“Well, it’s really got me puzzled,”
said Doctor Azir. “And they didn’t keep you in, did they?”
Archie shook his
head. It had been quite dramatic in the end. He wished he’d been conscious so
he could have seen all the fun. But then
if he had been, there wouldn’t have been any drama. An ambulance had come and
whisked him off to hospital. Mum and Dad had had to wait ages for a taxi – they
hadn’t dared drive because of all the booze they’d had. He’d woken up to find a doctor listening to
his chest with a stethoscope and his parents hadn’t arrived until half an hour
later. Grandma had gone in the ambulance with him. He wasn’t really sure why. But,
anyway, when he woke she’d just popped off to find a cup of tea. Typical!
“It says in your
notes they found a bad ear infection. They were puzzled because you didn’t have
high temperature. You should have had with an ear as bad as that. But you’ve
had no more trouble since?”
Archie shook his
head again.
“So, it seems
the antibiotics they gave you must have worked. Let’s have a look, shall we.”
Doctor Azir stuck
a funny-looking instrument in Archie’s ear. “This shouldn’t hurt he said.”
It didn’t
really. Archie wished he’d’ get on with, it though. It wasn’t exactly
comfortable having Doctor Azir’s face so close to his own.
“Good. Good,”
muttered the doctor. He stepped back. “Well, that’s all healed up nicely,” he
said, making his way back to the chair on the other side of the desk. “And you had
no other symptoms? No warning that something was wrong?”
“Well, actually…”
Archie really didn’t want to admit this. But he didn’t dare risk telling
another lie. He didn’t want that to start all over again. No way.
“You’re going to
think this is daft,” said Archie.
“Try me.” Doctor
Azir was grinning. “I hear some funny things in this room. I doubt whether you
can shock me.”
“Every single time
I told a lie my ear would start buzzing.” Archie couldn’t look Doctor Azir in
the face.
Doctor Azir
laughed. “Yes, I’ll give you that one. That is pretty close to the funniest
thing I’ve heard yet. So, it’s a bit like Pinocchio and his nose? And did you
tell a lie just before you collapsed?”
“Yes, a great
big fat one.”
Doctor Azir
laughed again. “Well, I don’t suppose it’s anything too clever. I guess you’re
basically pretty healthy but telling lies was causing you stress so the
symptoms only showed up when you told a lie. You seem absolutely fine now. I don’t need to see you again. You can go
now. ”
Archie stood up
to leave.
“Just one thing,
though.”
Archie stopped
and looked at Doctor Azir.
“It’s always
best to tell the truth anyway.” The doctor was grinning.
Plonker, thought Archie. He don’t believe me.
Still, Archie whistled to himself
as he left the medical centre. This was the first day he’d been allowed out
after being grounded. There were still three days of the school holiday left.
The sales were on. Not that he liked shopping. But he would be able to get a
bargain box of chocolates. That’s what Grandma had said. Chocolates and
flowers. So, he was on a mission now. There were still the two shifts to do at
Freddie’s but they wouldn’t take long. They couldn’t spoil today. The sun was
shining. Life was sweet. He’d just got to remember to be truthful all the
time.
The shopping
centre was crowded when he got there. Blooming
Aida, he thought. I don’t get women.
Why do they like shopping so much?
But there were
plenty of men there as well, most of them looking pretty bored. There were some
people his age, too, just hanging around. Nobody he knew very well. No sign of
Ollie or Red. He wondered whether they had been let out yet. They’d both said
“after Christmas” and it was well and truly after Christmas now. But they still
weren’t answering their phones. Perhaps
they’ve had new ones for Christmas, he thought. And he wasn’t surprised
they didn’t want to come anywhere near the mall. No, it was all cool. He’d
catch up with them later.
Something
niggled, though. He hadn’t had any emails from them even though he’d sent a
couple to them. Perhaps they thought he was still in hospital. Yeah, that would
be it.
Anyway, now he
was on a mission. Best concentrate on that. He’d got to do this while he still
had the courage. He could worry about them two later.
Thorntons. That
would be the place.
“Have you seen
our special continental selection?” said the woman behind the counter. “We’re
selling them half price.”
Archie looked at
the label. That would be okay. It was a little more than he’d intended to pay
but it would do
“They come with
free gift-wrapping,” the woman said.
