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

teeth.”

12
    â€œAll right, Salma, love. Come in.”
    Leon stands at the top of the stairs just out of sight. There’s a little gap in the banisters where if he keeps his head dead still he can see who comes to the door. If he’s in his room playing with his toys and he hears the bell, it’s easy to slide off the bed and tread carefully on tiptoe along the brown carpet to the very top of the stairs. He crouches down and if they’re not whispering, he can hear what they say. He’s heard Maureen swearing lots of times, like when she called Margaret Thatcher a bloody cow because of the miners. And once she said Margaret Thatcher could kiss her ass and Leon laughed and got caught eavesdropping. Maureen says that if he keeps listening to people’s private conversations his ears will shrivel into prunes and drop off. Leon always checks his ears at night just in case.
    Maureen takes Salma straight into the kitchen. She’ll make coffee for Salma and then they’ll talk about him. He creeps down the stairs in his socks to the sitting room and sits quietly in frontof the television. Salma’s bag is on the sofa. Salma always has a handbag and another leather bag that she keeps her files in. The files are sticking out and her handbag has the zipper open. He can hear her with her sad voice.
    â€œHis last report card was a bit of a concern, I agree.”
    â€œBit of a concern? He’s got no friends. Spends his break on his own. Doesn’t do his work. It’s not like he’s thick. He’s grieving, if you ask me.”
    â€œI’m sure he’ll settle down, Maureen. It’s got to be a shock for him but we’re confident we’ve done the right thing. It’s not just about him. Separately, they’ve got a chance, but together . . .”
    Maureen snorts. “Jake’s got a chance, you mean. You’ve split them up and in my books that’s a sin and I won’t change my mind on that.”
    â€œWhat would you have done then, Maureen? Have neither of them adopted? Because that’s the choice.”
    â€œI have no idea what I would do, Salma.” Maureen is washing the dishes and making them clank together in the sink. “That’s why I’m not a social worker. Anyway, how is he?”
    Leon pulls the straps of Salma’s handbag until it’s right next to him. He eases his hand inside and feels for her purse. His eyes are on the door. His ears are in the kitchen.
    â€œGood. New mom and dad are delighted, obviously. He’s settling in well. Well as can be expected. It’s early on but it looks like a good match.”
    Leon unzips the purse and he pokes two fingers in. He feels the cold metal of a coin with sharp corners. Fifty pence. He plucks it out, puts it in his other hand, clenches his fist around it. Zips up the purse and feels the cold sweat drip down his back. He pushes the bag with his elbow until it’s back where she left it. He can hardly breathe.
    Salma is still talking.
    â€œMom and dad have taken him to the park, introduced himto the family, taken lots of photographs. They make a lovely family, Maureen. They’ve got a big garden.”
    â€œBig garden, eh?” says Maureen. “How lovely.” She bangs the saucepan into the sink. “And what about this letter he’s supposed to get? Hang on, let me just check on Leon, I want to talk to you about something, Salma.”
    The kitchen door opens quickly but Leon is prepared. He’s standing by the television pressing the button to turn it on. He doesn’t turn round.
    â€œAll right, love?” says Maureen. She goes back into the kitchen and the door clicks shut.
    Leon dashes upstairs faster than a cheetah. He slips the fifty pence under his mattress. He’ll move it later. He comes downstairs so quickly and so lightly that he’s out of breath again. But he lands in his seat and leans on a cushion in twenty