Page 13 of Everything That Kills Me
“What about him cutting the lawn, Dan?” Elisa asked.
“Oh yes, while we get everything ready for the party.” Alice high-fived Georgia.
Why hadn’t he thought to say he was going out somewhere?
By the time his father and Elisa had driven away, Zeph had mowed half of the lawn. The day had started off chilly but the sky was clear and the temperature rising. Alice had hung fairy lights around the patio and along the fence, and Chinese lanterns dangled from the tree closest to the house. Georgia had gone with her boyfriend Toby to get the cake and snacks, and Zeph was under strict instructions not to go into the utility room when they returned.
Apparently, everyone had been invited to come at seven. That seemed early to Zeph, but what did he know? As soon as the lawn was done, he retreated to his room, showered, then did his physics homework. He had a problem with one question and wished there was someone he could have called to talk to about it, but there wasn’t. So, he kept working until he figured it out.
Sixteen years old but he didn’t feel any different. Being sixteen didn’t mean that much, though he could now legally have consensual sex in the UK and in thirty-four American states.Whoopee.
Since he’d realised what he was, he’d been so careful. Never let his gaze linger on another boy, particularly when they were changing for games. Been sure to join in inane chatter about girls when he had the chance. He hated feeling the need to do that but it was self-preservation. There was an LGBTQ support group at school but Zeph wasn’t going anywhere near it. Once he’d left home and gone to university, then he’d come out. He was a caterpillar with a long gestation, and one day, he’d become the butterfly he longed to turn into. He’d wear bright clothes and fly.
When his new phone rang that afternoon, he jumped. He’d only transferred five numbers to it. One was stored under the wordhospital.That was who was calling. Not the hospital but his uncle.
“Hi, Uncle Martin,” Zeph said.
“Happy Birthday!”
“Thank you.”
“How are you?”
“Fine.”
“You sure?”
“I’d tell you if I wasn’t.”
“Good. What are you up to today?”
“Dad and Elisa have gone away and the girls are throwing me a party.”
“Good news or bad?”
“I wish they weren’t but no one listened to what I wanted.”
“If you were living with us, we’d have ignored what day it was and taken you to a car boot sale.”
Zeph laughed. “I’d have enjoyed that more.”
“I’ve put two hundred pounds in your bank account. Buy some clothes or save it.”
“Thank you. That’s really kind. How are you, Uncle Martin?”
“You’re old enough to call me Martin now. I’m good. Paulo and I are planning a holiday to Mexico and he’s in hyperdrive, detailing out every minute of every day.”
“No, I’m not,” he heard Paulo shout. “Only the hours we’re awake.”
Zeph listened as his uncle talked about their upcoming trip and hoped that one day he’d have someone like Paulo in his life. Zeph had been to see them a couple of times in the summer holidays and he always wanted to cry when he saw how happy and openly loving they were.
Alice banged on his door at six-thirty. Zeph pushed to his feet and went to unlock it. She was wearing a really short skirt and a tight pink top. Her hair had been pulled back from her face into a bun and it didn’t suit her. Nor did her makeup. Too much blusher and blue eye shadow. Not that he’d be telling her.
“Zeph! You have to come to your own party.”
“Do I?”
Alice let out a half-laugh, half-groan. “Yes! It’ll be fun. Get changed and come down.”