“Oaky then.” If
he walked to Amanda’s house and then walked back home again afterwards, he’d
still be able to get her some flowers as well.
“Who’re they
for? Your mum or your girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend.”
“Is it her
birthday? Or have you had a falling out?”
“Something like
that.” Was she a nosy cow or what?
“There you go,
then. She should like that.” The woman curled the ribbon along the back of her
scissors and handed Archie the packet.
She’d better like this, he thought as he
paid up.
All he could
find at the flower shop for the cash he had left were pot plants.
“The leaves will
stay red for another few weeks if you look after it,” said the man who served
him. “Some people don’t like having them after Christmas. But this one’s rather
nice. It will look good for a while yet.”
Archie hoped Amanda
wouldn’t be so fussy. She might be though. She could be sometimes.
Oh, well, he’d
better get on with it. He was glad there’d been nobody he knew in the precinct.
He hurried out. He wouldn’t really want even Ollie or Red to know what he was
up to now.
It didn’t take him long to get to Amanda’s
house – even though he dawdled a bit. He was a bit scared, actually. What if
her mum and dad were there? What if she wouldn’t see him? She hadn’t rejected
his Christmas card at least. But she hadn’t thanked him for it and she hadn’t
sent him one. What if she wouldn’t accept his presents? Surely, she would,
though, even if she refused to go out with him again.
His other worry,
of course, was that somebody might see him. He was in luck, though. There was nobody about. Even so, he had mixed
feelings when he arrived at her house. He was relieved to have got there
without being spotted. But he felt quite sick at the thought of how she might
react to him.
It was just beginning
to rain. Right, he’d better get on with
this before he got drenched and the wrapping on the chocolates got ruined. He
rang the door bell. Seconds later he heard footsteps coming along the hallway.
The door opened. Amanda.
God, she looked
gorgeous, even though she was still in her pyjamas and was wearing slippers. In
fact, that made it better. It would be quicker to get her clothes off.
Blimey, what was
he thinking? And anyway, she looked a bit pale actually.
“Oh, I’m sorry
to disturb you,” Archie stammered. “I didn’t know you were ill.”
“I’m not. I was
having a lie-in.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.
I’ve bought you these.” Archie held out the plant and the chocolates awkwardly
to her.
“Why?”
“Well, I thought
you’d like them.”
“Perhaps you
should give them to your mum or your grandmother.”
“I wanted to say
I was sorry. About Millie and about fibbing to you.”
“You can’t undo
that. It’s too late. We’re over. Don’t you get it?”
“I’m sorry. I’m
really sorry. I don’t want it to be over. I love you.” Bloody hell. That again.
“Oh, don’t be so
soft.” Her cheeks were pink now and she was frowning. “You don’t know the
meaning of the word. You just fancy me and you want to get inside my knickers.
And once you have, you’d be off like a shot.”
“I wouldn’t. I’m
not like that.” Archie thought he felt a tingle in his ear. “So what if I fancy
you and I want to … do all sorts to you. It’s only natural.”
“Like it’s
natural for you to have sex with Millie Davies? At the bus stop?” She was
bright red now.
“What?”
“She told me. I
saw her in town the other day. She said she didn’t know how I could give you up,
you were so good in bed.”
“What?” The
bloody little bitch. If he ever saw her again ...
“Go on. Bugger
off. Take your damn chocolates and your stupid pot plant to her. Not that I’d
imagine you’d need stuff like that to get her going. And don’t send me any more
of those stupid cards.” She slammed the front door.
He couldn’t
believe it. Millie was such a little liar. And Amanda hadn’t liked the card
either; he’d spent hours choosing it.
It was now
beginning to pour. Grandma’s house wasn’t far away. He’d better run round
there. Perhaps she’d like the plant and the chocolates.
“Well, they don’t seem to have
suffered. I think they’ll be really nice, actually.” Grandma had peeled the
soggy paper off the chocolates and was studying the list of flavours. “When the
tea’s ready we can try one.” She felt Archie’s clothes that were on the
clothes-horse in front of the gas fire.
“These won’t take long. Then we’ll get that tea inside you and you’ll
soon warm up. Pull your chair closer.”
Archie was
shivering even though he was wearing his grandmother’s thick towelling
dressing-gown. The central heating wasn’t on, just the gas fire.
“You were daft
going out without an umbrella. I hope you don’t get your ear infection back.”
