Part XIV: Carrots and Sticks

‘Course you can stay. I want you to go back to the nutters, though, and tell them.’

I don’t want to go back.

‘I ran away for a reason.’

‘I’m no fan of theirs, either. But they looked after and raised you. They deserve to be told. Believe me, they’ll want to know.’

I ignore his words. I know he’s right

‘Come on, I’ll show you something.’

It’s a shelf. Stacked with shoes and boots.

‘Let me see. Looks like a four to me.’

He grabs a box and opens it. They are like my boots, only bigger.

‘They’re perfect.’