‘You seen some money, boy?’ he spits, black eyes wide.
I shake my head.
He flips the mattress and I hit the floor.
Mum appears in the doorway, arms wrapped tight around her middle, dark hair clinging to her shiny white cheeks.
I scramble back against the wall.
Why doesn’t she just tell him? That boy would’ve hurt her if she didn’t pay.
Dad freezes, sees me looking at her, and his face goes blotchy, red crawling up his bald head. He snatches my arms.
‘Where is it?’
He shakes me so hard, my teeth clack.
‘I said,where is it?’
I stare at Mum, my mouth falling open and she surges forward. ‘I had to get him shoes for school.’
Dad’s brows snap together. ‘I don’t see no shoes.’
Mum’s lip trembles. ‘I— they’re?—’
‘Don’t you lie to me.’ He drops me to loom over her, breathing hard. ‘If you’re holding out on me?—’
‘They didn’t fit,’ I blurt.
His eyes cut to me, mouth curling. ‘But you paid anyway?’ He laughs, cold and scratchy. ‘I don’t think so.’ He steps towards Mum. ‘Tell me what you really did with it?’
She backs up, hands raised.
‘Tell me!’
‘I had to,’ she whispers. ‘If I didn’t pay, he’d?—’
Dad swings his arm and I dive in front, taking the hit. White light flashes before my eyes, ears ringing as I fall.
‘You bloody fool,’ he says, following me down, and my mother grabs his wrist.
‘Leave him; he’s just a kid.’
He jerks, elbow flying back, and it smashes into her face. The sound makes my stomach twist.
Everything goes quiet except for the radio still playing:It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Only it ain’t.
Mum covers her bloody nose, muffling her sobs, and Dad breathes hard, his empty eyes raking over me.
‘Just a kid who costs me more every fucking day. We had money before you came along. Now we’ve got sweet FA. It’s time you got out there and earned your keep.’
‘What’s he gonna do?’ Mum mumbles behind her hand. ‘He’sseven.’
‘The perfect age,’ Dad says, smile like ice. ‘No one’ll see him coming.’
I don’t move and he lunges, grabbing me by my hoody as I flinch away, waiting for the blow that never comes.
