NO FAVOURITES
By
Darby Brennan
A companion piece to Gift Horse.
Cowley reflects on Bodie and Doyle, and reaches a decision.
An established relationship story.
Written: August 2007. Word count 200.
‘Never have favourites'. A rule I always intended to follow.
And I did. Until Messrs. William Andrew Philip Bodie and Raymond Doyle came into my life. Then everything changed.
Och, I tried to follow the rule, tried to think of them as just another two of my boys. But that's part of what makes, what made, them such a fine team: you don't really notice them, until it's too late.
They were the best team I ever had; the best I'm ever likely to have. Agents, people, like them don't come along very often.
I say ‘were' because they're no more. Doyle has gone.
Walked away.
Left.
Left his job. His home. His friends. Left Bodie. Now that surprised me. I knew you see; I had to. And whilst I didn't exactly encourage it, nor did I forbid it.
Bodie thinks I don't know how much he's missing Doyle. But I do. And I don't like what I see.
Och, George, you're going soft in your old age.
Maybe I am. Because I'm going to tell Bodie to follow Doyle.
I'll have lost two agents rather than one. But that happened anyway. I lost Bodie the day Doyle walked away.
Couldn't Stay is a companion piece to this story.
Feedback is always appreciated