A reward
Manx doesn’t turn up to school
on Monday
and Angelo tells everyone
that Manx was seen
‘doing the deed’.
Angelo says the police
have a witness,
and looks across to Patrick
sitting quietly against the wall.
‘Manx is toast,’ Angelo says.
‘Bullshit,’ I reply,
and everyone looks at me.
‘Well, you’d know pussy-boy,
you’re always so far up Manx’s—’
He doesn’t finish the sentence
because Mr Drake steps between us
and marches everyone off to class.
All the way there
Angelo grins
as if he’s solved the crime by himself
and is waiting for his reward.