The pawnbroker adjusted his eyeglass whilst circling Joe’s wedding ring through his supple fingers.

“Twenty dollars,” he snapped.

“But it’s solid gold. Cost two hundred new,” Joe pleaded.

“Twenty,” the pawnbroker repeated.

Joe snatched the ring and left, satisfied. For this first day, he was in control of his addiction.

John B Sinclair is a much-travelled Scot who has now returned to Scotland, where he enjoys freelance writing on a variety of subjects.