Chapter 69:

LXIX | Dull

The Rowan Tree


'Oi, Clyde!'

Ming's voice.

Ming's arm
is around my shoulder.

'Why you not in school uniform?'

I look down at myself,
then around me.

It takes me a while

to get my bearings.

The chameleon cat is here,
blending into the roots
of the rowan tree.

The tree is smaller
than I remember

and the hollow we emerged from
is gone.

I'm not at the white museum,
or the yellow park.

I'm in school.

The school's back gate
sits in the distance
like it always has.

Ming lets go of me,
sticks his hands in his pockets.

'You're in trouble, man.
'You can't take the paper
'wearing that.'

I make a face at him.

'Stuff happened,
'don't ask.'

He slaps me on the back.

'I can lend you pens and stuff
'but I can't do anything about this.'

There are bright green leaves
and white flowers

on this rowan tree too.

But what happened?

What day is it?
Why is there a paper today?

Too many things
are happening at once.

I follow Ming
into the school.

Rowan's standing
in the corridor,

waiting.

The world slows down
for a moment.

I remember her arms around me.

She holds out
a plastic bag at me.

'Here.'

I take it.

Her coal-black eyes
burn

like
fire.

'Thanks.'

She walks past
and I hear her whisper:

'All the best, Clyde.'

Ming prods me
in the side.

'Why are you grinning like an idiot?'

I close my mouth
and wave
the uniform Rowan gave me

in Ming's face.

'My girlfriend
'washed my clothes.'

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