Davey’s homework was to copy a picture of an Aztec mask.
‘That sounds like fun,’ Minette said.
‘Our computer isn’t set up yet.’
‘Well, you don’t have to always look stuff up on the internet. You can copy it out of a book. We’ve got an encyclopaedia, and loads of history books. Shall I look for you?’
Davey regarded her with his unnerving stare. ‘Yes, OK,’ he said finally, making her wonder who was helping who. She had in the end just gone on the internet herself, and printed out three different Aztec mask pictures. When she took them next door Cath looked surprised, and said how kind, but if Davey asked again she should mention it to her first, because he was meant to be learning how to look things up in books. Minette, embarrassed that she’d effectively gone behind Cath’s back, said she would, of course. Cath thanked her again, more warmly, and then said, ‘Oh, I ought to tell you, in case he asks to use yours, that Davey isn’t allowed to use a computer.’
‘Good lord, why ever not?’
‘It’s bad for his muscular dystrophy. Typing even for short periods weakens his arm muscles, and makes his whole upper body hurt for days.’
‘That’s awful.’
‘I know, and kids love those screens. I feel terrible, but I don’t want to have to take him to extra physio just because he wants to play Angry Birds or whatever.’
‘We’ve got an iPad he could borrow, you hardly have to move to use that, Abe lies on the sofa half-asleep playing it.’
‘That’s kind of you but we’ve tried one before, it has the same effect. He’s completely wiped out after just a short time.’
‘Must be because he has to concentrate so hard. The poor thing.’ Minette marvelled again at how much Cath had to think about. She really was an incredible person.
There was a knock on the door, and Minette slipped on her glasses and a smear of her Chanel lipstick. She looked a mess, so there was no doubting who her visitor was.
‘Hey, Liam.’ She leaned against the door frame. ‘Finished knotting my bikini?’
‘I have. Want to try it on?’
‘I think I’d better.’
‘Nice haircut.’
‘I’m not sure it goes with my glasses.’ She pushed them onto the top of her head, and let herself slide into the irresponsibility of Blur World.
‘I like that strict librarian look you got going on. So.’ He studied her, slightly unsure of his welcome. ‘I’m having a crappy day, how about you?’
‘Tilly’s asleep.’ She smiled, and her meaning was unmistakable. ‘Would you like to come inside?’
Chapter 11
Davey
DAVEY’S MUM LET him stay off school. He told her he felt ill, and he did have a bit of a headache so it wasn’t a fib. She gave him Calpol and tucked him into bed. While she took Lola to nursery, he started working on his five least favourite insults. It didn’t always have to be best favourites, Adam pointed out. Least favourites were interesting too.
Spazzo. This was new. Those Year 5 boys called him it in the playground yesterday. One of them kicked the wheel of Davey’s chair.
Retard. Till spazzo this was Davey’s worst. He was called it a lot when they lived in Harrogate. It was always older boys. People his own age never seemed to call him names.
Crip. Davey knew this was rude. He’d never been called it but had heard an older boy at the clinic in Harrogate call himself it.
Freak. Some girls said this once when he was in town with his grandma, and they laughed. But he wasn’t 100 per cent sure they meant him.
Ironsides. A student doctor who worked with Dr Patel to help him learn how to use his new wheelchair had called him this. He said it loudly like he was trying to be funny, but Dr Patel told him off. Davey liked her a lot anyway. This was just another reason why she was one of his favourite doctors.
Davey heard his mum come back. She sat on the bed and stroked his hair. ‘How you feeling, little one? Head any better?’
‘A bit.’
‘I’ll bring you some fresh
‘That sounds like fun,’ Minette said.
‘Our computer isn’t set up yet.’
‘Well, you don’t have to always look stuff up on the internet. You can copy it out of a book. We’ve got an encyclopaedia, and loads of history books. Shall I look for you?’
Davey regarded her with his unnerving stare. ‘Yes, OK,’ he said finally, making her wonder who was helping who. She had in the end just gone on the internet herself, and printed out three different Aztec mask pictures. When she took them next door Cath looked surprised, and said how kind, but if Davey asked again she should mention it to her first, because he was meant to be learning how to look things up in books. Minette, embarrassed that she’d effectively gone behind Cath’s back, said she would, of course. Cath thanked her again, more warmly, and then said, ‘Oh, I ought to tell you, in case he asks to use yours, that Davey isn’t allowed to use a computer.’
‘Good lord, why ever not?’
‘It’s bad for his muscular dystrophy. Typing even for short periods weakens his arm muscles, and makes his whole upper body hurt for days.’
‘That’s awful.’
‘I know, and kids love those screens. I feel terrible, but I don’t want to have to take him to extra physio just because he wants to play Angry Birds or whatever.’
‘We’ve got an iPad he could borrow, you hardly have to move to use that, Abe lies on the sofa half-asleep playing it.’
‘That’s kind of you but we’ve tried one before, it has the same effect. He’s completely wiped out after just a short time.’
‘Must be because he has to concentrate so hard. The poor thing.’ Minette marvelled again at how much Cath had to think about. She really was an incredible person.
There was a knock on the door, and Minette slipped on her glasses and a smear of her Chanel lipstick. She looked a mess, so there was no doubting who her visitor was.
‘Hey, Liam.’ She leaned against the door frame. ‘Finished knotting my bikini?’
‘I have. Want to try it on?’
‘I think I’d better.’
‘Nice haircut.’
‘I’m not sure it goes with my glasses.’ She pushed them onto the top of her head, and let herself slide into the irresponsibility of Blur World.
‘I like that strict librarian look you got going on. So.’ He studied her, slightly unsure of his welcome. ‘I’m having a crappy day, how about you?’
‘Tilly’s asleep.’ She smiled, and her meaning was unmistakable. ‘Would you like to come inside?’
Chapter 11
Davey
DAVEY’S MUM LET him stay off school. He told her he felt ill, and he did have a bit of a headache so it wasn’t a fib. She gave him Calpol and tucked him into bed. While she took Lola to nursery, he started working on his five least favourite insults. It didn’t always have to be best favourites, Adam pointed out. Least favourites were interesting too.
Spazzo. This was new. Those Year 5 boys called him it in the playground yesterday. One of them kicked the wheel of Davey’s chair.
Retard. Till spazzo this was Davey’s worst. He was called it a lot when they lived in Harrogate. It was always older boys. People his own age never seemed to call him names.
Crip. Davey knew this was rude. He’d never been called it but had heard an older boy at the clinic in Harrogate call himself it.
Freak. Some girls said this once when he was in town with his grandma, and they laughed. But he wasn’t 100 per cent sure they meant him.
Ironsides. A student doctor who worked with Dr Patel to help him learn how to use his new wheelchair had called him this. He said it loudly like he was trying to be funny, but Dr Patel told him off. Davey liked her a lot anyway. This was just another reason why she was one of his favourite doctors.
Davey heard his mum come back. She sat on the bed and stroked his hair. ‘How you feeling, little one? Head any better?’
‘A bit.’
‘I’ll bring you some fresh
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