“I thought she’d
let me in at least.”
“So why wouldn’t
she accept the presents? She didn’t have to get back with you. Mind you, I am
surprised about that as well. Seemed to me that she was really stuck on you.”
“Yeah, but it
wasn’t just about me fibbing about you being ill.”
“Oh?”
“She’d heard
about me kissing another girl.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah I did. It
was just one silly little kiss. Well quite a big one, I suppose. But just the one. And now the stupid bitch
has gone and said all sorts of horrible things about me.”
“Amanda?”
“No.
Millie. The girl I kissed.”
“I see.” Grandma
was frowning. “Well, at least you know how it feels when people tell fibs.”
“I suppose so.”
“I wouldn’t have
suggested the flowers and chocolates if I’d known about this other girl. It’s
difficult to come back after that.”
“Hmm. Grandma,
she didn’t even like my card.”
“Which one are
we talking about now? Amanda or the bitch?”
“Amanda, of
course. I wouldn’t send that slapper a card.”
“You wash your
mouth out, young man. I don’t want to hear you talking about any young women
that way.”
He d had enough.
She was doing his head in.
“It’s all right,
Grandma. I’m going to get going now.” He snatched his clothes from in front of
the fire. They were still quite damp but
they’d do. Anyway, he was only going to
get wet all over again. He’d have to walk home now. He daren’t ask Grandma for the fare.
“What about the
tea and chocolates?”
“You have
‘em.” He went into the bathroom to get
changed.
What a waste of a day it had been.
Trogging through the shopping centre. Amanda not wanting anything to do with
him. Grandma having a go at him. Then getting soaking wet. Ollie and Red were
still not answering his calls or emails. There was nothing on telly. He’d
watched all of his new DVDs. He was even up to date with all of his schoolwork
– well apart from the bits he couldn’t understand, and if he was honest that
was actually quite a lot. But he couldn’t do anything about that now. He’d have
to ask when he got back to school. At least it was dark now and he could stare
at his ceiling.
I wish I could take a trip in a spaceship, he
thought. See this lot for real. But
he knew really that he could never be a rocket scientist. His getting the
magical five grades A*-C in GCSE seemed unlikely let alone anything else.
Still, his stars
were nice. That was at least one thing he’d done right.
Then his mobile
rang.
Bloody hell!
Millie Davies. What did she want?
He thought about refusing the call. But then
slagging her off would be better than being bored. He pressed the green button.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“Hi, Archie. Can
we meet up?”
“I don’t think
so. You’ve done enough damage already.”
“Please,
Archie.” Her voice wobbled a bit. Then she started to cry.
“What’s the
matter?”
“My mum and dad
have chucked me out. I’ve got nowhere to go.”
Blimey! That was
bad. But he didn’t really know what he could do about it.
“I’m really
cold, Archie.”
Yes, he could
tell she was shivering. “Where are you now?”
“I’m in the bus
shelter.” She giggled. “Our bus shelter.”
Archie let that
one pass.
“You can come
round mine for a bit. Start walking towards Sandwell Road. I’ll meet you on the
way.”
Archie grabbed
his jacket. His mum’s anorak was hanging next to it. She wouldn’t be going out
tonight so she wouldn’t miss it if he took it. But God, what the hell was he
playing at? Hadn’t the bitch caused enough trouble? Why was he feeling sorry
for her?
Still, he
supposed she still counted as one of his friends. God knows he didn’t seem to
have many of those left at the moment. And you had to help your mates, didn’t
you?
He met her by the traffic lights at
the corner of Sandwell Road. He didn’t recognise her at first. She looked like
a little lost primary school kid, though at least not as goofy as she used to
be then. But at least she wasn’t flashing her legs. She was wearing some baggy
jeans and a scruffy jumper.
“What happened
then?”
Millie looked up
at him. In the lamplight Archie could see that she had been wearing make-up but
now it had all run and her face was streaked with black. “My uncle got drunk
and tried to snog me. He had his hand right up my skirt. I pushed him away.
And….” She started sobbing.
She looked small
and helpless. Like a lost puppy. He’d got a soft spot for animals, especially needy
ones. “Here.” He wrapped his mum’s anorak around her and pulled her into a hug.
“Let’s get you back to my place. Then we can work out what to do.”
She calmed down
as they started walking.
“So why have they
chucked you out?”
