Page 19 of The Black Flamingo


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“I didn’t like it anyway,” I say, embarrassed

that people might be watching.

She slaps me hard across the face.

My eyes fill up but I don’t blink.

I look her straight in the eye.

“You’re not allowed to do that.”

“Uncle B, Mum hit me.

I think she’s worried about money.”

Uncle B has always been there for me.

The only person in the Brown family

that I see regularly.

He tells me that Mum is doing her best.

He tells me how hard he worked

to build himself a better life,

get the family out of poverty.

He buys me gifts

but this is not why I love him.

He likes planes and astronomy;

he has his head in the clouds,

reaches for stars.

Music and Stars

I’m singing “Twinkle, Twinkle,

Little Star” with Anna,

helping Mum to put her to bed.

Mum says, “You have such a beautiful voice,

Michael. your singing teacher told me

about a special school

you could go to with an excellent choir.

It’s an all-boys school in Camden.”

I like boys. I like Camden.