Half Truths: A Half Bad Story by Sally Green

Half Truths: A Half Bad Story by Sally Green

Author:Sally Green [Green, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141367309
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2015-11-02T18:30:00+00:00


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Spotted Gabriel. Smiley face.

He was soloing again. Worried face.

I got the binoculars out. Drooly face. He did it beautifully, animal-like, like those old films of Edlinger.

He’s been away for a week, but now he’s back. And I go and say, ‘Hi,’ and we climb together and he’s a freaking freak; he’s so fast. But he’s patient, too, and fun. Taking it seriously but not showing off or being competitive or being remotely anything but perfect. Except his hands are a mess. He says he didn’t climb when he was in the States and his fingers have gone soft. He wore through two of his fingertips and so I did my Florence Nightingale bit. I’m great with tape. Of course taping his fingers meant I got to touch his hands! Tongue-hanging-out face.

And now he’s coming for a coffee with me. Smiley face.

I get the coffees and Gabriel gets a table. There’s a massive queue. I order the killer carbs that he wants but purposely leave them on the counter. I need a way of getting him to the party tonight. I know I could just ask him but … terrified face. The Scream face.

Back at the table, he’s reading On the Road.

I tell him, ‘Everyone says Kerouac is cool, but I think he might be an idiot.’

‘You’ve read it?’

‘God no. I saw a programme about him.’

Gabriel laughs, then his smile fades as he notices there are only two black coffees on the table.

‘I think we’re missing my pastries and my cream.’

‘They’ve run out. You should be grateful. No fat, no dairy at this table.’

‘Am I allowed sugar?’

‘Your funeral.’

He reaches for the sugar and rips open one bag after another, tipping them all in. Five.

I find that words are coming out of my mouth: ‘There’s a party tonight at the barn.’

He looks at me.

‘You want to come? Go, I mean? I mean, we’re all going. Me, Marc and Rob. Should be good.’ FFS!!!

‘Will there be food?’

I laugh. God, I’m nervous. ‘Well, I was going to bribe you with pastries.’ I retrieve the plate with the pain au chocolat and the apple pie, take some deep breaths and smile as I walk back over to Gabriel.



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