She passes me the lolly

She passes me the lolly. My cousin Flappers got some disease , she says. Hes got flappy eyes. He doesnt talk much either. I shake my head. I dont have that.

I know.

Good. I lick it. Im not some

She looks at me.

Um

Freak? Fuck up? Mongoloid?

I kick the wall. No look I was

She takes it off me and turns it over and over in her mouth. He is a freak,

What?

She takes it out. I said: He is a freak. He keeps trying to touch me up.

I nod.

Apparently its to do with his problem. Im supposed to deal with it.

Shit.

Every time its like Mum! Hes doing it again or Mum! Pauls got his dick in his hand. Apparently theres nothing they can do about it. Hes just naturally like that. Always horny.

They could tie him up.She shakes her head. Put him in a cage? I dont think theyre allowed to do that any more.

Yeah, well

He dribbles as well. I end up with it all over my tights. Its fucking disgusting.

Shit.

She looks at me. I suppose you dont have to worry about stuff like that?

I shake my head. Maybe, I say.

Somewhere Shakira starts booming out.

She looks down the street. Whats that?

I shrug.

She jumps off the wall. Come on.

Sure.

We walk down the street and round the corner. The musics coming from the church hall. Inside theres a line of women dressed in lycra trying to hula-hoop.

She looks at me. What the fuck?

I shrug. Is it keep fit?

Some kind of hula-disco. We lean against the wall and watch them. She looks at me. Does that turn you on?

What?

Does it make you hard?

I dont look - theyre like 40 or something.

Yeah, but.

I dont fancy my mum.

What? Is your mum in there?

No, no. Look, um. Theyre the same age as my mum.

She smiles. Your mum goes to hula-class.

Fuck off.

Touchy.

We stand there watching. They keep dropping the hoops.

What the hell do you think youre doing?

We look up. Theres a priest there shouting at us.

What?

I said: What are you doing?

I shrug.

Because to me it looks like youre staring at those women.

So? she says. Flynn thinks theyre hot.

I look at her and she winks.

Do you?

What?

Do you find these women attractive? Getting your little kicks out of watching them?

No.Your mother cant be much older than them. Do you find her attractive?

I shrug.

Suddenly hes got the back of my hair in his fist and hes dragging me into the hall. Bursts into the class and drops me in front of them. I get up.Do any of you know this boy?

They shake their heads.

This young man was outside. Watching you. They all turn at the same time and Jenny waves at them. The instructor looks put out.

Wheres his mother? one of them says.

The priest grabs a table-tennis racket off the folded table in the corner. He needs to be taught a lesson. He grabs me again and drags me across the room and hauls me over a table. All I can see is Jenny outside watching me. Not laughing though. Just watching. Next thing I know hes slapped my backside with the racket. One of the women laughs nervously.