“Well, my uncle
hit his head on the fireplace and he’s unconscious and they’ve taken him to
hospital. Mum and Dad don’t believe me. Well, they didn’t. Then I think they
did and Dad said it was my own fault for dressing like a tart. Mum told me to
go and cover myself up. Then somebody phoned. Then Mum screamed at me to get
out and never come back. I – I think something really bad has happened to my
uncle.”
Archie put his
arm around her shoulders. He didn’t think anyone would misinterpret that – not
even Millie herself. “Come on,” he said. “We’ll talk to my mum. She’ll know
what to do.”
“He didn’t … did he?” said Mrs
Raybald.
Millie shook her
head. “No, but I think he wanted to. He might have if I hadn’t stopped him. Or
he might have been too drunk.”
They were
sitting round the kitchen table drinking hot chocolate. That was always Mum’s
solution to a crisis. It seemed to be working as well. Even Millie was managing
to drink hers.
“Well, we ought
to let your parents know that you are safe and sound. And find out how your
uncle is.”
Millie shook her
head violently and looked as if she was going to start crying again.
“It’s all
right,” said Mrs Raybald. “I’ll speak to them. And then we’ll have to think
about where you can spend the night. So, what was your number again?”
Mrs Raybald
punched in the number that Millie gave her. Archie could hear the phone ringing
out at the other end. Then the answerphone kicked in.
“Oh good
evening, Mr and Mrs Davies,” said Mum. “Just to let you know that Millie is
with us and we’ll keep her safe and sound until tomorrow. I expect you’re
rather busy. But call me on this number when you can.”
Mrs Raybald
smiled at Millie. “I’m going to phone my mum and see whether you can stay at
her place,” she said.
“Mum, can’t she
stay here?” For goodness sake, they rattled around in this big house.
“I think in the
circumstances it’s best if there aren’t two young people of the opposite sex
under the same roof, don’t you?”
That again!
“Mum, Millie and I aren’t like that.”
“Even so.
Remember, you’d be off guard and that’s when you get caught out. I know what
you young people are like.”
“Mum!”
Millie blushed
bright red and looked at the floor. Mrs Raybald was already using the speed
dial.
“Hello, Mum.
Listen, would you be willing for a young girl to come and stay with you
tonight?”
It very soon
became clear that Grandma was just as unsure about it as Archie had been. Mrs
Raybald moved out of the kitchen.
Millie gave
Archie a weak smile. “Thank you for being so kind,” she said.
Archie’s ear was
beginning to tingle. Just a little. He’d
got to say something.
“About what I
said… about you and me not being like that…”
Millie looked up
at him and nodded.
“I’m sorry. I
really mean that. I like you but I don’t
fancy you.”
Millie raised an
eye-brow. “So what was all that about at the bus shelter?”
“Me being a
bloke.”
“So, actually,
you do fancy me but you don’t like me? And presumably only when I’m dressed up
and not the wreck I am now?”
Ouch! But yes,
she’d got it right. Archie nodded.
Millie looked as
if she was going to cry. “I need the loo,” she said. “Where’s your bathroom?”
Archie pointed
her to the downstairs cloakroom.
Oh, God, what
had he done now? But at least his ear had stopped tingling.
He wondered how
this was all going to work out.
His mum came
back into the kitchen.
“That’s all
sorted then. Your dad will take Millie round to Grandma’s. Then we can try and
get it all sorted in the morning. Oh, where is she?”
“Loo!”
The phone rang.
Mrs Raybald answered it. Millie reappeared.
“But you know
Ollie really fancies you, don’t you?”
“Oh, him. Well,
I’m not bothered about any of that now. I’ve had it up to here with men.” She
held her hand as far as she could above her head and glowered at Archie.
“I’ll tell her.
Don’t worry,” said Mrs Raybald. “Yes. Yes. It will be fine. As long as need be.
I’m so sorry.” She finished the call. Archie noticed she was really white. “Oh
dear,” she said as she sat down at the kitchen table. “Millie, my love, I’ve
got some bad news.” She took Millie’s hand. “I’m afraid your uncle died half an
hour ago.”
“No, he can’t
have. I didn’t push him that hard.” She
had gone pale too. She put her hand in front of her mouth. “I think I’m going
to be sick.” She rushed out of the kitchen.
