Page 140 of The Black Flamingo
I want to publish my own book.”
He asks what I write about.
I don’t say,Coming out as gay.
I don’t say,Sleeping with men.
I say, “Identity and stuff.”
He doesn’t ask me anything else.
Mum and Anna
finally come to Brighton for a day trip.
We’re walking along
the seafront and Mum says,
“We were going to
surprise you on your birthday
but you sounded so
stressed about your essays,
we decided that we
shouldn’t disturb you.
We’ve missed you
so much. I can’t believe
you cut your hair.
I’m so glad you told me
on the phone. It would
have been such a shock.
You don’t look like
yourself anymore.”
Anna scoffs. “That’s a silly
thing to say, Mummy.
If he is himself, how
could he not look like himself?”
Mum replies, “Okay,
clever clogs. Maybe you should
