Arcadia Read Online Free Page A

instead of going upstairs, for company. Missus Grouse is in a chair with her head back and her mouth open, grunting so noisily it’s surprising everyone else isn’t sneaking out too.
    They creep out the side door. The dawn feels damp and heavy but it’s good to be outside in clean air, though he’s cold and stiff from sleeping on a rug. The chickens are fussing in their room. His mother bangs the door to scare them away from it and goes in, reappearing with two eggs.
    At the end of the Abbey road they come out from under the drooping wet branches of the big trees and stop, looking across the Channel. There’s Briar Hill, dead ahead, a colorless mound. Gulls loop around it, yelling at each other.
    â€œDo you know what happened to Oliver?” his mother says.
    â€œViola told me.”
    â€œBut you understand. What actually happened?”
    He’s not sure what she means but he says, “Yes.”
    â€œThat he didn’t do what he was told.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd They took him.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHe might have only looked for a second. That’s all it took. Just a second. Because he went where he wasn’t allowed to go. A second’s enough. Do you understand?”
    â€œYeah. I understand.”
    His mother draws in a shivery breath. “It must all have happened while you were there.”
    â€œI suppose,” he answers, after a pause, and then adds, “Laurel and Pink were there too.”
    She turns to look at him. From the look in her eyes he can tell he’s going to have to be careful what he says. “It’s got nothing to do with Laurel and Pink.”
    He doesn’t answer. He sort of leans forward, encouraging her to start walking again, but she doesn’t budge.
    â€œRory,” she says.
    â€œWhat.”
    â€œYou . . .” She’s hesitating over something. “You like Laurel, don’t you?”
    He wasn’t expecting this at all. He has no idea what the right answer is. “Yeah?”
    â€œShe’s your friend.”
    â€œShe’s all right.”
    â€œLook at me, please. Do you ever . . . ?”
    He knows from experience that it won’t be all right to stop looking at her, so he waits.
    â€œLaurel’s pretty, isn’t she?” his mother resumes. “Don’t you think? Nice-looking. Rory, I said look at me.”
    â€œIs she?” It’s all Rory can think of.
    â€œIt’s all right, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s normal. Do you ever . . .” It’s as if she’s not looking at him but at something right in front of his face which only she can see. “Do you ever think about her?”
    â€œWhat?”
    A quiver of irritation breaks her stare. It’s a danger sign. “Think about her. You know, in a special way. Like . . . Like with a funny feeling.”
    â€œNo,” he says.
    â€œI mean a feeling like you really like her. Like you want to be, you know. Special friends with her.”
    â€œNo,” he says again. This is a nightmare.
    â€œIt’s all right if you do. It’s completely normal.”
    â€œI don’t.”
    â€œI’d never tell anyone. That’s not why I’m asking. You can always trust me, I’m your mum. You know you can always trust me? Right?”
    â€œâ€™Course.”
    â€œSo you’d tell me, wouldn’t you? If you ever thought it might be nice to, I don’t know, give Laurel a hug, something like that. Just a normal thing. Do you ever feel like that?”
    â€œDunno.”
    She presses her lips tight. Disappointment.
    â€œI could say,” he adds, in a rush. “If I did.”
    Better. She doesn’t quite smile but a cloud passes.
    â€œGood boy,” she says. “I know it feels funny talking about it. You’ve always got to tell me, though. Tell your old mum.”
    â€œI will,” he says.
    Thank