*
Archie was hanging out in the
cloakroom at school. It was the first day back. He was determined to catch
Ollie and Red. Still neither of them had been in contact. He was trying to keep
an eye on Millie as well. She was still staying round Grandma’s. Her parents
wanted nothing to do with her. They were waiting for the outcome of the inquest
on her uncle. Until they’d worked out why her uncle had died, she could be done
for murder or manslaughter. So, she didn’t want to come to school. She had come,
though. Grandma had made her. He was just making sure she didn’t do a runner,
so he was watching the entrance. And he had to make sure he didn’t look as if
he was watching her if he did see her or if Amanda, Ollie or Red saw him. They
made life complicated, all these secrets.
Amanda suddenly
walked through the entrance. God, she looked gorgeous even in her school
uniform. His mouth went dry and his heart started thumping. Look this way, please, he thought. No, don’t. He tried to hide. She saw
him. She half smiled. Then scowled. Oh
Amanda. Don’t be like that.
Then Millie was
walking towards him.
“Where are you
going?” he said.
“To my maths
lesson. What did you think?”
“Just checking.”
“Look, there’s
no way I’d dare upset your grandma. I’m surprised you wouldn’t know that.”
“Yeah. You’re
right.”
“Anyway, it
takes my mind off it all.”
The lost puppy
again. Archie touched her arm. “It will be all right,” he said. “We’ll look
after you.” Damn. Why was he going all soft? What if Ollie suddenly walked in?
Millie nodded.
“Better get going. Maths won’t wait.”
Seconds later
Red appeared. He nodded in Archie’s direction and then set off down the English
corridor.
“What the
fuck…?” muttered Archie. They hadn’t seen each other for nearly four weeks and Red
had nothing to say?
“No, he won’t
speak to you, because he’s sticking up for me,” said a voice behind him. Ollie.
Where had he sprung up from? “I’ve got one word for you. Bus shelter incident.”
“But it…”
“You can’t deny
it, mate. Everybody knows. Everybody.”
“You don’t
understand…”
Ollie looked as
if he was going to punch him.
The bell rang.
“Oh yes I do.
You two-timed Amanda and pulled the wench I fancied. Everybody knows. No one
will speak to you. So, keep out of my face.”
Archie found Ollie again at break.
Ollie wasn’t very imaginative about hiding. He was in his usual spot, between
the boys changing rooms and the back entrance to the sports hall, enjoying a
quick fag. All right, so you couldn’t see them the from the staff room; it was
till a daft place to hide – even the staff came here for their nicotine hit now
that Sandwell had banned them from smoking anywhere on the premises at all.
“I told you, I
ain’t speaking to you.” Ollie took a deep drag on his cigarette and started
coughing.
God, why did he
have to pretend he liked them? He was such a poser.
“Listen mate.
There’s something I need to tell you about Millie.”
“What? Are you
and her an item now then or what?” Ollie made a big show of stamping out his
half-smoked ciggy.
“No. Only don’t
go near, her right? She needs a bit of space right now. She’s in a bit of
trouble” Bloody hell, he sounded like one of his mum’s magazines now.
“What’s the
matter then? She’s not up the duff is she? What have you done to her?”
“No, it’s
nothing like that. She’s actually staying with my grandma. And I ain’t done
anything to her.”
“So, why’s she
doing that, then?”
“I can’t say.”
“So, you’re not
with her then?”
“Nope. She’s all
yours. Just don’t go near her yet.”
“Yeah, but you
did snog her didn’t you?”
Archie
hesitated. His ear began to tingle slightly. “Yep.”
“Did you … you
know .. did you do it?”
“No.”
“I’ve heard the
pair of you were pretty full on.”
Blimey, just how
many people had seen them at the bus shelter?
Ollie was
looking as if he was going to be sick. “I bet you wanted to. I bet you would
have if you could have.”
Oh yes. “I guess so.”
“And you knew I
fancied her!” Ollie raised his fists.
“Sorry mate. But
she don’t fancy you. So it wouldn’t work anyway. But I ain’t into her.”
“So why did you
do it?”
Archie shrugged.
“Because I’m a bloke, I guess.”
Ollie swung at
him. Archie ducked. Ollie fell flat on the ground.
The bell rang.
Archie started to jog towards his geography lesson. “See ya,” he called.
Archie got through the day somehow.
