And dad looked so cocky too,
standing there at the checkout counter.
‘That’ll be a hundred and twenty four dollars.’
said a chewing gum voice.
‘Shit. That much? ’
Embarrassed now,
dad had to put back some of the stuff.
Charlie made grunting noises,
screwing up his face
and rubbing his knuckles
into his cheeks.
He was wearing his new gorilla hat.
‘Sorry mate,
‘fraid some of this stuff’s got to go back…’
‘Nuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
C harlie grabbed an armful off the counter
and pulled it on top of him.
‘C’mon mate. Up you get.
We can play Ninendo when we get home? ’
‘Nahhhhhhh nahhhhhhhh nahhhhhhhh
Charlie was shaking his head wildly
and banging tins on the floor.
‘Charlie stop that. Everyone’s looking.
Get up off that floor immediately. Do you hear me! ’
Charlie didn’t hear anyone.
He’d folded up inside himself.
He always did that.
Dad went on yelling.
Charlie took no notice.
Finally dad grabbed Charlie under the armpits
(he was taller than dad)
and dragged him out the door.
The crowd that gathered
gave us pitying looks.
I felt humiliated
and helpless
and angry
with dad for being such a dickhead
and Charlie for being my brother.
How I hated them both!
*inspired by the 2007 Australian film ‘The Black Balloon’
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