Read Online The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride - Free Book Online

think so, he says. Ow! I Ow! My leg’s gone asleep! Hang on, let me get hold of the condom first or all the good work is for nowt. Slide off him. Pins and. Hop and Don’t look. Bit late for that, he laughs – standing up – Right I’m off for a piss. Bin goes the condom. Swats my arse on the pass, all naked unbothered getting into his bathrobe. And how I envy him that; the looks and not giving a shit.
    Silent in his room. Cigarette. Sit or shift? I halfly dress. Stay or leave? What do men expect? What would I like? To know exactly what he considers to be the right what now.
    Dressed already? Yeah     it’s getting late. You off then? Suppose so. Oh right, he says Don’t you want a tea or? Well     if you don’t mind? Why would I? I don’t know, does that usually happen? Usually? Afterwards. That depends. On what? Whether or not she fancies another round. Do you fancy one? Yeah, I reckon could. I’m kind of sore. Well then, we should probably leave you be. So I should go? Do you want to go? Not really. Oh my God! and him laughing now Just fucking stay and I’ll think of something else to do with you, alright?
    Barefoot I then, through his lamp lit room. Tip touching his boxes Is it clothes in them? More books and scripts, that sort of thing. Why don’t you get some shelves? I should, just never get round to it. But it’s been ten years. Actually more like     Jesus, is that true? – his eyes calculating above – Fuck! Fourteen years and I don’t even like it here. So then why’ve you stayed? At first it was all I could afford. After that I     I don’t know     I stopped thinking about it I suppose. And passing thetea. Such blue in his wrist. Mouth shifting his fag and an intricate quiet he crashes with Anyway let me lend you this, and he’s into a box, elbow deep. Black Snow? It’ll make you laugh and, by all accounts, where you’re studying, you’re going to need that. What do you know about it? What everyone does; that they love to kill people up there. Oh thanks very much. Pleasure, he says then Wait, isn’t that Dennis Potter thing on tonight? I shrug but he’s already down on his knees hauling an old portable Kayvision out. Untacking dust and used tissues Sorry about that. Up on the drawers and aerial twitched, he lies down on the bed and offers me in beside him. So I, head by the tamp saucer on his chest, lie soon yawning while he stays rapt. Fine though, all of this I think, and like it, before falling right off to sleep.
    Two-ish wake, bursting. Roll out of bed. You leaving? No, toilet, I say. Mm, him, sleeping again.
    Eyes pull in what light there is and someone backing the door. Is there a queue? There is, she drunk. I, hopping the hop Are you Irish? And? Nothing    just    me too. Oh? How long’re you over? Two months, about. Well let me give you a word of advice, never read the Irish Times. Why not? On the tube. Why’s that? Why? I’ll fucking tell you why. I was at Warren Street the other night, minding my business, reading my Times when the train gets held, only five minutes like, and this fella starts going I know what this is, fucking bomb scare, fucking IRA. I said nothing, no one did, everyone was like Just shut up, in their head. Then oh my God, he starts going Do you know what it is? I bet you fucking do. Don’t bother starting on me, I said which was the wrong thing because Jesus fuck he went apeshit, roaring Paddy bitch and your Paddy rag. We’re all stuck here ’cause of you lot. I said There’s a ceasefire, whichyou’d know if ever opened a paper yourself. Anyways, the train started then but he kept going Thick Paddy tick Mick, all that. Eventually this wee Paki lad says Enough mate, enough. You’ve had your say. Soon as we got to Euston though I just legged it. I was shaking, you know the way, when you’re fit to