He wasn’t even glad when school ended though. It was just going to get worse.
He’d got to go and do his final shift at Freddie’s. Well he supposed at least
it was the last one.
Chuffy greeted
him with a manic grin all over his face. “Deep clean of the bogs,” he said.
“And there’s a pile of greasy plates to wash in the kitchen.”
Well that didn’t
sound too bad. No worse than usual. Except that Chuffy’s grin seemed to be
getting wider. “Only the point is, see,
first you’ll have to get the sink unblocked. The plumber couldn’t get here.”
“I don’t know
how to that,” said Archie. “I ain’t a plumber either.”
“Well it won’t
hurt you to learn, will it? You can follow the instructions in my DIY book
can’t you?” Chuffy slapped down a faded old book. “Have fun won’t you?” He
turned to go. “There’s some tools in the cupboard in the corner. Of course I
won’t be offering you a cup of cha when you’ve done. Christmas is over now. You
didn’t think I was getting soft did you?”
Blooming Aida, thought Archie. I hope Freddie Benson’s satisfied now.
He took the
manual into the kitchen and quickly found the box of tools. At least the
instructions in Chuffy’s book were easy to follow. The U-bend came off quite
easily and he did remember to put a bowl underneath it. The pong though made
him gag. It was a wonder they hadn’t killed anybody with food-poisoning if the
state of this sink was anything to go by. He decided he would avoid eating at
Freddie’s in the future.
He held his
breath as he turned the tap on after’s he’d finished. He needn’t have worried.
It was all good. The water flowed freely and didn’t leak into the cupboard
underneath. He smiled. “Archie Raybald,” he whispered to himself. “You’re a
bloody genius.” He wondered whether it might be all right after all, being a
plumber. If this was all there was to it. It was quite a well-paid job he’d
heard.
But there was
still the pile of dishes and the bogs to do. He’d better get on.
It didn’t take
him all that long, in the end. And he did run some hot water down the sink
afterwards so it wouldn’t get blocked up again.
He even started
whistling as he made his way down to the bogs. He was doing a good job and it was
his last day after all.
Then, as he walked past the private conference
room, he thought he could hear someone in there. He stopped to listen.
“Oh, God. You’re
driving me mad. Stop it woman,” he heard someone say.
He recognised
that voice. It was Red. So, he’d got some bird in there. Archie smiled to
himself. He’d got to find out more about this.
“What have you
stopped for?” he heard Red say.
Whoever was with
him giggled.
“Oh, yes, oh yes.”
Red’s voice was at least an octave higher than usual.
Blimey, thought Archie. He’s really having it away.
There was a
keyhole in the door. But it was much too small to see anything through. There
was quite a big crack where the door hinged. Archie put his eye up to that. He
could see the inside of the room but he couldn’t see them.
“Please, please,
let me come inside you,” he heard Red whisper.
They were both
panting now. He’d just got to see this. He just had to. The girl murmured
something.
Archie opened
the door just a crack. He could see them lying on the floor. Red was on top of her.
He looked a bit comical actually. His shirt was undone and his pants and trousers
were half down his legs; his buttocks, pale and round, were jumping up and
down. He was really going at her. The girl’s clothes were scattered over the
floor.
Now she was
digging her nails into Red’s back making it bleed.
“Keep going,
keep going,” she was shouting now.
Then Red kissed
her hard. He stopped kissing her and screamed, then groaned just as she started
making a strange squeaking noise and started rubbing herself up against him
violently. She was sort of panting and Red kept on going although he looked as
if he was struggling now. Next she
seemed to have her hands down on Red’s private parts and was pulling him into
her. Then she let out a final scream and the two of them relaxed.
“Are you all
right?” asked Red.
“Yes, thanks.
That was brilliant.”
Bloody hell, he
would recognise that voice anywhere as well. What the fuck was she doing? Well
that was the trouble. Fucking was
precisely wat she was doing. Fuck her! And him!
He didn’t stop
to think. He just charged into the room
and pulled Red on to his feet. He punched him on the nose. Red toppled to the
floor.
“What do you
think you’re doing, mate?” Archie was ready to hit him again if he dared get up
off the floor. “Were you two hooking up together behind my back? Is this he
mystery girl?” He kicked Red.
“Archie!” cried
Amanda, dropping the clothes she had grabbed to cover herself up.
