Read Online Lost Christmas by David Logan - Free Book Online Page A

‘That’s your glabella.’
    Goose was frowning deeply. Anthony persisted. ‘It’s true. You see, someone, somewhere has named everything. Think about it.
Everything!
’ He emphasized the word. ‘That’s a lot. Not just one person, of course, that would be ridiculous. Did you know an owl has three eyelids? Bet you they all have a name.’ In his head, Anthony was telling himself, G
et to the point! Get to the point!
but he seemed incapable of it. Despite himself, he just kept talking. ‘You can make abouteleven and a half omelettes from one ostrich egg, Coca Cola’d be green if they didn’t add colouring and …’ he took a deep breath, ‘hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.’
    Anthony exhaled and finally stopped talking. Goose looked at him open-mouthed, buffeted by the torrent of trivia that this strange man had just unleashed.
    â€˜Is that true?’ asked Goose.
    â€˜I’m not sure. I think so.’
    â€˜Fascinating!’ Goose sneered, making it clear he wasn’t fascinated or even interested and that he would very much like Anthony to go away. Goose started to walk past him but Anthony followed. Goose, however, was a tough kid. He had to be. He spent most of his time alone – well, with Mutt – and mostly out on the streets. He knew how to take care of himself or at the very least he knew how to project the idea that he knew how to take care of himself. In a year, no one had really tried to mess with him so he assumed it was working.
    â€˜Listen, I’ve tried to be nice, but I’m not interested, okay? So go and annoy someone else or I’m gonna start shouting at the top of me lungs! Got it?’
    â€˜Got it,’ said Anthony.
    Goose switched direction and started walking away. Anthony knew he only really had one more shot. It was all or nothing.
    â€˜So you lost something then?’
    Goose froze, turning his head slowly to look back at Anthony. ‘Yeah, how’d you know that?’
    â€˜What d’you lose?’
    â€˜My dog. He’s called—’
    Anthony held up his hand, closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as if concentrating hard.
    â€˜Mutt,’ he said finally.
    Goose actually gasped. He felt a flutter of excitement in his belly. ‘Yeah! You seen him?’ There was suddenly a childlike stutter of expectation in Goose’s voice. Like something out of
Oliver Twist
.
    â€˜No, it’s what you were shouting earlier.’ Anthony could see the child in Goose retreat and the hard-edged mini-adult reappear. Silently he admonished himself. This was the wrong approach. He was losing him again. ‘I lost a dog when I was about your age.’
    â€˜Is that right?’ said Goose, wiping his nose on his sleeve. Anthony could sense Goose’s invisible wall being rebuilt before his very eyes.
    â€˜Yeah, I think so. I mean I’m not sure. There’s a lot I’m not sure about right now. Like this.’ It was the only thing Anthony could think of to say at that precise moment. He grabbed the name badge pinned to his striped jacket and held it out to Goose. ‘I don’t feel like an “Anthony”. Do I look like an “Anthony” to you?’
    Goose frowned, and Anthony could tell he had hooked his interest once more. He was determined not to lose it again.
    â€˜Are you saying you don’t know your own name?’ Goose was looking for the angle, wondering if this weirdo was about to try to get some money off him.
    â€˜I don’t want any money or anything,’ said Anthony, apropos of nothing verbal.
    â€˜You what?’ said Goose, wondering if Anthony was a mind-reader.
    â€˜You looked like you were thinking I wanted money off you,’ said Anthony, by way of explanation.
    â€˜What does someone look like when they think that?’ asked Goose, clearly incredulous.
    â€˜I don’t