I almost miss her. I was seconds from dozing off. A passing car grinding its gears brought me back to the job in hand. I rub my eyes. Karen is leaving the close. I am out of the door like a rocket. I sprint across the road and she sees me coming. She tries to jump into the car before I can get there. I kick it up a notch. I have the momentum and slam into the driver door before she gets there. I stand before her. She smiles at me. I smile back. ‘Simon,’ she says. ‘Karen,’ I reply. I point at my car. She crosses over the road. If I expect resistance I get none. Seconds later she slides into the passenger seat. I sit next to her, holding the steering wheel for comfort. The silence stretches. She pulls down the sun visor and checks her Polyfilla is intact. Karen is good at silence. It is her weapon of mass distraction. She understands the intimate power of saying nothing. When it is used to its full effect it has a way of drawing people out - making them talk - when saying nothing would have been a better option.
