Read Online My Name Is Leon by Kit de Waal - Free Book Online Page A

children have I fostered over the years? I know you know the answer because I saw youeavesdropping the other day when I was talking to the new neighbors. So, go on. How many?”
    â€œTwenty-two,” he says.
    â€œExactly. So I’ve fostered twenty-two children. How many children have I got of my own? Not counting stepchildren and we’ll come to them in a moment.”
    â€œRobert and Ann.”
    â€œTwenty-two and two?”
    â€œTwenty-four.”
    â€œHow many kids have Robert and Ann got between them?”
    Leon screws up his eyes so he can think.
    â€œThree, Leon. Three. Now I don’t see them as often as I’d like on account of the fact that they live abroad but we’re going to count them because I did look after them when they were here. So, we were on twenty-four and we’re adding three.”
    â€œTwenty-seven.”
    â€œGood. How many stepkids?”
    â€œTwo.”
    â€œTwenty-seven and two, Leon. I know you’re half-asleep but pay attention because this is important.”
    â€œTwenty-nine.”
    â€œTwenty-nine. We’re going to round it up to thirty, because that’s you. You’re number thirty. So, do you think I might know something about children, Leon?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you think there is anyone who knows more about children than me?”
    â€œA teacher?”
    â€œNo, not a teacher because the teacher’s job finishes at half past three and my job never ends. And my job never ends because I look after you even when you’re not here because I think about you and I care for you and I love you. You and all the children that I’ve ever looked after. Do you understand, Leon?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œRight. Now listen carefully because I want you to understand something and I don’t say this to all the children because it’s not always true but with you it is true, so you have to believe it. And when you believe it you will stop grinding your teeth and I might be able to get five minutes’ sleep before sunrise. All right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIt will be all right.”
    Maureen wipes Leon’s face with the corner of her dressing gown but because it’s made of the same silky stuff as the cushions his face is still wet and begins to itch.
    â€œYou will be all right, Leon. You will be all right.”
    Leon uses the towel again because it’s better for tears.
    â€œAnd one day,” she says, “you will see your brother again. He will find you or you will find him and you can tell him all about what you’ve been doing, about your soccer and your toys and your shows. You can ask him all the questions about what he’s been doing because he’s not as grown up as you, so he’ll still be doing baby things, won’t he? You’ll be able to help him with his toys. It might not be for a long time, you might even be grown up and you won’t be playing with toys anymore. But you will see Jake again. He hasn’t gone forever.”
    She goes into the kitchen and gets him another biscuit but this time it’s got chocolate on it and Leon realizes that he didn’t hear her taking the lid off the Golden Tin, so Maureen has a secret hiding place.
    â€œI’ll keep saying it until you believe me, Leon. You will be all right and that, mister, is a promise. I know you miss him, pigeon, and that the future seems a long, long way away but I know what I’m talking about. Right, you can have one more sip of your juice then go and have another pee so you don’t wet the bed.”
    On the way up the stairs, he thinks of a question but by the time he gets into bed he’s forgotten it again. It was somethingabout how long away the future was but he can’t think of the exact words to say.
    Maureen kisses him and just before she turns the light out he hears her talking to herself.
    â€œI should have got him to brush his bloody