Olive spread herself across the bed and propped herself up on a pillow. Her peach coloured nylon slip clung to her breasts, which rested against her arms. She tracked the movements of Terry around the caravan. He filled the kettle and lit the stove to make tea. There was a fleeting smell of bottled gas as he lit the flame. It was hot in the van, the middle of summer and she was drowsy, all loved up

This tattooed navvy was so handsome, so strong, or so he looked to her in her sleepy state. Other people would have seen the stains on his vest, the fabric taut across his paunch, his gappy brown teeth and faded tattoos.

Terry and the circus came to town every year and set themselves up on the common. Olive had first spent the night in Terry's van 17 years ago. She had gone to the circus with her sister and had slipped out for a fag when the clowns came on. He walked past and winked at her. Something about his walk made her want to call out to him, so she did and they started talking. Olive went back the next night and stayed this time. She stayed every night until the circus left and there was never any question of her going with him or of him staying.

Over the years Olive got married, had a child, lost a child, divorced and weathered all kinds of turbulence and change.

The only constant was Terry, for 5 nights every year. Once about 10 years ago he had given her a gift, the only one. He had made her close her eyes and hold out her empty hands, then he had gently placed in them a small golden charm. It was a tiny gilt bible with a sugar paste ruby on its spine.

Olive kept it hidden for years and never loved a possession so much as that one. Then one day she came home to find her husband holding the charm over the gas flame on the cooker. He had grabbed her by her hair and held the hot metal against her cheek, until she screamed. She was left with a little burnt bible scar and an empty house, but she didn't mind.

This had been her last night with Terry, the circus was off again this morning. She drank the tea and wondered what it would be like to go with him. She dressed and said goodbye. Terry kissed her bible shaped scar and there was a moment when she thought he may ask. But outside the lions were grumbling and the tent was coming down, there was work to do and another town to get to. Olive took a deep breath, opened the caravan door and said goodbye to the circus.