The Bombs That Brought Us Together (29 page)

‘Nice move, Pav. Nice move.’ I wished then that I had something to give to Erin F. All I had was myself. I really hoped that it would be good enough.

Pav took Mercy Lewis up to say hello to his mum and dad. All that was left over from the feast were a few crisps, sparkling water and some dried fruit. And me and Erin F. She dazzled.

In unity with her mum, Erin F had shaved her hair off. I didn’t want to go on about how much I missed her stunning locks. Hair comes. Hair goes. But her amazing gesture would remain in many people’s hearts forever. I couldn’t wait to run my hands through it when it did grow back though.

‘Sorry it’s taken ages for me to come see this place, Charlie,’ Erin F said.

‘Don’t worry, you’re here now.’

‘It’s cool.’

‘Really?’

There you go, Charlie. You’re now cool.

‘Yes, it would be a brilliant study area as well.’

‘Eh, hello. That’s what I keep telling Pav.’

‘Want some help clearing up?’ she said.

‘That’s OK, you just sit and relax, Erin F.’

‘Don’t talk crap, Charlie. I don’t buy into all that chivalry rubbish.’

We got on our feet at the same time, almost touching bodies. Erin F looked at me. I looked at her. I loved looking at her, not only because she was so utterly beautiful, but because she made me feel so utterly special. So utterly wanted. I’m sure nerves could be heard shattering all over my body.

What do I do now?

Who makes the move?

Am I supposed to?

I don’t know.

I, Charlie Law, haven’t a clue about such things.

Go on. Kiss her. She wants you to do it, daft arse.

I closed my eyes, drew nearer to her, put out my lips and let myself float away. And I floated and floated, and kept floating until it was as if we were a part of the same body.

You know, I’ve often wondered: would we all have been together if the bombs hadn’t come to Little Town? I mean: was it
only
the bombs that brought us together?

Who knows?

Who knows?

Praise for

‘So surprising and charming it would
be hard not to feel uplifted’

Observer

‘Energetic, confident and compassionate …
He is one to watch’

Scotland on Sunday

‘Beautifully observed and hilariously uncomfortable’

Guardian

‘The book is funny, fascinating and perfectly
realised … comparisons with
The Curious Incident
of The Dog in the Night Time
are already coming
thick and fast, and the book merits them’

Irish Independent

‘Funny, poignant, rude, life-affirming’

Bookseller

‘Brave’

Daily Mail

‘A very human story of relationships and loyalty’

Irish Examiner

‘Bittersweet’

Daily Express

Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi and Sydney

First published in Great Britain in April 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP

This electronic edition published in 2016 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

www.bloomsbury.com

BLOOMSBURY is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Copyright © Brian Conaghan 2016

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying
or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Hardback ISBN 978 1 4088 5574 4

Export eISBN 978 1 4088 5575 1