Monthly Archives: August 2011

is green, he’s had it since he was ten. All round the edges are the badges he’s won for races; mam sewed them on widths, lengths, metres, speed, lifesaving. It’s his history Then he sees Paddy wiping his oily hands … Continue reading →

Dad asks Paddy to do a job with him on the car. Frankie knows this is how they talk – Heat Exchangers Gear Box, Timing Belt – this is their language. But Frankie’s not sure it’ll put the brakes on … Continue reading →

She sips her tea and takes a Hobnob What d’yer wanna be, y’kna when yer leave school like? She looks at Frankie. Famous and rich? he says smiling Corinne laughs: Stacking shelves at Netto’s more like. Nah, he says, I … Continue reading →

Frankie! I wanta word wi ye. His heart trembles, his eyes sink, Dad has switched off the TV the phone in his hand: Mr Stringer’s just called – well? Well what says Frankie quietly. He says there’s bin botha? I … Continue reading →

That’s what Miss Thoroughgood asks Mam. Mam says Why? And Miss Thoroughgood says His marks in English are going down. He used to get straight As, we had great hopes for his GCSEs. Dad says, He’s not gonna fail is … Continue reading →

Dad doesn’t really want to go, Mam says: Micky, it’s important. He looks at his watch: We kna what Paddy’s doing next year, we divvent need ter talk ter Mr Stringer he kna’s nowt about apprenticeships, Aye, says Mam, but … Continue reading →

She makes a pot of tea, while Frankie talks about his training schedule, his times his swimming style and favourite champion swimmers. Bev sits down on a sofa covered with an indian rug, Frankie sits on a battered armchair, there’s … Continue reading →

Frankie hurries out not thinking, he follows Bev past Sari shops, indian takeaways Mirza corner stores. He’s got a feeling he needs to talk to her a bus winds down the street, then he sees her turn the corner into … Continue reading →

after training looking out the big pool window, like a silent film Bev leaving work on a man’s bike leaning over the handlebars looking cool, in sunglasses. She’s going slow, someone is walking beside her. They stop, under a tree, … Continue reading →