‘All things change, 2 they say Say theres someone wanted to change his luck. Let's sy this someone was me. Think why nt try to alter your fate the way you change gears, Innes or velocity. f your ifs full ocrap, why not change ithe way you change a baby's nappies. See taking a tutn forthe better, ke the way you replace worn yrs when they ae old and bal, Push your ick a bit and change is direcion. No one wants to Keep diving onthe hard shoulder. I's time to change into the fas lane A charge Is 25 ‘00d 38 rest, they say So there's ths great dea offing abet. Got It when talking to this guy the other night. Not much a a character, ust someone who takes on od jobs here and there ke ‘working on farms and in stables, Guess you'd have called him an alr back in the day. In any case, this uy says we could connive our own oppression of fate, anc change ‘ac or good, “Big words" tel hi, "Not much ofa believer inthe stare mysel.” But the guy wae adamant, Says he was looking for someone who wasn't involved, someone ‘who wouldn't arouse suspicion. Someone like me Now, where's the catch, says. Because there's got to be a catch, There always. But the guy says no, there ale’ any. Safe as houses, piece of pis. He'd take care of business only needs someone to place the bet. Would share the royalties afterwards. “Equal investment, | want to know. He bursts nto a holow laugh. “No, matey ~ You {get the info for what you put down, we spit the money in twa. You wanna change your tue, you gotta know when to whistle” | ponder tis one for awhile. “How do know ican trust you?” He looks me straight inthe ev. “Because want to change sorrow nto oy mysel” The guy ha a point. We agree on terms. We'd meet at abetting shop on Raglan Road. take a weeks pay and putt allon “Whee of Fortune”. Name fora horse lke Sugar” He makes sure the two top horses get a serous case ofthe runs on race day and bar up 3 week's nourishment of straw. Nie one. So here itcomes, the day af the races. change into casual clothing afer wor, cashin my pay cheque, wiling to take all of my sponds down tothe books. Four hundred ‘uid. change afer into coins atthe corner shop and pay the bus driver. "A pound and fry,” he says. "Here's two, keep the change.” Driver gves me a glance of suprise. ‘Then | need to change buses two more times to travel tothe betting shop loody chore, that. Eventually get there crver shouts “End ofthe lne! Al change!” ‘Aimost feels ike an omen, 50’ beter gt ging. Into the bookies ad checking the odds. Twelve to one, not bad. Almost five grand ifthe plan works out. | "ake 3 look ‘round, not soul insight Change of heart? Not me. Walkup to the Booke and advise his to put four bg ones on "Wheel of Fortune”. Number eight in race fou, two aces too. Phew. The race comes up. My eye ued othe screen. Camera close-up on the horses Inthe starting blocks. They all look well fit nd ready. Camera loses in on number 8, “Whee of Fortune". Med lookin ts eyes, an ust before they al gt off the blocks, you can see “Wheel of Fortune” throw up across the marks. The starting signal rings ou and they al dash off All but one. "Wheel of Forte" stops dead in ts tracks, hooves covered in sick, ay jaws drop, and fallback int a set behind me. Eyes wonder about helplessly, evenualy catching sight ofthe bookle behind the acrylic lass. There's this guy from ‘the pub waking nto the place though the backdoor, high-fving the Books. Bollocks. eave the shop, and walkaround othe back door ty the oor handle. Shot af |tur around and can see this hench onthe pavement facing the backdoor. I walk up to the Bench sit down and check the scene, Nota soul Slght. W's almost dark as ‘wel slide a smal arm rom the inside of my pocket ane place on my lap. t's easily covered by my let hand, now all can do wat fora change af sone, \When you dance withthe devil, ne doesn’t change. Ae they say