Page 66 of Don't Let Me Go
I don’t know if he learned all those words before we met or if he picked them up along the way, but he’s got a pretty impressive vocabulary when he chooses to use it. Sometimes at night, if we’re staying in a place where there’s a lamp (which ain’t always the case), he reads to me before bed. I can’t say I always understand what he reads, but I don’t mind listening.
I could listen to Charlie for hours.
“Anything good?” I ask.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Well, don’t take more than you can carry. I’m not lugging a bunch of books across the river. My bag’s heavy enough and we haven’t even searched the bedrooms. Speaking of which, we should get cracking.”
“I’m looking for Shakespeare,” he says, standing on his tiptoes to reach the topmost shelf. “There was a play my mum used to read me. It was a comedy about fairies putting spells on people. It was my favorite. I think it’s calledSummer Dreamsor something like that. It hadDreamin the title.”
“Right, well, I’m going to scrounge around upstairs.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
He won’t. He’ll still be looking over these books when I’ve turned this entire house over. But it’s his birthday. He might as well enjoy himself.
Before heading upstairs, I do a quick pass through the dining room and parlor. I grab a pair of candlesticks that look like they might be silver and a decorative jade elephant that’s the size of my hand. There are some posh-looking paintings on the wall, sunsets over green pastures and the like, but it’s always a bit of a gamble with art. I mean, you never know if a picture’s going to be worth something or if it’s just pretty, so best not to bother.
Charlie’s still in the library when I head up to the top floor. There are three bedrooms, which I make quick work of. There’s no money or jewelry lying about, but I do find an ivory comb, a small box of cigars, and one very special item that’ll make for a nice surprise for Charlie when we get back to our digs.
As I’m making my way back to the stairs, I decide to pop my head in the loo just to see if it’s as grand as the rest of this house. It’s not. It’s bloody grander. Or at least grander than anyplace I’ve ever had a piss in before: white gleaming tiles, gold faucets, an enormous porcelain tub resting on four gold lion paws. I can’t believe the nonsense rich folks’ll spend their money on. I could feed the whole of East Ham for a week with what it must’ve cost to fix up this hoity pleasure palace.
That being said, it does seem a shame not to take advantage of it.
I try the hot-water tap, and after a minute of ice-cold water pouring out, the temperature starts to warm, bit by bit, until there’s a lovely layer of steam rising out of the tub.
“Charlie!” I lean my head out the door and shout.
“Yeah?” he calls from downstairs.
“Get on up here!”
“Why?”
“We’re having a bath!”
He doesn’t have to be told twice. If there’s anything Charlie likesmore than books, it’s baths. I hear him padding up the stairs, and seconds later he’s standing beside me, hopping excitedly from one foot to the other.
“Gosh!” he gasps, taking in the boat-size tub full of steaming water.
“Come on, then. Strip off.”
I toss my jacket to the floor and start to undo the buttons on my shirt while Charlie kicks off his shoes. Once I’m down to my birthday suit, I slip into the bath and dunk my head in the near-scalding water that would hurt if it didn’t feel so good. It’s been months since I’ve had a proper scrub, and as I lean back into the water, I can feel every one of those dirty, grimy days peel away from my body.
Charlie hops into the other end of the tub, covering himself with his hands as he does. I have to laugh. All these years, and he’s still the timid sort.
“Here now, how’s this for a birthday?” I ask, giving him a splash.
Charlie lets out a purr of pleasure and sinks himself up to his ears. “It’s amazing, Jack.”
I can hear the air-raid sirens wailing outside like wolves. In the distance, another bomb rocks the city. But here, soaking in this tub with Charlie, I ain’t never been so relaxed in all my life.
“Jack?” Charlie asks, sitting up in the tub and only half looking at me, the way he does when he’s shy.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering?.?.?.?since it’s my birthday and all...”
