I give Matt a look that says Be cool.
“Let’s have this tour,” says Vass,
to break the tension between us.
“Righto, off we go,” says Obi.
“This is the lounge, that’s the kitchen,
and this is the guest lavatory.”
Obi turns the door handle.
“Ocupado,” says a high-pitched voice
behind the locked door.
“Sorry, Hugo,” says Obi.
“No worries, Obe,” says Hugo, in a deeper voice.
“Follow me,” Obi says to us.
We follow Obi up the stairs:
me first, then Matt and Vass.
“Mother and Father are the top floor.
They’re both out of town tonight.
My brother and I share this floor.
That’s his bedroom.” Obi points to a closed door.
“And we share this bathroom.”
When Obi opens the bathroom door,
a hint of lavender and a steamy mirror tells me
one of them has showered recently.
“Is your brother home?” I ask Obi.
“No,” says Obi, now nervous. “He’s, erm,
staying with his boyfriend tonight and, erm,
speaking of which, this is my bedroom.”
When Obi opens his bedroom door
I expect to see his guitar and amplifier,
posters on the wall and clothes on the floor.
But I see only a perfectly made bed,