'What's your name?' She asks.

'Nick Cutler.' I say, a bit shy. Is this beautiful girl really talking to me? How did that happen?

'Doctor Graves will see you in a minute, Mr Cutler.' She smiles. 'If you care to sit down?' She nods in the direction of the waiting area.

I'm nervous about this. Will Graves cooperate? There's nothing wrong with me. But I want him to write a statement saying I'm in no fit state to join the army.

The girl's looking at me from behind her counter. She's writing something in a file. When our looks cross she smiles. Again.

She's got beautiful eyes that sparkle as she smiles. She's quite tall for a girl. I've never seen her here before. What happened to old Mrs Tally? I pick up a newspaper, but it's just a pretense. I can't concentrale, very much aware of the girl sitting there.

An old woman comes in and the girl tells her very gently that her appointment isn't until Wednesday. 'Have you been walking all the way, Mrs Peters? Please sit down, and I'll get you a glass of water.'

The woman sit down next to me, and the girl brings her some water, as promised. She winks at me. 'When's my appointment, dear?' old Mrs Peters says, confused.

'On Wednesday, love.' The girl explains.

'Oh.' Mrs Peters says.

I don't want to leave. All I want to do is sit here and watch the girl for the rest of my life. I feel a pang of regret when she tells me Doctor Graves can see me now.

'Let me see. Allergies, hyperventilating, anxiety attacks – you still have these, Mr Cutler?' I nod. It's a lie. Those attacks happened years ago, after my dad died. I was six and scared my mum would die too. 'Hm. And what is it you do at the moment?'

'I'm studying law, sir.'

He frowns. 'Engage in any sports, do you?'

I cycle to college, but that's because I can't afford the bus fare. 'Not really.' I say truthfully.

'Walking's good for you. Keep that in mind. If you want to live to a healthy old age you should take better care of your body. Brains aren't everything, you know.'

Is that it? With a sinking feeling I realise that he's going to give me no release note.

'When's your medical?' He asks.

Right. Time to stir things up a little. 'In two weeks time.' I tell him. 'Same day as Charlie Henley – remember him? Look, I know all about you. About what you do.' He frowns. 'Remember Simone Henley? She's my next door neighbour as it happens.' Well, she was until she died of infection after an illegal abortion.

He's grown pale now. 'What do you want from me?' He asks.

'Isn't it obvious?' I challenge him.

'I could make sure they send you to war and get you killed.' He threatens me.

'I know.' I say. 'But that wouldn't be very wise. Cause that would mean the end of your succesful career. What would Mrs Graves say? Or your lovely assistant? You'd drag everyone down with you.'

In the end I don't have to enlist. Instead I go on a date. With Rachel, the pretty doctor's assistant.