Chapter 14

“We had a great time. I remember I bought him a wristwatch, even got it engraved. We looked round loads of shops, went to a movie—it was great being out with him. We both got hungry, and decided to eat at a burger joint. After we’d got our food, I needed the dunny—sorry, the toilet—so I left Jerry at the table.

“When I got back, my mates had turned up and had taken a couple of the tables in the place. Marlene, my girlfriend, was there, too. I knew they would see me if I sat back down with Jerry. They called me over to sit with them; I didn’t know what to do.

“Martin, I’m so ashamed, I chickened out, I was a fucking yellow-bellied bastard. I went and got myself another burger and sat with them. I sat there yabbering with my mates, but I kept sneaking a look at Jerry who looked increasingly dejected, with my uneaten meal sat opposite him. My friends started cat-calling. Jerry wasn’t a popular kid at our school, as I said. It was thought, but no one had proof, that he was gay.”