“What the hell’s
been going on here?” Chuffy was standing in the doorway with his hands on his
hips.
Amanda quickly
grabbed her clothes again.
“You should call the Police and
report him for assault,” said Chuffy. He was leaning up against the sink, his
arms folded in front of his chest.
“No, it’s by own
fault,” said Red. He was still holding his nose. The blood had stopped dripping
from it but every time he let go it would start again.
“Naw, I dunno.
It’s fairly normal. Young lads their age having a set too now and then.” Freddie
Benson sighed. “I just wish it wasn’t in my club, that’s all. What’s happened to
that girl? Was she all right?”
“Hadn’t got a
stitch on when I saw her,” said Chuffy. “Starkers, she was.”
Archie didn’t
like the way Chuffy’s eyes were gleaming. For the first time since he’d seen
her with Red he began to be a bit bothered about her. He’d felt nothing,
absolutely nothing either way when she’d tried to cover herself up in front of
Chuffy and then hurried off to the ladies, already in tears. They’d heard her
heels on the stairs later and Archie could tell she was sobbing as she left the
club, slamming the door behind her. That hadn’t bothered him at all. It served
her right.
Now, though, now
that Chuffy was looking so pleased with himself …. That’s my girl you were gawping at, he thought. My ex, at least.
“I hope you know
what you were doing,” said Mr Benson. “I hope you used some protection.”
Red shook his
head. “Doh deed. It was her first time. Won’t tatch any tin.”
“Bloody hell.”
Mr Benson ran his fingers through his hair. “I hope you haven’t put a bun in
her oven. Often the way. Girl’s first time. No protection because she never
thought she would.”
Bloody hell,
this was so unfair. The times he’d wanted to and she wouldn’t and then she goes
and gives in to Red. “Was it her all along? Your mystery women?”
“Yeah. Dorry
mate.”
“And you decide
not to speak to me because of Millie and Ollie? Bleeding hypocrite.”
“Doh. Dat
waren’t it.” Red took the tissue away from his nose. It seemed to have stopped
bleeding now. He looked Archie right in the eye. “I was keeping out of your way
because I didn’t want to give anything away about me and Amanda.”
Unbelievable.
“So, … so how long as this been going on for?”
“Since
November.”
November? So
what was with all the being upset about not seeing him that afternoon and all
Grandma’s “She’s such a nice girl. She wouldn’t let him do anything like that.”?
She’d been two-timing him all along.
“And you’re sure
this girl hadn’t been sleeping around?” sad Mr Benson.
“No, she told
me. She was a virgin.”
“And you
believed her?”
Red nodded his
head.
Archie longed to
shout out that no way was she. That’s he had her dozens of times. But he knew
that was a lie and what that would mean. He didn’t know, now, though, whether she’d been a virgin or not. She’d seemed to
be enjoying herself and he’d heard that girls didn’t enjoy it much the first
time. But then she had been crying when she left. Oh, it was so confusing.
“I just hope she’s
all right then. Let’s have a look at that nose.” Mr Benson prodded red’s nose
gently. Red squirmed. “No, I don’t think it’s broken.” He turned to Archie. “You’re
lucky this time, young man. Now get out of my sight and don’t ever come here
again. You’re banned. For life.” He turned back to Red. “You an’ all.”
Archie was freezing cold by the
time he turned into his road. It had begun to sleet and he was keeping his head
down out of it. So he didn’t see the man standing on the corner.
“Oy, I’ve been
waiting for you,” a voice boomed out of the darkness. “What did she say about
her biscuits?”
Bloody hell.
Foxy Burnett. Why was he sneaking about here? Oh, he could guess why, actually.
He was tempted
to say he had and she’d refused them. He was sure she would. But that would be
a fib and he didn’t dare tell one of those.
“She hasn’t seen
them actually.”
“Oh?”
“Well, I had to
go to hospital and I forgot they were under the tree.” Well, it was sort of the
truth. But of course, he had pretended not to see them in the first place. And
he had been hesitating ever since about what to do with them. Sure enough, his
ear was beginning to tingle.
“Listen Foxy, I
don’t think she’s interested.”
Foxy grabbed the
collar of Archie’s jacket. “Well she won’t know about them unless you tell her,
will she?” His face was right up close to Archie’s. Archie could smell his foul
breath. “So you’re going to give them to her aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” said
Archie shrugging away Foxy.
