Dan Mooney

Denis made sure that he smiled and showed his manners as often as possible, to compensate for the irritation of having to individually wrap a teaspoon in a serviette, or pick up money from the counter-top and place the change back without simply handing it over.

I remember when you weren’t afraid of your own shadow. It’s just outside, feel the fear, do it regardless.

Denis was confident that if it did rain, the deluge would fall more or less directly on top of him alone, like some kind of sad cartoon character.

he could almost feel his soul shrivel up inside him.

People are idiots.”

“Agreed. But we persevere.”

feel the fear, do it regardless

Nothing to be afraid of,’ he told himself. ‘It’s just outside.’

The words were supposed to be a comfort to him, but a small voice in the back of his head quietly reminded him that they were a lie.

unfortunate need to grocery shop arose

nook and cranny

flinches at the thought of