Page 62 of The Rat

“No shit?”

“I like it. I like all oftheclasses.I’ve got to fill my time doing something, and besides, I failedeverything at school. I wasn’t exactly a model student.”

“You get called into theheadmaster’soffice?” Rory snorted.

“Yeah, all the time. I was knownas the scummy kid with the crazyfather.” Ollie bowed forward and shut hiseyes. “I didn’t have the best time at school. It was bad enoughwhat went on at home, but to get it at school as well…”

His voice sounded raw, lacedwith emotion, and Rory was stunned to silence, he knew aboutOllie’sfather, abusive physically and mentally to Ollie and his youngerbrother, but he wasn’t supposed to know. Rory didn’t want to sitthere and play oblivious, instead he tried to steer the subjectaway from Ollie’s father.

“I’m glad you like theclasses. Artis enough for me.”

Ollie smiled. “I’m sure the noveltywill wear off after a few years.”

“By the time you’re out ofhere, you might be a professor or something.”

Ollie pursed his lips. “Or maybemy defining moment will be playing a tree in the prisonplay.”

Rory laughed, but it felt forced.Ollie’s smile faded, and he tapped the table.

“I—I know people don’t talkabout why they’re in here…”

Rory shook his head. “You don’t haveto tell me.”

“But I want to. I trustyou.”

“Don’t.”

“Why not?”

“You barelyknow me.”

Ollie frowned. “I know youenough. You know it’s amurder charge, and I stabbed someone.”

“Ollie, I don’t think this is agood idea—”

“It was my father. He came homedrunk, and started on us like he always did, and I’d had enough. Iwas gettingit from every angle, and when he hit Leo, I had to dosomething. I got a knife from the kitchen and stabbed him. Icouldn’t stop stabbing him. I didn’t want him to hurt me, or mybrother again and I don’t feel guilty about it. The worst part wasseeing my brother’s face after I did it, knowing I might’ve fuckedhim up forever.”

“You did it to protecthim.”

“He lives with my aunty and unclenow, and I’ve sent them visiting orders, but they never reply. I’vesent them letters, too, but I’ve not got any back. I want to see him. I wantto explain why I did what I did. I don’t want him to hateme.”

“How old is he?”

“Fourteen. When I get out of here, he’ll betwenty-five. How messed up is that? He might be married by then, hemight have a kid, or two…”

Rory didn’t haveanycomforting words and squeezed Ollie’s shoulder instead.

“I’m not even gonna bethere when he has his first beer…”

“He’s not triedalcohol?”

“Notofficially—ustwo sipping dregs from my dad’s whiskey bottle doesn’t cutit.”

“Whiskey? Your first taste of alcohol waswhiskey?”

“Yeah.”

“Jesus. Mine was a pint ofbitter, my…friend told me it would put hairs on my chest and I downed thething.”

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