“Just make sure
you do. Tell her Foxy Burnett sends his regards.”
He would do it.
He knew he had to. But maybe it could wait until tomorrow. “Okay, then.”
“Right. I’ll be checking up on you.”
Archie was glad
to get in out of the cold. All he wanted to do now was go up to his room and
stare at the stars on his ceiling. Have a bit of peace and quiet. Sort his head
out.
“That you
Archie?” a voice called from the kitchen. “Come here.”
Darn. What did she
want?
He made his way
into the kitchen. There were Mum and Grandma, sitting with the tin of biscuits
on the table.
“Look what we
found,” said Mum. “Under the Christmas tree. I told you there was something
else there. It’s addressed to your grandma.”
“Oh yeah,” said
Archie.
“Have you seen
it before? Did somebody bring it to the house while we were out?”
Archie shook his
head. He noticed the usual gentle tingling in his left ear.
“They’re smashing
biscuits. Whoever bought them has good taste.” Grandma held the tin out to him.
“You’re not saying much, Archie. At least have a biscuit. They’re lovely. Don’t
you agree; whoever bought these must be very sophisticated. Upper crust.”
By now Archie
had a mouth full of biscuit. He shook his head.
“What? You don’t
like them?”
“I didn’t say
that, Grandma. I meant, that whoever sent them hadn’t got good taste.” The
tingling in his ear got worse. Hang on now, that wasn’t fair. He was telling
the truth this time.
Then Grandma’s
stick cracked down on his back. He realised he’d made it sound as if Foxy had
bad taste because he’d sent Grandma a present.
“Well, it
doesn’t look as if we are going to get anymore out of him. I’ll just have to
accept that I have a secret admirer. With excellent taste if you ask me.” She
closed the lid on the tin of biscuits, shoved them under her arm and started to
get ready to go home. “Anyhow, I’d
better go and see if that young woman’s all right. You going to come and see
her some time Archie?”
Archie shrugged.
“Maybe. I’m too tired tonight, though.”
“Good-oh. See
you soon, then.”
“Are you sure
you don’t know nothing about where them biscuits came from?” said Mum after
Grandma had left.
“Nope!” said
Archie.
The buzzing in
his left war now got really loud. But now his right one joined in as well. Then
just as suddenly as his right one had started up they both stopped. The kitchen
seemed to have gone very quiet. His mum was opening and shutting her mouth. But
there was no sound coming out of it.
Archie realised
he had gone totally deaf.
Doctor Azir’s mouth opened and
closed. People were always doing gold fish impersonations these days. It was
making him quite tired. They’d told him he would soon be able to lip-read but
it wasn’t making any sense to him. All he could see were the mouths going up
and down.
Then Azir came
at him again with torch thing. It hurt when it poked in his ears. But at least
his ears weren’t tingling anymore and they didn’t hurt at all.
The doctor had a
good look in both ears. Then he sat down again behind his desk and resumed the
goldfish impressions.
“It’s no good. I
can’t tell what you’re saying.” At least, that’s what Archie thought he said.
He couldn’t even hear his own voice enough to make sure he’d pronounced his
words correctly. He took his notebook out of his pocket. “You’ll have to write
what you’re trying to tell me down here.”
Doctor Azir took
the notebook and scribbled on it for a few minutes, then handed it back to
Archie.
“I can’t find
anything wrong with your ears. They look perfectly normal. I’m going to send
you to see the specialist at the hospital. You’re going to have to do a hearing
test as well. I’m wondering whether it’s psychological. Some sore of
psychosomatic condition. Are you suffering from any sort of stress?”
Archie shook his
head. What did this joker think? That he was some sort of nutter or something?
He wished them luck with giving him a hearing test. He couldn’t hear a thing – not even through
the headphones on his phone.
Dr Azir started
writing on the pad again.
“I’m asking them
to do this urgently. There is something really very strange about it. You’re to
take it easy and try not to worry,” Archie read.
“Should I stay off school?”
“I wouldn’t go
that far,” wrote Dr Azir. “School might take your mind off it.”
Darn. It would
have been good having a few days off. Perhaps they would have all felt sorry
for him and made a fuss.
Dr Azir was
saying something again. Archie guessed it was time he went. The doctor nodded
and smiled as he left the room.
Out on the street Archie sighed. He wished he could listen to his music. 