January 1st
No police turn up. Only more snow. Record-breaking, they’re saying, London’s Big Freeze. New Year celebrations all called off. But it’s summer with you,Perth Todayreports a heatwave. Climate crisis everywhere.
Even Sal has disappeared. I leave food out for her anyway, and I check the park. There is evidence of the other fox pack, so I wait on the cold, damp bench, and stare at the muted colours of the undergrowth. The small greyish fox I like to call Moonlight is digging in an old bin bag beside a drain. But no Sal. Before I leave, a charm of red-faced goldfinches arrives swiftly in the bare-branched oaks, squeaking like hospital trollies. Then night comes quickly and with more snow.