Expired

Inevitably there were more applications than vacancies.
Winter over in Antarctica
a rare experience
destination dropping travel boast
auroras, 24-hour darkness, extreme weather
and serious money.

The money
out loud most found it necessary to pretend
unwilling to appear vulgar
pausing, as if not previously contemplated
manufacturing hesitant, just thought of possibility.
the wages welcome of course
but only part of the motivation.
A big porky
everybody knew it
everybody repeated it.

Six is not divisible by 30.
Despair
disappointment
disillusionment
all widespread.
Nigel was a great choice
said those not disaffected by rejection
a practical joker who would keep spirits high.

Rationing is not always bad
a friend who paid for university
working in an upmarket department store
could never listen to Christmas carols
saying what was once uplifting
saturated to irritating . . . . then murderous.

The chilled voice
brutal ally to heat of eyes
said by the end
he’d had enough of Nigel and his silly pranks
said he understood how people expelled reason
and why they came to kill.

For the back story click Backstage