27th February 2026

 

books on decision making

but I leave empty-handed

I couldn't choose one

© Rachel Green February 2026

NACRO Training

Alan breaks wind constantly

all day, every day,

"Better out than in," he says

rolling a Golden Virginia

an the liquorice paper he favours.

He's an excellent draughtsman

but nobody befriends him.

James if the man's man

always showing off his muscles

and talking about his wife's body.

He's very pleased with himself

but we all know he be divorced

before the year is out.

Grant is overweight

takes two seats at the workbench

laboriously copies out alphabets

from the Letraset catalogue.

He's a heavy smoker

and thinks his rasping, dry cough

is unrelated to his Bensons.

Charlie is special needs

can't draw for toffee

but had to do a training scheme

or lose his Jobseeker's.

He talks about music all day

and the lady at the fish and chop shop

who gave him a free mini-fish.

Tracy is on Income Support;

a single mom who trains three days a week

while her mum has the baby.

She doesn't smoke

but develops a cough anyway.

This is before the no-smoking-at-work laws came in

She killed herself a year later

because her baby was taken away.

And the manager of the unit

we call the Terminator

because he kicks us off our benefits

if we ever miss a day.

His Black-country accent

"Yow've bin terminated."

© Rachel Green February 2026