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we were moving here, I was really pissed off. I didn’t want to leave all my friends. But now I’m glad we moved. Mum’s a lot happier down here. For one thing, she’s further away from Dad. So, that’s pretty cool.’
    ‘What happened with your folks – if you don’t mind me asking?’
    ‘No, I don’t mind. Dad ran off with a younger woman, that’s all. I’m sure he’ll soon get bored. But I don’t want Mum and Dad to get back together. I can’t forgive Dad for what he’s done. It was really hard for a while. Mum was so miserable and I didn’t know how to help her. But, eventually, she got better and now I think she’s happier than she’s been in a long, long time.’
    ‘That’s really cool. Good on your mum.’
    ‘Yeah. I suppose it doesn’t really matter where you are. Sometimes it just matters how far away you are from certain people.’
    ‘Yeah. But I can think of better places to be in than Middleton.’
    ‘Oh, come on, it’s not that bad.’
    ‘Rhonda, don’t lie for my sake, please. It’s a hole.’
    ‘You’re right! It is a hole!’
    ‘Now, that’s more like it.’
    ‘Well, even though Middleton’s a hole, I’m really glad we came here. Otherwise, I would never have met you.’ Rhonda pokes me in the arm with her finger and from that moment on I can’t get a ridiculously conspicuous grin off my face. I want to cover it up with a hand but then I’d look even more stupid. I’m completely awestruck. This beautiful girl has more or less just told me that she thinks I’m all right. Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the Thompson Twins!
    Just then, U2’s ‘With or Without You’ begins to play. It’s a decent song and I decide that this is the perfect time to follow Mr Rogers’ advice. ‘Do you wanna dance?’
    ‘Yeah, sure.’
    We find ourselves a spot on the dance floor, safely hidden between other couples so that we can’t be gawked at. We hold each other, not too close, and sway. My hands quiver where they rest above Rhonda’s hips, but it’s not nerves; it’s electricity. I look right into her eyes and feel in complete control of myself. My nervous twitch is nowhere to be seen, and I feel certain that Bruce won’t be making an appearance tonight either.
    I’m doused in confidence. Before I know it, words are leaving my mouth. ‘Rhonda, I’m so glad you moved here. I mean, this might sound crazy, but it’s like you were meant to move to this town.’
    ‘Really? Why’s that?’
    ‘I don’t know, exactly. It’s just a feeling I have. Have you ever had a feeling deep down in your stomach that something major is going to happen even though you don’t know what it is?’
    Rhonda tilts her head to one side as she considers the question. ‘I can’t say I have.’
    ‘Well, I have. I’ve got that feeling right now. Something big is going to happen and you’re going to be a part of it.’
    Rhonda looks at me and I sense that she feels a bit unnerved by my prediction. I’ve come across too strong and now she thinks I’m a weirdo.
    I try to rectify the situation. ‘Jesus, I’m sorry. I must sound like a basket case.’
    Rhonda smiles and I instantly relax. ‘You know, sometimes I wonder what’s going on inside that head of yours, Stan. It’s like you’ve got some big, dark secret.’
    I laugh. ‘There’s no dark secret. But, it’s weird, I can’t shake the feeling that something big is coming.’
    ‘Well, when you find out what that big thing is, make sure you tell me all about it, OK?’
    ‘You’ll be the first to know. I promise.’
    ‘Thanks. I think.’
    I pull Rhonda in a little closer and we continue swaying together. I brazenly whisper in her ear, ‘You’re beautiful.’ She laughs a little and her lips brush against my cheek. Jolts of adrenaline course through my body and I know that I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.
    After we dance to several songs, Rhonda excuses herself. ‘I don’t want my new friends to think that I’ve