Speechless by Anne Simpson

Author:Anne Simpson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Freehand Books
Published: 2020-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

16

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CLARE CUT HER LEFT HAND on an edge of exposed metal as she climbed out of the trunk of the car. When she pressed her fingers against it some warm blood spilled over — Binta offered her a rag — and so it took Clare a moment to focus on Thomas and Jacob. But there they were, just a short distance away. Thomas was unbuttoning his shirt, slowly and methodically; he undid the cuffs, took the shirt off, let it fall, as if the shirt had a life now abandoned. It was nothing, there on the dirt, just a pale skin. In the same, careful way, he undid his trousers, unbuttoning them, unzipping his fly, letting down the trousers one leg at a time and stepping out of them. It was too intimate, almost unbearable, for Clare to see her brother undressing, however dim it was in the clearing, yet she couldn’t look away.

Jacob was quicker, and now he stood, resolutely, in his red and yellow boxer shorts. Yellow lions on a red background. The lions floated in the darkness: they could have been anything. His legs were thin, shaped like table legs, and his chest was not firm and manly, but somehow hollowed out in the centre, perhaps because he was hunching his shoulders. Thomas finished undressing and stood in his white boxer shorts beside Jacob, who was shivering. He stood close, as if to protect him, but as far as Clare could tell, his eyes were on the ground, as if examining his shoes, Jacob’s shoes, and Clare’s sandals, placed before him.

The pump and pull of Clare’s heart was loud in her ears. She couldn’t bring herself to think what would happen next. She stared at the collection of shoes, just as Thomas himself was doing.

B.B. began to laugh. He couldn’t seem to stop.

Danjuma laughed too, uproariously, slapping his thighs. Dance now, he said.

Yes, dance for us, cried B.B. Come now.

Thomas and Jacob were stiff puppets; they moved their feet, but it was not dancing.

Take each other’s arms and go round, instructed B.B.

They jigged in a circle. Clare couldn’t watch.

Look happy, called Danjuma.

Happy, happy, cawed B.B.

Pffaaahh, cried Danjuma. He himself was turning in a circle, mimicking them, roaring and flapping his arms. We will show you, he laughed, and caught B.B.’s arm, wheeling and cavorting, hardly noticing Thomas and Jacob, who had slowed to watch them.

You must leap, Danjuma instructed.

Danjuma leapt energetically, spreading his arms to show B.B how easy it was. Clare watched the flight of his white trainers through the air.

B.B. couldn’t leap and he tumbled to the ground, sprawled out. He raised his arm and Danjuma helped him up.

Always extend courtesy, Danjuma shouted. Women desire you to extend courtesy.

Always extend — B.B. repeated, chortling with laughter.

Extend yourself, so! squealed Danjuma, and he pumped his fist up and down in front of his crotch.

Ha, Mr. Longnose, cried B.B.

B.B. fell over himself, doubled up with agony as Danjuma circled around him. He put his hands out to B.

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