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lipstick with vigour. “He’s a dead ringer for that singer Dickie Valentine, and a really good laugh. Which is more than you are these days, Danny Watson.”
    “You seeing much of this Graham bloke at work, then?”
    This seemed to touch a nerve with Wendy. “What are you saying?”
    “You mention him a lot.”
    Wendy sniffed. “Yeah well, I do see him more than I see you, don’t I? I see you now for a couple of hours now and then, but I’m in work for eight hours a day, aren’t I?”
    “So would you rather be with this Graham then?” Danny challenged. “It sounds like you would.” Wendy’s eyes showed how hurt she was by Danny’s accusation. “Get out of my house, Danny Watson,” she said. “Go on, get out.”
    Danny left, black thoughts floating in his mind. Deep down he didn’t think that Wendy would ever cheat on him, but the training and their lack of time together was creating tension. He loved Wendy and saw his boxing career as something that would benefit both of them. Why couldn’t she understand that he was doing it for them both? It was frustrating. He couldn’t give up, not now.
    Feeling troubled by the argument, Danny decided to telephone Wendy as soon as he got home from his evening run. Going to a local phone box armed with four pennies, he called the Bristows’ house.
    Mr Bristow answered the phone. “Hello?”
    “Hello Mr Bristow, it’s Danny here,” said Danny. “Is Wendy there please? Sorry I’m calling a bit late.”
    Mr Bristow sounded irritable. “I think she’s gone to bed, Danny. Is it important?”
    Danny twisted the telephone wire round his finger. “No it’s all right,” he said reluctantly.
    It wasn’t really. He had started building things up in his mind about this Graham bloke, and the thought of losing Wendy was tearing him up.
    “I’ll tell her you called,” said Mr Bristow.
    “Thank you.” Danny felt a sudden rush of emotion. “Will you tell her I love her, Mr Bristow? Will you tell her that?”
    Mr Bristow laughed. “Will do, Danny. Bye now.”
    Danny hung up, feeling frustrated and worried. He hoped Wendy’s father would pass on the message, and Wendy would be able to forget that he had doubted her. He couldn’t let go of his dream, not now, but he couldn’t lose Wendy either. It was a juggling act that he would have to address.
    The following morning, Danny decided to try to explain the importance of his budding boxing career to Wendy. As he rode his bike over to the Bristows’ house, he went through the points he wanted to make.
    Getting to the Bristows, and ringing the front-door bell didn’t help Danny’s nerves. The thought of either losing Wendy or losing his new-found boxing mission was too painful to even consider.
    Wendy opened the door.
    “Nice of you to fit me in,” was her spiky greeting.
    Danny smiled hopefully. “Can we talk?”
    “I think we need to,” Wendy said. She jerked her head. “Come in then.”
    Danny followed her to the kitchen. “Look,” he said, “I know you don’t like me doing the boxing and it takes up some of my time, but Wend, I’m doing it for both of us. If I work hard and make it, we’ll have money, a future.”
    “You reckon?” was Wendy’s non-committal response.
    “I love you,” said Danny in desperation. “I want to spend as much time as I can with you, honest. I am doing this for both of us, can you understand that? I don’t want to end up like my so-called friends. They’re destined for a dead end, a life of crime. I want more than that, Wend, more than that for both of us.”
    Wendy’s expression softened a little. Sensing a thaw, Danny took his reluctant girlfriend in his arms.
    “I promise we’ll spend as much time together as we can,” he said.
    Wendy looked into Danny’s eyes. “Promise?” she pleaded.
    “I promise.” Danny gave Wendy a gentle kiss. “I need you behind me, Wend, if I’m gonna make a go of this.”
    “But what if you get hurt?”
    “I’ve got a good