Page 60 of Glitterland
He stepped inside. “It’s like a library in ’ere.” And then, “The bed is well massive, babes.” And then, “Is this you? You look different.”
“It’s my graduation photo. I was very young.” Nothing but a boy on the brink of madness.
“Do you still ’ave the robe fing?”
“Somewhere.”
He gave me a hopeful, coquettish look.
“Don’t even think about it. That’s a very prestigious piece of academic dress.”
I let him wander amongst the pieces of my life, picking things up and putting them down again, peering at photographs and pictures. The one he’d given me was still unframed, but I hadn’t thought to take it down from where it was propped on one of my bookshelves. The sight of it made him grin.
“I knew you liked me, babes.”
I rolled my eyes. “I just haven’t found anywhere to put it yet.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
He reached up and ran his hand over the peacock feather fan hanging on the wall, emerald green and turquoise spilling between his fingers, then winked at me. Cheeky bastard.
I scowled. “Those boxers were unfortunate. They’re not my usual taste.”
“You was like Cinderella, babes, running off, leaving only your pants behind.”
“If you’re my Prince Charming, I want a refund.”
He laughed, picking up a feathered carnival mask and peering through its empty eyes. “Didn’t fink you for a clutterer.”
“Just in here.”
“What’s wif the fans and the masks and everyfing?”
I shrugged. “I like the beauty of artificial things.”
“Oh my God, babes.” He pointed at the wall. “What’s this? No offence, but I fink that’s the creepiest fing I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s quite all right, I didn’t paint it.”
He leaned forward in transfixed horror. “Why’ve you got a picture of a naked ghel and a skeleton?”
“I, err, I like the naked ghel…girl and the skeleton.”
It was perhaps the first time I’d ever seen him lost for words.
“It’s a Paul Delvaux,” I added, trying to explain. “Just a print, obviously. The original’s in the Tate Modern. He painted a lot of naked women in strange situations.”
“Yeah, but why?”
“Um, exposure to waxworks at an impressionable age?”
“I dunno ’ow she’s managed to doze off wif that skeleton staring right at ’er. And what’s that uvver naked one supposed to be doing? She looks like she’s trying to get a taxi to take ’er ’ome after living it a bit large.”
I crossed the room and contemplatedSleeping Venus. “I can honestly say I’ve never noticed that before.”
“And what about them fellas at the back? What are they supposed to be? Dads at a disco?”
“I think maybe they’re lamenting.”
