‘Imagination links with memory’ is a quote attributed to the Impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917) and one which he passed on as advice to many apprentice artists including Paul Gauguin. I chose the title to reflect this quote as it sums up what this book of short stories is – my own memories mixed up like colours on a Degas palette with liberal sprinkling of my adult imagination. ‘Mixed-up kid’ was my first foray onto short stories based on childhood memories in and around Darlington, County Durham, England 1968-1981 and this is my second.