Brenton Brown Read Online Free Page A

else, complaining that Breanna should know who her real daddy is and t’ing. But the t’ing that makes your lava spew is seeing Clayton and Juliet together. Am I right or am I right?’
    Watching Brenton get to his feet, Floyd thought his friend’s eyes had some kind of gas rings behind them because they were so intense. He took another drag and tried not to appear intimidated . Brenton went to the kitchen and Floyd heard him getting something from the fridge. He returned with two cans of soft drinks. ‘Don’t drink lager too tough these days,’ Brenton said.
    ‘Nor do I,’ replied Floyd.
    Downing half of his drink in one gulp, Brenton slammed his can on the table and gazed at Floyd once again. Floyd felt he was being penetrated by lasers. ‘You’re right,’ Brenton finally admitted . ‘Don’t know how to stop.’
    ‘Stop what?’ Floyd asked, his tone softer. ‘Stop losing that bitch temper of yours?’
    ‘ No! ’
    ‘Then stop what?’
    ‘Wanting her. Don’t know how to stop wanting her.’
    Brenton dipped his head. He took out one of the cigarette papers and crushed it into a small ball. He then rolled it between his right thumb and forefinger. ‘Feeling won’t go away,’ Brenton admitted, now examining the tiny paper ball. ‘Don’t know what to do about it.’
    Opening his can, Floyd took a short gulp. He then stood up, re-lit his spliff and walked towards the mini-stereo. He turned up the bass a notch. Yellowman’s Morning Ride toasted from the speakers. ‘My Uncle Herbie told me once that we can’t choose who we love,’ said Floyd. ‘He had this gay cousin.’
    ‘You’re comparing me to your uncle’s gay cousin?’
    ‘No, it ain’t like that. It’s just that he can’t help who he loves and wants and nor can you. That’s the way it is.’
    ‘But what do I do?’ asked Brenton again.
    Floyd thought about it. He returned to his chair and took in another leisurely toke. ‘I think you two are living too close,’ he said. ‘Must be kinda hard you seeing Juliet all the time. Bumping into her in the supermarket, seeing her in a traffic jam and t’ing. You even did her fucking flooring. You need to get away from her. Ain’t good for your mental health, bredren. Seriously.’
    ‘What? Move out of south London?’
    ‘Not just move out of south London. Move out of London full stop. Even move out of the country. Start somewhere else fresh. Get Juliet out of your head for once and for all.’
    ‘Ain’t that too drastic?’
    ‘No. Brenton, you been pining for her for over twenty years.’
    ‘It’s been that long?’
    ‘Breanna’s gonna be twenty-one soon, innit. Can’t you count? Where the fuck did you learn maths?’
    ‘Fuck you!’
    ‘What about Lesley?’ Floyd asked. ‘Ain’t t’ings going good with her? I thought she looked alright. She’s quite serviceable and t’ing for a girl of her age. And she ain’t no damn fool. She’s working and t’ing and me and Sharon were thinking that she might be the one for you.’
    ‘She ain’t the one,’ replied Brenton.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘’Cos she ain’t.’
    ‘What’s wrong with her?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘Then why can’t you make a go of t’ings with her?’ Brenton thought about it. He was about to give Floyd a bullshit answer but glancing at him he knew he didn’t have to lie to him. The Mighty Diamonds’ Identity pleaded from thespeakers. Brenton halved a cigarette and began constructing a new spliff. ‘’Cos she ain’t Juliet,’ he finally answered.
    ‘Man! You still got it bad. You can’t go on like this, bredren.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Then do something about it. Start afresh, somewhere new.’
    Brenton licked a cigarette paper. ‘It’s so fucking hard,’ he said. ‘When you hate someone you have it out with them. It might end up in a fight or some mad slanging match but it comes to some kinda end. But when you really … like someone, it doesn’t stop. You can’t stop liking them. That feeling I had for