Read Online Now I Know by Aidan Chambers - Free Book Online Page B

‘I love you’ which you have to admit no one can ever quite explain just from dictionary meanings, but which get you pretty stirred up if they’re said to you.
    And sometimes their emotional meanings don’t have much to do with their dictionary meanings. Just as sometimes what people think about something is quite different to what they feel about it. They aren’t thinking words, they’re feeling words. Isn’t that right?
    So I don’t know how you can say that any word can ever be just an explosion that relieves tension. Though I expect, as usual, you’ll find some argument to use, because you just love arguing for arguing’s sake. But really, in your heart you know I’m right. The truth is you like using ruderies for their shock effect.
    Hey, I’m starting to argue with you again! That’s a good sign, isn’t it? I must be getting better!
    [ Pause. ]
    Now I’ve forgotten what I was talking about before I started rambling on about words! None of which I’d thought before now, by the way. So that’s one good thing about being ill—it gives you time to think.
    INTERCUT :   Crowd scattering in every direction. Police chasing squaddies. Platform party in disarray, scuffling among themselves while squaddies vandalize the scaffolding under their feet. Vocal truck continues its erratic course, ranting still. Arrests being made of belligerent members of both parties, who are frogmarched to a police van and bundled inside.
    JULIE :   Oh yes! Us in the mud.
    â€˜I’ve had enough of this stupid game,’ I thought, and my anger turned red. I’ve a dreadful temper, if I give in to it, as you’ve good reason to know.
    Then you started pulling at my arms and yelling at me again, and I thought, ‘This barbarian won’t give up!’ So I grabbed a nice pat of mud in each hand and plopped them in the general direction of your face. You let out a terrible squawk so I knew I’d hit the spot. [ Laughs. ] I ought to feel sorry for doing such a thing. After all, I might have blinded you—she says with feeling! But I don’t so I’ll have to work at it. Please God, I’ll be sorry, honest—but not yet, because it’s still funny to remember, and I need all the laughs I can get.
    Whoops! Gloom and doom showing again,
    [ Deep breaths. ]
    â€˜Hell!’ Nik said, letting Julie go, he recoiling bottom down as before, and she, released, slithering onto her front again.
    â€˜I’m trying to help you, goddammit!’ he cried, wiping gritty mud from his face so he could see again.
    â€˜Don’t you swear by God to me, you pagan!’ Julie spluttered, biting on mud and wiping her eyes.
    Nik spat. ‘I’m only trying to get you away from this.’
    â€˜I can look after myself, thank you!’
    She could see him now and sat back on her haunches. ‘I thought you were one of those barbarians,’ she said, grudgingly.
    Nik, outraged, said, ‘One of that mob!’
    â€˜Well, I couldn’t see!’
    â€˜Excuses, excuses!’
    The rain began falling in torrents again.
    â€˜Go and boil your head,’ Julie said, slithering to her feet.
    â€˜A good Christian thought,’ Nik said, pushing himself up too.
    â€˜I don’t feel very Christian,’ Julie said. ‘Not after being attacked by people like that and being soaked in mud and being pulled about by—’ She slipped again, and sat with a bump on her behind. ‘Dear God, give me strength!’ she shouted in anger, striking the ground with her hands.
    Nik broke up.
    â€˜Thank you !’ Julie said, glaring at him, but then could not help herself smiling.
    â€˜Here,’ Nik said, ‘give us a hand.’
    She did, pretending reluctance. He helped her, slitherily, to her feet. But at once she took her hand back; and without difficulty, for the mud greased their palms.
    Nik regretted this