Maria McErlane

I think they're on Super 8, aren't they?

Jess in Sligo says, although you seem at pains to confess how ridiculous you are, you also cling to some hope, which is how you can keep feeling smitten, in inverted commas.

There is no hope in capitals, and not just because of the vast age canyon, but because she does not appear to have given you any hope.

I wasn't wrong about the wangous response.

Jess is absolutely accurate with everything she says there.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I think that's because Jess doesn't care.

Okay.

Neve in Kildare Island.

I got that, yeah.

What were you going to say?

Yeah.

Very moral in Ireland, I would say.

You haven't really come to your senses, have you?

Having been on the receiving end of unwanted attention like this, I can guarantee without a shadow of doubt that there's no way in hell she would be interested in you.

She's a young girl trying to get on in her job, interpreting her politeness and friendliness towards you, her older married manager, as anything other than a cooperative employee is a complete pipe dream and wholly unprofessional and inappropriate.

Tender your resignation and chalk it down to a midlife crisis before she sticks her dad and brothers on you.

Yeah, is that the sort of advice he wanted?

Apparently, yes.

Pseudonym Jim.