waiting with bated breath to hear what Sanjay's story is. What he's hoping is that Sanjay can corroborate the fact that he went into Miss Bowen's house. But Sanjay doesn't remember Gareth being with them when he walked her home. None of it matches in the way Gareth's hoping, and he's really upset about it.

When you stop and think about it, it's not so surprising that Sanjay and Gareth's stories don't align. Remember, all this happened 35 years ago. Our brains can't possibly retain everything that happens. Our memory filters out things that don't feel that significant to us.

When you stop and think about it, it's not so surprising that Sanjay and Gareth's stories don't align. Remember, all this happened 35 years ago. Our brains can't possibly retain everything that happens. Our memory filters out things that don't feel that significant to us.

The experiences Gareth says he had one-on-one with Miss Bowen in that cafe, they were so huge and life-changing that they're the bits he says are clear. A couple of days later, when he's had a chance to process it all, Gareth calls me back.

The experiences Gareth says he had one-on-one with Miss Bowen in that cafe, they were so huge and life-changing that they're the bits he says are clear. A couple of days later, when he's had a chance to process it all, Gareth calls me back.

If you're going to make something up, you don't put it in a cafe with loads of witnesses. You make something up when you're alone with somebody.

If you're going to make something up, you don't put it in a cafe with loads of witnesses. You make something up when you're alone with somebody.

Yeah, and the thing is... And it's too fucking weird as well, this idea that he was touching her up in front of all these other people.