This piece was written for a Writers’ Circus challenge, “Write about the ‘senses’.”

There was a second imperative.

Some of us in the Writers’ Circus are keen on short story competitions. I am not, but I was persuaded to stick to a discipline of 1,000 words and send this tale with my £5 entry fee.

Sadly it did not even make the long list. It is a bit off beat, I do admit.

This is more of a story for a winter’s morning. Given our summer in Scotland this year, it may suit over morning coffee.