Steve Fairaday was awake, but there was precious little time left. It was now or never.

Reaching from beneath the bedclothes, he lifted his iPhone from its position on the floor.

Almost immediately the phone began to buzz, and ring.

Tapping the option for Stop, Steve turned off the alarm, and breathed a sigh of relief. His phone read 7:10am. _That could have been bad. Real bad._ _One for sorrow_.

Leaving the phone beside his pillow, Steve swept the top of the bedclothes forward in a single motion, and placed them on top of the bottom portion_._

Swinging his feet over the right side of the bed, Steve dropped both to the floor at the exact same time. _Two for joy_.

Standing up, he walked to the end of the bed and crouched down to look at the two layers of bedclothes. _Perhaps two mil in it_.

Satisfied, he rose, - _Three for a Girl_ - and walked over to a chair near the bedroom door. Choosing from a pile of clothes on top - a crisp white shirt, blue chinos, a blue tie, blue socks, and blue underwear - Steve started to get dressed.

It was while looping the tie that Steve’s movements slowed, his body becoming almost stock still.

On the final cinch the tension went out of him. _Got it! Four for a boy._

From below the chair, he pulled out a pair of shiny brown loafers and put them on.

As he entered the kitchen his eyes were immediately drawn to a mahogany table at its centre. Atop it, at the side furthest from the window, there sat a place mat, one spoon, one bowl, a box of cornflakes and a black set of scales, with an accompanying transparent container.

Grabbing and opening the cornflakes, Steve gently tipped the contents into the bowl for exactly 3 and a half seconds.

Leaning in, he scrutinised the bowl’s contents for another two seconds before lifting out three pieces of cornflakes and returning them to the box.

Pressing a button on the scales, Steve emptied the bowl into the transparent container. The scales rapidly read 30g. _I’m getting too good at this. Five for Silver_.

Approaching the fridge and pulling the door, Steve revealed an all but empty cabinet, with just one product on the middle shelf - a two litre plastic jug of semi-skimmed milk.

Moments later, the cornflakes were bathed in cold, white liquid, and Steve was sitting, happily munching away.

With the contents consumed, Steve lifted his bowl and spoon, and headed to the kitchen sink. He turned on the hot tap. He plugged the sink, and undid the topper on a red bottle of fairy liquid. Squeezing some of the contents into the sink, and with bubbles quickly forming, Steve sourced a sponge and started to clean the bowl and spoon.

Returning the bowl and spoon to their positions on the table, and the milk to the fridge, Steve walked out of the kitchen, down a narrow, stark corridor, and up to his apartment door. Resting on the floor, to the left side of the door, was a brown satchel.

Slinging the satchel over his shoulder, Steve placed his head to the door and listened.

Silence at first. Then a voice could be heard. Silence again. A rustling sound. Silence…..and more silence.

Steve stood back, turned the knob on the door and stepped out. When he was satisfied that the coast was clear - _Blessed silence_ - Steve produced a gold key from his pocket, stuck it in the lock, and turned it._ Six for gold. _

Shifting on the spot, Steve marched confidently down the corridor, and pressed the button on the lift.

Outside on the side walk, Steve waited for the lights to change with half a dozen other, sullen, vapid looking New Yorkers. They had the faces of human beings going through the motions. Steve checked his phone. It read 7:40am. _Time enough. _

The lights turned green. Steve and the crowd surged forward.

The bell of the coffee shop produced a happy jingle as Steve entered. A heavy set man, an older lady, a young woman, and a couple formed a que leading to the counter. Steve stared at the menu above the counter, his face inscrutable.

After several minutes the que shuffled forward.

Steve looked at his phone. The screen read 7:43. _I’ve got time. I’ve got time_.

The couple in front started whispering to each other. The conversation grew more intense as the seconds ticked bye.

“I told you we shoulda went to the other place. They’ve got some new broad today. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s holding the whole place up”

Steve looked up at this. He checked his phone again. 7:46.

“For fuck sake, why do you always do this Jeremy? Not waiting for a response, the woman moved off towards the door, “Fine, fine let’s go!

Steve stepped to one side, letting the couple past. Resuming his place in the que he whipped out his phone again and checked it once more. 7:48. _Ridiculous. This is getting ridiculous_.

Beads of perspiration had begun to form on Steve’s brow. The smell of the coffee shop, the earthy tang of freshly roasted coffee beans was suddenly suffocating. Steve wiped at his forehead, and pulled at his shirt collar.

The que moved forward again.

“Hi Lydia, how’s it going? I didn’t know you had started in here!

Steve groaned inwardly.

“Jodie! How are you? Yes! These are my new digs as it were….”

“Hi,”

Steve had stepped forward, and was speaking to both ladies directly.

“I don’t mean to rush you but….”

“Then don’t rush us,” said Jodie.

Lydia rolled her eyes at Jodie, and the two resumed their conversation.

“I need….my coffee,” said Steve.

The two ladies stopped talking and turned to look at him.

Out of nowhere, Steve felt a hand on his shoulder, turning him.

“Is there a problem here?

An athletic looking gentleman, wearing a skin tight t-shit was staring at him. Steve hadn’t even saw him come in.

_Seven for a….Seven for a….Seven for a_

“Secret! Steve blurted in the man’s face.

Every occupant of the Coffee Shop stopped what they were doing and looked in Steve’s direction.

“What a wack job,” someone muttered.

“Seven for a secret,” Steve screamed. The coffee shop and the people turned at a forty five degree angle. Steve found himself looking at the floor, at Nike trainers. At last his vision went dark, and he passed out.