I mean it. My voice is strong as it comes out. I feel it from my chest, not my mouth. Did I even say it? I look at Ghalia. Does she know who I am? Her eyes close and open. Her eyes smile and are followed by her mouth. my face. It’s Mum’s It’s face. my own when the boys say something learnt Georgina’s It’s they’ve themselves. Not from school or adults, but they sussed it out all on their own. She pulls my hand closer to her chest and holds it in front of her. Her skin is smooth and her hands are soft and plump. I can tell her anything. I want her to feel the same with me. I think she does. She puffs out through her nose and speaks. not worried about the NDL. just very ‘I’m They’re annoying.’ Her face hardens for second. fucking annoying actually. But just a day to day pain in the ‘Very they’re arse. They change things. only a few people in this county who can’t There’s can. But they don’t.’ Ghalia lets out a sigh, like old ladies do when finished laughing about a rude they’ve joke that even rude. wasn’t know, almost ‘You it’s funny.’ ‘What?’ riots. The marches. All of ‘These it.’ looking through the flames and waterspouts and black outlines of the firemen She’s and women. grew up on Eldon. I know how it is. good people Dean, you and I. ‘I We’re Everyone here. But nobody knows it and nobody wants to.’ She shuffles her body closer to mine. you know what Martin Luther King said about ‘Do riots?’ he the bloke from South ‘Is Africa?’
I mean it. My voice is strong as it comes out. I feel it from my chest, not my mouth. Did I even say it? I look at Ghalia. Does she know who I am? Her eyes close and open. Her eyes smile and are followed by her mouth. It’s my Mum’s face. It’s Georgina’s face. It’s my own when the boys say something they’ve learnt themselves. Not from school or adults, but they sussed it out all on their own. She pulls my hand closer to her chest and holds it in front of her. Her skin is smooth and her hands are soft and plump. I can tell her anything. I want her to feel the same with me. I think she does. She puffs out through her nose and speaks. ‘I’m not worried about the NDL. They’re just very annoying.’ Her face hardens for second. ‘Very fucking annoying actually. But they’re just a day to day pain in the arse. They can’t change things. There’s only a few people in this county who can. But they don’t.’ Ghalia lets out a sigh, like old ladies do when they’ve finished laughing about a rude joke that wasn’t even rude. ‘You know, it’s almost funny.’ ‘What?’ ‘These riots. The marches. All of it.’ She’s looking through the flames and waterspouts and black outlines of the firemen and women. ‘I grew up on Eldon. I know how it is. We’re good people Dean, you and I. Everyone here. But nobody knows it and nobody wants to.’ She shuffles her body closer to mine. ‘Do you know what Martin Luther King said about riots?’ ‘Is he the bloke from South Africa?’